Group / No Group

[TheFarsight]

As for the group invite thing. One way I have seen it done very well was around the first couple of days I joined Sundren.

Drashan ran into Mossclaw meet, I was simply exploring and Drashan soon found shouting insults at gnolls or trying to charm them with beguiling words simply did not work... Go figure.

I ran into Kai and Vesher. Seeing that they were a rather tough group and had little problem with the gnolls, Drashan introduced himself as the Emissary from Waterdeep, and that he was exploring the area. He then continued to ask if he may join their company, to be escorted since he was weaker. So to speak.

Instead of just saying "Hey come along! Even though we just met you and could stab us in the backs or steal our wallets!" Now he would not stab them in the back... but the wallet stealing maybe =P.

The two, questioned Drashan a bit about why exactly he was here, could he be trusted, and so forth. Intill they let him in their company.

Just thought this example may give some idea's to people.

RP your character out for joining groups... If he is a loner, then typically he really is not going to ask someone or accept someone inless he has a dire need for it. Or if he is someone over friendly like some bards. It could be a simple introduction, chat alittle, and then ask, care to have some inspireing music or I can play a war march, could scare away some goblins... or attract them..

And yes Kaley is awesome... only ran into her a few times. But, her tossed in comments add for a laugh when Drashan and Maia are busy dueling insults.

[Sathayorn]

not going to read all this drama, to invite everyone you meet that thinks you can weild a sword is bad roleplay for most characters. Who is to say you are not bringing a banite along? Does it make you a grinder to be a loner? Honestly people, if you arent invitede to a group don't take it personally.

People like you tempt me to make a cleric of Cryic just to kill you all when you're weak, why? Why not! I worship Cyric! As long as I don't leave witnesses you are really not going to remember much of it, and what you do remember could easily be blamed on trauma, possibly paranoia.

[Vichtor]

My personal favorite, as I play a Drow 90% of the time:

"Hello, I was wondering if you needed help down here."

"If I did, why should I accepted it from a Human?"

"Um...because I can cast spells. I can buff you, and it's really hard to kill anything alone."

"Ah, you can cast a handful of paltry spells to augment my performance, but I am doing fine alone. You cannot survive yourself, but you offer your skills to me. It sounds like what you seek is someone to travel with you, and I would not be caught dead affiliating with you, Human. Leave now before I arrange it so that you will never be able to ask such silly questions again"

"This isn't an action server! It's not all about PvP! You can't roleplay!"


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The above has been brought to you by Cluepon express. When you just don't have a Clue; get a Cluepon!

Also, that was an actual conversation.

[Sathayorn]

I hate how people say "its not an action server,m its not about PVP"

PVP has a lot more roleplay to it than grinding and looting, not that that's saying much at all.

Calling PVP bad roleplay is nothing but bad roleplay. "I can't attack him, he doesn't have cleric of bane written above his head" or even worse "Cleric of bane is floating above his head! KILL THE BANITE WHO HAS NOT YET SPOKEN A WORD!"

[undeadsteak]

Oh its worse then just three sentences. in DM events people are just invited at random into the party, and they dont know crap, but they just follow people. They dont bother to ask questions, but they just come in because they know somebody in that group.

[Sathayorn]

Hmm, that too is an issue, though, if the group has an issue with this, they should voice it to the character tagging along, and if the character tagging along does not agree, the group should deal with them.

Now, this may be about one of the "events" I crashed, but I assure you, Faerayorn did have information, as well as his own intentions, he simply needed assistance getting somewhere and there was a dozen or so people headed to the same point for a different reason.

[GodBeastX]

I'm not saying people need to know a book's worth of information about someone, or even anything at all. I mean, I expect some characters to blindly accept any help offered simply because they are partly brain damaged. However, the three sentence pickup lines are terrible. Just try some actual thought with how you introduce yourself to people. Try to bring out your personality of your character before you do anything.

Stealth/assassin type with an ego might walk up to a fighter:

"What do you call that?!"

"Huh?"

"You're running about like a maniac! With all that armor on you'll alert the entire camp! And before you know it you'll be up to your ears in goblins!"

"I can handle goblins just fine, as you can see. I'm standing and they're not!"

"Yeah, three or four here and there... but you're about as inconspicuous as a crater in the middle of a city. It won't take long for the lot of them to notice you and send a whole force, then what?"

"Yeah... I guess you'e right."

"Of course I'm right. Look, I don't normally do this, but if you want to survive this, you're likely going to need someone to pick off the scouts and runners. You don't want them alerting the whole colony."

"Right, and I suppose you're just the guy to do it?"

"Subtlety is my business! XXXX is the name. I've been doing this since before you could likely even hold a sword."

And it goes on from there. Alot more entertaining than the three line pick up. You get the idea the guy is a stealth-based class and the fighter is a younger, less tactical, dude. The stealther gets his name out there. Fighter will likely get his out there. They will get to know each other better along the way, or hate each other, you never know. And you can at least guage his personality not to mention it invents a reason for the two to party to begin with which is the important part. I just want to see people put more effort into the art of party forming.

[Akitsuki]

I strongly beleive "Parties" are an OOC thing so if im fighting with some one i am in there party... so if they charge in killing stuff i invite them... after the battle i RP saying somthing along teh lines of "WTF i didn't ask for your help, and no you cant come with me", kick them from party and continue on my way... or if im fighting with some one much lower level i choose not to party so they actualy get xp but we still fight together... thats my take on it

[Sathayorn]

Grouping is more than just an invite, it is more than just ebing in the party, is is being with the people.

[RynebowBright]

This is likely going to make me sound like a bitch, but here goes:

The reason there are so many "three line pickups" is because if you do try to RP longer then that people tend to make an excuse to go grind. Or, they invite you along just so they can get to the grinding. Is this the case all the time? Of course not, I have found some excellent RP just standing around. Does it happen quite often? You know it.

But that is not really the part that will make me sound like a bitch, this is: Having all these threads that are just about how much people suck and how bad they are at RP if they don't do it just so make the server sound rather unwelcoming. Perhaps if we all did a bit less bitching and more leading by example there would be less to bitch about?

Just a thought.

[Sathayorn]

Gonna have to say Ryne is right, tossing words like powergamer and grinder around never puts a smile on anyones face.

And Yes, I do realize I have pointed out some things that in my opinion are bad RP, but only to point out that others were wrong in saying that it was bad RP not to to these things.

[GodBeastX]

It's unfortunately my job to reply with those standpoints. What people don't see is that alot of people MSN me, PM me, send me tells in games, etc about these issues.

"I see blah grinding here!"

"This guy accused me of X."

"This guy is calling me names OOC!"

"Am I grinding if I do X?"

More than you guys will ever know I get messages.

People who don't reply to these threads often message me. They have opinions, they read threads, they just don't reply. I tend to make overly strong replies to kick people's conscience on behalf of alot of these players. I'd rather the whole server unite and be mad at me for spitting forth the hardcore opinion, than to hate one another.

(It's funny how much I talk about banning. We only have like 2 or 3 banned people )

I can't condone threads or actions that have people going OOC and saying:

"Have fun grinder!!"

"You look like a grinder to me!"

"You're just a lousy powergamer!"

So I snap on the defense of these people so these people also know that the opinions expressed by these people in game are not shared by the DM team. At least not this one *Points to himself*. Plus weeks of hearing people be twats to each other makes me more likely to lay it out harshly.

If you guys really need to know if you personally are a grinder, it's very easy. Take your OOC tool, hit "Show me my Experience Rate" and see for yourself. Nobody will see that number but you. It's your personal meter of how far you push the experience system.

Nobody has the right in game of accusing anyone of anything really. On the forums or in the game. If you see it, you tell us and WE decide if it's truthful. It's also near impossible to be a powerleveller now that the exp system is working right. And soon the loot system will be corrected (Baby Steps). The only reason I pretty much snap on the grinding now is so people aren't running dungeons to a point other people can't enjoy it to the extent it was meant to be enjoyed. And people getting unbalanced in wealth.

It's frustrating to decide you want to try your hand at something like the viridale and the same guy is just running it over and over, clearing it out of treasure, spawns, and whatnot in front of you. It's damn frustrating. People can say "Lead by example" but do you honestly believe you're not running it over and over would lead this guy away from the forest? No.

It's the selfishness that leads him to do it in the first place. They don't consider other people might be in line for the place. It's what they can get when they can get it. It's the edge over someone else. Make ME super powerful so I can be greater than everyone else. There's no consideration for other players or what they might want. They hop in parties and steal the loot and run out. Speed run ahead forcing people who want to interact into running to keep up. Then they bring their attitudes to the forums where I get to read about it. "Not enough exp this, give me treasure that, more dungeons here".

And the people who aren't problematic wind up bending over and taking it. "I stopped worrying about getting loot. I just ignore them when they run and try to keep up. I just do something else to go with it so I don't have conflict". It shouldnt' be like that and I'm never going to let it be like that. I'm never going to reply to someone who has to deal with these players with "Just ignore it. Eventually he'll follow the example of everyone else."

So I will be saying powergamer, grinder, power leveller, power builder, ninja looter, leap frogger, griefer, until people finally realize "Damn, son, GBX isn't cool with me doing this. I better stop before I get wtfpwned by the wand of removal."

And to think I used to be alot nicer about all of this. -_-

[Ichbin]

I think its great how everone cares so much! I love this server.

[psycho1976]

Personally I say that to me it sounds like you are doing the right thing there GBX. Truth be told I have been on several servers and the ONE thing I have missed on ALL is this:

An admin with a frikkin' big stick (with nails *grins*) and who isn't afraid to use it.

All you now need to say is "you feel lucky, punk?" and you are my hero

[RynebowBright]

Oh, you missunderstand. I have just as much love of grinders/powergamers etc as you do: None at all. That was not my issue. My issue is telling people HOW to RP. Grinders are going to grind no matter how much you post in the forum about the "how-to's" of RP. And hells yes! Hit them with that big stick!

But, that wasn't even what all this was about. It wasn't "grinding sucks", but "If you don't RP like this, then you aren't really a roleplayer". THAT is what I hate. THAT is what makes the server look like a bunch of RP snobs that grief newbies or those who don't quite get the concept of RP. I didn't think that was the image Sundren wanted, but I am new so what do I know? Except maybe the way a new player would see things...