The trouble with Factions

[Gippy]

I cannot agree that Oro's jaded mockery of a post sums up the limits of storytelling on a persistent world. Oroborous is a shining example of someone who is impotent in PvP but still manages to make the world richer with his excellent characterization and self aggrandizement. Yes, his style revolves heavily around DM support and NPC acknowledgment of his plans, but it is still one way of getting things done. It does not seem like that has been as effective here on EFU:A where DMs have had less time to hold people's hands. The power of EFU:A seems to lie in PC coalitions, and not entrenched NPC factions. No faction right now has some insurmountable consumable advantage or lead. That said, the Stygian Armada perhaps has the best faction support of any faction currently in that it offers one of the only 'safe' places on the island, and full plate. Is that a fair thing to discuss? Yes, it is. Is that some insurmountable advantage? No, it is not. I play on this server because I believe that the stories we can tell together can be truly fascinating and great. It wounds me a bit when I hear my fellow players simplify things to such rubbish.

[wcsherry]

While I am prone to view this train wreck like any other human being that adores watching a collision marked by the ruin of several cars and passengers (in this case posts and arguments) I am perilously close to locking this thread for fear of the direction it might take after the previous few posts.

I understand that you guys love talking about PvP and the PC's that are generally considered to be the most powerful at any given time, but it is difficult for me to see how functional and useful this thread is becoming...

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

I personally believe that all that has been said, will be said, and anything new to be added would be proved to the same point.

It is Cyclical.

Don't get your breaches to high.

If you've a problem with it, fix it.

[wcsherry]

The horse is on the ground, bleeding, and no longer feels pain. Cyclical, yes, that point has been well made so far. =)

[Snoteye]

Really, this is all cyclical.

ohshi-

[VauntedSpirit]

Cynical, imo.

[Oroborous]

Gippy, pvp doesn't build "player coalitions", I've probably been incredibly successful at building player coalitions thus far. Which is why I'm working with two dozen different characters on a coalition.

PvP just gets you a gang of hanger-ons. Its why I don't rely on it to build attention. I just beat people in PvP when it happens.

A successful faction though will eventually require a DM to at least have time to respond to a letter, or do some small in-game work. We have a militia with over a dozen members, but it took three weeks to finally get a DM with time to let us set things up like uniforms and locks. And for a long time, without those simple little things-people took the militia less seriously than they should have.

Because while EfU:A is great for letting players build anything they want in the game world--you still need a DM to make what you build grow into the world.

[Mort]

but it took three weeks to finally get a DM with time to let us set things up like uniforms and locks. And for a long time, without those simple little things-people took the militia less seriously than they should have.

This is really your own fault for being an idealist and refusing the help of well-established neighbouring settlements. When a colony decide to form on a new land, and for some reason they think they are self-sufficient, well, there has to be consequences. This delay and not being taken seriously WAS the consequence of your actions. It's really great that you want to be in your own little niche and not work with any of the tool we put IG, but yes, the Settlement of the Ziggurat is a fledgling settlement that is in a survivor-esque mode which means they have the bare minimum at the moment.

But it seems that you fail to grasp this and blame it on DM inactivity.