This new foray into the above ground has been nothing short of a very turbulent time for the whole server DMs and PC's a like. There was a lot of changes for us all. Some people left, some people arrived, we upgraded servers and there is still a stunned period that we are finally coming out of.
The DMs were victim to a series of very unfortunate events that left some of them absent while they dealt with real life which of course takes presidence. And now finally, Efu:A finally starts to be taking pace as the PW server it's supposed to be.
But there is something happening, or rather, a lack of something happening, that is starting to concern me. Is that people are starting to slip into the old routines that people saw before the switch.
One of the things I seem to remember the DMs saying from the beginning,, is that they wanted people to try to build society from the ground up. And we have had some sterling efforts to do so. Orobouros' government, the milita and Ladocicea's beginning trade Goliath, the Malatesas. But from a large section of the server I am seeing an unnerving and somewhat disappointing acceptance of things as they are. ICly, the majority of players are living out of Kingsman's and generally living pretty rough. That aside, people seem pretty content to follow the cycle of questing, returning to the ziggurat, spending their money and upgrading their kit, then going out and questing again. And then complain when the DMs try to introduce structures like EFURS. Why aren't people pushing to build living areas, Setting up trade routes. Generally cleaning up the Ziggurat in general? People say they miss the Spellguard. Make your own Spellguard! With enough effort and input you could have a tower full of creepy megalomaniacs in time. Strive outside from the Ziggurat, there is a whole island out there just WAITING for someone to build a camp, an outpost, a ramshackle shack where you sell potions to wayward questers!
This server has so much potential as the DMs have essentially given us a clean canvas to paint whatever we want on it. But I wish that we would see more people trying to pick up the paintbrush and do something.
This thread I hope, is to discuss what you want to get from this server, what ideas you think would rock. Like a linear brainstorm.
This thread is NOT to complain how you were screwed over my an overpowered faction, or how EFURS sucks etc etc
Go...
We've been EfU:A for less than two months.
I agree, but there also isn't any reason to rush things!
I don't think you're giving people enough time.
I know I have plans. I know some other players have plans. They often need time to enact, or need to wait until a DM can spare some time, or need to gather more players to help.
Remember that building stuff is hard, too - the Risers preclude us from building in the docks, thwart the Amaunatori's attempts to repair their temple, and recent battles have torn up other things. There is progress, but just as you might expect, it's slow and often reversed.
I just think you should give it more time. :)
Well I didn't start this thread for people to defend why they weren't doing things. I wanted to hear what people wanted to see happen. What cool shit they wanted to see build, and formed. Mafia's, guilds, Gambling rings. Just ideas.
Can't have too many ideas.
But that's just my point - people are doing things, they're just not necessarily taking place where you can see them. Like I said, these things seem to take time.
Personally, I'd rather see this discussion IC/IG - surely characters have opinions on what to build and develop.
I'm still considering us beta... until the end of January. There is TON of work to do, dm-wise, and... yeah.. not enough time to do it!
There are lots of people with plans and it's great to see. There are lots of people trying to be proactive and I wish we had time to oversee and give proper attention to everyone. But yes, the efforts are there.
The Gobsquat is offering a stimulus package to new citizens.
On a serious note, I think it's a simple matter of not enough groups gaining enough of a foothold to flex their political muscles to create the CHANGE they want. There is, I believe, a large number of players who have unfortunately made characters that fall into their own niches, leaving a lot of factions with less than the number of people they need.
I think many are simply trying to re-adjust to the server as well. Of course there is the consumables arms race people are going through...there's very little way around that when you have people at the top with enough consumables to hold off a small army for hours.
Maybe it's the randomness in which people are thrown into the Ziggurat, but (at least from my shallow perspective of the twilight hours) it seems maybe people are banding together under factions/causes a bit slower than they used to in EFU. May just be the nostalgia speaking also.
But that's my take on it. Basically, just give it more time when the DM's should be more available/new DMs to help.
This is kind of funny. I very seriously considered making a character on EfU-Underdark whose WHOLE purpose was to push people towards factions and do nothing but pursue other people's goals with them and getting others to do the same.
My real point in even bothering to post is that this is not just an out of game thing. Motivation needs to happen IN GAME for these things and eventually, things will catch up!
I think EFU:A is great actually. Things will come together slowly but surely. Beta in the underdark was far more hodgepodge and also a great time. I wouldn't misconstrue constructive criticism for any kind of lack of faith in the DM's and PC's here to kick ass and take names.
I do believe some people lose motivation quickly. I don't know if it can be avoided because it is caused by:
A) A lack of DM time to oversee their efforts.
B) A lack of appreciation that their efforts won't succeed in a single week or month or two month period even.
C) An utter lack of DM time to oversee their efforts.
Also, if you don't have any ideas for new groups, join one that's already around. Team good could do with some help right now. Join them!
Make a druid! ;)
The best advice I could give to anyone who is considering making a character right now is this: Do not come up with a concept thinking, 'What could the server use right now?'. Come up with your concept thinking, 'What do I want to play and have fun with right now?
You will find that playing something you want to play is always better than trying to fill a niche (Team Good, Team ABC, Team Merchants), which is something you always have to think of OOC. I'm not saying you shouldn't consider the state of the server, and previous characters, to think of what to play next. But in my opinion, asking yourself, What part of the server needs the most help right now? is the wrong way to go about creating your character. Simply make whatever you feel like playing, and since the character will be imbued by your personal interest, not some need to fill a niche, you will find that they fit much better with the world of EfU - they may even find a niche of their own quicker than you'd expect.
I like Kiaring's advice a lot.
There is any number of things I'd like to do in this setting, and the DMs are more responsive and open minded to player-initiated change than I've seen anywhere else.
For me the biggest issue is always a lack of allies. Without good allies that support the same cause I know that any attempt to change things will result in getting steamrolled by PCs with more allies and more consumables. Most of the time this results in becoming enmeshed in a bland web of compromises, questing buddies, and other things that cause one to fade into the background and be "just another quester".
The difficulty of forming and defending a player faction long enough to affect a change is, I believe, the single greatest hindrance to affecting change in Efua.
I look at this thread, and in this thread I wanted to give people a chance to bounce ideas and inspire each other the posts have mostly consisted of:
1. Complaining
2. Reasons why nothing should have to change or change yet
I think my purposes have been misconstrued so I think I will back out for now, feel free to continue this thread for now as you see fit.
I'll take a stab at what your original intent was. If what I state below is something that you have been working toward, think of it as me saying "I think that would be awesome too," rather than belittling your own efforts.
A proud and strong militia, knightly even, that honorably defends the city. Maybe supported by a brigade that is more Watch-like, and spans the lawful spectrum.
A neutrally centered mage's guild with a focus on research and arcane experimentation.
Restore the East ruins as a temple district where a number of churches can vie for power. Possibly with a few smaller shrines that can be constantly competed over by PC groups.
A shady dock-community where thieves guilds, merchant-traders, and other elements barter for power. Possibly establishing the inter-island travel and trade economy.
Dwarves living/mining in the mountains.
An established elven community in the forests.
I can't wait to see what form the (first) government takes. I look forward to having established politicians, judges, and banks, and the intrigue they'll weave.
Now that I see it written out, they all seem like very stereotypical D&D themes. I guess that is what I like. Although what I like most is watching people build, work towards things, struggle between each other, and eventually come up with things that defy my expectations. I look forward to watching us create whatever it is that we can manage, and working through the problems that we face. As always it's about the journey and the adventures along the way.
At the risk of being political: After reading the OP, I thought, "Change we can believe in! Yes We Can!"
Obama for Archipelago 2012. Yes We Can. :)
Erglion is a seasoned RP’er and brings up some good discussion points. I must say that I have been playing full time on this server for the past month and I will be so bold to say it…I am struggling with the server so far. I am not entirely sure what the causes are. I do recognize that the change from EfU to EFUA would be a bit more difficult for me on account of my personal bias in favor of EfU. I personally always especially enjoyed the depression of the Underdark setting.
As for my experiences with EFUA, I have to say that I love the setting and graphics. I can tell the DM crew did a hell of a job setting up quests, areas, plots, etc. Yet, I do not think the player population as caught on yet. For me personally, I rolled up a character that interest me and geared him toward the forgotten flower order. However, despite some attempts over the past couple of weeks, I have not been able to link up with any PC’s or NPC’s in game yet. Even the most thought out character's can lose their luster if your character never finds that click of pc’s to role play with.
I know the back breaking work the DM crew has put into this server in an attempt to keep it interesting for the player base, so I don’t put any of my difficulties on them. My guess is that the player dynamics are still forming IG, which is why I have not seen any roving bands of pc’s with particular agendas. I will keep an eye out.
Domare
Domare, I sympathise. I tried to do exactly the same thing as well, and finally gave up. It's not the end of the world of course, and there are still things about the original setting I miss (I actually liked playing in the Underdark, silly me... :p ) but EfU:a is certainly growing on me as well, and is really still in beta stage. Give it time and I'm sure it will blow our minds.
Sometimes it just takes time for things to get on the way. For example the first dwarf community seemed to have died with it's leaders, an suddenly there's another active dwarf team around. If you've a concept that seems to be a little stuck for the moment, keep it warm in your vault, and pull it ot again when context seems favorable for it.
I think the hardest thing to do is to motivate people to actually help you build something. People would rather quest and earn gold then carve their name into a piece of Ziggurat history.
I myself would rather have my characters name remembered as one of the people that helped spearhead a society forming here. I'm sure that if people saw DM's helping out the people that are making a commitment (which is happening), they'll all be swarming to jump in the action. Thinking they'll get custom loot/ DM exp, of course as Mort said. There just isn't enough man hours in the day to go around everyone and help them along.
This will probably sound really cheesy.
But I've always found good RP to be it's own reward. It's a shame that people are so physical in their desires.
I desire you...physically.
Clucky you secksy beast