US DMs/smouldering ALFA forum drama thread.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:05 am

Alright - TSM is developing really good and interesting DM coverage. There is the Aussie/Kiwi group (indio), there is the dwarf group (curmudgeon), there is the Bane group (holy rage), there is the University group (Wynna), and there is a Euro-group trying to get off the ground (HR again I believe).

But what if you are a US player who is not a Dwarf, Mage or Bane-worshipper? Darrenhfx has the "Crypt" thing going on, perhaps, on Fridays, but that is entirely in Rivermoot at the moment as it seems, and that means its likely dominated by the Bane group. So, um, any US time-zone DMage for the non-dwarf, non-mage, non-Bane, non-aussie/kiwi/euros out there?

Just a question, not a complaint. Thanks.

darrenhfx · Post by **darrenhfx** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:10 am

We won't be locked in a crypt forever.

DarkHin · Post by **DarkHin** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:14 am

We don't own Rivermoot or the crypt. In fact, most of the PCs who RP in and around Rivermoot, and as a result dominate the 'crypt' thing, are not Banites. I believe there are a mere four of us. In addition, the only banite I regularly interact with is Barid; I've only seen Paz's PC once. I hardly consider two PCs to be dominating. I think you're just being self-limiting.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:14 am

Awesome, that great Darren. Right now we sort of have a "Good" group establishing itself in High Hold, turning around the three Red-Knight PCs there, and we also have an "elf group" of sorts developing there, though a couple members of the elf group are also part of the University thing. My humble suggestion would be to start a vaguely "good" campaign centered in High Hold for those who do not fit into the other campaigns already underway. High Hold is centrally located, etc., and is home to the Red Knight temple.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:16 am

DH:

We don't own Rivermoot or the crypt. In fact, most of the PCs who RP in and around Rivermoot, and as a result dominate the 'crypt' thing, are not Banites. I believe there are a mere four of us. In addition, the only banite I regularly interact with is Barid; I've only seen Paz's PC once. I hardly consider two PCs to be dominating. I think you're just being self-limiting.

Well, yeah. We have at least one Paladin in our midst (and lots of other goodly aligned folk), so as long as the Banites are accepted by and in Rivermoot and are a part of the Crypt plot we cannot really join that group - it would be a violation of orders for some of us, a violation of ethics for others, and a flat-out violation of class restrictions for some. The fact that we are "self-limited" doesn't change the fact that we are limited, and cannot take advantage of the DMing going on. To do that would mean ignoring our class restrictions, in-game orders, and in-game morality to take advantage of a DM event, and I believe that is called meta-gaming and/or power-gaming.

Vendrin · Post by **Vendrin** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:36 am

Don't worry Mik. We got the message.

Magile · Post by **Magile** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:55 am

*motions for everyone to look below Darrenhfx's post*

darrenhfx · Post by **darrenhfx** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:23 am

Much of this comes from having every one in close quarters during the first week or so after live. Now that people are spreading out a bit there should be fewer collisions of these sorts.

There will however be continued conflicts overt and covert between groups so lets keep everything as civil as we can on the forums. We're making an effort to have dm's and resources available for as many as we can reasonably manage.

Magile · Post by **Magile** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:52 am

Y'know what? If you haven't read this post... you can ask for a PM... but screw it. No sense getting people's panties in a knot.

Munmun · Post by **Munmun** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:21 am

I don't know who else here is a student but it's finals weeks for me so I can't even get any ALFA time let alone DM time.

Magile, that's why I haven't come to Rivermoot. Dunno about everyone else.

Magile · Post by **Magile** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:23 am

Munmun wrote:I don't know who else here is a student but it's finals weeks for me so I can't even get any ALFA time let alone DM time.

Magile, that's why I haven't come to Rivermoot. Dunno about everyone else.

Don't worry about it Mun. I calmed down after posting... and oddly I just... don't care, haha. I saved my rant in a PM though, for anyone interested. I guess I'm just annoyed at how vague request go down.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed May 07, 2008 4:48 am

Why did this thread get people upset? There are a group of players who don't have a DM session, and they are looking for one. Why are people getting upset about that? I don't get it.

SwordSaintMusashi · Post by **SwordSaintMusashi** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:16 pm

Haven't abandoned the promise she made to Karl, Magile. Diane will be marching to RM with Karl if he wants as soon as I get some time to log in. Probably tonight.

oldgrayrogue · Post by **oldgrayrogue** » Wed May 07, 2008 5:36 pm

I play US EST usually after 9pm and would love some DM interaction as well. There is usually a group of 3 to 6 PCs or more who RP around Rivermoot during this time. Even some minor spice would be much appreciated.

Mulu · Post by **Mulu** » Wed May 07, 2008 6:20 pm

It's a lot more than just one group in High Hold, it's anyone who's unaffiliated and/or random in their playtimes and thus unable to commit to a campaign. This of course is a chronic problem on all rp PW's, it's nothing limited to TSM.

What happens over time is the folk in a regular campaign advance much faster than folk not in a regular campaign, since DM awards are the primary source of xp in ALFA, and those PC's have a greater influence over the gameworld as a result of both toon power and regular DM contact, thus frustrating even more those players who don't have that kind of impact on the gameworld, or much of anything to do for that matter.

What we should probably be promoting is an old idea that never seems to stick long, more short session random DM'ing that specifically targets people not in a campaign to give them some DM loving and encourage them to stay. There are many factors that cause peeps to leave a gameworld, but in the top 5 are DM coverage and static content, in other words something to do. It doesn't take a lot of planning, simply spicing up a static or possessing an NPC for awhile makes a big difference. And I know it's already happening occasionally. DM client issues aren't helping matters I'm sure.

One project I was involved in had players who were trusted with DM wands to basically be in game PC/NPC's and facilitate play for other people. It worked there, but it probably wouldn't work in ALFA.

With a second server more players will be willing to DM because they'll be able to play too, and that should help a lot. Most of the stresses we're experiences right now are from being crammed into a single server, with a very active playerbase. There is such a thing as too much density. The sweet spot for ALFA is probably 3 servers, unless we get a huge gain in membership.

Which is a very long winded way of saying "be patient."