In Thorin's defense...

This is a general open discussion for all ALFA, Neverwinter Nights, and Dungeons & Dragons topics.

Moderator: ALFA Administrators

User avatar
Ithildur
Dungeon Master
Posts: 3548
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:46 am
Location: Best pizza town in the universe
Contact:

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Ithildur »

Myk, you'll be proud do know a couple of us very recently have been instilling the fear of Drow into the hearts of PCs once again. 8)

To be fair, it's a bit out of context; ALFA is overall much tamer than it used to be as far as out of game drama (and in game as well to some extent... big changes to CvC rules on their way for better or for worse); we just have to kill this one annoying split that often comes up between 'veterans/elitists' and 'noob Haven PGers'.
Last edited by Ithildur on Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Formerly: Aglaril Shaelara, Faerun's unlikeliest Bladesinger
Current main: Ky - something

It’s not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who actually is in the arena, who strives violently, who errs and comes up short again and again...who if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, but who if he fails, fails while daring greatly.-T. Roosevelt
Wild Wombat
Frost Giant
Posts: 738
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:35 pm
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA (DC 'burbs)

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Wild Wombat »

Jeebus, talk about a post with unintended but happy consequences! GF, Fluff and now Mikayla? Where's Fionn?
Retired NWN1: Murgen Kjarnisteinn (AKA Grumpy Scout)

NWN2 (Failed Experiment): Muir Cheartach, AKA The Pale Faced Pie Man

R.I.P.: Croaker Lyosbarr, Knight of Yartar, Lord of Lhuvenhead (NWN1)

"In no uncertain terms, i am adamantly opposed to any ingame mechanics that penalize players for wanting to meet up with other players, when their goal is to roleplay." - White Warlock
User avatar
Heero
Beholder
Posts: 1930
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 9:52 pm

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Heero »

Mikayla wrote:Ithidur wrote:
A LOT of alfan's left over the years, not because of elite or PG rulesets, but because of some people's inability to get along. Last thing we'd want is to have folks come back after getting the emails to check us out again, to see more of the same going on between 'elites' and 'noobs'.
The irony is only exceeded by the timing. You wrote that, what, yesterday, and today for the first time in a long time, I just happen to cruise the boards looking for an old library post?!? Ha.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Manifestos? Elite vs. noob? Majority vs. minority?

Well, I have to say I had a good laugh skimming through this thread. This has been a nostalgic couple of days - I ran into Vixisyn and Ebonith and others through Facebook and then looked through the Menzo forums, which prompted me (courtesy of Ebonith) to come here looking for an old IC library post (which I found - many thanks to y'all for not deleting anything from the library - that is awesome).

Anyway, I don't know if I am saddened or comforted to see that ALFA has not changed (2 PC rule not withstanding - its the character of the place I am referring to of course, not the substance of the rules). That said, I can't say I'm sad that the old girl is still kicking - gives me hope for ... something. I dunno. Its fun to see ALFA still running though. Ciao.

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't say something in drow - so - vendui bitches. ;)

Mikayla
Tell Vixi that Burt misses her. Thanks.
Heero just pawn in game of life.

12.August.2013: Never forget.
15.December.2014: Never forget.

The Glorious 12.August.2015: Always Remember the Glorious 12th.
Mikayla
Valsharess of ALFA
Posts: 3707
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:37 pm
Location: Qu'ellar Faen Tlabbar, Noble Room 7, Menzoberranzan, NorthUnderdark

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Mikayla »

Odd that you ask about Fionn - I got an email from him today, but it wasn't about gaming at all. Other stuff. I will let him know he's missed around here.

As for putting the fear of drow into PCs - how in the abyss did it ever leave them?!? People are slacking! If I could find my whip-of-fangs, I'd ... I'd ... I'd do something drow like. Yeah, thats it. Thats the ticket.

@SwordSaintMusashi: Good to see you again also - err ... read your posts. Whateva.

I don't mean to hijack the thread (like I really ever cared about that - I think I once made the argument it was duty as a drow to hijack threads) - what exactly are y'all playing now? Still NWN2? How many folks are in ALFA - I think in skimming the thread I saw the number 79. Is that all thats left? It wouldn't be surprising of course - in fact, I am pleasantly surprised to see ALFA still kicking, so 79 is good - its just hard to wrap my head around when I think of ALFA's busier days when we had, I dunno, hundreds of players. Still, its cool that things are still running along.

BTW - I went through the library and re-read the first entry of "Lord of the ALFA" - I was damn funny back then (and no, the years have obviously not mellowed my narcissism). It is really fun to see all the familiar names and ... well ... everything. There are a LOT of unfamiliar names of course, and I think I got 3 or 4 pages into the libary before I saw something I had read before, but still, I glad y'all have survived. Kudos to y'all.

P.S. @Heero: You want me to help Burt stalk Vixi? I think not. ;) Nice to hear from you though.

EDIT/P.P.S. Nice to see as well Wombat (still can't call you WW - for me those initials are syonymous with a certain other old-time ALFAn who shall remain nameless).
Last edited by Mikayla on Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ALFA1-NWN1: Sheyreiza Valakahsa
NWN2: Layla (aka Aliyah, Amira, Snake and others) and Vellya
NWN1-WD: Shein'n Valakasha
User avatar
zicada
Infrastructure Prawn
Posts: 7924
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2002 10:00 pm
Location: Earth

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by zicada »

The problem really is that too many of you guys are content with the "we're a sinking ship" dynamic. It's been that way for years apparently, i know it was like that when i was still around and thats a long time ago. Remember the game A and game B thing ? Sinkingship is clearly game B, and apparently quite a few people here think its a really fun game.

Hindsight: Should've sold it more in the email you guys sent. Directing people to my shitty webdesign from 09 before i knew webdesign isn't a great sellingpoint in its own right.

So you're stuck with the 2pc thing now, and all the oldtimers hate it (its totally stupid). How much does it actually matter though day to day in game ? If it means 2 more people play on average per server per day, does one even give a shit ?

So you're low and empty on players and its really hard to get new people. Yeah NWN2 isnt selling. Theres a limited pool of people who might play in alfa, many hate alfa, most arent into it anymore. There are a few to grab from other less good PWs and thats it.

Remember ALFA isnt a 2000+ active player 13 server community anymore. You're a small group. Do the administration and group-management in a way that reflects that. There are a whole ton of things we could afford back in the day that are way too expensive now. If i were you, i'd focus only on how to get people to be on the servers and play, and far less on ridiclous game B, by making it far less fun to play.

Bastards.
"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." -- Richard Dawkins
Stormbring3r
Owlbear
Posts: 538
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:31 pm
Location: Morriston Fire Chief

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Stormbring3r »

Mikayla wrote:Ithidur wrote:
A LOT of alfan's left over the years, not because of elite or PG rulesets, but because of some people's inability to get along. Last thing we'd want is to have folks come back after getting the emails to check us out again, to see more of the same going on between 'elites' and 'noobs'.
The irony is only exceeded by the timing. You wrote that, what, yesterday, and today for the first time in a long time, I just happen to cruise the boards looking for an old library post?!? Ha.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Manifestos? Elite vs. noob? Majority vs. minority?

Well, I have to say I had a good laugh skimming through this thread. This has been a nostalgic couple of days - I ran into Vixisyn and Ebonith and others through Facebook and then looked through the Menzo forums, which prompted me (courtesy of Ebonith) to come here looking for an old IC library post (which I found - many thanks to y'all for not deleting anything from the library - that is awesome).

Anyway, I don't know if I am saddened or comforted to see that ALFA has not changed (2 PC rule not withstanding - its the character of the place I am referring to of course, not the substance of the rules). That said, I can't say I'm sad that the old girl is still kicking - gives me hope for ... something. I dunno. Its fun to see ALFA still running though. Ciao.

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't say something in drow - so - vendui bitches. ;)

Mikayla
:shock:
ALFA NWN1 Notable PC's
Jenna Steel (dead)
Marcus Agent of Mask (dead)
NWN2 PC's
Current PC.... Merin (Merry) Gwinkill
Will Menen (Dead)

DM MS
User avatar
Heero
Beholder
Posts: 1930
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 9:52 pm

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Heero »

It pleases me to inform you (and hopefully, thru you, Vixi) that Burt has (finally) taken a serious interest in his own physical fitness. I can you that with my help he has become a specimen of a man, not unlike myself, thru his daily wrecking of his body at his local gym. I truly feel that any STP would be pleased - nay, ecstatic - to attract interest from such a man, from my brother of a different mother, Burt, a modern day master of the universe, like myself.
Heero just pawn in game of life.

12.August.2013: Never forget.
15.December.2014: Never forget.

The Glorious 12.August.2015: Always Remember the Glorious 12th.
User avatar
Adanu
Head Dungeon Master
Posts: 1640
Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2010 4:52 am

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Adanu »

zicada wrote:The problem really is that too many of you guys are content with the "we're a sinking ship" dynamic. It's been that way for years apparently, i know it was like that when i was still around and thats a long time ago. Remember the game A and game B thing ? Sinkingship is clearly game B, and apparently quite a few people here think its a really fun game.

Hindsight: Should've sold it more in the email you guys sent. Directing people to my shitty webdesign from 09 before i knew webdesign isn't a great sellingpoint in its own right.

So you're stuck with the 2pc thing now, and all the oldtimers hate it (its totally stupid). How much does it actually matter though day to day in game ? If it means 2 more people play on average per server per day, does one even give a shit ?

So you're low and empty on players and its really hard to get new people. Yeah NWN2 isnt selling. Theres a limited pool of people who might play in alfa, many hate alfa, most arent into it anymore. There are a few to grab from other less good PWs and thats it.

Remember ALFA isnt a 2000+ active player 13 server community anymore. You're a small group. Do the administration and group-management in a way that reflects that. There are a whole ton of things we could afford back in the day that are way too expensive now. If i were you, i'd focus only on how to get people to be on the servers and play, and far less on ridiclous game B, by making it far less fun to play.

Bastards.
Image
First Character: Zyrus Meynolt, the serene Water Genasi berserker. "I am the embodiment of the oceans; serene until you summon the storm." Zyrus: http://tinyurl.com/9emdbnd

Second Character: Damien Collins, the atypical druid. "What? Being a stick in the mud is boring. No pun intended grins"

Western Heartlands HDM: On break. PM for emergencies
Mikayla
Valsharess of ALFA
Posts: 3707
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:37 pm
Location: Qu'ellar Faen Tlabbar, Noble Room 7, Menzoberranzan, NorthUnderdark

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Mikayla »

@Heero: lulz. That is too funny, you crack me up. Alright, I will tell her. Afterall, who can resist a "speciman of a man"?!?
ALFA1-NWN1: Sheyreiza Valakahsa
NWN2: Layla (aka Aliyah, Amira, Snake and others) and Vellya
NWN1-WD: Shein'n Valakasha
User avatar
dergon darkhelm
Fionn In Disguise
Posts: 4258
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:21 pm
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by dergon darkhelm »

Hi Mik!


You should make a PC.

I've got room for a second PC these days..... I'll sidekick whatever you roll-up :)

Hope RL is good!
PCs: NWN1: Trailyn "Wayfarer" Krast, Nashkel hayseed

NWN2: ??

gsid: merado_1
User avatar
Galadorn
Haste Bear
Posts: 2483
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2004 9:10 am
Location: Hefei, China

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Galadorn »

Hi Mik!

2 PCs sucks.

Welcome back!

Autobots. Let's "roll"....a PC.
*Grand Master of Cheese*
Image
[causk] ((play games over the internet?)) yea, wouldnt recommend that. internet is for porn and weird people.
[DarkHin] There is always a tenth spot for evil.
Wild Wombat
Frost Giant
Posts: 738
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:35 pm
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA (DC 'burbs)

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Wild Wombat »

Mikayla wrote: EDIT/P.P.S. Nice to see as well Wombat (still can't call you WW - for me those initials are syonymous with a certain other old-time ALFAn who shall remain nameless).
Yeah. I am really WW2. Always have been. The nameless one earned that moniker.

But, this is getting really maudlin here! Zic, you have ideas, so get more involved! Who cares if there are so few new players that want to get in ALFA? If we could just get twenty percent of the people that have already played in ALFA and gone inactive to come back and give it a try again, we don't need new players.

And I am not talking about old guard versus new guard elite versus noob. Jeez, I am an example of old-new-elite-noob. There are players that joined in the last year that are great. I would love for them to meet up and RP with the folks I knew back in the day. New would impress old and vice versa.

Shite. I think I am channeling Knute Rockney, so I'm going to stop typing and have another glass of wine.
Retired NWN1: Murgen Kjarnisteinn (AKA Grumpy Scout)

NWN2 (Failed Experiment): Muir Cheartach, AKA The Pale Faced Pie Man

R.I.P.: Croaker Lyosbarr, Knight of Yartar, Lord of Lhuvenhead (NWN1)

"In no uncertain terms, i am adamantly opposed to any ingame mechanics that penalize players for wanting to meet up with other players, when their goal is to roleplay." - White Warlock
Mikayla
Valsharess of ALFA
Posts: 3707
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:37 pm
Location: Qu'ellar Faen Tlabbar, Noble Room 7, Menzoberranzan, NorthUnderdark

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Mikayla »

Hey DD, nice to hear from you. I don't have NWN1 or 2 installed anymore, let alone all the down-loads, the ACR, etc. In fact, I think I am on at least my 2nd or 3rd computer since leaving ALFA. I appreciate the invite though, and if my son leaves after this school year (which he might) I may actually have time enough to play a game. At the moment, I am doing the single-parent thing, which doesn't leave a lot of spare time (thoug somehow, today, I am finding a lot of time to post on forums and read old library posts).

There is also the slight problem that I haven't a clue how to play anymore. C'est la vie.

@Thorin: sorry to hijack your "in-defense of..." thread. I originally posted because I was laughing so hard at Ithildur's sense of timing. But its hard not to wander down the path of nostalgia when its staring you in the face, so, please forgive. Thanks.

@Galadorn: Ha, thanks. "Roll" a PC - thats a good one. Even in pen-n-paper games no one rolls PCs anymore. I kind of miss it, even though it was horribly unfair and people cheated like crazy (in pen-n-paper games I mean). All the good-old-days.

Speaking of the good old days, there is one quote from ALFA that still echoes around my house on a regular basis - it was from Danubus (I think, or one of the other very religious folks) who referred to me as an "Abomination before God." I mentioned that to my son (its one of my all time favorite insults to have received) and he's been laughing about ever since - and quoting it. I'm no longer mom, I'm "the Abomination." I hoping to level-up soon and become the "Whore of Babylon" but there is a lot of competition for that, so I am not holding my breath. ;) Ciao.

M.
ALFA1-NWN1: Sheyreiza Valakahsa
NWN2: Layla (aka Aliyah, Amira, Snake and others) and Vellya
NWN1-WD: Shein'n Valakasha
danielmn
Fionn In Disguise
Posts: 4678
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:08 pm

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by danielmn »

:D

Damn good to see you p[osting, Mik.
Swift wrote: Permadeath is only permadeath when the PCs wallet is empty.
Zyrus Meynolt: [Party] For the record, if this somehow blows up in our faces and I die, I want a raise

<Castano>: danielnm - can you blame them?
<danielmn>: Yes,
<danielmn>: Easily.

"And in this twilight....our choices seal our fate"
Mikayla
Valsharess of ALFA
Posts: 3707
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:37 pm
Location: Qu'ellar Faen Tlabbar, Noble Room 7, Menzoberranzan, NorthUnderdark

Re: In Thorin's defense...

Post by Mikayla »

Nice to see you as well Dan, how are things?
ALFA1-NWN1: Sheyreiza Valakahsa
NWN2: Layla (aka Aliyah, Amira, Snake and others) and Vellya
NWN1-WD: Shein'n Valakasha
Post Reply