Ghostwise Halflings!

[putrid_plum]

I think they should stay app only to encourage players to play a race that is nearly the same in so many way to one that fits in perfectly with the island.

[Blake the Boar]

I think they should stay app only to encourage players to play a race that is nearly the same in so many way to one that fits in perfectly with the island.

So, your view of application system is encourage players to play certain races?

[MithrilDragon]

Well. Ghostwise are flavored in that they have a history and culture, but the same thing can be said for the many other subraces that aren't application only.

Like the Sun Elves, who primarily occupy the elf-only island of Evermeet. Or the Wild Elves. Or Wood Elves. I listed them separately because despite superficial similarities, they are apparently both distinct and, surprise! app-free.

Then we have the rest of the Halflings. By which I mean Strongheart and Lightfoot. Which again, most people fail to distinguish from one another, despite wide cultural gaps. Still, app-free. You could play a dog-riding cavalryman from Luiren and, oh look, no app!

Oh well, I guess it's not like we don't already have a slew of app-only races that nobody ever bothers with.

[Blake the Boar]

Well. Ghostwise are flavored in that they have a history and culture, but the same thing can be said for the many other subraces that aren't application only.

Like the Sun Elves, who primarily occupy the elf-only island of Evermeet. Or the Wild Elves. Or Wood Elves. I listed them separately because despite superficial similarities, they are apparently both distinct and, surprise! app-free.

Then we have the rest of the Halflings. By which I mean Strongheart and Lightfoot. Which again, most people fail to distinguish from one another, despite wide cultural gaps. Still, app-free. You could play a dog-riding cavalryman from Luiren and, oh look, no app!

Oh well, I guess it's not like we don't already have a slew of app-only races that nobody ever bothers with.

You've got a good point there ...

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

By this argument all creatures can be app free. Don't do it.

[Blake the Boar]

Well, I'm  sure there is a good reason for it to need an application. Maybe the 'feral' thing, but not enforcing  players choose Stargazers.

[TheWastesAreFrozen]

They were made app, to encourage people to play stargazers i believe. The gazers are pretty mucht he same, onyl with faction goals and cool plots. Playing a ghostwise is pretty pointless when they are essentially gazers.

They aren't the same. They are both primitive and have cultural habits that are totally unique. If people aren't interested in Stargazers and would prefer to play a regular Halfling then I doubt it's because of anything but a lack of interest in the Stargazers. Their numbers surely have not gone up since this change.

[BrittanyPanthas]

I kind of prefer applications for most sub-races.  Most people may call it elitist, but it just leads to people spending more time thinking out their character concepts and researching the race.

It makes for a more cohesive tie to the setting we're in.

[9lives]

It's not because Mort likes them more, you dolt.

It's because HOWLAND likes them more.

Take it up with him.

[Kotenku]

I think that leaving a subrace which is rarely played correctly, which can't be given justice in the mechanical confines of NWN, and which is rare already in the Forgotten Realms as application only, is a good idea. I support the change and would like it to remain. It doesn't strike me as lazy DMing.

That's like saying the DMs should leave exploits in the module instead of removing them, and just ban players who make use of the exploit.

I do understand the difference between the situation and the example I provide. I do not, however, agree on any level that requiring players to apply for Ghostwise is Lazy DMing.

Really, there is no excuse not to apply for a Ghostwise if that's what you want to play. I imagine an application literally could be passed if it consisted entirely of: "I want to play a Ghostwise Halfling, because it's a Race I like. Here are some loose details on who my character is."

A case could be made, maybe, about the turn-around time for Applications.

I think, instead, what I would propose is a compromise: Let it be that a player just needs to ask permission to play a Ghostwise on IRC, and get a DM to flag them for entry into the Gameworld in the Starter/Holding Area.

[Mort]

When the server started, we were spammed with ghostwise halflings, because playing naturalistic pygmies on a wild area was a nice idea.

However, Stargazers should be the dominant halfling subrace in our setting as far as we are concerned, hence why this was made to encourage people to play stargazers instead of ghostwise.

Stargazer could become non-app. as far as I am concerned. . .

[Omnihero]

that sounds like a good idea to me but considering I'm one of those app-phobic people it doesn't mean HALF as much... took me a month to get the courage to ask to play a GOBLIN!

[Gwydion]

I strongly agree with Mort.

"Stargazer could become non-app. as far as I am concerned. . ."

If gazers were non-app, it would increase PC numbers and greatly enhance the ability of individuals to pursue faction goals.  This would allow them to be a more viable force on the server without requiring very much DM interaction.

The benefits of playing this app-only subrace which belongs to a minor DM faction that has had minimal DM support are currently far overshadowed by the IC obstacles.  I'll qualify this statement by pointing out that the lack of DM assistance is nobody's fault as the two DMs that would likely have taken care of this were occupied IRL and unable to help out.  

And I will say that the subrace is great fun from an RP perspective, which is why I wanted to play one.  

In short form, if the gazers are to be an integral part of the server - and the DMs have invested a ton of time in their creation and lots of awesome background story - then we need more of them. Or, the few that are approved will hopefully merit more DM assistance and/or interaction for the good of the server as a whole.

Either way, make a stargazer people!  The app will likely be approved, and the Eagle Pipes work now!

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

I strongly agree with Mort.
Either way, make a stargazer people!  The app will likely be approved, and the Eagle Pipes work now!

YES

[Garem]

If they were made non-app, I'd like to see a reason why these xenophobic munchkins suddenly start popping up with greater frequency around civilized areas.

Or maybe the opposite effect would happen, since they would become more self-reliant and we wouldn't see them as often? Both sides of the argument have merit, imo, and should be wisely considered before changing things.