The Mystics

[Graves]

You are partially right Eskel, but what I was pointing at was that consistently througout the ages of Thera, the Mystics have had a backstage role in the game. They created alliances, they provided the subtle additions to the mud that isn't obvious, etc. etc. For example, the New Thalos curse had the Mystics in the background either speaking to immortals about what is going on, or providing essential roleplay to ride the mud through such a scene. What I was commenting at was that the Mystics never really did have a good imm to back them up to begin with, and when left to the devices of an incompetent immortal who I shall not name, left the cabal in ashes and dust.

But even when we had an absent imm/leader example Azonere and Zandar, the cabal still had a purpose. They still provided documents/guides on Thera/artifacts and continued to contribute to the game rp wise and cabal interactions. Of course the purpose isn't obvious to the non mystic, but there are reasons to the consistency of immortal visits to the ivory halls. However, you ask for a more defined purpose and I have a couple in mind for the cabal that would keep it consistent and obvious to many. The problem now is the revival of the cabal.

When I left, I thought I left Mystics in a stable state. When I came back, the cabal was no more, thanks largely to the immortal in charge, and the mortal leader. I'm not saying that Ug was a bad leader, I'm saying that there was no one to chain him down. Not to mention what I put down as structural guidelines were twisted enough to make the cabal look like an organized terrorist group.

I hate to be egotistic, but I like to think that I can rebuild the cabal again. I know my ideas aren't the best for everybody, but I know it works. For example, the Knights always had a problem with characters that never showed up or the problem in defining their priorities. The problem was solved by a daily to weekly patrol report about who they purged/cleansed. A simple solution, and it was asking for too much sometimes, but it solved the problem with those that didn't show up enough, and kept the knights from killing evils that were already purged that day or recently.

I've already been turned down by Burzuk and Dav so that's why I'm bring all this up. Just trying to say please reconsider and look at my achievements with cabals. Again, the Mystics will only help the mud and trying to replace it with Heralds will only emphasize the emptiness left behind.

Also, its tough to be back Nydilig.

[Allie]

<flame>
The similariities are striking:
Mystics=Hoarders
Heralds=Hoarders
Mystic=Mushroom/Spring Spammers
Heralds=Bullshit Spammers
</flame>

[Quiet Wanderer]

Atleast Mystics can kill things. Pacifism is really un-fun... Boring.. We need Heralds to be the gossip people they are, and Mystics to be actual historians. Very few Heralds I see on, seem like historians. Also, when was the last time a Mystique came out? When they did, the 'facts' were biased and subjective reports... Heralds can be current event people, Mystics can be historians, if you want to put it that way. Mushrooms are much more cool than bullshit anyway!

[Bones V2.0]

[Kalist19]

The imms here at abdondoned realms have told us before, as I'm sure they will tell us again "This is a dictatorship, not a democracy. Leave if you don't like it". Only way to vote here is with your feet.

[Sebryn]

[Bones V2.0]

[Flying Hampster of Doom]

Thoughts on a new cabal that strives to achieve complete balance with total disregard for their own needs.

[Viggs]

Hearalds should be the Peacful NON pkill RP of the mud ,,Limited to ONE rare to stop hording ,,For the people that just want to RP and RP only ..Gives them lots more time to see whats going on ,follow killers and defenders around to give reps if needed etc etc ..Help newbs access to Newbiechat etc etc ,,Hell NO rares, no real need for them then ,,just a thought

[Quiet Wanderer]

That would stop hoarding, but would then just pin every Herald with a 'KILL ME PLEASE!' sign. The limit sounds better. I don't mean to sound doubting here, but when I first came here, I heard about how busy the IMPs were coding things, and it's still the same things today. I do not know the complexity of the code you guys deal with, but I am a fairly experienced programmer in Java. I have kept quiet about asking the question such as I am going to ask now: How long does it really take to code something like this in? I have never coded with a project this large scale or intricate, but does it really differ so much? I know personal life gets in the way, but in my opinion, I would have religions done before altering LEgion and Knights and what not. Get done first things you'll know will offset the balance, then re-balance it. That would seem to make sense to me. Again, I have no idea of the staffs here personal life and what time it takes up, or what they are involved in outside of AR. Possibly searching AR for a few worthy of IMM status to take over mundane duties while the higher ups deal with the larger issues could help. To kill the flame before it flies, I am NOT suggesting myself. I odn't think I could wield the kind of reponsibility this MUDs staff does. There are my thoughts, no nessecarily on topic, but if this were done, it could possibly make responding to/implementing these kinds of ideas. Just a thought. ::winces and dons his fire-fighter suit, ready for the flames.::

[Bones V2.0]

Agreed. I have no doubt in the skills, or even the effort of the staff, just perhaps the priorities. I think new (or reinstated old) things would breathe a bit of life back into me at least.

Getting people here, or old ones to return should always be the top priority, and new, balanced additions would seem like an excellent draw.

[Sebryn]

With all the talk about Heralds being hoarding, lazy bastards that really don't write anything at all, I've thought about ways to change that stigma for some time.

Problem is, as QW said, if Heralds gave up what items they do have, they'd be even bigger PK bait than they're already perceived to be.

For some strange reason, a bunch of assholes get some fucking hard-on about trying to kill a bunch of non-aggressive characters. They view the Heralds as many people do, i.e. the "newbie cabal." Therefore, since most of them suck and are fairly new as well, they come after the "weak and uneducated Heralds."

Granted, there is probably a roleplaying reason somewhere in there for the occasional PK attempt, but people will come tearing ass after someone with the [HERALD] tag as soon as we (Heralds) log on, just to be able to say that they pwned someone. Just an annoying pain in the ass. People say "Heralds should stop keeping good equipment since they don't use it," but they're not the ones getting ganged and full-looted by a bunch of no-talent pricks.

You don't see the [WARLORD] or [JUSTICE] cabals getting invaded every time one of their members logs on. Why? Because people don't want to face stances or getting [WANTED]. That's crap. Heralds have one small (albeit useful) skill to help with combat, but it's limited.

The reason Jagure and Thibeus were/are so aggressive is that they were tired of that image for Heralds. They wanted to get people off Heralds' asses for once. Instead, now people tell me "wtf is up with Thibeus? He's a Herald, he shouldn't be pk'ing." Alright, if you don't want Heralds pk'ing, then don't attack them. Fair enough? The Heralds will just report on current events and history if everyone agrees to let them be. Sound like a trade?

Yeah f***ing right. The day that happens is the day that Clesa puts down a rack of ribs and says "No, honestly, I can't eat another bite." Ain't gonna happen.

If the IMMs want to make it so that the Heralds can't PK or be PK'ed (which is NEVER going to happen) and set it so that they can't wear rares, then fine... problem solved. Aside from that happening I don't see a viable solution that everybody can (or will) live with.

[Taleroth]

[Taleroth]

Sebryn

[Avendin]

What's the problem here? Heralds have equipment and don't risk it, so of COURSE they will get attacked and by more than just the Herald Head Hunters. Evils have a natural desire for equipment, as it is a symbol of power, which of course all evils desire greatly. Thus, it would be a BREAK in RP for evils NOT to attack a decked out Herald simply because they were a Herald. The minute Heralds got cabal grounds, they became targets. I suspect the level of invasion that goes on right now is nothing close to what it was when the cabal first opened as it was something of a novelty at the time. Somewhat in response, Heralds had a Defender of Legends title/role inside the cabal for those Heralds who wanted to actively defend the cabal 100% of the time and take care of the aggressors. They were required to follow the cabal defense rules that other cabals had, and this system worked out pretty well. We had 1 condeath I remember, but we got some respect too.

More on topic, I think that Herald needs a swift kick in the rear for having drifted so far from their mandate. I believe, though am unsure, that this is mostly due to their new Immortals. Heralds has always invited new players, but lowering standard for entrance was never part of this before. Leadership position usually remained with people with more experience and maturity, back to Rhys and Bulan and before, and even without that (i.e. Craven Moerhaed), the Immortals at least were solid.

I've had my share of Heralds, but I don't think I'll ever play one again.

NOTE -- I myself have never so much as attacked a Herald before.

[Sebryn]

1) The current Herald IMMs don't have a lot of time; that's not necessarily their fault, just a point I'm making.
2) There's no mortal leader at the moment.
3) Even when Heralds (myself included) haven't been "decked" they've been attacked. Evils, vampires, goomba Warlords that have their duel requests denied (by a pacifist cabal), you name it.

I understand the desire for equipment by ANY character. That's not the part I have a problem with. What I do get frustrated about is the incessant whining about "hoarding" by the same people that do the attacking. Granted, killing someone is probably the easiest way to get the equipment that you want... but the reason Heralds started getting decked in the first place was to help stave off the morons that were attacking them when they DIDN'T have any equipment. It's a vicious cycle...

- HERALD HAS NO EQ -->
- HERALD GETS PK'ED (FOR BEING A 'HERALD') -->
- HERALD GETS DECENT EQ TO PREVENT PKS -->
- HERALD IS BITCHED AT FOR "HOARDING" -->
- HERALD GIVES UP EQ/DIES -->
- REPEAT

Do you not see the pattern? And if the Heralds try to go out and build up their image (a la Jagure or Thibeus), then they're bitched at for being "too aggressive" or "not the way Heralds should be." I've received countless tells and notes about Herald behavior... I don't see an immediate solution, but then again I'm not trying very hard.

[Avendin]

Sounds like your RP itself is vacillating. You either make a Herald who is aggressive and who takes the consequences, or a pacifist who wears nothing (like Divsky's awesome one who wore all RP eq) and faces the consequences, or a decked out hoarder who loves his equipment and again accepts the consequences. You need to be rational enough to separate what is in-character and leave it in the game. I understand and commiserate with your frustration, though. I guess I'm not thinking about the current immaturity of the playerbase. Once I get bored of my current characters, I'll make a pacifist bard who is decked out from Wil the tailor, etc. and see what happens.

And if the current Herald imms are inactive, they should be booted. Being an Immortal is a mostly unrewarding, painful job, but if you take it up, you have the power to change the game itself, and that is reward enough to keep you active.

[Clifton]

[Davairus]

You dont care about wearing RP eq because you're a PKer.

[Viggs]

I guess i wasnt clear ,,,Cant the Heralds be flag peacful or Somethign that excludes them from PK ,,,Then all the Do is the RP etc etc..