State of the efUnion

[Caddies]

Its actually pretty easy to get Favored Son. VP and Equinox did it for example.

Stygian is very hard by design. Well worth it though. Its basically like becoming a Lord in terms of IC influence and power (including ability to decide the outcome of capital criminal cases on a whim), not to mention the dope loot.

Generally, few people are promoted because mediocrity isn't rewarded on EFU and it hopefully never will be. You have to really dedicate yourself, and its good like that.

As for plots, unfinished small ones are fairly common (as Howland mentioned, DMs are volunteers, sometimes they lose interest or get busy IRL etc). I do know for a fact though that when it comes to fundamental, big server plots the DMs always have a plan for those, even if their closure doesn't seem immediate or clear to the playerbase.

[Kinslayer988]

About closure and how it feels incomplete is because the DMs want us to complete it.

They want us to try and find ixpadia maybe? Perhaps a stugian has goals to find sharboneth and eliminate them. Who knows what can happen.

[VanillaPudding]

What a ridiculous statement.

Think - the Inner Pier, the current situation in the Docks, the Order/nature factions.  The dwarves/fellhammer hold.

This is part of the problem. No one ever knows how powerful anyone actually is and it fluctuates greatly depending on the DM driving them at the exact moment. We are told they are weakened, starving, this or that, but when they start being tested they are suddenly at full strength and the NPCs of your very own faction nearly begin to vocally support the counter-factions strength!

 Is their force stretched too thin or not? If the Inner Pier matters and the docks control it again, why isn't the fishery booming with business and feeding a ton of people in that area?

We as a DM team, if anything, have been guilty of UNDERPLAYING the influence that NPC's should have.  We've let certain PC power-play events transpire when, in reality, the NPC's power base (Stygians, Sharboneths, Order NPC's) might have been utilised by us in order to quell potential changes.

Maybe these NPC power base factions should start resisting the opposition more rather than their own members, or perhaps they should simply start supporting the characters that do make a big impact. We often only see their strength when they are fighting some sort of big movement from a character, but I think that it might be seen a little too rarely in support of a solid character that has made a noticeable dent in the enemy's position.

[Random_White_Guy]

Stoked to see this blow up so big in such a short time, and mostly stay on topic.

[Howlando]

Not denying that it's happened, but incidents where NPCs have shut down members of their faction in the manner that's been described in this thread should please be PM'ed to me (in terms of squashing PC initiative...). I simply can't think of any.

[Pup]

The only time I felt I got jipped on a promotion was in the Armada.  This was before the "Honors System".  Mort was planning to have Belm and Helder  duel for Veteran status.  I geared to take on my superior opponent.  A while went by, then I had to bow out for a couple of months, Helder was killed while I was gone (he was taken over by The Rot), and when I returned the system was in place.  Everything my char had done counted for nothing and I basically had to start from scratch as far as promotions went.

With all that said, I still loved playing my char, and was really never that upset.  I had great fun with Belm, and would play him again as a lowly Infantryman if I could.  Being a Stygian was THAT fun.  Trenada wasn't even the Duke of Ymph yet.

Looking back I can truly say I was fine with never being promoted in the Armada.

[Garem]

Generally, few people are promoted because mediocrity isn't rewarded on EFU and it hopefully never will be. You have to really dedicate yourself, and its good like that.

I hope that this is a sentiment purely directed towards faction promotion. Within such a specific and specialized position in the server's story, I do understand.

If that statement is meant more broadly, well, I do not want to play on a server that is so elitist it refuses to reward people who don't qualify for top-tier awesomeness. I don't think that this was the author's intent; if otherwise, that's something worthy of it's own thread.

End derail. Back on topic.

Both sides need to remember that perception is reality. Nobody here is an idiot (don't tell RwG I said that) and the comments on the issue thus far have been well-thought out. Yet, they perceive that this is wrong with the server, or this is totally right.

If things being complained about are problems, be sure that it isn't simply a matter of your perspective. Players see big amounts of a small part of the server, DMs see small amounts of ALL of the server, for example. That is useful to both sides here.

DMs are saying that "don't worry, there are resolutions, or were that you don't know about." Their perspective is clearly better on this issue.

Players are saying, "things in factions are not as they should be, or as we'd like them to be." Their perspective is limited, perhaps, but also very focused. Something must be being misperceived, or something is actually imperfect and worthy of policy change.

[Caddies]

?

Considering I said 'promoted' and a major portion of the thread was basically about factional promotions it was very obviously concerning faction promotions. Very unsure how you could imply it might not otherwise be so...

Heaps of (IMO) unworthy people get rewards, from DM quests to DM assistance to DM loot. Simply for bring part of the cohesive entirety that is EFU. If you are a medicore 'regular' you will get rewarded, be it the random DM quest or the secure bonus of longeivity (see, TC).  I don't have any problem with this at all because I know such people will, on the other hand, not get too much support.

--

Perception is not reality. Look the words up. That are diamteric opposites.

Things complained about are 9/10 times not problems, or if they are, they are problems that arise from misinformation.

Players don't see big amounts of all the sever. All they see is what they experience from their own PCs. 100% of everything else is essentially rumor or guesswork.

--

I say this all the time but- all you need to do to truly succeed and be ranked among the 'best' players on EFU is to have a positive attitude and make your PCs while not engaging in speculation/rumors about who has what, what PCs get too much DM attention, or what DMs show favoritism to what players/PCs. If you do any of this you are shit. If you don't you are cool. Doesn't get more basic.

[AceOfSpadesX]

Caddies, you started off by saying certain people are unworthy (presumedly roleplay-wise) and still get rewarded, and then you end your post by saying that to be amongst the 'best', all you have to do is be cool, and not engage in rumors. I am confused.

On topic: I have to say that as a Stygian, I enjoyed the harshness that the NPCs expressed toward the PCs. It makes the faction seem truly elite, your character being a simple rookie amongst battle-hardened veterans. Promotion-wise, I do see merit in having an intermediate rank in the Armada.

[SilentSouth]

One way might be to simply copy NPCs of importance into player accounts of players deemed worthy to be sort of 'semi-DMs' for the server, or possibly retired DMs that still want to play. But again this is a DM issue and all I am doing is giving an example of a possible solution; mine need not be the best or even good.
~tOH.

See this is a really good idea, but as Howland said earlier, there isn't anyone dedicated or talented enough to pull that off. I have come across a few people who are simply amazing at this, but i don't think they would have the time to cope with it.


This thread is just like different religeons, each different post containing priceless information and ideas, and i understand people get angry and sub-conciously fire a few insults out there. But i would class myself as a mediocre player, i know i have improved the time i have spent here, other players put me to shame but that doesn't stop me from thriving to do more, and improve myself as i would class this an awsome hobby; Yet its hurtfull to hear people say mediocre players should not be rewarded, even the slightest hint of attention means so much, for example myself and a few others catching a whale, that ment a hell of alot to me, and makes me cherish the server more.

Craig was right in my opinion, when it comes to simple interation and opportunities to shine, thats fine for anyone, but when its the likes of a very important role such as a Veteran or a favoured son, that should be something worth fighting for, someone said earlier 'Actions to promotion, not promotion to then act'.

Personally i think the DM team are doing fine, but then again i am still a new player, as said earlier it is the holidays and alot of people are busy, it has also only been 2 weeks since the last major incident. NC admitted earlier that NPCs are underplayed and so i'm sure they will do something about that, which i myself have noticed they have been.

Sorry if i went off topic at all, but there is my little input.

[Mort]

I know it *might* not have been the initial intention of turning this into an open trial of the Howland and Co. administration of the EFU world. But resorting to opening a topic that brings good (yet highly touchy) points of feedback is akin to starting a manifestation/ small riot in the streets >_> People that dont necessairly have the good intention of the initial manifestation jump in and have their own agenda for voicing their discontent, and reading this without feeling accused of injustice on this and that or what not is quite hard.
 
So while I agree with some of the points and that this sort-of feedback is good, my first reflex is just to be defensive and call out the riot police to qwell it down and I believe the mode of delivery could have been more tactful then bringing this openly and turning it, in all essence and purpose, into a public trial.
 
Just pointing out that private Q&A might be more sensible if your goal is truly constructive criticism rather than just voicing discontent with the administration with all sorts of derailments and personal issues brought out randomly for the ride.
 
TBH, It's all the 2nd wave DMs' fault! They raised the taxes and cut down on the loot. We're just trying to fix this ever since!

[Listen in Silence]

Being a mediocre (at best) player who's never been promoted in any faction - granted I've only played a watchman and two Stygians - I have to say that I am quite content with the Armada's rank system just the way it is.

Not to be that guy, but this whole thread feels like a bunch of people wanting the cool stuff and since they can't get it the way it is they want the system changed. It's the "Too many chiefs not enough indians" problem all over again.

We can't all be veterans. Come on people! Be like me! Be ordinary!

[PlayaCharacter]

Well, to answer what Mort said, I think the DMs do a fantastic job, I enjoy the company of the players, and I vote with my feet. EfU:A gets 100% of my gaming time. My gripes are longstanding and so complex as to be virtually irreconcilable.

I do still wish y'all would slow down a bit, though (PCs, not DMs).

[Ghost]

To be honest, sometimes I think character success here is misinterpreted as the only way to become a "great" character. A great character is a character who is very well roleplayed, regardless of prominence, success, faction rank, etc.. They could be an in-game failure in the sense that they fall short of their in-character goals, and yet be amongst the elite in terms of how that character is roleplayed.

A successful character within the hierarchies and factions of the setting is not necessarily a well-roleplayed character (although most probably are well-roleplayed). It's just a character that's been successful in chasing whatever goals the player may have gone after for their character.

There's times I feel that roleplay takes a back seat to chasing goals and success, mostly because EfUA is very difficult and competitive between players. The key is, and should always be, having fun and creating fun for those around you...full stop. The rest is unimportant, but draws too much player attention, which just muddles things up and creates barriers to that fun you're supposed to be having.

[SilentSouth]

Being a mediocre (at best) player who's never been promoted in any faction - granted I've only played a watchman and two Stygians - I have to say that I am quite content with the Armada's rank system just the way it is.

Not to be that guy, but this whole thread feels like a bunch of people wanting the cool stuff and since they can't get it the way it is they want the system changed. It's the "Too many chiefs not enough indians" problem all over again.

We can't all be veterans. Come on people! Be like me! Be ordinary!

Exactly how i feel. Someone said something about small minor factions starting off with similar goals, yet they will never join up because some people just can't stand being in a concept, and not leading it. It doesn't matter how experienced in EFU you are, a new PC is a new PC, just because some people know the server inside out, doesnt mean they should always be the main part of every concept.

I actually quite enjoy being part of something, and not running it myself.