Zigga-Slaves

[Cerberus]

I wasn't trying to turn this into a sex in D&D topic (god forbid lol). My point is that it's not about if YOU (any of us here) think it's fun or "just a game". It's about what the other guy thinks. And on an open server there is just no way any type of sex or serious abuse, no matter what the players involved say, should be allowed. Cybor sex may fun and "just a game" to you, but to the 14 or 15 y/o (or immature old fugger)/(both of which will NOT tell you to stop btw) on the other side of the cybor sex (fun) or cybor rape (not fun) may be being taken personally.
 
If you think you wouldn't say certain things to this player or that player but you would to others... You should probably not be saying them at all, to anybody. In other words, if you are not willing to say (or cybor emote) to each an every player. Then it's you (myself included) that is making it personal! If you say I will cybor with that player and not that one, you should ask yourself; why? You all may not like it but the answer is that YOU are the one that it isn't just a game to, because if it is "just a game" you would be willing to do any type of RP with any player (when youre able to do that, "it's just a game")...
 
PS... I'm not able to do that, there are those of you I wouldn't cybor with, so I cybor with nobody. [shrug]...

[Divine Intervention]

Why don't we just go back to the topic on hand, in all my experience of EFU i've never seen any of these things happen once. Nor do I think that the players here are likely to do that stuff.  So instead of debating things that might happen but probably won't we might aswell discuss the original idea.  Slavery on efu happens and often is a good alternative to FD, the kind of things you've listed are banned in the server rules anyway.

[Cerberus]

Becuase you dont see it doesn't mean it doesnt happen (seen it!)...

[DollarPhil]

Why don't we just go back to the topic on hand

Zigga, please! *snap*

That poor and long held off joke over though, the problem with slavery of unwilling PCs is it's fairly nonsensical. Slaves armed and geared up enough to do quests can easily escape their masters and head to the Docks, and are obviously going to try to. Breaking a PCs will or keeping them shackled until needed would make a concept uninteresting to a player if their PC's master wasn't about.

So, what's needed is reasons for playing a slave to be:[LIST=1]

• More difficult to escape from so that playing a disobedient PC is interesting.
• Rewarding! If players can feel it's taking their character in a  new direction rather than being something close to forced PC retirement, they'll be more willing to be a part of the faction they got conscripted into.

I reckon this could be doable in a similar way to how the Conclave bond encourages cooperation between PCs.  Create a modified Shackles item. Have it apply a Slave Collar that requires both Remove Curse and the Shackles Key power or a high DC Lockpick Check or Knock to remove. This device applies heavy penalties to Fear saves, causes a penalty if your "owner" dies, and the owner can use the Key device to Fear the wearer once a day wherever they are (Punishment and escape prevention in one!). However, it doubles your XP from kills (like an improved Bloody Mess) or has some other significant reward associated with cooperation with other PCs, especially your PC's owner.

Result. Your Slave PC wants to keep their owner alive, unwillingly. By doing so you get to level your PC up faster, which helps your new "allies" but also makes you more dangerous if you *do* escape.  If your PC runs off they are faced with the prospect of unpredictably being disabled every so often, but have a plot to work with in keeping away from someone looking to get them back, and recruiting allies to remove the collar.

[derfo]

Even a simple cage with a minor task or two, the run away option, and a sending upon a player's spawn that says 'we have a cheap slave for sale to prospecting patricians for a hundred gold,' would be an awesome piece of content. Not to mention it seems like an excellent attraction to get people back into the server.

Cool idea, but zero chance of implementation for obvious reasons, so guess it's not really worth the thought.

[derfo]

All the crazy irrelevant bonus propositions are inane, and would just cause people work they don't want to do.

A simple cage area with a minor task or two, the run away option, and a  sending upon a player's spawn that says 'we have a cheap slave for sale  to prospecting patricians for a hundred gold,' or something to that effect, would be an awesome piece  of easy content. Not to mention it seems like an excellent attraction to get  people back into the server.

Cool idea, but zero chance of implementation for obvious reasons, so guess it's not really worth the thought.

[Cerberus]

A simple cage area with a minor task or two, the run away option, and a sending upon a player's spawn that says 'we have a cheap slave for sale to prospecting patricians for a hundred gold,' or something to that effect, would be an awesome piece of easy content. Not to mention it seems like an excellent attraction to get people back into the server.

Seconded...
Perhaps add a level cap where at X level (maybe 4th or 5th) the slave was able to buy their own freedom for those PC's that don't get "bought"...

[Drakill Tannan]

I'm not a fan of tutorials and start-ups. Whenever i make a new character, i automatically look for a real quest to do so i don't need to go erranding. Being -forced- to do errands untill a patrician PCs "Rescues" you sounds terrible. I'd never make a ziggurat-starting PC again without an OOC agreement with another player of being bought right away. Wich is why i don't like it as a forcefull option. You also miss the fact that timezones can be your dread enemy. You log with your new character and -what?- all PCs are docksmen or wild? Screwed.

I like the idea, however, and i also like scottyB's idea.

If you think of it, starting as a slave PC it's a green flag for any patrician PC to include you in any plot he might have, so it's actually very desirable as long as they prefer questing, PvP, exploring and proper action rather than "Whip-cracking" single-area static dialog based crap roleplay. New players might also want to try it because you bascially get a tutor to teach you how to rock EFU:A, who wouldn't want to be RwG's PC's slave? So i would be willing to be "forced to" as long as you where given the IC choice of escaping.

If you explain new PCs what this option is about, some might try it, and i would, too. Something like, on examine:

"Starting this option will have you start as a slave currently on sale withing the main city of the gameworld: you'll start in a tutorial area where you can learn the basics of the game and gain experience and a bit of gold while you wait for a player patrician to purchase you so you are released. You'll also be given the option to escape slavery through a one-time quest, should you tire of waiting or want your character to be an escaped slave, through a one time only quest that leads you to the gobsquat (A secondary city suited for Monster Player Characters and regular player characters alike), the docks (The ziggurat's counterpart major city where slavery is forbithen and everyone fights for the cause of freedom) or the wilds, from where you can reach vilages suited for nature-based player characters (Although this option is not recomended for characters playing solo, since it is very dangerous). Patrician PCs will also be informed there is a new slave PC for sale, so that you need not to wait long if you decide not to escape. This is a great option for new players due to the tutorial area, and the fact that a more experienced PC will be "looking after you" in-charracter (since you're his slave) and will teach you what you need to learn about the server."

Move all the 2-3 quests inside the slave pen, and add proper dialogs to introduce players to EFU.

By allowing an escape-route that is somewhat challening and prefered for groups of PCs rather than soloing, we encoruage player cooperation. If this route allows you to escape to either the docks, the gobsquat or the wilds, people can make docksmen and wildsmen PCs that are mostly composed of former-slaves, making a justified hate for for the styigians and the patricians, as well as allowing MPCs to get an "enslaved" background yet be able to reach their safe haven realistically. It makes the dominion evil and tyranical as it is supposed to be. Also, if we make fredoc to automatically make a new sending every time a new slave player is level 3, it gives patrican PCs an reason to ICly go and buy a slave. Make them as cheap as 100 gold or so, and we're basically giving PCs a free "INCLUDE ME IN YOUR PLOTZ" IC button.

Then again, i'd be in favour of another two portals:

"Start shipwreck"
Wich allows a quick-start character that gets level 4, better equipment and more gold but no tutorial area, and that shipwreaks in the docks, allowing you to skip the slave option should you want to. Make citizenship somewhat hard to earn, though, maybe through another one-time quest.

"Start as a Patrician"
Wich doesn't require an app, just a DM to unlock. Gives you level 4, a good amount of gold (500) and instant patricianship, so that there is always a patrician ready to purchase slaves.

As for the portal lore, we'd just say the armada enslaves anyone who goes through the portal. But to counter this evil fact, we also say that all slaves can earn their freedom, citizenship and eventually patricianship, giving a moral justification to Ziggurat PCs not to be always evil.

How about it?

[Calculor]

lol. I want that to be a troll, but I know it isn't.

[Buns in the Oven]

I wouldn't move any quests. Just add new ones. It's not like you can do them when you are level 4 anyhow. And personally, I would make this a recommended option.

Instead of going around and trying to make some weird friends, ideally, as soon as you start, you are thrown into the thick of things, possibly intrigue, plotting, and that, in my opinion, is where some of the awesomeness of EfU comes from.

Made easy.

[Dr Dragon]

Playing a slave was one of the greatest RP I have done. I am only bummed I cant do it more often and whats worse is one of my chars who started off as a purchased slave was just freed when they bought her it sucks.  ): Id love to play a slave TBH.

[lovethesuit]

If the only option for a new character is to be a slave then I'm just not interested. That's not what is fun for me.

[SkillFocuspwn]

ScottyB's idea, in my eyes, is a fantastic one. We have a mature and sensible player base, I don't see why if we just say they're branded servants with limited rights rather than slaves with none as they are now, anyone worries that PCs will begin viciously emoting whipping their slaves until they cry!

Having a portal that allows you to come in as someone unable to pay their debts in Old Port of the Dominion, Political Prisoners or simply slaves bought from Traensyr, so they can be bought, have their debts paid off or escape fully scripted. I don't know how viable it is to the DMs, but this sounds to me like a very good idea!

[Garem]

I think everyone ought to reread Hack's post.

This couldn't be a better example of exactly what can and will happen. Even between close buddies who can sit down in RL to talk, this can have seriously harmful effects when another player has control over a story that you've put a lot of thought and effort into. Enter the protective ambiguity of the internet, and that rift becomes significantly worse.

That being said, Scotty, I think you've got the right idea and right concerns. So long as the rest of the building crew agrees, a trial-basis for this would be most excellent to give a fair appraisal of how this will work to the benefit of all characters.

[Kinslayer988]

Um, no idea what this has to do with slaves