Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Understanding Weird and Wail of the Banshee

« on: July 09, 2007, 06:54:07 PM »

No really, as many players layo have, almost as many ways there is to interpret the spells.

Nothing is 100 percent right or wrong. Some people/player care about the spells some dont and thats what makes it such a good topic IC.

A topic that can be discussed for eternity on layo and best IC!

The only problem is we aren't given a lot of explanation for some spells, especially the more complex and wild ones, which is where this confusion arises.  It's hard to have a good discussion when all we have to go on is a brief description and an animation.  In cases like this of course, not for simple spells like Magic Missle.  

I'd love to see in future Layo handbooks more detailed descriptions of exactly what spells do..  And even better, a background history of some of the wilder ones.  I would think a lot of them would be named after the wizard who invented them, and might have a great story behind them..  Of course it would be even better if PC wizards were allowed to experiment with spellcrafting themselves and invent new ones (and more often than not fail miserably) that could become part of the game, but that's probably not too possible..!

2

General Discussion / Re: Beautiful game engine

« on: July 07, 2007, 06:06:18 PM »

What exactly is your point, Tori?  This doesn't seem to be an outlandish or impossible goal-- like creating another Warcraft in your basement would be-- but a way for a group of people with the creative and technical know-how to do it creating an independent online game.  I am assuming that as long as it more or less pays for itself it will be considered a success (as in, it doesn't have to be huge or make a lot of money.)  

And you know what, It might fail, it might not.  I'll definitely give it a try because I did enjoy this server when I played here, and from my limited experience playing online rpgs (NWN based or not)  it's the most mature environment I've ever seen...  But then again there are things about Layonara that aren't to my liking either and may keep me away (in particular, it's extremely difficult and time consuming to start a new character or be a casual player at all.)

But all in all they're doing it, and they're doing it on their own, and I think it's to be applauded.  You really never know what's going to succeed or fail until it's out there, especially with something like this.  Considering this is, in the end, a labor of love (and as far as I know no one is quitting their job or taking multiple mortgages for this..)  then what's the problem?  Would it be better for anyone if they just said "you're right, it's too hard?"

Let me leave you with this-- I work in entertainment...  well, way low level, but I have worked for some people with impressive Hollywood resumes.   Every single one of them who's sold a movie or TV show or produced a documentary or been in a garage band or whatever has encountered people with your attitude, saying "oh, it's been done" or "that's a ridiculous idea" or whatever.    And every one of them who's had success has completely ignored them.  You may think you're offering criticism, but you're just being a naysayer,  Of course lot of them have failed along the way, too, but that's the chance you take when you start any creative venture.

3

Roleplaying / Re: Deity Relations

« on: July 02, 2007, 06:48:33 PM »

Well to be true I was basing my post on when this was a bigger community, I doubt hostility and exclusion goes on as much now, but I did see a lot of it in the past (as a neutral good Prunilla druid getting just sheer hostility from Toranites)

But my real point to all this is that I really do think the dieties relationships should be reexamined before the new Layo comes out for the sake of new players.  If the friendly/unfriendly categories remain the same then I think 1, they should be mutual (no more I'm friendly to you, but you hate me), and 2, dieties whose alignments and spheres of influence arent at odds with each other should in general be neutral.. As in, they aren't enemies or threats, they just don't care.)

Or, leave it as is, but explain why the relationships that aren't apparent are the case.  Obviously Toranites hate Corath, but (going back to my example yet again, but there are many more) why Toranites should hold contempt for the halfing goddess of farming and motherhood isn't really clear to me.  This is what I really take issue with, is that we are told to be "unfriendly" but aren't given any backstory as to why; this is in my opinion not good at all for role play.  I am all for opposing factions and all that to spur arguments and role playing but it doesn't allow for much depth if all we have to go on is "our goddess has her reasons."

4

General Discussion / Re: In case someone noticed...

« on: July 02, 2007, 06:24:24 PM »

I'm pretty much retired from Layonara because my main character was made so badly she's no fun to play and I don't have the heart to start over here again so...

If all else fails I could send you my serial numbers since I don't imagine I'll be playing NWN again.  Let me know...

5

Roleplaying / Re: Deity Relations

« on: June 27, 2007, 06:01:18 AM »

I do agree you have to keep true to your diety relationships (especially if you are a cleric or paladin or the like.)  On the other hand it should be a tool to lead to roleplay between characters instead of the reason to exclude people from adventuring together.  There isn't a reason why a Toranite and Prunillite (or whatever you would call her) to be travel partners, but really the reasons any of us come together aside from either need of CNR or wanting to see new places on Dregar are often pretty thin.  Even on quests (or especially on quests?) there's often no good reason why these six to ten people would be together, as they have as little in common as most people trapped in  houses on reality shows, but that's just an aspect of the game that has to be accepted.   There just aren't enough people playing right now to only stick with your own kind.  

Also not every conflict has to be pure hostility...  I'd love to see clerics trying to convert other party members, or going out of their way to demonstrate why their diety's so much mightier than the other (or more giving, or more evil, or whatever), or a hundred other things besides trading insults or worse, refusing to allow someone in a group based on their faith alone.  Of course it all depends on the cleric and their diety what they would do (some clerics are under no obligation to even announce they are clerics, of course) so I'm not saying every cleric should be doing this, but still.. If you're anything but purely hostile, there should be a lot more you can do besides act as sworn enemies.  "Neutral" and "Unfriendly" doesn't mean "hostile."  Which leads me to...

... I would hope the relations system would be reconsidered and possibly simplified a bit for the next version of layo. The shades of grey between "allied" and "friendly" make for great writing in LORE but might be just too complex in the game itself, especially when the reasons for diety relationships aren't often obvious and clear (this is much more so for the ones that aren't about good vs. evil, like farming or crafting dieties.)    I don't see why it can't be pure friendly/neutral/enemy, with good reasons why they feel that way.  I also think "unfriendly" is misleading, as I said above, because many seem to take it to mean they're enemies when I don't think that's the case.  Really I think a lot more dieties should simply be just agnostic to each other (they think the others are silly and misguided, but if they aren't a threat and have completely seperate spheres of influence, and there's not a known and written story in their history, then why would they be enemies?)  

I know this might be a bit of a rude thing to say but I just can't accept "because the handbook says so", because the handbook was written to facilitate our roleplaying in the game and if we as followers of a diety are stumped as to why we are supposed to be hostile to another (other than "our diety has her reasons and we have to trust her") then that is a serious roadblock to our creativeness as players.  When you don't know why you can't roleplay a discussion or argument, you can't explain to non-worshippers why it is so, all you can do is be hostile.

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General Discussion / Re: i know some people have been quiet of late

« on: June 24, 2007, 01:51:59 AM »

Honestly I'd love to see a "everyone plays a new character" week or something like it...  Encourage us all to try out the one that's been rolling around in our heads and maybe introduce some new life to the server..

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General Discussion / Re: IC and OOC

« on: June 21, 2007, 08:27:59 PM »

I'll add one more thing;

As a player I'm not always or even often in the mood for conflict, especially when it's just for conflict's sake.   Meaning not over any matters at hand or over the relationship our characters have but simply because your character is out looking to pick a fight.

I'm not saying you do this (I barely know you) but it's not an uncommon occurance.  I think "good role playing" doesn't have to mean starting arguments over nothing.  And if I'm going to get dragged into an argument I'd rather it be for a good reason (as it fitting the situation) rather than because another player wants to demonstrate how brooding and antisocial they are.  Again this isn't directed at you, but I've often found myself in little verbal battles with absolutely zero cause.  Then again I played a lot of druids, and they seem to be a target for that (or at least used to be when the server was more populated)

If you are going to play a conflict seeking character, be aware that other characters have every right to avoid you if they wish, or if they're just not in the mood for that play style at the moment.   Does this bleed into OOC?  Yes, but I as a player am not obligated to make my character interact with another player if I know he is the type to cause conflict for little reason.

I'll close this out with-- my best role playing memories have not been arbitrary fights, but rather when people actually got along and had deep conversations or experiences that could only happen here.  My worst have been the people who started unnecessary fights with me just so they could justify their application for Chaotic Neutral.