The Achipelago so Far

[Cluckyx]

This new foray into the above ground has been nothing short of a very turbulent time for the whole server DMs and PC's a like. There was a lot of changes for us all. Some people left, some people arrived, we upgraded servers and there is still a stunned period that we are finally coming out of.
 The DMs were victim to a series of very unfortunate events that left some of them absent while they dealt with real life which of course takes presidence. And now finally, Efu:A finally starts to be taking pace as the PW server it's supposed to be.
 But there is something happening, or rather, a lack of something happening, that is starting to concern me. Is that people are starting to slip into the old routines that people saw before the switch.
 One of the things I seem to remember the DMs saying from the beginning,, is that they wanted people to try to build society from the ground up. And we have had some sterling efforts to do so. Orobouros' government, the milita and Ladocicea's beginning trade Goliath, the Malatesas. But from a large section of the server I am seeing an unnerving and somewhat disappointing acceptance of things as they are. ICly, the majority of players are living out of Kingsman's and generally living pretty rough. That aside, people seem pretty content to follow the cycle of questing, returning to the ziggurat, spending their money and upgrading their kit, then going out and questing again. And then complain when the DMs try to introduce structures like EFURS. Why aren't people pushing to build living areas, Setting up trade routes. Generally cleaning up the Ziggurat in general? People say they miss the Spellguard. Make your own Spellguard! With enough effort and input you could have a tower full of creepy megalomaniacs in time. Strive outside from the Ziggurat, there is a whole island out there just WAITING for someone to build a camp, an outpost, a ramshackle shack where you sell potions to wayward questers!
 This server has so much potential as the DMs have essentially given us a clean canvas to paint whatever we want on it. But I wish that we would see more people trying to pick up the paintbrush and do something.

 This thread I hope, is to discuss what you want to get from this server, what ideas you think would rock. Like a linear brainstorm.

 This thread is NOT to complain how you were screwed over my an overpowered faction, or how EFURS sucks etc etc




Go...

[Jayde Moon]

We've been EfU:A for less than two months.

I agree, but there also isn't any reason to rush things!

[Xorisai]

I don't think you're giving people enough time.

I know I have plans.  I know some other players have plans.  They often need time to enact, or need to wait until a DM can spare some time, or need to gather more players to help.

Remember that building stuff is hard, too - the Risers preclude us from building in the docks, thwart the Amaunatori's attempts to repair their temple, and recent battles have torn up other things.  There is progress, but just as you might expect, it's slow and often reversed.

I just think you should give it more time. :)

[Cluckyx]

Well I didn't start this thread for people to defend why they weren't doing things. I wanted to hear what people wanted to see happen. What cool shit they wanted to see build, and formed. Mafia's, guilds, Gambling rings. Just ideas.

 Can't have too many ideas.

[Xorisai]

But that's just my point - people are doing things, they're just not necessarily taking place where you can see them.  Like I said, these things seem to take time.

Personally, I'd rather see this discussion IC/IG - surely characters have opinions on what to build and develop.

[Mort]

I'm still considering us beta... until the end of January. There is TON of work to do, dm-wise, and... yeah.. not enough time to do it!

There are lots of people with plans and it's great to see. There are lots of people trying to be proactive and I wish we had time to oversee and give proper attention to everyone. But yes, the efforts are there.

[Vlaid]

The Gobsquat is offering a stimulus package to new citizens.
 
On a serious note, I think it's a simple matter of not enough groups gaining enough of a foothold to flex their political muscles to create the CHANGE they want. There is, I believe, a large number of players who have unfortunately made characters that fall into their own niches, leaving a lot of factions with less than the number of people they need.
 
I think many are simply trying to re-adjust to the server as well. Of course there is the consumables arms race people are going through...there's very little way around that when you have people at the top with enough consumables to hold off a small army for hours.
 
Maybe it's the randomness in which people are thrown into the Ziggurat, but (at least from my shallow perspective of the twilight hours) it seems maybe people are banding together under factions/causes a bit slower than they used to in EFU. May just be the nostalgia speaking also.
 
But that's my take on it. Basically, just give it more time when the DM's should be more available/new DMs to help.

[Garem]

This is kind of funny. I very seriously considered making a character on EfU-Underdark whose WHOLE purpose was to push people towards factions and do nothing but pursue other people's goals with them and getting others to do the same.

My real point in even bothering to post is that this is not just an out of game thing. Motivation needs to happen IN GAME for these things and eventually, things will catch up!

[PanamaLane]

I think EFU:A is great actually. Things will come together slowly but surely. Beta in the underdark was far more hodgepodge and also a great time. I wouldn't misconstrue constructive criticism for any kind of lack of faith in the DM's and PC's here to kick ass and take names.

[Oroborous]

I do believe some people lose motivation quickly. I don't know if it can be avoided because it is caused by:

A) A lack of DM time to oversee their efforts.

B) A lack of appreciation that their efforts won't succeed in a single week or month or two month period even.

C) An utter lack of DM time to oversee their efforts.

[iBard]

Also, if you don't have any ideas for new groups, join one that's already around. Team good could do with some help right now. Join them!

[Equinox]

Make a druid! ;)

[Kiaring]

The best advice I could give to anyone who is considering making a character right now is this: Do not come up with a concept thinking, 'What could the server use right now?'. Come up with your concept thinking, 'What do I want to play and have fun with right now?


You will find that playing something you want to play is always better than trying to fill a niche (Team Good, Team ABC, Team Merchants), which is something you always have to think of OOC. I'm not saying you shouldn't consider the state of the server, and previous characters, to think of what to play next. But in my opinion, asking yourself, What part of the server needs the most help right now? is the wrong way to go about creating your character. Simply make whatever you feel like playing, and since the character will be imbued by your personal interest, not some need to fill a niche, you will find that they fit much better with the world of EfU - they may even find a niche of their own quicker than you'd expect.

[Gippy]

I like Kiaring's advice a lot.

[Nihm]

There is any number of things I'd like to do in this setting, and the DMs are more responsive and open minded to player-initiated change than I've seen anywhere else.  
For me the biggest issue is always a lack of allies.  Without good allies that support the same cause I know that any attempt to change things will result in getting steamrolled by PCs with more allies and more consumables.  Most of the time this results in becoming enmeshed in a bland web of compromises, questing buddies, and other things that cause one to fade into the background and be "just another quester".
The difficulty of forming and defending a player faction long enough to affect a change is, I believe, the single greatest hindrance to affecting change in Efua.