Atrium time!

[Riev]

While in the past, this role would never have been for me, I admit I'm rather tickled at the idea of a (indeterminate iteration number) reopening of this clan.

I'd always felt Tuluk should have opened the A'jinn as something similar, but this is a great idea. I've liked the Atrium people I've played with before, it just seemed like there was little going on, and similar to the T'zai Byn, what need does someone have of a "Graduate" when they can just "train their own the way THEY want?"

How many times have you hired a Runner Graduate only for them to be absolutely stupid and die within a week? Here's hoping the Atrium can stem that!

[Large Hero]

Let's all give this new incarnation of the Atrium (whatever it will be) a fair shot. Maybe it'll be really cool. The long list of staffers that has contributed is a good sign, I think.

[Veselka]

Is it a "Find Out In The Game" sort of thing to hear about the project and what went into it? If it isn't too revealing, those sorts of Behind the Code things that Nathvaan wrote up were super interesting to read.

[Oryx]

My experience is that it's most fun to find out inside the game world.

I'm thrilled by your curiosity and since we've all been working on this for around nine months, I assure you the changes address almost every level of the clan. That said, I've done my best to stay true to the original flavor.

I hope those of you who are curious find a way to be involved or manage to join the clan so you can experience the differences first hand! I'm incredibly proud of the work we've all put in together. I think there's a real magic to joint effort on a project and that kind of creativity is almost impossible to replicate singlehandedly.

I'm also hopeful for more feedback as we go along. Ideally through the request tool.

[Veselka]

My experience is that it's most fun to find out inside the game world.

I'm thrilled by your curiosity and since we've all been working on this for around nine months, I assure you the changes address almost every level of the clan. That said, I've done my best to stay true to the original flavor.

I hope those of you who are curious find a way to be involved or manage to join the clan so you can experience the differences first hand! I'm incredibly proud of the work we've all put in together. I think there's a real magic to joint effort on a project and that kind of creativity is almost impossible to replicate singlehandedly.

I'm also hopeful for more feedback as we go along. Ideally through the request tool.

Very cool, thank you!

[lairos]

I am pretty excited about this!

[lostinspace]

The one time I made it into the Atrium I found it not at all to my liking and stored that character 3-4 days in. However more aids means more things to steal, so I'm all for this.

[WarriorPoet]

Atrium has never been quite my cup of tea but it has turned out some truly amazing characters. Glad to see the clan getting some staff love and new stories.

[zealus]

Atrium might just be what my current character needs.
Huzzah!

[Cind]

Atrium lessons last a year, right?

There is no way to receive just one or two lessons, right?

I enjoyed what little interaction I've had with Atrium people, it is pretty sweet. I remember a student/teacher stealing ginka pies and other high-end sweets and selling them to the grocer.

[perfecto]

curiouser and curiouser...

Personally I think this is going to bring in a whole new level for standards (once again) which would be ideal.

kudos for all the staff collaboration on this one!

[Hauwke]

Next on my want list: More assholes that do asshole properly.

[Riev]

Atrium lessons last a year, right?

There is no way to receive just one or two lessons, right?

I don't know for sure, but I like to think everything in Allanak has its price. I remember a too-recent character trying to get music lessons from the Atrium, and the idea was at least entertained, for a time. But the Atrium is definitely high-society training, its not a school of separate skills.

I'm interested to see who they throw in, and with what documentation.

[Zenith]

I remember a student/teacher stealing ginka pies and other high-end sweets and selling them to the grocer.

This sounds like an instance of OOC rule breaking. Just like loading up food from any other clan cook and selling it to a grocer would be a bad way to make money.

[lostinspace]

I remember a student/teacher stealing ginka pies and other high-end sweets and selling them to the grocer.

This sounds like an instance of OOC rule breaking. Just like loading up food from any other clan cook and selling it to a grocer would be a bad way to make money.

Sounds like stealing to me, which sounds a lot like a 'get tossed in the arena and have your brains spattered on the sands by a mul' offense.

[Oryx]

Atrium lessons last a year, right?

There is no way to receive just one or two lessons, right?

I enjoyed what little interaction I've had with Atrium people, it is pretty sweet. I remember a student/teacher stealing ginka pies and other high-end sweets and selling them to the grocer.

This would be something to sort out with a Terash in game. Not everyone will be willing to cut the same deal and I like that about them.

As to the thievery, I'm personally in favor of the removal of a hand. It sends a great message. Then we could tattoo a ginka on the stump! I wouldn't want to limit us, though. There are so many good, fun punishments.

[Miradus]

As to the thievery, I'm personally in favor of the removal of a hand. It sends a great message. Then we could tattoo a ginka on the stump! I wouldn't want to limit us, though. There are so many good, fun punishments.

I miss you so damned much.

[Oryx]

As to the thievery, I'm personally in favor of the removal of a hand. It sends a great message. Then we could tattoo a ginka on the stump! I wouldn't want to limit us, though. There are so many good, fun punishments.

I miss you so damned much.

Wherever you may be in the Known, I'll never forget the report/request when we discovered our shared enthusiasm for maiming.

[ExtraPlanar]

Yet another time when I check the GDB to see that a really interesting role call finished a day ago 

Really excited to see this up and running in game!

[Armaddict]

Always been a very 'meh' clan for me in regards to actual contribution to the game.

Looking forward to see if it's been changed to provide more than tea parties.

[Riev]

Always been a very 'meh' clan for me in regards to actual contribution to the game.

Looking forward to see if it's been changed to provide more than tea parties.

For everything the T'zai Byn does for the combat of the game, Terash should do for the socializing. Not just tea parties and curtsies, but politics. Houses in power, how much reach the nobility has. How to make relationships, how to break them, how to appear as one thing, but be another.

The only struggle is that a Terashi Trainee doesnt have daily lessons like Byn Sparring, because every Aide provides something different. I hope that can change somehow!

[Armaddict]

Always been a very 'meh' clan for me in regards to actual contribution to the game.

Looking forward to see if it's been changed to provide more than tea parties.

For everything the T'zai Byn does for the combat of the game, Terash should do for the socializing. Not just tea parties and curtsies, but politics. Houses in power, how much reach the nobility has. How to make relationships, how to break them, how to appear as one thing, but be another.

The only struggle is that a Terashi Trainee doesnt have daily lessons like Byn Sparring, because every Aide provides something different. I hope that can change somehow!

That is certainly one way to see it.  Particularly if you think people need help on being more social, or that we're incredibly short on aides or that aides have too much to do and need proper training for it.

[Riev]

I've honestly felt that aides have actually too little to do, because its never been well defined. They should take meetings in place of their noble for anyone not of a high enough rank, they should make relationships and deals for their noble so that if an assassination needs to take place, its not the NOBLE asking for it. There's so much an aide can do, but each one, each noble, and each house is different.

If I meet a Terashi graduate and they're being nice to me, I'm assuming they want something, but I also assume whatever they want, they're going to make it very worthwhile for me to give it up. Knowing a trained aide to Nobility should open up a lot of doors. Free Byn training, discounted Kadian goods, someone who knows a spice dealer, whatever.

Aides are modern-day Fixers.

[nauta]

I've never Atrium'd, sadly, but the analogy with the Byn I think is more like this: while the Byn does give you big RPTs and combat training, the coolest part of it is that it forces PCs who would not normally interact with each other to interact with each other.  Hence, you get all sorts of petty in-fighting among the cute Runners, and after your year, well, most of your fellow Runners are dead, but those who aren't, share a year of storytelling together, a shared history you take with you, whether it is an enmity or a friendship.  That's great for a storytelling game.

[Armaddict]

Which is my hope; in the past, the Atrium didn't lead to most of that, and thus I'm interested to see what changes were implemented.

If it turns aides into an actual bridge between players-of-action (giving them meaningful things to do) and the social 'bloc', then it turns aides into at least a minor form of content creation.  If it's just something to do for people already set on being in the social 'bloc', then it's still meh.

[Miradus]

There used to be an Oash female aide who had been around FOREVER. She knew everyone, how to make things happen, and was fun to interact with (if a bit too hard to murder).

I don't know anything about the Atrium, but I think staff ought to find that player and hogtie her and drag her over to lead the Atrium's training program. Even if you got to dig up old bones to do so. I have no idea if she's alive or dead.

You give nobles power and they're supposed to "do things to involve others", but they need efficient aides to do so. I think the aide is more important than the noble, in many ways, as the noble could be entirely vNPC but the aide would need to be a player. And it needs to be a good aide who gets out and meets people, makes contacts of all social strata, and does more than just sip tea with their friends in Red's.

We need aides who can sit in the Gaj without getting mad when some rinther talks to them and calling for the guard. We need aides who actually do more than mudsex all day in an apartment somewhere. We need aides who serve as plot drivers for their nobles.

[boog]

...Be the change?

[Oryx]

I can't tell you guys how much I love this conversation. I'm HYPED for you to discover that we've been on the same page all along.

Incidentally, Miradus, that player you mentioned (if we're thinking of the same) was the one who introduced ME to the Atrium a great many years ago. They are spectacular. I'm hoping we can indeed teach more newbies how to become involved on that level.

[Riev]

You'll never pull me back into the city, Oryx! I've tasted the freedom of the desert, and nothing will eve-

Code Select Expand

A ruddy brown mekillot has arrived from the west

... er... are you sure applications are closed?

[Armaddict]

I can't tell you guys how much I love this conversation. I'm HYPED for you to discover that we've been on the same page all along.

Incidentally, Miradus, that player you mentioned (if we're thinking of the same) was the one who introduced ME to the Atrium a great many years ago. They are spectacular. I'm hoping we can indeed teach more newbies how to become involved on that level.

Glad to hear! That means I should be excited for its presence. Cuz I like more clans, and I like more stuff-to-do!

[Cind]

I idea'd the idea that the Atrium could offer private lessons for those with the money and standing to receive them, without needing to be an aide or aide-to-be, and staff came over on the code sidewalk and told me, basically, that this was possible. Not that it WOULD happen, but that it COULD.

[Akaramu]

There used to be an Oash female aide who had been around FOREVER. She knew everyone, how to make things happen, and was fun to interact with (if a bit too hard to murder).

I don't know anything about the Atrium, but I think staff ought to find that player and hogtie her and drag her over to lead the Atrium's training program. Even if you got to dig up old bones to do so. I have no idea if she's alive or dead.

If it's the Oash aide I'm thinking of, I don't think the player has that much time to play. 

...I know because that person is my IC sibling.

+1 for Cind's idea, btw. Back when I played in the Atrium, I didn't see much in the way of lessons happening, though there were tons of other fun RP opportunities. It would be nice if lessons could be had without full membership - and, depending on your timezone and bad luck - without lots and lots of solo RP.

Solo RP weariness is one of the reasons I'm not playing at the moment.

[Riev]

I idea'd the idea that the Atrium could offer private lessons for those with the money and standing to receive them, without needing to be an aide or aide-to-be, and staff came over on the code sidewalk and told me, basically, that this was possible. Not that it WOULD happen, but that it COULD.

Not that it WOULD happen, but that it COULD.

Its a common thing around here. You CAN do it. You CAN do anything you want to. But there are consequences. Sometimes they are IC consequences, sometimes you're tried in the court of Public GD-Pinion. Is it something you wouldn't do, because docs? Who cares! You CAN do it, you just might not be allowed to play ever again!

Atrium CAN offer private lessons, but I bet they'd be expensive, and they probably wouldn't tell anyone it was official Atrium training just in case you turn out to be a shithead.

[AllanakiLackey]

Not that it WOULD happen, but that it COULD.

This isn't one of those cases, not as I've experienced the Atrium reboot.

Back when I played in the Atrium, I didn't see much in the way of lessons happening...

Same with this, though I can't speak for the off-peak experience.

[Fredd]

I aint gonna go into to much IC here but... I may, or may not have heard of at least one PC getting lessons from the Atrium, and wasn't in training to be an Aide.

This may or may not mean: It depends on the person asking, how they ask, and if they can pay something the instructors want. in other words...Exactly what you would expect?

[ShaLeah]

I don't think any GMH is going to turn away sid. I don't really give a fuck what that merc is doing with 10k gem encrusted flail or who lady fancypanties is gonna dress with 6 of the same color gowns, why lord templar needs 52 bricks of tho or exactly what that dorf is gonna do to I mean WITH a life-sized wooden sculpture of an anatomically correct nude female dorf. I care whether they can afford it.

Smart people who can afford instruction on what the Atrium offers should be flocking there to learn it. Especially anyone who deals with the 1% on a regular basis and that includes 16 year old new GMH puppies coming out to play for the first time.  Are you an up and coming rinther with dreams of Templars in your pocket? Get your ass to the Atrium, clean up some.  They're probably gonna charge you 3 times the usual fee but wtf, you need that training.
I remember my come back character played with Dessertman's guilder. He had a pet named Pearl who was a handful. That bitch coulda used some Atrium like a mufucka.

It should become the Byn of smart/classy people if it isn't already, no joke.

[Delirium]

I haven't played in it since the rework, but I remember being desperately bored even for my self-sufficient standards.

Purely social RP is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially not if it's overly restrictive. So I don't think forcing an expectation that people should join a clan mainly for the OOC reasons of populating it are going to go over well.

[ShaLeah]

I haven't played in it since the rework, but I remember being desperately bored even for my self-sufficient standards.

I think that def attributed to the clan failure before maybe?

Purely social RP is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially not if it's overly restrictive.

Definitely.

[Oryx]

I haven't played in it since the rework, but I remember being desperately bored even for my self-sufficient standards.

Purely social RP is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially not if it's overly restrictive. So I don't think forcing an expectation that people should join a clan mainly for the OOC reasons of populating it are going to go over well.

I had the opportunity to play in the Atrium directly before reworking it, and that happy circumstance fueled a great many of the changes. It DID have boring parts! I was also lucky enough to work with several other staffers who had played in the Atrium in the not distant past, as well as many players who were willing to volunteer their best and worst experiences in the clan.

Happily we have no need to force any OOC populating of it, as it's been full stock full of some of the most magnificent players since we reopened the gates. I can't tell you all what a joy it's been to watch you politic and scheme. It's been completely brilliant. I guess this is my kudos to the players who've taken the clan back to life.

You've made me extremely happy. Clans can't always carry on this magnificently, though. A lot of it is due to spectacular leadership. I'm sure there will be less thrilling times in the future, just as in life.

Incidentally, I was the staffer who answered Cind and Shal is on point. Minor Merchant Houses also want to make a buck.