Association feedback

[Talir]

Some of you have already taken advantage of the new associations that have been implemented. I'd like to ask you for feedback on how you experience them and most importantly how we can make them better for you, since it's usually going to be left to the players to take advantage of the benefits they bring.

So what I'm mainly curious about:

[INDENT]What do you like and what do you think should be done better?

Is there something missing you feel would help you realize your agenda within the association?

Is there something you dislike about it all?

Other stuff?[/INDENT]

These are not going to overshadow the purpose of the major factions, that I believe will be opened very soon. Great times ahead :D

[lovethesuit]

I have a character in the Mayor's Muster. I'm also just going stream of consciousness here so I'll say any comments I have and hopefully you'll filter whatever is not useful.

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"What do you like and what do you think should be done better?"

I like the feel of the association's NPCs. In general it feels laid back, dutiful, like a close-knit group (band of brothers) but not self-righteous. I like that it is essentially a blank slate without feeling or being "bland", which would be terrible. I also like that there are no alignment restrictions, which I've always felt was more of an OOC thing. Two things that could be done better: first, install more unnamed NPCs around the village perimeter and one in the square. Even just two more would help. This is for the purpose of reporting crimes quickly and also giving the feel of a fully enclosed village, which this is in many ways; second, pick a name for the association members. Although this could likely be done by PCs just as easily. I like Mustermen, though it sounds a bit like mustardmen. Musterer is weird. There's lots of options but right now it's a struggle. I just prefer "Recruit", actually.

"Is there something missing you feel would help you realize your agenda within the association?"

I'd like to see more oppourtunities for the Muster to interact in official ways with Clans Caermyn and Aberdenn, with the Order, and with the Mayor (who I feel is a pretty interesting character from everything I've read.) And maybe not always in a law-enforcement capacity, but something casual or tongue-in-cheek to really put across that this community was existed before we arrived, and people know and communicate with each other.

"Is there something you dislike about it all?"

When people leave the doors open and unlocked. Not naming any nameS, but It's a Definite challenge. So far, I have literally no complaints other than that.

[Asgaroth]

I like how we're largely given our own agenda to work with, and it can be very fun to explore possibilities and mold the reputation of the faction!

[Divine Intervention]

Associations are one of my favourite additions to EFU:M.  Pretty much all of my favourite pc's have been in factions and whilst they are fun they only fit certain concepts.  I like the fact pretty much any concept can join an association and you can still enjoy the perks and allies inherent to that kind of organisation.  They are also great in the fact you can get a pc uniform without spending several thousand gold on very expensive custom armours.

I'm not sure about the other associations but the one thing I think could be improved is a ranking system.  For caermyn anyway it says that NPC's may reward you with higher ranks but an official list for each group would be cool.  Personally I like to know where my character is ranked and who's above and below me as it helps to realise what you can/can't do and who's in charge in a particular situation.  This is especially important imo in something like the muster.  However a nice idea if there are not direct ranks would be a sort of reputation system in that you unlock extra perks as the NPC's take note of you, maybe a special post on the forums which notes how well reputed pc's are within an association.  A lot of the old efu:a factions had pretty vague requirements for reaching "the next level" and I feel that this sort of "Do cool stuff and you'll be noticed" is much more appropriate for the looser associations.  NPC bosses are well and good but higher ranked pc's are -always- around to push plots without a DM.

TL;DR: A better publicised or more specific ranking system either with private, corporal, sergeant etc.  Or a sort of "Whose done the most for us this week" leaderboard system for the associations would be good.

[Nightshadow]

I love it, however, I feel being admitted to them should be similar to joining a DM faction IC'ly, as in, most will require two recommendations for joining. However, not having to app unless you want to advance in rank is very awesome.

[Egon the Monkey]

I have to say that it's good, but I worry about it detracting from PC factions. An Association has the advantages of an established PC faction. Easy recruitment, a bigger sandbox feel, HQ. They also have guaranteed DM interest, and uniforms.

Understandably there's going to be a rush on them as people want to see, but there's suddenly a huge number of PCs in the Muster, and it's still growing. Feels kind of overwhelming.

[lovethesuit]

It's actually shrinking, if yesterday is an indication we lost 5 people due to a variety of circumstances.

[morva]

As the Muster should be. People die off all the time because of the duties of the job.

[derfo]

Associations are grand, I feel like the group colors of some should be more distinct from each other though.

[Barber]

Drastically different and easily identifiable group colors would be nice.  We have a dark, gritty setting, but it is hard to tell the difference between the factions at a glance.

[Garem]

Given the quasi-nordic theme of Mistlocke, Hirdsman (lower rank) and Huscarl (veteran rank) may be appropriate titles for the men of the Muster.

[lovethesuit]

I like the idea of Recruit for recruits because it's kind-of a put down, and Gendarme (gentleman-at-armes) for first-rank officers because it indicates how polite and societal everything about Mistlocke is. Even our guards are "gentlemen".

[Howlando]

Different uniforms is definitely on the list.

[Jaws That Thirst]

Nordic? Try Celtic.

[Porkolt]

I was reminded of Novgorod.