Karma rate

[spicemustflow]

Still, merchant is more complicated than a warrior but some people prefer to start with one, enjoying the challenge. I have pretty limited interest in magick, actually in most of the karma guilds except for the couple at the top of the tree and it's not because of their coded power.

You're just feeling argumentative, aren't you?

All that was basically said at the start was, "Hey, maybe you should learn the magic system a little before you run around trying to fart lightningbolts at stuff, m'kay?"

Which is pretty sound advice.

No, I simply dislike forcing people to play though the characters they don't enjoy just so they could learn the system. If we were talking about  karma destroyers of souls I'd understand.

Nobody's forcing anyone to do anything.

Karma system kinda does

Also, staff outright refuses to just hand out an Elkran, to a guy who's never played a magicker.  I tried a while ago.  

I also tried it, but for a sorcerer... my, they are inflexible

[maxid]

Mindbender.. sorcerer.  At least I had realistic dreams!   I just wanted to be male storm.

[Qzzrbl]

Still, merchant is more complicated than a warrior but some people prefer to start with one, enjoying the challenge. I have pretty limited interest in magick, actually in most of the karma guilds except for the couple at the top of the tree and it's not because of their coded power.

You're just feeling argumentative, aren't you?

All that was basically said at the start was, "Hey, maybe you should learn the magic system a little before you run around trying to fart lightningbolts at stuff, m'kay?"

Which is pretty sound advice.

No, I simply dislike forcing people to play though the characters they don't enjoy just so they could learn the system. If we were talking about  karma destroyers of souls I'd understand.

Nobody's forcing anyone to do anything.

Karma system kinda does

Then argue with the karma system.... Not folks trying to give a little advice.

[Qzzrbl]

On my second character, I special-apped a mindbender. Staff were...gentle in their reply back to me. I was such a cute little nub.

Also-- D'aaaawwwwh!

That's adorable. x]

[spicemustflow]

Then argue with the karma system.... Not folks trying to give a little advice.

I thought that's what I was doing.

[maxid]

I thought that's what I was doing.

That's not really how it came across.

[spicemustflow]

I thought that's what I was doing.

That's not really how it came across.

[Qzzrbl]

Then argue with the karma system.... Not folks trying to give a little advice.

I thought that's what I was doing.

Oh....

>_>

I KNEW THAT!

=D

[Cutthroat]

The karma system is the way it is for a couple of reasons:
1) To keep powerful roles in the "right" hands. (At least until they prove they're no longer 'right'.)
2) To keep roles that are supposed to be rare IC suitably rare.

According to the documentation, there are approximately less Drovians and Elkrans in the world than there are Vivaduans or Rukkians (FAQ 12).

So even if the higher-karma magicker roles aren't necessarily more difficult to play, they are certainly more isolated, leaving them within the realm of players that are deemed ready for the chance to try. Basically, if you haven't tried a "simpler" magic guild before delving into a more complex one, you're more likely to be put off by the experience. At least that's how I understand it. (This actually applies to all sorts of roles with simple and complex places to fill).

[Fredd]

You should get to know the magicker roles through playing one of lower karma than an elkrosian before playing an elkrosian.  Seriously, if you have no karma, you don't really understand the first thing about magick, and you'll need to understand that before seriously tackling the higher-karma magicker roles.

This is what I don't get. Aside from the coded power, what's the difference between the elements? I mean, it's not easier to roleplay a rukkian than a drovian for example. Is it? Why?

Rukkian and Vivaduan are great to learn the magick system. Why?

They both get things they can trade. It's common knowledge that a Vivaduan can make water. (which they often trade for food) And Rukkians make food (which they trade for water) This makes simple survival for them MUCH easier then say, a Krathi who pretty much burns things.

This makes them more usefull in learning the magic system. Which CAn get frustrating at times (it's fun frustration. i love trying to figure out my next spell) Because if you are worrying where you are going to get your next bit of water or food. You arent learning the magick system.

I'll actually be special apping my second Magicker here soon, so it's waiting for me when my pc dies. Which, according to my luck, is in 3-4 weeks. (my pc's die on the birthdays, for some reason! lol)

Fyi: It does take some time to get special apps back, unless it's for a role that's being recruited for (templar, ect) So, above all, BE PATIENT. the staff WILL get back to you on it.

And of course lets not forget this. Vivaduans and Rukkians BOTH get to be pretty dang powerfull once you play them for a bit. So it's not like you are getting gimped.

[Cindy42]

yeah, see, this is part of why i love the discussion board---- i didn't know none this.

i want to eat lightning and crap thunder. but, honestly, 95% of what i could ever want is free, thank god.

i need to stop making half-elves with parents who could stand each other without booze.

actually, thief sounds frustrating, too. one time, without knowing the rinth, i tried playing a rinthi thief. died the first day.

i wish i could try the rinth again, and get some roleplay in before i die. i had no idea that the rinth was divided into sides.

i had no idea certain magickers were more complicated than others.

i was almost chased down by a magicker who seemed to want to kill me just because.

i'm assuming you don't have behavorial requirements as a magicker like the rest of us? /blahblahblah

merry christmas!

[Fredd]

Actually. One of my FAVORITE pc's was a burgler. he was employed by a noble. It's alot of fun. i recomend trying it.

[Barsook]

I tried that but I failed.

[titansfan]

Leadership roles is where you get karma. As long as you are around to help out your underlings and prove to move plots forward and create plots. Whether it be a sponsored role or a role built up over time, that is truly where staff see your style of play and the amount of responsibility you have. You want karma, play those kind of roles and play them cohesively with the staff. Updating them and keeping them in the loop is very important.

[Kryos]

I'd argue with the leadership role = karma thing.

What karma represents is the staff's trust in you, but that's acquired by:

1) Not sharing secrets ooc.  This means GDB too, before you post about X, read the help file on X.  That's all you can really talk about.  No help file?  You probably shouldn't talk about it.

2) Play people.  This is a real complicated thing for players to wrap their heads around, from what I've seen, and I've been lucky in having some good direction in my communication from staff on this over time (see point 4).  People don't like doing things that might kill them regularly if they can avoid it, they don't like hard work that is body-breaking(this is what slaves are for).  People have relationships, or crave them(and this is more then mudsex) unless they are psychologically altered(some races fit this description).

a) As a sub point, try not to play 'you.'  Its inevitable that some of your traits will leak into your characters, no doubt.  But if you're able to portray a different persona every time you begin a new PC, you're doing great. 

3) Play reasonable.  Just because the code lets you spam kill everything in sight, or steal someone's pants without them being able to notice for some reason doesn't mean you should go around doing such things.  If you are evenly slightly unsure if what you're doing/planning is reasonable, ask. 

4) Update staff with your intentions, no matter how diabolical they may be.  Regular communications shows you're not trying to 'win the game' and instead just playing it.  This is a good thing.  It also allows staff to guide you towards these other concerns, and hone your role playing. 

a) Be honest and open here.  Tell the staff in this ooc communication absolutely what you're intending.  This is speculation from my own experience, but, I've noticed that when I give a topic that reads in the following format, its generally well recieved.   My character is trying to do X, or did X.  He'll instead report to <bossguy> Y, trying to slip it by.  Or, with the intention of acquiring Z goal my, character is doing A, B, and C things. 

What leadership roles can do, if you work your way up IC or take one from a post, is give a boost in visibility for your ability to do these things.  So in that respect, I agree.  However, if you are consistent about these things across characters, you will be noticed. 

[Niamh]

Karma is given on the basis of good roleplay, yes, but it's also important to keep in mind that trust is a very big factor in karma as well.  If you are engaged in any of the following, you shouldn't expect to get much in the way of karma:
--You aren't 100% honest with staff all the time (this includes "staff fishing", aka turning and asking another staff member for something when one tells you no)
--Do unrealistic and/or unresponsible things with your PCs (like taking a full chest of stones out with you in your inventory while you beat on small game with your bare hands)
--Abuse code for the purpose of skilling up or making money (this includes spamming of skills/spells)
--Are involved in OOC spreading of IC information
--Your roleplay revolves around OOC influences rather than IC factors
--You use OOC means to affect IC events

If you feel that you aren't receiving karma and you deserve it, you are always free to contact staff to get a dialogue going about it.  Staff can't watch everyone all the time, so it is possible that you may have been unintentionally overlooked.  One of the best ways to get noticed by staff and recognized is to send in updates on a regular basis for your characters, and/or keep bios updated.  It doesn't matter if you're clanned or not.  Unclanned PCs also have "clan staff" that review reports and requests from them.

[Zoan]

I don't like writing bios. I really love the idea of keeping staff up to date on my character, I just can't bring myself to write bios. Is it so important that it will affect my chances for karma?

[Cindy42]

I'd argue with the leadership role = karma thing.

What karma represents is the staff's trust in you, but that's acquired by:

1) Not sharing secrets ooc.  This means GDB too, before you post about X, read the help file on X.  That's all you can really talk about.  No help file?  You probably shouldn't talk about it.

2) Play people.  This is a real complicated thing for players to wrap their heads around, from what I've seen, and I've been lucky in having some good direction in my communication from staff on this over time (see point 4).  People don't like doing things that might kill them regularly if they can avoid it, they don't like hard work that is body-breaking(this is what slaves are for).  People have relationships, or crave them(and this is more then mudsex) unless they are psychologically altered(some races fit this description).

a) As a sub point, try not to play 'you.'  Its inevitable that some of your traits will leak into your characters, no doubt.  But if you're able to portray a different persona every time you begin a new PC, you're doing great. 

3) Play reasonable.  Just because the code lets you spam kill everything in sight, or steal someone's pants without them being able to notice for some reason doesn't mean you should go around doing such things.  If you are evenly slightly unsure if what you're doing/planning is reasonable, ask. 

4) Update staff with your intentions, no matter how diabolical they may be.  Regular communications shows you're not trying to 'win the game' and instead just playing it.  This is a good thing.  It also allows staff to guide you towards these other concerns, and hone your role playing. 

a) Be honest and open here.  Tell the staff in this ooc communication absolutely what you're intending.  This is speculation from my own experience, but, I've noticed that when I give a topic that reads in the following format, its generally well recieved.   My character is trying to do X, or did X.  He'll instead report to <bossguy> Y, trying to slip it by.  Or, with the intention of acquiring Z goal my, character is doing A, B, and C things. 

What leadership roles can do, if you work your way up IC or take one from a post, is give a boost in visibility for your ability to do these things.  So in that respect, I agree.  However, if you are consistent about these things across characters, you will be noticed. 

Hahahaha oh my god.  Number 2. Playing different "people" are about the only things I'm good at. I enjoy playing different types of personalites /desires/dreams like crazy. So much so that sometimes I wish my current character would get killed so that I could try to play something she couldn't possibly get along with, if playing her eventually becomes too easy in terms of personality molding. Still pisses me off when a character dies tho, but I've learned to accept that, and to admire the variety of ways to die in this game. I would actually pay up to fifteen bucks to see (insert spoiler here) character die again. It was amazing, and happened a little too fast, as it should.

[Niamh]

I don't like writing bios. I really love the idea of keeping staff up to date on my character, I just can't bring myself to write bios. Is it so important that it will affect my chances for karma?

Some staffers like myself are really big fans of bios, and part of why is because well fleshed out bios make it SO much easier for staff to know who a PC is and what's going on with them at a glance, especially when staff rotations happen.  However, it's the regular reporting that's the more important of the two.

[brytta.leofa]

I don't like writing bios. I really love the idea of keeping staff up to date on my character, I just can't bring myself to write bios.

You could prob'ly make a bio out of the IC portion of your report-to-staff without too much effort.

[Bluefae]

If you feel that you aren't receiving karma and you deserve it, you are always free to contact staff to get a dialogue going about it.  Staff can't watch everyone all the time, so it is possible that you may have been unintentionally overlooked.  One of the best ways to get noticed by staff and recognized is to send in updates on a regular basis for your characters, and/or keep bios updated.  It doesn't matter if you're clanned or not.  Unclanned PCs also have "clan staff" that review reports and requests from them.

     Niamh's pretty much nailed it here.  If karma is something you're aiming for, a regular flow of communication between yourself and whichever staff-members are yours is essential.  At the beginning of my Arm. career, I was blessed with a patient, up-beat Immortal who took the time to explain a lot of the staff perspective (at least from her own view), and just how important it was to keep them informed.

     Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my belief is that nearly every Clan leadership position necessitates weekly updates?  I think there's some truth to those roles garnering one a somewhat higher profile, and thus more staff scrutiny than there might be otherwise.  Mainly, though, any karma gleaned from said roles likely has something to do with the consistent player-staff communication. 

     In any event, don't get discouraged.  If you ask your staff-member what you can do to earn their trust, I'm confidant they'll answer.    Hope this helps.

     (And Eniriah, if you happen to read this, you're still aces in my book, babe.  )

[Ami]

"your staff-member"

You speak as though we all get our own personal member of staff?

[Dan]

"your staff-member"

You speak as though we all get our own personal member of staff?

Your independant staff members.

Your House Kurac, Salarr, etc... staff members.

You don't get your own personal member of staff. You have a few that are available to you no matter what role you are playing.

I have a feeling you knew this already.

[Ami]

No, I thought the game just had X amount of Staff who watch whats going on. 

[Talia]

"your staff-member"

You speak as though we all get our own personal member of staff?

Every player has a group of Storytellers who are their clan staff. If you're unclanned, then the Unclanned staff are your staff members. You are free to send in reports, requests, and questions to the Unclanned staff in that case. If you're in a clan, then the relevant clan staff are your staffers.

So yes, every player has a "personal" member of staff (a few of them), though we staff for a lot of other players as well.