Some Blunt Honesty: The Power of Perception ((Outdated, IGNORE!))

[Empress of Neon]

I left EFU a few months back because I felt player agency, in terms of value, was unwelcomed and would be punished in either overt or passively aggressive expressions. Be it ig or ooc. Anyone familiar with the Shinning Hammer Society and what they attempted to do after the withdrawl of the Spellguard can probably make some educated deductions there.

That's not what I wanna discuss though. I came back after a good break because I enjoyed the player community and genuinely missed a lot of he players here. You guys are top notch and always fun to interact with :) I've always enjoyed efu's creative setting, even if the non-stop, melancholic and outright depressing atmosphere can be taxing at times.

Sadly, changes were made to the server that created several problems. Problems which interplayed and were made worse by recurring behaviors that have just completely drained my enthusiasm and excitement as a roleplayer.The first was the killing of the hub. I mean, there's always been SOME kind of hub (didn't get deep into the ymph chapter or the previous island one, so I can't comment on those) for players to interact/get together. Probably one of the best things about the server was politics/backroom deals/the uncertainty of who was your friend or enemy. It made pc interactions interesting and kept everything dynamic in the backdrop of story archs. Those are kinda still there? But it's so hard for people to gather around/do anything anymore unless half the server logs to play 'team this, team that'. Why? Because every single little thing now spirals to pvp-pvp-pvp (for some, merely being a member of one faction is enough buildup in itself). Something I personally have never cared for, but understand it gives a rush/air of constant danger and authenticity to your mortality. This was always kept in balance/check, however, with impressively-done story-archs to complement, an encouragement not to gear towards mechanical power and even a karma system. All of that seems to have gone out the window with a 'Meh' attitude towards everything players do now (or at least, most players; more on that later).

You can't avoid it. It doesn't make -sense- ic not to attract to one of the DM factions (or pc factions which end up as extensions anyway); you're in a lawless hell-hole where your best bet on survival is to nestle in with one of the factions that actually keep a sembelance of safety/order in their territories. The moment you do, you've immediately made 2/3rds of the rest of the population your enemy. Markets are spread. Territories are spread. This leads to fewer player interactions/actual rp if your 'circle' isn't present. Especially since there's so few 'safe zones' to do that anymore (I miss the old square). Encouraging altinidus (the practice of making multiple toons at the cost of staying focused/enriching one's story in particular). The list goes on. This is not in the least bit sustainable or interesting without a player pop to constantly support it. It's not there. Right now, everything feels like murderhobo paradise. Don't kid yourself into thinking that have an impact on player creativity/concepts.

All of this is compounded by another perception that's been growing more and more profound in the backdrop of a decreasing player pop. A general lack of interest/increasingly obvious behaviors from the team in general. One of the things that made this server was amazing was the stuff dms would dish out to keep things rolling/dynamic. They were often inclusive and made the setting feel alive. I'm not entirely sure what happened in the past few months since my last departure, but it's outright impossible to ignore just how withdrawn (Like the Reformed Order :P ) the team actually seems to be these days. Events are few and far between. Seemingly cycled between the factions, because again... there's no hub anymore/everyone not in the circle is an enemy. The team seems to have a priority list for players requesting assistance or apping for something. Even simple attention seems fixated on a few specific individuals which only interplays with the aforementioned topics (very much fostering a sense of 'why bother' for those looking to go roll beyond the current status-quo). Also, if that sounds like an accusation of favoritism...
It is. It's always there on every server; it's just more obvious when there's so little to go on/few to drown it out in the background. And that's strictly on the dms; it's not the responsibility of the players to keep those kinds of checks and balances in place. If there are any, they're failing. Horribly.

I'm exhausted and just so very tired of all this apathy and indifference. Player perception matters; mine is thusly:
EFU's setting has degenerated into an unstable, pvp-focused, static gang-war-themed server. One with little to no dm interaction (if any) outside the scope of a few players (who are understandably, awesome). When the enthusiasm and dynamic components aren't there anymore; when you know everything is being railroaded, regardless of player agency; when you can't even get invested in people anymore because you know they're just more meat for some grinders; I find myself asking the same question again and again (no matter how hard I try to enjoy it).

"Why bother?"

I've played here since I was a teen. I'm crushed to see the state the server's in and where everything's ended up. Between the disastrous decision to cut up the player population into little circles v.s an interactive hub, the withdrawl of the team, blatant favoritism and the never-ending-pot-stirring that's killed any investment in anyone and anything in a setting in which nihilism is already a prolific mindset, I just can't be bothered anymore.

I'm not alone in this state of mind.

I'm going to wrap up some stuff ic and call it a close. Big thanks to everyone who made my time here enjoyable in this iteration and others (you know who you are!).

"You are loved."

[Ziya]

It would be sad to see you go, and a lot of your points strike a chord with me; I have just never been able to articulate them properly, or had the courage to say them so plainly. My personal commentary on this would be:


PC leaders are crucial for any server's health. We need characters like Alice Fairclow, like Statues, Vaughan, Rana, and Blathnaid, to inspire others and push the plot and story of the server.  They added life to this server, painted their hues on the canvas of the server's plots in a manner that was exciting and engaging. One thing about conflict back then? It was classy. I lost count of how many times Vaughan or Basil were captured by opposing factions, and rather than being FD'd, players went out of the way to try to keep the story going and ensure that there is a story.

Recently, that changed, and I blame it squarely on the assassin/stalker meta along with both a poor enforcement of the PvP rules by the DMs and an increasing lack of fucks given to any notion of PvP karma.

First, they are inherently antithetical to PvP karma while are defined exclusively by the notion of 'assassinating'. Can they do otherwise? Sure, they can, but that remains its defining feature, just like how casting spells is the defining feature of a wizard.

Second, they are not merely inherently antithetical to PvP karma, they are naturally and understandably attracted to prominent PC leaders. Alice Fairclow would not have lasted a month under the current meta.

Third, and this is the important bit, because of their existence, they encourage mechanically incompetent PC leaders to either cloister up behind locked doors or layers of loyal followers, or simply retire for a while - rather than be ninja FD'd in the most ignoble of fashion for an assassin to earn a cheap thrill of prominence before going inactive.


The result of which, EoN, is that when you joined, the server has entered a much more torpid, much less exciting stage of its existence. Generally:

Prominent PC leaders have been killed or retired, and the survivors are either assassins that are paranoid of interacting with anybody because they are afraid that what they did to others will be done to themselves, or characters that shield themselves behind layers of loyalty and locked doors. The sudden realization that being in the Grotto or the Blue Mushroom won't save you from hasted augmented fireballs and FD or NPC Agents ordering your FD make players reluctant to even interact at all where they can just be randomly killed. The DMs practically encouraged this situation, so, players now hide in their little faction homes because why wouldn't you? Either that, or they retire, or cease to care.

The alternative strategy now is to abhor prominence altogether. Simply getting on the radar is a good way to be ignobly FD'd. It's safer to just be another faceless drone and do nothing but quest. This is also not healthy at all to the server, and these PCs generally do not entice DMs to care about them.

This is the cause of the current state of the server, though it merely compounds the dangers inherent in splitting the server between the Spellguard, Exiles and Covenant. Ninja FDing somebody has always been easy, honestly. There's a reason why we have [SUBDUED] as an option, because 90% of the server can probably die to a casual hasted double augmented fireball, and 90% of wizards/sorcerers can die in one round to  a surprise-tickle by an unspottable rogue. Due to this, it's better to, well, hide. To hide from the Square or the hubs, and hide in Final Sanctuary or the Vaults or the Safety Zone, surrounding yourself only with your faction's people or be in places where if the DMs are very unlikely to not simply do a smackdown on PVP.

RP needs a critical mass. The more you divide up the player base, the less of that you have.

For all that, we are also shifting out of the meta. Assassin/Stalker PCs are becoming more inactive because it's really dull once you have killed all the defenseless low-HP sorcerer/wizards; and new prominent PCs are coming up that can't actually be assassinated because they walk around in full plate and shield and aren't squishy. Either that, or the squishy prominent PCs are on hiatus or alting until the assassins get bored because hiding behind locked doors is boring.


To be clear, the DMs are not actually inactive at all. Just today, there were two or three spiced quests.

The problem is that factionalism means precisely one faction gets to experience it. A small subset of the server, made smaller the more we divide it, and the more we build walls to insulate ourselves from being randomly killed. It is telling that the last time the server came together for a DM event, it was when Mainanta Notten gathered everyone to attack the Mound, and then, she died. The server doesn't have any more Mainanta Nottens to make it do things and push plots as a server.

Ultimately, DM activity is intrinsically tied to and reliant on player activity. Once you chase away and discourage and weed out all the mechanically incompetent players who are actually pushing plots and writing stories, you end up with a poorer server and a smaller player pool for which to do things. The higher a turnover rate of player characters coming and going, the less motivation there is to make custom loot or do character/faction-specific events, too, because, well, they are just going to die in a few days why bother? It is ironic: in building up for the mythical chapter change, EFU's DM team is now locked to the metaplot that at the same time cannot be pushed forward because the server is actively hostile to the exact same PC leaders who might be able to push the metaplot forward! The DMs are going to have a much harder time pushing the Covenant plot forward if the Covenant PC leaders just retire. The DMs are going to have a much harder time pushing the Spellguard plot forward if the Spellguard PC leaders just keep dropping dead or become inactive.


... hehe, 'power of perception'. Roll perception against stealth please.


I would conclude with the usual: these are just my two cents, I am still having fun on my totally secret new character, the DM-team-is-cool-please-don't-click-kill-me and something about how there would always be imperfections and activity waxes and wans, etc.

[Ironside]

I am going to reply briefly to this and attempt to address as many points (that can be parsed from diatribes) as I am able in the time I have.

My reply will not be decisive and it will likely not satisfy a lot of complaints; given the thread title is phrased as a plea for honesty and bluntness, I will take the opportunity to be both of those things.

We are in a time of low-to-middling DM slash player activity, however I would fundamentally disagree that it has much to do with how the game world is structured. 

A lot of discussion in this thread centers around the perception that the hub world - that is, Upper Sanctuary, is some kind of lawless PvP spree zone.  The reality is far from the case; frankly, we have actually had less instances of high profile PvP murders and assassinations and brawls after implementing the grey PvP free NPCs than we did pre-implementation.  The names Vaughan, Rana, et al are mentioned - as if these PCs were somehow insulated from life-threatening circumstances. 

They weren't.  To some extent, prominence on efu is tied to the ability of a PC to survive a PvP encounter and always will be - that is essential to ensuring that success is a noteworthy and vibrant achievement. 

I want to stress that it's somewhat ridiculous also that the efforts of assassin PCs are being blithely glossed over - as if there is something fundamentally wrong with an assassin existing and succeeding in EfU.  Perhaps that isn't the intention, but it's the takeaway I get from Ziya's post.

That there are PCs who conflict with high profile PCs is a given on EfU.  It contextualizes and gives meaning to the prominent PCs efforts.  Life is not easy on EfU.

As another observation; the phrase "some players are great, you know who you are" just strikes an odd chord with me.  It seems to imply that the poster's "clique" is superior to the "other" of efu, whoever that may be.  It makes me question the motivations behind a post that I am obligated to take seriously - as I take every attempt at honest and genuine critique. 

It is true that DM activity waxes and wanes - this isn't a cataclysmic or world shattering revelation. 

I also object to the idea that DMs run events for a select group of "haves" and ignore "have nots".  When I am DMing, I tend to veer /away/ from people I know well in the interests of providing inclusivity.  I think this entire line of thought laid out in the OP post is really a reflection of your subjective, flawed perception rather than reality - which is natural, and not uncommon. 

RE: Upper Sanctuary and factions, how you interact with members of other factions is really dependent on you and how you intend to roleplay your PC.  We do not encourage faction members to arbitrarily murder the "other guys" - yes, the factions are ideologically opposed, but that has been the case for all of EfU's history.   

I think that while it's likely the case your PC may have been subdued by another faction, it isn't the case that every faction interaction plays out in the same manner. 


There's more I could and likely will say, but for now I will leave this post up.  I may edit it later - or more likely just reply in thread again.

[Ziya]

A lot of discussion in this thread centers around the perception that the hub world - that is, Upper Sanctuary, is some kind of lawless PvP spree zone.  The reality is far from the case; frankly, we have actually had less instances of high profile PvP murders and assassinations and brawls after implementing the grey PvP free NPCs than we did pre-implementation.  The names Vaughan, Rana, et al are mentioned - as if these PCs were somehow insulated from life-threatening circumstances. 

They weren't.  To some extent, prominence on efu is tied to the ability of a PC to survive a PvP encounter and always will be - that is essential to ensuring that success is a noteworthy and vibrant achievement. 

They are, in fact, insulated; they are insulated by the classy graciousness of everyone else. Vaughan has been subdued and captured by the Spellguard multiple times, and freed repeatedly under various guises of 'making truces' or 'diplomatic overtures' or 'hostage exchange'. Alice frankly would have died a lot of times if people didn't go: "You know, leaving that character alive will probably lead to more awesome than just killing her for the thrill of victory". IMO, this is partly IC, and partly because good players, good storywriters, know that sometimes the luck of the die goes against a person in PVP, and a good narrative is not forged by simply killing the one whom you triumphed over but by playing out the rivalry - a live nemesis is the potential for more stories in the future, a dead one is just a truncated tale.

This whole culture of gracious PVP used to be more respected. It was enshrined in the notion of PVP karma. It's even in the PVP guidelines:

Full damage mode should be reserved for when you intend to kill a deserving player character in a significant point in their story. This mode should almost always be after repeated conflict or a significant story event, though can be for something else, such as killing a monster or egregious actions as well.

Don't get me wrong, eventually, Vaughan did get FD'd!

- Is it best to subdual, to subdual-loot, or to FD (full damage) kill?
Has the character (and player) had opportunities to avoid being FD'ed if they've lost? Is the rivalry or conflict sufficient cause that you think looting or FD'ing is justified? If the situation was reversed, and you were playing your character's opponent, would you feel the same way? Has the story progressed to a point where a FD death would be appropriate? Please note: often the answer is yes, sometimes in EFU it's just time for FD time.

I get that PVP karma is nebulous and amorpheous and basically impossible to enforce. It has always been more self-policed. If somebody's a twat who goes around FD-ing people, then people starts FD-ing him willy-nilly.

I do think that recent assassins have not adhered to Howlando's enshrined PVP guidelines, and made the server a poorer place for RP.

[Ironside]

I can understand how the actions of an assassin - one whose profession involves working in subterfuge to end the life of another person - may seem from an outsiders perspective to be somewhat abrupt or mysterious, but that is sort of the point.

I am sorry that your opinion is that an operating assassin devalues the game world in some way; but I can assure you that from my perspective as a DM, the lead-in to every high profile assassination recently has been fairly thorough and well planned out by the PCs involved. 

If I were the player of one of the active assassins, I would be personally offended by the accusation that I am some kind of non-person because my PC killed someone abruptly.   Your opinions are not facts and it would probably be healthier if you adjusted your perceptions by keeping that in mind.

[A Mothers Dying Wish]

If the lack of DM and player activity is really what is bothering you, I'd suggest just waiting it out. It gets like and has been like this literally every summer since I started playing (in 2013!)

Everyone moans that it's dead, that this is the year that EFU finally dies, and then in the autumn everyone sorta files back in and makes the server more vibrant and interesting again once.

If it's still like this in 2 months, I'd actually be worried. Otherwise, it's just business as usual.

The rest, ultimately, is whatever. I like the setting as is, I enjoy free PVP in Upper Sanctuary, and I enjoy that the best way to make your mark in the game right now is to gather up a gang of like-minded morons and have a scrap with some other morons in the streets. Maybe courtesy could be extended more, I'm not aware of how many FDs are going around-- it certainly doesn't seem like a lot but what do I know-- but ultimately tense, nerve-wracking scenarios  are generally when EFU is at it's most fun for me, as a player. Pretty sure I've lost more of these than I've ever won, to boot.

As far as assassins, and the perils of leadership... well, they're a part of the game. Anyone can be a leader, but holding onto that spot, being controversial, being hunted is as much of a part of it as waving around the size of your charisma score.

I can't really comment on player agency. I'm not sure I understand the complaint all that well. The gameworld almost always moves slower than players do, it's a big part of players outnumbering the DM team.

I do sorta miss the more all-inclusive melting-pot DM events that would occasionally spring up that weren't necessarily metaplot related, but a good chance to mechanically test PCs and create bonds or conflict rather than just smashing down bath house every reset and then quietly logging out, and maybe those big stickied plot threads could have moved forward a bit faster but otherwise things aren't really as bad as you've made them out to be. And I say that as someone who has had absolutely no DM attention or interaction on her current PC and hasn't really quested all that much since she got level 8.

There's almost always trouble to be gotten into, new people to meet, ways to make EFU better for the other people around you.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Random_White_Guy]

Yikes, so this was fun to see when getting home from work. So bare with me.

As parts of this thread what feels like a straight up attack I wanted to offer some constructive criticism. People are saying EFU is stagnant, that it's on DMs or PCs not playing.

To me though? That's when PC factions THRIVE. People are bored and want something fun It's when you get crazy groups of PCs with long shot dreams swinging for the fences. And it's when PC crime matters.

When I wanted something done as a DM I could wave a wand and PCs would flock to my events, they'd want some XP, or supplies, or just some non-scripted fun. If I wanted to make some tension? A shout about things being ominous or an NPC threatening faction PCs to get results.

What keeps me coming back to EFU though is that PCs can do the same thing, if they're willing to grind it out and put in the effort.

To address the elephant in the room? Yeah. I'm playing a bastard. So is Itham. So are others. But you know what?

That's EFU baby. As i've told many PCs over the decades i've been playing here Sometimes you get a flowery, flowing, long telling tale where you can shape the world as you please and sometimes you get hit by a bus.

As I happen to be driving the bus lately I'd like to point out a few things.

   
• 1) I can't speak to Itham's actions and I certainly don't want to presume anything but from what I've seen an Elven PC fighting humans? That's not degrading the server. That's playing the role of a disgruntled and traumatized Elf who lost his gods, his family, or otherwise. The server is full of references of elves and violence and EFU has had it's share. A low level PC took a shot at a surrounding crowd of super high level PCs and risked getting obliterated to try and make a name for themselves and stir up conflict.

   
• 2) PvP Karma: Of what? That during a big street fight a no-named figure wanted to make their bones by taking a shot at a big name? If Itham had waited until he was high level or had reputation people would have been shrieking in the opposite direction. "HE DID NOTHING FOR WEEKS NOW HE IS MURDERING PCS".

   
• 3) "Fireballs in the Grotto"? Jean acted in a great many antagonistic ways to draw the ire of a lot of people. At times he reveled in it and seemed to enjoy it. Actions have consequences.

And then there's the big A word in the room. Assassin. The Ninja FD.


Yeah, I've killed some PCs. Yeah, I've threatened a lot more PCs. Yet I've also taken deals, bribes, been threatened myself by PCS and DMs alike into acting against my interests or had to pay large "Fees" to PCs to keep the peace.

I've turned down 8 contracts on PCs in two months. Eight. PCs who were pushing plots, had agendas, had desires to shape the world, had enemies, had friends hurt, or otherwise? They came to me to FD someone. I told them the price was too low, I told them they had done bad business, I told them they weren't someone I cared for, it didn't matter.

It wasn't IC to take the contracts so I didn't. Because Assassin is a role to play. 

And when you play a role on a role playing server you're doing things right.

And after reading this? Yeah. I am offended. Because I've poured hours of my life into creating something, a threat that can be faced when the DMs aren't active to throw Dread or Monster or otherwise at PCs to make folk feel they have something to rally against at the end of the world.

A PC who is helping small scale criminals blossom into something more and giving larger PC factions something to work with or against.


PCs always shriek about criminals, or PvP, or etc.

But you know what? No matter how fun I have made this PC, or any criminal makes their PC, or how involved they get?

Let me add some forum juju to make this point highlighted.
ALL VILLAINS IN EFU DIE in some horribly unfun fashion, either for a Bounty of gold or a Bounty of an NPC or because they beat up a friend or otherwise straight up murdered.

Crime Life is suffering. I can't quest with folks. I can't just hang out and do trade business.  Majority of my RP is with 5/6ths of the server hostile to me, or PCs avoiding me.

And my death will be super unfun, ignoble, and probably result in some PCs in the square i've never met while i'm on the executioner's block trying to taunt or preen around me.

So please, tell me again how anyone willing to do all that, is detrimental to EFU?

Because frankly PC factions and PC Criminals are awesome.

And PC factions without someone to fight against? That shit gets boring fast. I've lead many Factions that have failed because things got boring.

It's sort of why I flipped from Rallying Angsty Paladin to Assassin Scourge.
But everyone should try to play a villain just once. It makes you really appreciate a lot of things on EFU, even if it does lead to some serious OOC drama of PCs yelling at you in tells or Discord talking about ways to crush your build or otherwise really classless acts.

Because it's worth it to see folks IG with something to fight against when the DMs are too busy with RL.

It's a role that's important.

But i'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't looking forward to Kisto dying so I can play EFU with friends again.

[Chiaroscuro]

I don't feel sure enough in my opinions here to comment on the larger discussion. I feel like folks are making some points that I agree with -- I'd certainly be lying if I didn't feel that some of what Neon and Ziya write rings true with my observations -- but I also don't really want to disagree with anyone, and I don't know enough to say. Of course, it's not a zero-sum thing either. Surely we can discuss these things without attacking or feeling attacked by others. It's not the case that because some are right, others must be wrong, or vice versa.

I will stay out of this discussion because my opinions and conclusions are not firm enough. But I do feel compelled to make a brief remark here concerning the specific situation I feel like I'm involved in, since my character has been referenced both explicitly and obliquely.

Even while there may be some truth to the larger points that have been made, I'd like to say that specifically with regards to the PC Rysko Kisto, I think this is simply a case of a PC just being played ICly and just happening to be very good at what they do -- and a failure (ICly, not OOCly) of the rest of the PCs on the server to be able to come up with a way to deal with the "problem". Kisto does generate a "problem", ICly, although it's not perhaps so much a problem as a particular dynamic, that is beneficial to some and difficult for some depending on who you are, and which can also be useful. And this is an ambiguity which Kisto has exploited very well. The more successful he is, the more he can entice people to make use of his services rather than be his enemy.

I appreciate Kisto as a PC and I think he's played very well, regardless of how it affects my own PC. Is he a dark cloud on the IC sky currently? Yes, but he's a villain, that's what he's supposed to be. It can and should be dealt with ICly ... it's just that no-one has been able to thus far.

Sometimes there's a confluence of dark clouds ICly, when there are many competent villains (assassins or otherwise) around at the same time. I suppose a dark setting like EfU is especially prone to this. This does have an effect on the player experience, to be sure. And this CAN get a touch depressing, even OOCly, I recognize that. But we must try to cheer ourselves up, remember it's just a game, perhaps be patient until the stormy weather passes and maybe try to contribute to it passing, ourselves, ICly. (As for the DMs' responsibilities in this, in the case of EfU in particular -- I won't speak to that because I don't have a strong enough opinion, although I will say I find the discussion interesting to follow, and refreshing to see).

As for Bláthnaid getting pinned down and vanishing as a result of her feud with Kisto, and the RP around her being affected as a result -- yes, but these things sometimes happen. And she's a monstrous PC involved in shady things, so I take this in stride. It is also fun in its own way (I'm sure those who've read Bláthnaid's and Rysko's IC correspondence can tell that we both enjoy this dynamic -- even as it forecloses other kinds of dynamic that might also have been fun. That's the nature of the game, after all). I also feel obligated to drop a hint here that while obviously related, there may be other/unseen IG reasons for Bláthnaid's disappearance. (All I can say to those who are curious -- I've been getting quite a few OOC questions about it -- is to FOIG).

None of these specific remarks are to be read as a comment on the validity of the larger points made in this thread, however. I don't feel confident enough to make an intervention in the bigger-picture discussion.

I hope all that made any sense.

[Lannister]

i am just going to chime in and say, please do not be disheartened by a lower player count at the moment. EFU goes through cycles and it always has since I've been here. It will bounce back, it's just people have other commitments at the moment.

[SanTelmo]

 I really want to clear up the bad air brewing on this thread and show a bit of transparency into how I personally do things around here.

My Current Going Rates:

   
• NPC Possession (max 15 min) – 10e (+1e for each minute going over)
• Concept Advice on Discord (max 1h) -  50e
• Discussing Server Rules or Gameworld Atmosphere/Lore to a New Player 15e/hour
• Discussing Server Rules or Gameworld Atmosphere/Lore to a Veteran Player 100e/hour, minimum of 25e charged for any rule breaking requiring conversation of any length
• PvP Supervision (max 1h) – 35e
• Personal DM Loot Piece 50e for the first one, with 50e increments for each additional loot piece beyond the first.
• Public DM Quest (max 3h, max party size 8 ) - 150e
• Private DM Quest (max 3h, max party size 8 ) – 250e
• Epic Public DM Quest (min 4 hours, max 12h, max party size 10) – 750e. Additional 25e will be charged for each custom piece of loot provided at the end of the quest.
• Epic Private DM Quest (min 4 hours, max 12h, max party size 10) – 1000e. Additional 45e will be charged for each custom piece of loot provided at the end of the quest.
• Meta Plot Quests and Interactions 150e/hour
• Server Wide Events 100e/hour
• Other transactions are negotiable case by case.

I believe my hourly rates are quite reasonable compared to what you'd pay for instance when visiting a medical doctor. Becoming an EfU Dungeon Master has indeed taken years of studying, training and mentally preparing for the profession – it is a workplace that constantly requires one to follow the change of tides in the practice and keep up with the new, cutting edge technology.

Sometimes when I have free time I provide my services pro bono. I belong to a group called Dungeon Masters without Borders which is an international collection of professionals aimed to help craving Dungeon and Dragons fans around the globe who may not have an available DM near them or otherwise cannot afford their services. In future we may organize twitch streams to raise funds for this kind of charity so please if you have any extra lying around in your pockets consider chipping in.

Who am I?

A veteran DM of 6+ years with long track record in supervising, handling and running above mentioned cases on EfU over the years. Before I started working as a DM I played countless PCs and one could say I have grown sucking the milk of EfU undiluted since the beginning of the server.

I am known for specializing in long-winded quests that often take over 9 hours or more to drive from start to finish. This however does not mean I wouldn't also enjoy running quests and events of short or moderate. Indeed, often enough the fast-paced and ex tempore quests have been the most enjoyable experiences for both me and the customers.  Rumors about all my quests involving a romance related plot are heavily exaggerated – I usually run something grim and gritty with a hint of laugh on the side.


The reward policies I follow are considered to be average on EfU. I give out treasures and experience moderately when it comes to mid and high level PCs but always try to give some sort of reward at the end of player efforts. For low level PCs and exceptional RP or story wise success I have at times given rewards more generously. The DM loot pieces I provide are said often to be "in balance", and as far as my memory serves, I do not think any of my given loot pieces has ever been "nerfed". On the contrary, I have often enough ended up giving them a boost at a later time. Thus, you generally do not need to worry about your favorite loot piece being taken away after earning it from one of my events.


My blacklist of players to whom I will under no circumstances run anything is quite short (You know who you are) so don't feel afraid to contact me and we can probably work something out.

About transactions?

As long as the agreed sum appears on my paypal account no later than one (1) week after the delivered content, I consider it successfully handled. If you make a transaction in other currency than Euros, make sure that the amount is within 1% of the current exchange rate on https://www.xe.com/ on the day that the money shows on my account.

It is your responsibility to make sure the sum matches the agreed on the day of exchange. Failure to deposit the agreed sum in timely manner will result in 20% delay fee based on the total sum on top of the missing amount. There will be no refunds of any kind under any circumstances. I also accept transactions in bitcoin but the above transaction rules apply the same.

Lastly I want to apologize for not being so active lately but I have recently been a bit sick and enjoying some summer holidays. Perhaps this will change in the coming week depending on how business begins to bloom again.

If your times are not compatible with my business hours (usually afternoon and late night GMT), I can recommend DM derfo as a possible alternative to deal with. He has generally been quite trustworthy when it comes to delivering content although I believe his rates are a bit higher than what I offer. I have heard though that he at times gives coupon codes and seasonal sales so keep an eye out for special deals because those may save you a pretty penny in the long run.


Thank you and I am looking forward to doing business with all of you in the near future!


Special shout-out to jollymole – that cherry cake you sent me was really delicious and really much more than we agreed on. Hope you like that piece I made for you!

[Miraie]

I believe it is still reasonable to be a little concerned about player retention. While there are many things that are already well (interesting people to interact with, a good amount of accessible quests and a solid setting), it is also true that players are heavily segmented into factions and subgroups. With a healthy number of players online, faction enmity might not be an issue. It is possible people might be more inclined to stick around if there was something relatively accessible one could do alone while waiting for others to chance by. As it is, however, there are long stretches of time where I am on my own and cannot do anything meaningful IC. Crafting subsystems and the like might alleviate this.

[Howlando]

I personally very much appreciate the blunt and well-intended feedback offered here and will say for now that I am confident that with time some of these concerns will be addressed.

[Arslefjun]

I disagree that the factions hinder players from interacting with each other.
I've been in one of the factions for a long time now, I spent a long time in other various groups before my character ended up where he is now and I don't see much difference in the amount of interaction I get with other people.
Sure at the release of EE we had 40-50 people on during prime time so you'll see more people. But as it has, inevitably, slowed down a bit since then you can still get out there and find people all over the place.
I think it is also good to take into account that while you role play your character, and someone else role play theirs. It doesn't mean that they are some plague with their lives goal to ruin your day just because the characters do not agree with each other.
During my years here I've encountered very few occasions where you weren't able to talk yourself out of dying long before you actually dropped dead... And as to the "current meta".. Heads used to drop A LOT MORE "back in the days".

[crestfallen]

At the risk of ruffling some feathers-

This feels more like series of bitter complaints wrapped up in the veneer of honest criticism.

EfU has /always/ been like this. Prominent PCs have /always/ been the target of assassins and opportunists. Attacks in NPC areas have happened in the past, and likely will continue to happen in the future. It's not on the DMs or the aggressors to make sure that your PC doesn't fall victim to "hasted augumented fireballs in the Grotto." The onus is on you. Play smart. Play safe. Don't publicly announce where you're going to be and then just sit there unbuffed and hope nothing happens.

I'm not saying that it isn't an unpleasant thing to experience, but it is part and parcel of the game.

But if you do want to get a leg up over the competition, then I can highly recommend Elmo's services. The prices are kinda high, but boy does he deliver.

[VanillaPudding]

I used to write posts like this some years ago and have only a few things to say:

   
• When EFU hits the "low point" of the odd population cycle we experience, try to just enjoy a different style concept. Make a rather simple adventurer, a merchant, or something else that -everyone- likes to be around and enjoy the benefits of. Not every Elf needs to try and restore the Elven pantheon to power, Druid make their own new circle and bring NATURE BACK TO EFU, or fanatical ooze/knight/aberrant/machine thing obliterate the other options and be the first operative / knight champion / great druid / human-ooze hybrid due to intense romantic wobbles of an Elmo quest. Sometimes you need to just make a wizard who REALLY loves his hat, or an idiotic ranger that hunts gargoyles and is overly paranoid of them, or whatever else that is a little outside of the box.

   
• Maybe try to BE like those characters you pointed out. To RWG's general point made, you can really make a big impact as a player faction or independent group concept that is not part of the DM factions. In fact, I bet those players in the DM factions during this time are somewhat wishing that they were not so obligated to the faction "guidelines" and could just go quest / RP /  whatever with more of the server since "nothing is happening" for them

   
• Don't lump me in with great role-players. If anything, I am a blunt instrument that is somewhat hard to kill and very persistent. The Vaughan / Alice of this world are definitely driving forces, but it's primarily because they make a concept that has some conflict built into it (roleplay wise) and they will never let up on it. Most importantly, they ALWAYS adapt to their circumstance but NEVER forget what the idea driving their character is. There is nothing stopping anyone else from doing what they do outside of some vocabulary or mechanical skill (one of them REALLY sucks at mechanics), and those are things that can be learned if you put in as much effort towards it as you do towards writing posts like this.