Originally posted by Rekov
View Post
But importantly, I feel a need to point out the lack of custom setting in this case. Faerun is filled with a variety of races, classes, etc., covering an incredible variety of viewpoints and cultures. We didn't create it, which means it would be fundamentally incorrect to ignore certain races and classes.
That said, these races and classes are specific to certain parts of the world. And it is only in a rare circumstance would they visit the enclosed valley of Sundren. Thus, we wish to keep them similarly rare among the PC population in order to conform to the setting.
This raises the question of how to do so. Should we allow everyone to create any PC they want? Probably not, because then we'd be breaking the setting that we're adhering to. Should we forbid everyone from using them? This would also break the setting, albeit in a more acceptable manner. It is conceivable that no drow, gensai, or tiefling would ever come to Sundren. But the problem there, is that it isn't fun. People like having interesting backgrounds, abilities, and roleplay. Else, why have the setting in Faerun?
We could solve this by removing Sundren from Faerun. Create a completely new world, with completely new lore. There are two problems with this solution. First, the server history would have to be jettisoned. While this is feasible, it would need to be something discussed among the staff and the remaining population. And, quite honestly, many of us wouldn't want to do it because we've devoted literally years to developing this PW.
Second, as I pointed out, Faerun has a wealth of lore and history itself to pull on and we don't have to pull all of it. For example, we're skipping the steaming pile of crap that is 4th edition entirely. Suffice to say, I don't think taking Sundren out of Faerun is a great idea, at least not without almost unanimous agreement among the staff and population.
Thus, we're left with how to regulate these restricted race and classes. And we've found that largely, an application system works. We rarely deny players the chance to play their character as long as they properly develop a background, and the valley doesn't have ten tiefling warlocks running amok (bringing us back to the rarity I spoke of earlier). And in fact we give people as much time as they need to develop a good bio, and wait until the population of particular races to die down to give them the green light.
All that said, we are open to an alternative system, provided it addresses the points I've made and it is acceptable to the staff as a whole.
Comment