An idea to help criminals and shadow artists in Tuluk...

[Malken]

So this little exchange I had with Rhyden earlier gave me an idea..

I basically wish sneaky types weren't 'outed' the first time they fail a steal attempt on a PC. I think it'd encourage a little more PvP when it comes to theft.

When you mostly always see the same 10 PCs around, stealing from them isn't the smartest of ideas  

It's not a large pool of PCs, so you kinda always know who the pickpocket is, or might be.. Unlike in 'Nak, where there's a lot more elves and guild PCs around.

It really wouldn't surprise me if some of the wealthy Tuluki PCs would buy a 1000 'sids license on my pickpocket because they somewhat know that I'm the only pickpocket around and their favorite sword is missing.

What if the different ranks of shadow artists offered some increasing 'protection' as the shadow artist goes up in ranks?

At novice, you wouldn't have any protection at all against licenses bought against you.

At journeyman, it would cost a lot more to buy a contract against a licensed shadow artist, to show that he is becoming of worth to the city.

As a master shadow artist, this artist would be the pride of Tuluk and would be nearly untouchable unless a contract was bought by a Templar or a Noble itself, no one else would be deemed wealthy enough to touch such an 'elite' member of society.

To add to my idea, I also thought of another idea to 'protect' proper and licensed criminals in Tuluk:

As a novice or above, you would actually be told if a contract had been bought against you, some sort of traditional Tuluki hunting game could be then played, where the hunted either tries to avoid the hunter's trap or tries to lure him into a trap of their own. If the hunted assassin/thief/whatever manages to survive the duration of the contract's limit, he gains 'prestige' of sort and buying another contract against that person would cost twice as much depending on what rank this shadow artist is. If the hunted actually manages to KILL or incapacitate his hunter in any ways, he also gains prestige but it also counts into his future promotion as a shadow artist because this artist shows both promise and competence at outwitting other artists.

[Patuk]

Regardless of how I feel about this, an artist at the wrong end of a contract ending up in trouble seems unfit for the job.

[Harmless]

hm. last time I played a burglar in tuluk, a long while ago, I had no complaints.

As to these ideas.. doesn't the phrase "be the change" apply here rather nicely?

[Knight of Knives]

I think this is already sort of how the Templars do it- they can discourage contracts against artists simply because a contract was completed against them. I mean, it doesn't make sense for them to have their own tools killed off unless circumstances are really strong.

So I think it's a great idea. I think it's already kind of how it works out in game.

[FantasyWriter]

To add to my idea, I also thought of another idea to 'protect' proper and licensed criminals in Tuluk:

As a novice or above, you would actually be told if a contract had been bought against you, some sort of traditional Tuluki hunting game could be then played, where the hunted either tries to avoid the hunter's trap or tries to lure him into a trap of their own. If the hunted assassin/thief/whatever manages to survive the duration of the contract's limit, he gains 'prestige' of sort and buying another contract against that person would cost twice as much depending on what rank this shadow artist is. If the hunted actually manages to KILL or incapacitate his hunter in any ways, he also gains prestige but it also counts into his future promotion as a shadow artist because this artist shows both promise and competence at outwitting other artists.

I especially liked this idea.

[Zoan]

If you don't have an assassination contract out on you, you're not playing the game right.

[Jingo]

Play harder.

Put a contract on yourself.

[Reiloth]

I think this is already sort of how the Templars do it- they can discourage contracts against artists simply because a contract was completed against them. I mean, it doesn't make sense for them to have their own tools killed off unless circumstances are really strong.

So I think it's a great idea. I think it's already kind of how it works out in game.

I would tend to agree, that's how it works out IG with RP.

I think I meant more codedly, I wish people couldn't discover who rifled through their belongings, or peeked at their belongings, even on a critical failure. It leads to a game of Clue!

I feel like that way, it would behoove thieves to steal in public, in crowded places where many culprits could be blamed or spotted, and to remain inconspicuous and 'among the crowd'. If they are in a hallway with someone, and they critically fail...Well. No one else to blame, really, chummer.

[FantasyWriter]

Play harder.

Put a contract on yourself.

Code Select Expand


You feel like it has been far too long since you had any challenges or excitement in life.

You contact the frail, auburn-haired woman with the Way.

You send the a telepathic message to the frail, auburn-haired woman,
     "Good morning, High Faithful, I do hope all is well.  Do you have any particularly useful but annoying shadow artists to spare?"

A foreign presence contacts your mind.

The frail, auburn-haired woman sends to you,
     "That time of year again already, Lord Longlived? I actually have the perfect candidate to send your way. We can settle up the contract fee later in the week if you'd like.  Good hunting."

A foreign presence withdraws from your mind.

You slip a long, silver blade from beneath a silken bedrobe.

You begins sharpening a long, silver blade with a finely grained stone.

You begin watching the western exit.

You feel alive again... for a little while.



[QuillDipper]

That just seems like a ridiculously concept. Especially as a novice Shadow Artist. You could eliminate all the competition by sending them right at you.

[Dakota]

i think this would only apply to master artists. And in doing so, they would just be notified that a perhaps a contract was taken out on them. They have to treat this in a gentlemanly fashion. I.E. not run. But see if they can "beat" the contract. It would only be done to master artists out of respect from the Templarate for both their years of service and over-all talent.

But this has nothing really to do with criminals overall, I think.

Edit:

To really help criminals in Tuluk, 3 things need to happen (IMO).

1. The PC base need accept the fact that theirs an area in the city where things aren't exactly spic-span-and-ivory-white in color. They're murder echoes. Fights in bars happen. It's shady. Don't treat it like the Friel's Rest. 

2. Criminals need more of a structure. I'm not talking about shadow artist. This apparently was there during UnderTuluk (didn't play then). But they -need- some sort of structure from the staff side.

3. A certain role that is integral in Tuluk needs to be fallible. No one is perfect. No one never gets duped. This does -not- mean that criminals get a pass or a loose leash. But that the same time God-Mode-Turn-On, shouldn't work against them either (an exaggeration). 3 can be solved via 2.

Hopefully this would be done via players but I've said it before and I'll say it again. Playing a real, low-class, poor criminal in Tuluk, is Armageddon hard mode. You're basically playing a turd. And typically people in Tuluk don't like to get turds on their silks

[number13]

2. Criminals need more of a structure. I'm not talking about shadow artist. This apparently was there during UnderTuluk (didn't play then). But they -need- some sort of structure from the staff side.

The "criminal" structure in UT was entirely player-created and player-maintained.  Staff rarely had anything to do with it at all.

There's actually more of a support system for "criminals" in the Warrens, in the form of the Bejewelled Hand.

I'm putting criminal in scare quotes, because none of the above necessarily thinks of themselves as criminals.  The point stands: you could app an Bejewelled Hand shady if you wanted to use the structure in place. Or you could do like we did in UT and roll your own.

[Patuk]

This implies, of course, that the Akai has (and can have) people in it.

[Malken]

This implies, of course, that the Akai has (and can have) people in it.

When there's an obvious problem, I think it should be addressed right away instead of pulling out the tired "give it time, or be the change, or app for an Akai!". The fact that the "major" "criminal" area is supervised by elves, and that elves have never really been a popular choice of race for Tuluki PCs (and that Akai PCs have been nearly non-existent ever since it was introduced, minus the first who played one and we all know whom I'm talking about) just shows that there needs to be a change to who's in "charge" of the warrens. (It could certainly happen ICly if Staff is not overly protective of the idea of the Akai).

[Patuk]

Oh, I'm not disagreeing at all. Hell, I've some nasty memories from my own Akai.

[Reiloth]

I agree.

I never really thought the Akai had a good 'place' in Zalanthas or in Tuluk.

Mastercrafting Elves who make beautiful monument structures? Elves who are venerated in society above other elves?

I think it was one of those great ideas (make more elf tribes), but I think these things can be built organically, rather than be plopped down in the middle of things with a vast history as if they've always been there.

Having a few small elf tribes in either City State that could be used as a background, and send character reports to Desert Elf Tribes, and build organically from there...Well. That might be a cool thing. Depending on the players/PCs, the tribe might rise...Or might fall.

I agree that it would be nice if there was a vague 'regime change' in the Warrens.

[Molten Heart]

A clan whos focus was crime would help criminals.

[BadSkeelz]

The fact that the "major" "criminal" area is supervised by elves, and that elves have never really been a popular choice of race for Tuluki PCs (and that Akai PCs have been nearly non-existent ever since it was introduced, minus the first who played one and we all know whom I'm talking about) just shows that there needs to be a change to who's in "charge" of the warrens. (It could certainly happen ICly if Staff is not overly protective of the idea of the Akai).

I asked for Akai docs so I could roll one up last week and got told they were closed and they weren't planning on changing that for the forseeable future. Staff certainly didn't sound overly protective of them.

EDIT: the actual response was:

The Akai are currently not open for play.  We hope to make this change in the sometime future, but there is no timeline as of right now.

[Barsook]

I figure that they were closed due to not seeing any Akai around IC.

[BadSkeelz]

The website should probably be updated if they're actually closed.

http://www.armageddon.org/help/view/Akai%20Sjir

[Patuk]

I might want to stop saying that tribeless celves need more support when somehow the ones with tribes aren't even looked after.

[Malken]

I figure that they were closed due to not seeing any Akai around IC.

I thought it was the other way around, they closed because nobody wanted to play them. (I don't think I'm wrong in saying that a majority of the playerbase really hates the idea of that clan).

[BadSkeelz]

The fact that the "major" "criminal" area is supervised by elves, and that elves have never really been a popular choice of race for Tuluki PCs (and that Akai PCs have been nearly non-existent ever since it was introduced, minus the first who played one and we all know whom I'm talking about) just shows that there needs to be a change to who's in "charge" of the warrens. (It could certainly happen ICly if Staff is not overly protective of the idea of the Akai).

I asked for Akai docs so I could roll one up last week and got told they were closed and they weren't planning on changing that for the forseeable future. Staff certainly didn't sound overly protective of them.

Sorry, I mis-remembered:

The Akai are currently not open for play.  We hope to make this change in the sometime future, but there is no timeline as of right now.

Similar situation to the Jaxa Pah then.

[Patuk]

I doubt it, as the Jaxa Pah are closed as well.

[BadSkeelz]

I bet you'd get a similar response if you asked for docs on them, though, is what I meant.