Reputation Amounts

[Doubtful]

There's been quite a bit of discussion staff side regarding new factions, fear not! Things that have been asked for are being worked on.

With regards neutral factions - It can be awkward with fiercely neutral factions to get them involved in world plots and ongoing events, sure they're fun for a quick Monster-of-the-Week (or even Series) but if they refuse to get involved in the world beyond their clubhouse then they'll very quickly get boring and left behind - Or get all angry and annoyed when the world beyond their clubhouse takes an interest in them, after all if you go around supporting certain causes then those who oppose that cause might take it upon themselves to make their dissatisfaction very clear.

Maybe it's just me though - I strongly favour chatty, RP rich and often morally awkward events over monster hunting, a clash of ideals is far more interesting and rewarding than a clash of swords (though the former may lead to the latter) or the tedium of getting the engine to play competitive who-has-the-largest-digit. I know a neutral adventurers guild can have that kind of stuff, it's just so much more of a pain to get them involved.

Anyway, Loot drop stuff is available for all those who want to brave dungeons, faction stuff is available to those who persue their factions, DM created character specific items are available to all those who put in the time and effort required to involve other players and DMs in their activities. If you chose to opt out of any of those methods then that's entirely your choice.

[cmosier]

Slightly off topic... but I'm wondering if we, as players, have been playing Factions correctly? It seems we tend to stick within our own Faction. I'm trying to set it up where other factions get involved. For example, Blackwood is currently hammering out an alliance with the Thayans. Byrun also has a few contacts in <redacted> and <redacted>. Not to mention the unofficial friendships with <redacted>.

That's how I picture it, anyway.

[wangxiuming]

Slightly off topic... but I'm wondering if we, as players, have been playing Factions correctly? It seems we tend to stick within our own Faction. I'm trying to set it up where other factions get involved. For example, Blackwood is currently hammering out an alliance with the Thayans. Byrun also has a few contacts in <redacted> and <redacted>. Not to mention the unofficial friendships with <redacted>.

That's how I picture it, anyway.

That sounds so awesome! But ... these sorts of activities might be reserved for the players of faction heads - at least, the decision of who to bring into the faction's bed should be theirs. I wouldn't expect a lowly Rank 1 to go around negotiating with other factions...

[cmosier]

No, but, "low ranking" members are more than capable of expressing their views to Faction Leads, and have done so quite often. :-) It's also going to take PCs wanting to step up and fill those roles. The Whurest have a system I would love to emulate with Blackwood.

[Doubtful]

Not negotiating contracts, but even a lowbie can make friends (or enemies) in other factions and be involved in actions that may result in being raised up in the eyes of other factions.

They don't even need to be intentionally altruistic - For instance someone from X faction could work on building a great non professional relationship with another faction in order to gain insight for themselves, or sell on to a 3rd faction for advantage.

Sky's the limit really, so long as it's all IC.

edit: Yeah, the dwarves really should be held up as the prime example of how to operate successfully as a player organized group. They do a brilliant job and as a result are great fun to run events for.

[Fuzziebunny]

You know, I really would like to see an alternative for team good. Right now it is sort of limited where they go and the Triad really only accepts only 3 goodly gods. I have seen more than a few good toons that do a lot to forward team good. But they don't follow one of the three so there is no place for them to go unless the AA opens to take more gods.

And really for all this talk about feeling limited in RP I think it needs to be pointed out that negotiations are always on the table. I play a character that toes the faction party line. You don't have to tout the talking points of your faction to fit in. But, on the other hand you should not expect to be in charge of things when you are the one who wants to be different. It is possible to change things if you try. But you need to actually work at it.

[Laurk]

Fuzzybunny, Helm is also in the arbitors alliance, so I guess that's 4. I wonder if it isn't possible to create other spin-offs from the arbitors alliance too? After all, it's not like Helm's church and the Triumvirite have much in common? For example, could PCs start thier own Lathanderite faction and be a part of the Arbitors?

[Doubtful]

The Helmites left the AA and are now a sub faction of Sundren, tasked with keeping a close eye on the hands.

As I said before, we are working on new faction options for a wide range of alignments (the phrases Team Good and Team Evil make me want to shout and throw things).

Once the lore and any appropriate areas are finalised you can expect more information.

[Zilvai]

I remember the days of getting 500-1000 rep for an event. XD

[Aniril_Telin]

I remember the days of getting 500-1000 rep for an event. XD

I don't, before returning to this new system took me 6 months to make 6k rep.

[Fury]

From my point of view, there does need to be changes in the way faction rep works, because at this point in time the only real rep is coming from grinding flags. I may be a fairly poor example since River is actually somewhat "clandestine" Blackwood (I don't even have forum access)- but as Byrun's fiance, she has sat in a number of meetings with him, and had a fairly large role play impact in her contributions, with essentially nothing to show for it reputation wise; whereas I've seen others join the faction and within a week, maybe week and a half get a promotion because they have just done the grind like a machine.

Eh. It seems like whining on my part, and I apologize for that. I just think there needs to be more options for reputation gain for those individuals who are very role play oriented or just have different goals than to be an adventurer, and those options need to be on parity.

[Atmosphere]

From my point of view, there does need to be changes in the way faction rep works, because at this point in time the only real rep is coming from grinding flags.

Make in character plans, put in a character request for your faction and friends, get faction points during an event.

[Fury]

Make in character plans, put in a character request for your faction and friends, get faction points during an event.

I am currently working on something, yes- but to be honest, I haven't really put anything in the character request because, well, I guess I don't understand how that all works, and I didn't want to be a pest >.>

[Rekov]

I am currently working on something, yes- but to be honest, I haven't really put anything in the character request because, well, I guess I don't understand how that all works, and I didn't want to be a pest >.>

I'm kind of in this boat, lol. My old server had a long tradition of never bothering DMs. But in the end, faction points don't tend to actually hold any meaning when it comes to what matters. PCs form relationships and decide whom they trust organically, not based on invisible points.

[Fury]

I'm kind of in this boat, lol. My old server had a long tradition of never bothering DMs. But in the end, faction points don't tend to actually hold any meaning when it comes to what matters. PCs form relationships and decide whom they trust organically, not based on invisible points.

Yeah, my experience in the past is that one who was very busy on the "request" forums got the attenion- of the bad kind. I just didn't want to be that person.

As for faction points, the primary thing is that higher ranking opens up a higher level of gear, which seems important in making you a viable asset to your faction, dungeon group, whatever. At level 18, River is still a *huge* liability to any group because her gear just isn't up to the challenge that the higher level dungeons present. Mind you, the gear situation is an entirely different topic, especially for those who join their faction based on what made sense in RP (which was what the factions were initially for, if I recall), instead of who had the best gear for your class.