The Order faction discussion

[Caddies]

I honestly don't think its all as bad as some people are making it out. I always thought the Order's position on the fringe was actually appealing, leaving their rise in the Colony at large something PCs can work towards. I also pretty much entirely disagree with the claim that the Order is too 'exclusive'. The Spellguard demanded a human LN/LE wizard, that's it. The Order can (from my understanding) have LG/LN/NG characters who can be fighters, paladins, clerics, rangers...the fact you have to worship one of three (or four, I think?) gods is somewhat superfluous, as most goodly-aligned human characters will probably have one of those gods anyway.

The only thing that is sort of confusing at times with regard to interfactional relationships is the overlap between the Stygians and House Sharboneth, as mentioned above. This is sort of off-topic, though!

[SkillFocuspwn]

Things like the Badges, little official signs of how well you're doing, would be cool! I feel things like that should be added to all factions, just as little goals for characters to work towards and for seperate faction PCs to fight / compete over.

[The Crimson Magician]

Something more proactive. More wiping out the last remnants of the Orcan Horde. More giving the Sharboneth Guards and Stygian Armada a hard shove once in a while, when they pull something naughty.

In short, more DM Plots with them, more conflict.

[VanillaPudding]

I think that all this faction really needs is some fresh concepts with motivated players behind them really trying to make the Order shine. The Order has a direction, in short, but really needs some people to push it along with their own agendas. There is an awesome PRC associated with paladins, the gray guard, that could really be cool to see in action within the Order.

They really just need a nudge in a good direction, be it more fanatical in their ways (as hinted at by Dan, I believe) or become very political and involved with the courts, which is quite fitting of their deities - maybe both ?!

[Random_White_Guy]

More giving the Sharboneth Guards and Stygian Armada a hard shove once in a while, when they pull something naughty.

In short, more DM Plots with them, more conflict.

Everything you just described is PC vs PC conflict, Good sir.

Things like the Badges, little official signs of how well you're doing, would be cool! I feel things like that should be added to all factions, just as little goals for characters to work towards and for seperate faction PCs to fight / compete over.

The thought crossed my mind but I think there are better solutions than this for the Order.

They really just need a nudge in a good direction, be it more fanatical in their ways (as hinted at by Dan, I believe) or become very political and involved with the courts, which is quite fitting of their deities - maybe both ?!

There is ideological conflict already. Server politics as a whole are kinda in a transitional period, and the Court system is rather fleshed out as is.

Great feedback! Keep it coming if you could.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

Badges. Lame.

How about an Augment to your blade? Such as a Symbol of Tyr (The order's, anyways) wrapped around the hilt of the blade, giving it +2 saves versus neg energy, and +1 divine dmg?

[AKMatt]

Also in support of the Stygian take-over.

[Takinbymadness]

A lot of the neutrality people might see in the Order comes down to one simple truth... we don't have enough active players. I'm not blaming the players that are in already the faction mind you, but lately we've been plagued with PC  problems, RL interruptions, and in my own case, a trip back home. Which means I have no truly reliable  or comfortable computer to play on.

As for the faction itself, RwG is right, you can fit a vast array of concepts into the Order. Just off the top of my head we have traits in our PC's such as street-corner preacher, rugged wild man, scout, tactician, leader, veteran soldier, field medic, tricks/traps man, knight, brutish warrior, crusader, and skirmisher. Just off the top of my head. This isn't to say we dont need more of these traits... we could always use more... but thats just some of the basic concepts RwG touched on that have been realized and fit in fine.

But really, take my word for it. The faction may seem strange and oddly neutral from the outside, but on the inside you really get to see what its all about. And once you do, you love it. I wouldnt trade my time in the Order for anything.

Except a million dollars.

[derfo]

I don't completely agree with it actually being not that exclusive, I'm definitely of the mind that limiting a faction to a one faith is a plethora more restrictive than limiting it by alignment. Still, I guess every successful faction has to be exclusive to a degree, and while I would reiterate that I believe while the faction's aim seems obvious, it still would seem more awesome to me to be allowing to people with other patrons, so long as that respect that revolves around the Three exists.

In comparing it to the Spellguard, I think that there are a lot of traits, from what I know, that made them seem more successful. Primarily, I think it is a lot easier to be proactive evil than good. They had that more obvious intrigue, political standing, and being an integral piece of the city with a lot more dire aims (not that I believe the Order entirely lacks that, it just doesn't seem to have it to the extent the Spellguard did). The whole precise class restriction for them was sort of remedied by the associates organization, and the fact that Spellguardian mofos could 'back up' the Watch and said associates, or vice versa, during most of it's successful timeframes, from what I saw.

Maybe there could be an associates equivalent in a way for the Order, or I suppose such a concept could be good to pursue for members to further the cult's aims? I'm sure there's probably other things that skip my mind or has yet to be common knowledge! i duno i am just a derf lol

[PanamaLane]

I suppose I should add my two cents. Great Faction. Excellent DM involvement. Excellent plots, intrigue, all the things you want in a faction.

If I had one criticism, I would say its a bit hard to play. I often felt like my hands were tied. LG that works with this particular government is a ridiculously hard line to walk. For me, conflict beneath the surface is never as much fun as on the surface. As an example, it was blatant between the Watch and the Tigeryes, in your face, and fun as hell. Between the Armada and the Order, yeah, there is conflict, but I don't know, it feels a little stale. Maybe I just have more fun at the extremes though, so I don't speak for everyone.

I would definitely recommend the faction as a whole though to anyone. You can play a very broad range of characters. There is a lot of internal struggle that you don't get to see from the outside. The general depth and playing experience you get as a member of this faction is second to none on the server.

[Garem]

Hi guys. Yes, Takenbymadness. My bad bro. Apparently a lot of us have had to cut out.

I agree with Panama. There wasn't much incentive to work against the other factions, but mucho amounts to work with them.

On the other hand, there has always been a lot of internal conflict (although fairly stable) with the Order which gives you a surprisingly large amount of room to be creative with your character and goals.

The problem with the Order is punks who get involved and then totally disappear. Punks. >.>

[KjetilofNorway]

I'm curious, I've just rolled up a Tyrran paladin. Sort of grizzled and grim, so I guess he fits with this? Should I be looking for recruitment officers at my nearest mall? I play rather casually though, so don't get your hopes up.

[derfo]

That seems incredibly fitting, especially the grizzled and grim part, KjetilofNorway. There is definitely a PC or two I know of about currently that I'm sure would love to get you with the program, casual or not, you just need to find him - which shouldn't be too hard at all.

[Egon the Monkey]

You can get on the lowest rung (novitiate) without even an app if you ask a PC in the faction. Basically, look for any PC who dresses in black and spams "grim" into all their emotes :P.

Or drop a note at the Cloister, or make a sending when one's on.