New sponsored role: Outside the walls looking in

[Dresan]

First all, I'm really happy to see this new clan role being offered, mostly because I'm hoping it'll shine light on some areas of the game that I think are lacking, while at the same time providing some interesting role playing opportunity to players in and around Redstorm.

Some thoughts on the role though:

• The area between allanak and luirs is well done, and the area between luirs and tuluk/morins is interesting as well. However, I've described the area just north of redstorm  clunky at best before and I don't think that has changed. Its not really just the distance or even the weather, though that doesn't help matters.
• Despite the threads on spice in the past, it hasn't really received any quality of life changes that would make it worth while to use OOCly or ICly. This is just my opinion but not sure making it cheaper addressed any of those issues, especially I don't think anyone would have minded it being more expensive so long as it was more convenient and less crappy to use. Definitely feels a virtual vice at the moment.

 
These things don't really detract from the RP opportunities this sponsored role can offer, but again, I'm really hoping this clan will bring some attention to the areas I mentioned.

[Lizzie]

First all, I'm really happy to see this new clan role being offered, mostly because I'm hoping it'll shine light on some areas of the game that I think are lacking, while at the same time providing some interesting role playing opportunity to players in and around Redstorm.

Some thoughts on the role though:

• The area between allanak and luirs is well done, and the area between luirs and tuluk/morins is interesting as well. However, I've described the area just north of redstorm  clunky at best before and I don't think that has changed. Its not really just the distance or even the weather, though that doesn't help matters.
• Despite the threads on spice in the past, it hasn't really received any quality of life changes that would make it worth while to use OOCly or ICly. This is just my opinion but not sure making it cheaper addressed any of those issues, especially I don't think anyone would have minded it being more expensive so long as it was more convenient and less crappy to use. Definitely feels a virtual vice at the moment.

 
These things don't really detract from the RP opportunities this sponsored role can offer, but again, I'm really hoping this clan will bring some attention to the areas I mentioned.

Not sure what you mean by more convenient and less crappy to use. If you're in Allanak, it's not supposed to be convenient, because it's illegal. So having smugglers bring it in would make it more convenient. It'd probably be a whole lot more expensive than venturing to Luir's or Red Storm and buying it directly (or sifting for raw grains) yourself, but convenience comes with a price. As for crappy, no idea what you mean by that. Some have pretty significant coded benefits, some just have coded effects, without significant benefits. Each of them comes with a risk with regards to addiction/withdrawal. Again - there's a price for convenience - even coded benefits.

[BadSkeelz]

I think what Dresan's getting at are that the benefits of spice use still do not outweigh the risks (addiction code, being caught, cost [though this is mitigated these days]). Unless you have terrible stats anyway, spice really isn't something that becomes a key part of keeping your character functional. It's a sometime luxury, not an all-the-time I-need-this-and-will-risk-death-to-procure thing.

Anyway. Dust Runners. Cool clan.

[Dresan]

Pretty much what badskeelz said. Thank you, Sir.

[Lizzie]

I think what Dresan's getting at are that the benefits of spice use still do not outweigh the risks (addiction code, being caught, cost [though this is mitigated these days]). Unless you have terrible stats anyway, spice really isn't something that becomes a key part of keeping your character functional. It's a sometime luxury, not an all-the-time I-need-this-and-will-risk-death-to-procure thing.

Anyway. Dust Runners. Cool clan.

It shouldn't be a "key part" at keeping your character functional, unless you're already addicted to it. But it's certainly more useful than a mere fluff RP prop. Some of it isn't. Most of my characters never touched it, or smoked/snorted it very rarely - there used to be myths about what the different types could do/couldn't do, don't know if those are still mentioned IG anymore. Seems like these days, if it doesn't have a coded advantage, there's no point having it. Unless it's jewelry, which doesn't take up a precious armor-worn slot.

Once upon a time, characters used to actually WANT to smoke spice, and there was a market for it in Allanak, and people in Tuluk smoked it often, as did people in Red Storm and Luir's, and in the Blackwing outpost. People used to sit around emoting the experience, smoke rings, funny shaped clouds, reactions to when it wore off, the whole shebang.

It'd be nice to see a return to more of that.

[BadSkeelz]

I don't wear jewelry because it weighs down the PC (maybe). It is useful for throwing up chaff when a character looks at you, forcing them to spend precious seconds scrolling up to read your mdesc while you flee.

It'd be nice to see a return to more of that.

Be the change?

[BadSkeelz]

"Keep a character functional" was probably a poor choice of words. But I've never had a character that I felt needed to use spice, even if it was just to maintain an advantage.

[Dresan]

Well look at it from a roleplaying point of view.

Its ILLEGAL in ALLANAK. The highlord doesn't want you doing it. You may have a good job, kids, and family. Its not like our characters don't do spice once in a while. However, being an addict is a huge fault, which can be fun to play from time to time, but so is being drunk, being a active thief in a clan,etc etc etc. The PC demand isn't there like it is for armor, water, food, weapons or heck even furniture for our apartments.  


Not everyone is going to roll an addict. Sniffing it now and then for special events doesn't create much demand thus making it a virtual vice at best. 

[Norcal]

The clan sounds amazingly fun!  It is true that for smugglers to have a job there needs to be a market for what they smuggle.  I suppose that will be part of what the clan has to create!  

Wonderful way to make the southlands more alive!

[Lizzie]

The clan sounds amazingly fun!  It is true that for smugglers to have a job there needs to be a market for what they smuggle.  I suppose that will be part of what the clan has to create!  

Wonderful way to make the southlands more alive!

It's definitely a fun clan. It's also not really all that new. Just not very well known

[BadSkeelz]

Deserves more press.

The PC demand isn't there like it is for armor, water, food, weapons or heck even furniture for our apartments. 


Not everyone is going to roll an addict. Sniffing it now and then for special events doesn't create much demand thus making it a virtual vice at best. 

The clan sounds amazingly fun!  It is true that for smugglers to have a job there needs to be a market for what they smuggle.  I suppose that will be part of what the clan has to create! 

Wonderful way to make the southlands more alive!

Solution:

Ban sandcloth in Allanak. Dust Runners gotta pivot!

[nauta]

The clan sounds amazingly fun!  It is true that for smugglers to have a job there needs to be a market for what they smuggle.  I suppose that will be part of what the clan has to create!  

Wonderful way to make the southlands more alive!

It's definitely a fun clan. It's also not really all that new. Just not very well known

I highly recommend the Dust Runner clan.  The documentation is fantastic, the clan staff right now is amazingly responsive, and there's a load of stuff -- just awesome stuff -- associated with it.

RSV is easy enough to survive in.  Just don't do that one stupid thing we all do when bored.

Spice is fantastic.  We should all do spice.  ALL OF US.

[BadSkeelz]

First player to overdose their current PC on spice gets +1 karma!

[Lizzie]

First player to overdose their current PC on spice gets +1 karma!

ODing on spice is easy. Maintaining an addiction is the challenge.

[nauta]

First player to overdose their current PC on spice gets +1 karma!

ODing on spice is easy. Maintaining an addiction is the challenge.

Not true in my experience.

[Reiloth]

The addiction code currently makes your PC nigh unplayable. I had a PC who had to join Kurac and basically smoke every 10-20 RL minutes. While it was a cool plot twist, it completely changed his story, and made his focus spice or die. He eventually ODd on a brick he was supposed to sell.

I think it could be mitigated by having spice wear off while offline. Addiction code seems to kick in rather suddenly due to how it functions. It'd be nice if you could be an addict without it completely debilitating your PC.

[bardlyone]

The addiction code currently makes your PC nigh unplayable. I had a PC who had to join Kurac and basically smoke every 10-20 RL minutes. While it was a cool plot twist, it completely changed his story, and made his focus spice or die. He eventually ODd on a brick he was supposed to sell.

I think it could be mitigated by having spice wear off while offline. Addiction code seems to kick in rather suddenly due to how it functions. It'd be nice if you could be an addict without it completely debilitating your PC.

I can't help wonder if they all get as bad as the 1. I know that the one that's most like heroin... actually makes REAL HEROIN DETOX look like a vacation and gd disney land.

It was so bad I couldn't stand to play the character after they became addicted. What seemed like it 'might' have been a sort of addiction affect on a different type of spice was, I think, conversely too mild, though how long EITHER of them last was just way too much and I agree about having the addiction timer taking time into account without it just being time played but virtual time as well.

[Miradus]

I can't help but feel about this sponsored role the way I felt about the previous Guild one.

So if there are people in this organization right now who are plotting to be the boss, you're just going to bypass all of them and bring in someone new, buff their skills, and give them that authority?

Gut punch to the ambition.

[Jihelu]

I can't help but feel about this sponsored role the way I felt about the previous Guild one.

So if there are people in this organization right now who are plotting to be the boss, you're just going to bypass all of them and bring in someone new, buff their skills, and give them that authority?

Gut punch to the ambition.

Just assassinate them and take over ?

[Miradus]

Doesn't seem like that's a possibility or one of them would be the leader already and there would be no call for a sponsored role.

[nauta]

I can't help but feel about this sponsored role the way I felt about the previous Guild one.

So if there are people in this organization right now who are plotting to be the boss, you're just going to bypass all of them and bring in someone new, buff their skills, and give them that authority?

Gut punch to the ambition.

I don't want to speak out of turn, but staff is pretty good about not doing that.  I would suspect that the clan is void of PCs ATM, hence the role call.

[Miradus]

I'd hope that's the case. It's just never mentioned in these role calls.

"Hey, this clan is dead, so in an attempt to revive it, we're having a sponsored role call."

[Reiloth]

I'd hope that's the case. It's just never mentioned in these role calls.

"Hey, this clan is dead, so in an attempt to revive it, we're having a sponsored role call."

Because that sounds really really good.

Trust Staff. Don't assume. You'll be alright. They don't put out sponsored role calls unless there's a need to.

[WanderingOoze]

Yeah in my experience its generally lack of Pc's, or, just a lack of Pc's who -want- to be in the role of leadership. Not everyone has the desire to be the 'boss'
there's been a couple times I was in a clan that had a good number of PC's when it's leader died, but no one really wanted to take over.

[Nergal]

[spice] hasn't really received any quality of life changes that would make it worth while to use OOCly or ICly

The effects of spice are completely separate from the role of being a smuggler. If we only had GMH clan roles open because their goods and services provided a coded net benefit to characters, the Guild and House Kadius would be closed. Seems pretty silly to do that.

The addiction code currently makes your PC nigh unplayable

Addiction is never permanently crippling (see 'help spice', it's been updated somewhat recently).

if there are people in this organization right now who are plotting to be the boss, you're just going to bypass all of them and bring in someone new

Yeah, that would be pretty stupid. Good thing we're not doing that.