Try being Antagonistic

[Random_White_Guy]

So I know there's been a lot of angst circulating regarding at least a fair few factions, PC efforts, and so on. The one thing I want to open this with though is this isn't something new.

On the whole I want to encourage PCs stepping out of their comfort zone to tell a new side of a story. The more people step out of the comfort zone to play those PCs who are antagonists the better they will become at playing those antagonists.  The Cult of Ascension that pops up from time to time, The Barons of the In Between PC , the multitude of gangs from Lower Sanctuary, the epic necromancer cults that arise from time to time and more.

The biggest thing you need to remember is that there's a story being told. If PCs are being evil, PvPing, causing mayhem and ruckus it is because they are DOING YOU A SERVICE. It's infinitely better than running the same six static quests knowing that out there are people trying to tell a story to make things interesting for you. Instead of sitting around the crone, freedom square, or your druid grove you have something on your mind to think about: They're out there. How do I stop them? How do I prevent them from acting? How can I overcome them/disarm them/disband them? And yes, even sometimes How can I kill them.

"Why, RwG, you sound like a madman. How are they doing me a service?" you may be thinking. "I hate getting robbed. Shut up. That asshole and his buddies had way more levels and beat my ass to steal my hard earned stuff" you may be wanting to say. However one of the single biggest draws for EFU to me is the fact that people are able to act in such a manner. Because it advances the storyline without the need of DM involvement and on the whole allows PCs to play the game without DM presence.

Having been a DM I can tell you first hand how draining and grueling it is to try and keep everyone entertained at all times. PC conflict, PC plots, PC efforts, and things like muggings, abduction, murder, pickpocketing, Necromancy, spies, and more add so much spice to EFU.

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Try it

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I can guaran-fucking-tee you that if your next PC you decide to play a monster, a necromancer, a thief, a thug, a bandit, a demon summoner, a necromancer, a Human-Killing Elf, a blood crazed gnome of Urdlen, a Malarite Druid, a Talonite Cleric, a Monk of Shar or any other antagonistic element of EFU it will make you change forever how you look at the server.

After playing even one criminal PC if you go on to play a Watcher or some law enforcement PC you will go "Oh man I hated when that 20 man ganksquad stomped through my front door. How can I do something more fun and stylish and intriguing to make that Lowerman's Cult of Plague more fun".

After playing even one criminal PC if you go on to play a Druid you can ask yourself "Do I really need to be a level 9 Great Druid executing a man for summoning one zombie? I hated when my Infernalist was executed in the Worm Pits for killing worms with a Dretch. How can I take this to the next level?"

After playing even one criminal PC if you go on to play a Harper you can ask yourself "Do I really want to rip off all these files from the forums and PM them to the watchers? I hated when my Cabal of Bloody War of Garagos was ruined when our grand plan to attack Serena Tower was derailed by one opportunistic PC. Maybe I can blackmail them into keeping me quiet  and using those resources to thwart them?"

The beauty of EFU is you can always roll one more PC. Try one more plot. Push one more story. And each time you do it you get better at it and your story telling abilities improve. You learn how to better handle situations when you're provoked, you learn how to better increase the fun for everyone involved, and ultimately you can remember-

That we're people playing a game. While it's easy to go "GRRR I HATE THOSE DAMN BANITES THEY BEAT UP ME AND JIM" and want to FD them in the face over and over with your 45 buddies. You have to remember that You and Jim just ran into the Banites and instead of another tired slog of Fort Dread had some PCs who wanted to try and tell a story and involve you in it.And that the Banites are probably going to die a gruesome, horrible, un-fun death anyway.

Because people don't play EFU villains for the conclusions. You're going to have a shit death. All you can do is try and go along for the ride and give the PCs of EFU something to work against. It's a ripple effect. One bandit PC willing to step outside his comfort zone and beat up an Adventurer gives an entire faction of Watchers something to hunt. An entire faction of Spellguard Auxiliary to pursue. An entire faction of SPellguard Agents to spy upon and monitor.

I write this not because I want to see all of EFU turn into big evil madmen. Traditionally before EFU I never even liked playing criminal elements. I vastly prefer more anti-hero style. There's an intoxicating feel though to know that you single handed can cause so much ruckus on EFU and lead to dozens of people all trying to work against you.

So while it's easy to become griefstricken by the situation you find your PC in, don't judge before you walk a mile in their bloodsoaked Golashes. Try being antagonistic. It'll help put things in perspective for you and help you try to contribute better to EFU on a whole new level.

[Random_White_Guy]

I'll just say here likewise you don't have to do it alone. DMs are often recruiting as are PCs either for prelude style concepts or IG pursuits of all sorts of antagonistic efforts. If you find yourself bored or wanting to make an alt you should try having your primary PC consider one of those options if it's a viable one ICly.

You should never be "Bored" on EFU in my opinion. This forum is full of concepts that can help you spread your demonic wings and soar, grimy thieves to roll with, and so on.

[morva]

Stay Schemin'. Go against the grain. I find it the most fun.

[Valo56]

I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite post on the forums.

Ahem.. But I think everyone should try being a villain at least once. You don't have to be maniacally evil, but perhaps take a concept that is hated even if you yourself aren't aggressive. Such as a wizard who delves into aberrant magics, or a necromancer who seeks to establish a home safe from the Dread.

Being a villain, being hunted, facing your mortality all the time, being on the run and scheming against forces far larger than you will completely change your perspective on EfU.

[Pandip]

Playing a villain or two will change your perspective on the server in a major way, I guarantee it. It'll change the way you treat things IC and OOCly, and it'll likely change the way you talk to people about IC events on IRC.

Would recommend, particularly to anyone who traditionally plays very lawful or good PC's that mostly hang around the server hub.