This comment should be taken as a compliment and I meant it that way. BUT (always a stinky but there) but I don't play often enough to keep up with the goings ons etc.

If I had the time I would play EFU 2-3x more than I do now but I don't. Being really involved and contributing requires time, work and good skills as I'm sure everyone knows. It would probably take me that much time to do so.

So my question is..

If people don't play often enough and therefore don't involve themselves/get involved in plots as a result, then what else would someone suggest for players like us to make the most of the server for themselves and everyone else?

Korilius,

The real answer is...you can't. This server has a number of extremely active DM's, who are doing a great job running multiple plots (As well as spicing up character storylines with a bit of DM loving that comes from their "Wands of Power") So with this being said, keeping up with all the plots is very difficult to do, even for the most active of players. And obviously by design, being part of every plot is not supposed to happen.

However, if you are looking to mitigate the feelings of disconnection with some of the IG plots, I would recommend the establishment of some IG attainable goals and objectives for your character. Then, possibly join a DM/Player faction that is consistent with your character obtaining those goals and/or objectives. Reason being is that oftentimes plots and IG twists are usually documented by members of your faction within their private forum. (Providing the do their part by writing them in when they stumble across them IG). For those of us who have active RL responsibilities that conflict with the ability to play as often as we would like, we could simply go into the forum and read up on the latest changes to the plot your faction is a part of.

Hope this helps,

Domare

Well.. you bring up interesting that things that have been considered but I don't think it would be fair to the DM's and players at large if someone played enough to join a faction but then didn't/couldn't play enough to maintain a good active role and add to the enjoyment for everyone.

Hrmm.. *snaps fingers* I think your input has sparked something I have in mind for a character concept that might be fun for everyone!

Thanks Domare!

A guard faction may be one that might work. You have the support network to fall back on and being part of a (maybe) trusted faction can help in doing things when your pals have outstripped you in levels and you can't do much with them anymore.

Or, you could join a reclusive faction..or make one, or just be a recluse. That way your being gone here and there is sort of something you can explain IC.

Agreed workign with factions and in teh heart of plots is time consuming and can involve a lot of work.

If you don't have the time then I would suggest just putting together different character concepts and see about having some fun and exploring the changes that are constantly occuring on the server.

I have founf that after being heavily invovled in plots and avoiding assassins it can be down right fun to create a new characeter and just live to do some adventuring - make some friends and go witht he flow - doing this will ensure that you catch on to some short term plots that different characters have cooking between themselves.

Look for the smaller plots - a couple of PCs out to seek revenge on another group of characters - look around for the DM run adventures or put together a team and go exploring the underdark for the mystical @ areas - you can have a lot of fun without having to be in the heart of the major plots on the server.

Cheers

first off i feel your pain. i dont play as much as i like, but i may get in 3-4 nights a week @ 2-3 hours. there is always something going on. Forum roleplay can be a good stand in. Doing simple interesting stuff can lead to a payoff if you drop a dm channel message.

Good luck with it Korilius, I to find myself in this quandry as when I log on, I tend not to know that many people or if I do, being only able to play a couple hours at a time a few days a week, I try to look for people to do stuff with for about 30 minutes and sometimes I have luck, sometimes I don't. If I'm lucky I stay on and get to interact and do what I can. As far as plots, that seems to be pretty time intensive and even if a "time limited player" gets to touch one, most of the other stuff wil proceed so quickly when you can't be on, I've found it very hard to keep up. So I guess, just try to be as involved as you can and give it your best shot. Good luck, and if you find any secrets let me know cause I'm feeling the same way. :wink:

There seems to be a demand for people for others to quest with.

By far the most awkward part of this is standing around and looking for characters to quest with. And the HUGE volume of characters due to players having multiple, and in some cases many alts makes introductions and figuring who is evil, etc a pain in the ass.

It seems that there is a void for a type of......mercenary group that hires out to single characters or small groups that need certain classes or jus more bodies to perform quests. This would be a faily easy, loosely aligned connection with very little time necessary to commit once its up. A few leaders of this group could recommend and/or vouch for certain characters for different jobs. They would know "how powerful" // level// characters would be and their basic tendencies and skills.

Kind of a job employment office. And at least loosely affiliated with higher level characters, perhaps even the watch/CDL so that if someone hires a frontliner then stabs him in the back, this organization would be able to go after the baddies.

I'd think that lawful/chaotic wouldn't be a big deal, or even good/evil as long as members were trustable to do the job they are hired to without killing/robbing the employers.

Would crank it up myself if I wasn't playing such an RP heavy character and RL would leave me alone more... :D

Sounds like it is doable, and would serve to form an easy way for individual characters to interact with others outside their faction in a logicaly manner. A LG cleric without detect evil has to wade through all kinds of evil pricks everytime he wants to do anything. Having such a relativlely reliable source of labor/companionship would be far preferable than the relative clusterbomb that occurs now called party formation.

Well, I think it's a good idea anyway. Maybe someone can pick up the ball I'm punting here and run with it.