Posts Thanked By User

1

Introduce Yourself / Great to be Back!!

« on: October 30, 2022, 04:23:59 pm »

I would like to thank everyone for all of the warm “welcome backs” in game and Discord. Coming back to Layonara after so many years has been a treat. Sort of like seeing family after a long absence. Looking forward to spending more time in game becoming familiar with the locations, experiencing the changes, and spreading the evil of Corath across the lands once more.

2

Ask A Gamemaster / Pre-warning for exotic characters.

« on: December 29, 2017, 11:48:59 am »

Hello All,Some folks in the Discord channel were asking about exotic races. So I'm going to open them up sometime next week (sorry, I won't know what days until Sunday of this weekend). I thought I'd give you a little heads up in case you wanted to get a little pre-research going or poke your favorite GM about some ideas if you need to pre-bounce ideas to get ready. Please don't post them until I post in the CA forums that they submissions are open. I'll post the open and close times, my goal is to have that up by Sunday evening (USA Central time).Hope everyone has been having a lovely end of the year,~row

[Remodels]

3

Layonara Server / The Fortune System

« on: November 06, 2013, 11:06:03 pm »

Greetings all,A short time ago, we announced the Fortune system, which at the time was described only as a system to accumulate points that can be used for various things simply by being in-game and active. Today, I am going to describe exactly what Fortune is and how it can benefit you.At the simplest level, Fortune is essentially like XP, only more flexible in what one may do with it. The system is also very similar to AutoXP, except that Fortune does not have to be activated by a GM, and it doesn't expire. That's right, the Fortune system is always running.To give credit, the original concept came from long-time player and former GM stormspirit. Once the concept took root in my head, I worked out the details and initial state with Rowana and added the system to the modules. She's since been instrumental in testing and refining the system.

How does it work?

As long as a character is logged in and active, that character will earn some small amount of Fortune every few minutes. This Fortune adds up, and eventually a character will earn a whole point. Once this happens, that point can be spent or saved. There is no requirement to spend Fortune points. In fact, some may wish to save it up for special reasons, which I will detail later. Fortune points are stored on each character and saved to the database. There's very little to it than that. Characters will continue to accumulate XP through all the normal methods, but they will also accumulate Fortune at the same time.There is one thing of key importance that must be stressed. Fortune is NOT an in-character thing in any way. Just like XP is an OOC mechanic with in-game benefits. Just like you do not talk about XP in an IC sense, neither should you talk about Fortune in an IC sense. If you need any guidance on this, please ask. Do not discuss Fortune in any in-character way.One way to think of it is a representation of a character's "social capital", their influence, reknown or reputation, though in some other ways it is also just a way for us to reward and thank you for spending time in-game.  Despite Fortune being earned simply by being in-game, as you'll read below, the Fortune rewards for more RP-focused activities are greater, and so there are some significant RP ways to spend one's accumulated Fortune.

Keeping track

Since Fortune is a custom system and will not show up on any character sheet in-game, we've made it easy to check one's Fortune at any time. Simply type the following in the chat bar:

=c pointsThis will report to you how many whole points of Fortune your current character possesses. Also, anytime a character earns a whole point of Fortune, this will be shown as a system message, and that character's current total will also be displayed. This message will not be seen frequently. Instead, during each interval, a more generic and non-specific message will be shown:

Your Fortune has increased slightly.This means your character has earned some fractional amount of Fortune. This update message can be disabled by using the following toggle command:

=c toggle points_feedbackFor those who really need to get a microscopic view of their current Fortune levels, there is another command to show a more exact total:

=c points exactEveryone who already had a character at the time that this system was put into place will start out with a starting pool of five (5) Fortune points. Existing characters belonging to GMs start out with a pool of fifteen (15) Fortune points. World Leader characters start out with a pool of twenty-five (25) Fortune points. New characters will start out with one (1) Fortune point.

Gaining Fortune

As stated above, simply being actively in-game will allow a character to gain Fortune at a slow but consistent rate. However, there are other ways to earn Fortune.GMs can give out Fortune points in the same way they give out XP right now. In fact, the tool is set to give out Fortune in the same sort of amounts, except rather than giving out whole or fractional hours worth of XP, they can now give out whole or fractional points of Fortune instead.GMs may give out Fortune instead of quest XP. This choice will be primarily up to the GM, though requests for one or the other by players will be considered.Also, effective immediately, GMs will give out 1 Fortune point simply for showing up to a quest, even if the GM cannot ultimately take everyone who shows up. (Note: If people begin to abuse this, we will be forced to reevaluate this policy. Please don't make us do this.)Lastly, the World Leader XP wand has been modified to give out either XP or Fortune.One Fortune point granted by GMs and WLs is effectively equivalent to 1 hour of RP or Quest XP.For transparency, World Leader characters will accumulate Fortune at a faster rate. However, they will receive the same number of Fortune points when awarded by a GM for quest or RP rewards.Fortune earned by a character is for that character alone. One may not share Fortune with another character on the same account, nor can a player pool all the Fortune from all characters held by that player. There are only a few cases where pooling of Fortune will be allowed at all (more below), but it will not be allowed to pool the Fortune points of characters belonging to the same player.

Spending Fortune

While the idea of earning points just for playing is probably interesting in itself, it's worth talking about the sorts of things on which these points can be spent. Note that once a point is spent, that character's Fortune is reduced accordingly. Of course, the points can be earned again, but in this way Fortune is also like a sort of currency...a resource to be used and managed.The things upon which one may spend Fortune fit into one of four key categories:

• Direct Exchange – Fortune points can be converted into either XP or GP (True) using a set exchange rate. This can be done in-game at any time by issuing the command
  
  =c exchange
  
  A dialog box will pop up, giving you the options for exchange and displaying the rate of exchange. At present, one Fortune point may be exchanged for 1000 True or the equivalent of 1 hour of quest XP. Since quest XP is dependent upon character level, the number of XP given for one Fortune point will vary depending on character level. However, the amount given will always be appropriate and meaningful for a character of any level.
  
  Please note: These numbers are subject to change, and we may adjust them up or down for balancing reasons, bonus events and other reasons. If you notice different (positive, non-zero) numbers than I have described here, it is not a bug; it is an adjustment
• Quest Benefit – At each GM's discretion, Fortune points can be exchanged to affect outcomes in quest situations. The currently-supported possibilities for this are:
  • “Changing luck” – re-roll failed or poor die rolls. This only applies to manual die rolls (i.e. skill checks, attribute checks, saving throws) and not to automatic mechanical rolls for things like combat, damage and the like (unless these are manually performed for RPed situations). It should be noted that the Save vs. Soul Mother rolls can never be re-rolled using this option. Ever. (cost: 1 Fortune Point per re-roll)[/li]
  • “Greasing the wheels” or “Calling in favors” – You're an adventurer. You're famous, or perhaps infamous, but your name is recognized. Your deeds are remembered. Maybe you have friends you didn't know about. Maybe you have pull and influence beyond the usual just because of your name. Or perhaps your guild has helped people indirectly that you never realized or your reputation in a city's underbelly is worth a favor. Whatever form your fame takes, you might as well be able to take advantage. Naturally, this is not an automatic success, and what is attempted has to make some sort of RP sense. A Toranite is not likely to get favors from a group of Corathites, nor is someone with a less savory reputation likely to get much goodwill among honest shop-owners. Note that networks and influence earned by CDQs and WLDQs can still be used without spending Fortune, but going beyond established parameters can be an option using Fortune. (cost: 1-2 Fortune per use at the GM's discretion) [/li]
  • “Minor heroics” – Effectively, this is equivalent to “taking 20” at times when taking 20 is not supported by the rules or the situation. To make sure everyone understands the term, “taking 20” refers to an automatic roll of 20 when performing a task that has a skill check involved in situations where there is plenty of time and a lack of urgency, such that the character can take the time and caution to succeed and succeed well. Yet sometimes, the survival and/or success of a party may absolutely depend on being able to pick a lock, analyze a magical ward or any number of things without the luxury of time and under various levels of duress. This is opening a complex lock at the last possible second, disarming a magical trap through a moment of extreme clarity and concentration or other similar sorts of outcomes. Basically, it's an opportunity to ensure success when it's sorely needed. (cost: 1-2 Fortune per use at the GM's discretion)[/li]
  [/li]

Again, these options are solely at the discretion of the GM(s) running the quest. There is not guarantee these options will be available, nor is there any guarantee of complete success. Always work with the GM when desiring to spend Fortune in this way. Note also that GMs will deduct Fortune on the spot when it is used in this way.

Also, it's important to note that there is a limit to the number of times a single character can utilize Fortune like this during a single quest. While the GM running the quest will have final say on this limit, we will generally limit these uses to three (3) times, in any combination, during a given quest episode/event.

• Projects – Want to set up a monument, shrine or some other sort of addition to the game, whether physically represented or not? Or maybe you just want to undertake a massive remodeling of an existing structure. Whatever special project you have in mind, you may be able to spend some Fortune to make that happen. This typically follows in the vein of “pulling some strings”, but can also take the form of drumming up donations and investors in lieu of a pure outlaying of True and piles of harvested/crafted resources. Below are the initial ways Fortune can be used for projects and how much it will cost. As with other aspects of Fortune, this may change over time, but if it does, we'll be certain to update and notify everyone.

  • Remodels – Fortune points can provide a discount based on how much players want to spend in each aspect (base cost, area-expansion, tileset change, permanent placeables, exterior changes, etc.) of a remodel, with each point of Fortune spent giving a 10% discount in a single aspect of the remodeling cost.

  • Relocations/reties – Fortune points can provide a 10% reduction in the list of materials needed for every point spent. Obviously, this applies more to materials needed in larger quantities than those in smaller quantities; there is no 10% of a single Gnomish Lens, for example. To put this another way, spending 10 Fortune would eliminate the need for gathering and/or crafting all the necessary materials for the relocation.

  • Monuments – Each fortune point will provide a 20% discount on the monetary cost of each monument individually. This applies to things like custom statues placed in guild halls and stone markers placed somewhere to denote or commemorate something or someone. Bear in mind, these sorts of monuments are relatively modest, not a gigantic colossus of ego. Also, in the case of outdoor monuments, it may be necessary to obtain permission from the land-owner, pay an additional fee/tax/tribute, which would be covered separately but which could also be discounted by Fortune at a similar rate.

  • Other buildings – Buildings in this category would be physically in-game but not necessarily usable in any mechanical sense (i.e. no accessible interior, no house-type furniture, etc.). For the monetary costs associated with constructing these buildings, each point of Fortune will reduce the cost by 5,000 True. If there is an additional material cost associated with the construction of this building, each point of Fortune will reduce the material needs by 10%.

  • Intangibles – Buildings, structures and other constructs that are not represented in-game but which were established in an RP sense through CDQs and which may have some form of cost associated with them fall into this category. This would cover things like orphanages, “underground” markets, trade networks, or things of this ilk, where players have to invest in their creation. The cost in Fortune for such things, should players wish to spend it, will be based on the number of CDQs that the GM estimates will be required to complete the goal. If the number of CDQs increases due to player actions (or inactions!), the Fortune cost will increase as well, however, the Fortune cost will never go below the original estimate. The baseline Fortune cost in this case is 5 points per CDQ required to accomplish the end result.

  • What else – Try as we may, we will never be able to conceive of all possibilities that our player base may want to try to accomplish and how they may want to put Fortune toward such efforts. To that end, we'll have to handle these sorts of things on a case-by-case basis at first while we try to establish some sort of guidelines. Chances are good that it will be some kind of hybrid of the options given above.
    Up to four characters will be allowed to pool their Fortune together for any given project. Characters pooling their Fortune for such a purpose should be associated with the project in some way. There is no set limit as to how much Fortune one character may spend on any single project, assuming the character has Fortune to spend.
    
    In some situations, there may be a world-level effort that requires some level of contribution from characters to bring about a certain end. In such cases, there is no limit on how many characters can contribute, but again they should be associated with the effort already.

• Graceful Pleas – Yes, I said it. You will be able to spend Fortune to buy a Graceful Plea, even if you have used all three for a given character. The cost is high, and rightly so. At present, it will cost 100 Fortune to gain one Graceful Plea. At this level, we estimate a player can make a dedicated effort with a single character and earn enough Fortune within about 6 months. This assumes a certain number of hours per week, of course. If the player attends quests during that time, the time to earn enough points may be shorter, as the rate of earning Fortune on quests is faster than the always-on trickle of Fortune points.

As you can see, there are some very quick and simple benefits to Fortune, but there can also be some very significant benefits to saving one's Fortune points for a greater purpose. The choice is yours to make.

What are the numbers?

The Fortune systems is based on time and a certain number of points given out per hour of playing, divided up into smaller intervals to allow people to benefit regardless of how long they can spend in-game at any given time. We have factors we can bring into play to increase or decrease this rate or even shut it off completely.At this time, we are not inclined to discuss the exact numbers. We may never be, in fact. We may tweak and adjust the numbers over time as seems appropriate. We may find cause to change the rates because we feel they're too fast or too slow. We may have bonus events, announced and unannounced.We also don't want people to game or exploit the system. We don't want people scrutinizing their time spent in-game and figuring out how maximize their Fortune and little else. As such, we are keeping the inner workings of this system private for the foreseeable future. That said, there are certain rates and numbers which are public and visible:

• Fortune points given by GMs or WLs are equivalent to 1 hour of quest or RP XP in terms of the magnitude of the reward, and it scales with the character's current level.
• Fortune points exchanged for XP are equivalent to 1 hour of quest or RP XP. This is directly parallel to the above point, which again scales with the character's current level.
• Fortune points can be exchanged for GP (True) at a rate of 1 Fortune Point for 1000GP/True
• Fortune points can be exchanged for a Graceful Plea at the rate of 100 Fortune points for 1 Graceful Plea

These numbers are still subject to change, but we feel they are pretty solid and simple. If we were to make any long-term adjustments, we would instead change the rate of accumulation rather than these exchange rates, so that the system remains simple and there are no mental gymnastics required to conceptualize how much reward one can get for a given number of Fortune points.So that is the system in summary.  As mentioned above, we'll update this with more details as we work them out. If there are any questions regarding what has already been worked out, please feel free to ask.  We'll also be creating and updating a FAQ for this system, so that all the important details of the system can be easily found and understood.Enjoy!

4

General Discussion / A call to all you malevolent beings!

« on: March 24, 2010, 08:28:10 am »

[SIZE=13]

Tis the night - the night
Of the grave's delight,
And the warlocks are at their play;
Ye think that without
The wild winds shout,
But no, it is they - it is they.

[/I]

THE FIRST EVER EVIL CHARACTER CONVENTION!

[/B]

[INDENT]Come and see some of the maligned and depraved souls that walk Layonara! Paladins will vomit and shriek in terror at the sight of such a gathering! Little animals will flee as their footsteps shake the very foundations of the earth! As for those that have yet to meet the other charming evil characters, feel free to join us and indulge in our delightful company!

Now that my self-imposed Layonara hiatus has ended, perhaps it's time we organize something. Why should the others have all the fun? Perhaps it's time we tip the scales and bump back! Maybe we should organize something according to our timezones? Your input would be very much appreciated and as such please post your timezones that way we can find some common ground. Perhaps if we can schedule a group assembly, we can make this a weekly event, if time permits.

Those that can tolerate our presence will be allowed to join so long as no conflict arises. Don't worry, we don't bite, well maybe except for that one in the lower left part of the image, to the right of the pretty little girl. Oh, and maybe even the second female Dark Elf at the top row, next to the handsome male. This is open to all levels, races, and alignments, just take note of the repercussions. Do join us! [/INDENT][/SIZE][/FONT]

5

Layonara Server / Version 3.21.4 is online

« on: September 25, 2009, 01:37:29 pm »

It's been longer than expected, but...

Version 3.21.4 is online!

• Fixed missing scripts in bottom level of Silkwood Spider Cave
• Fixed (hopefully!) pipe smoking
• Added more crafting stations to Lookout Tower, including scribing stations (regular and advanced)
• Fleshed out Corsain - Western Gate some more, including more services and CNR cooking stations.  Removed all signs of being "under construction" since it's been a long time that Western Gate's been rebuilt.
• Flag starting area on Central properly so that bird messages will not be delivered there.
• Change a few of the hostess messages to remove Dark Ages implications
• Fixed the in-game year display
• Database djustment to storage chests and how they detect duplicate items
• Add more Dire Bears to West and Central*
• Slight tweak to Duneswept Ruins area to hopefully remove a tileset-related quirk
• Skald Broken Wail should respect Death immunity
• Fix typo on Bydell Castle bindstone
• Make ladder transition in Beneath Temple Ruins more durable for people who can't handle their fireballs
• Fixes to the Marrent Ayloment scripted quest
• Furniture deeds are now preserved when trying to place furniture and the 200-piece limit has already been reached.
• CNR respawners should no longer be destroyable by AoE spells and effects
• Adjustments to Mithril area in the Deep
• Adjustments to Titanium area in the Deep
• Housing remodel for 122 Leringard
• Housing remodel for 134 Leringard
• Deep temple personnel changes/fixes
• Fix for custom emotes/animations consuming spell components under certain situations
• Made a few minor adjustments to the drop lists
• Adjusted transition point in Shale River area
• Great Forest giant spawn and creature tweaks
• Robe model fixes, specifically those with the backpacks that had gear hanging out in weird places, floating, etc.
• Hopeful fix for furniture not populating from interaction with housing doors
• Replacement item for Cloak of the Bat.  Also replaced the Cloak of the Bat in the drops with the new item **
• Donation boxes now sold in Folian S'pae's temple in the Forest of Fog
• Fixed floating things in the Battlehelm Moors
• Attempted fix for Acrobatic Attack targeting on uneven terrain
• Acrobatic Attack feedback messages now appear as floating text
• Slight tweak to spawnpoint in Shara's Hideout
• Tileset fix for some Crypt corridors that puts the PC 30 feet in the air for a few seconds
• Added system to name oxen
• WLDQ reward for Jennara Creekskipper
• WLDQ reward for Fenrir Thornaxe

* No, I'm not saying where, so don't ask.
** Characters with the Cloak of the Bat can ask a GM directly in-game for a replacement with the Nighteyes Cloak.  Please do not clog the Grievance/Request process with these. This is an item-for-item swap.

Thanks go to orth, Script Wrecked and Acacea for their contributions, as well as Alatriel for her remodel work.

Please note that this does require an updated HAK file, which can be downloaded here.

Enjoy!

6

General Discussion / Happy Birthday Leanthar!

« on: April 09, 2008, 06:17:30 pm »

Aaah... now that everyone else has done these sort of things before, I think it is my turn in this case! Still a little bit early due to the timezone things (it's a new day here, but not a new day there!)...

In either case, lets say a happy birthday to Leanthar.

7

General Discussion / The Crossed Blades -- OOC discussion

« on: February 04, 2008, 02:46:27 pm »

Let's keep the other thread IC and discuss here.

First, if I had my way everyone would fight in clothing with non-magical weapons and shields.  That would be the true test of swordsmanship.  That's a bit unrealistic, though, since no one carries non-magical stuff around.  As a compromise I suggested that only permanent enchantments be allowed.

I'd like to say that anything that is of duration should not be used.  No rage, no divine might, bard song, etc.  Opening that door just lets everything in.

There are no rules against shields.

Now, let me add a caveat:  The two dueling parties can come to their own agreement.  If a high level wants to let a lower level have some advantage, so be it.  Please keep any concessions to level IC and honest.

Several have also asked what the schedule is.  That's the beauty of this, there is no schedule.  You just look at the names above you and when you run across one of them, challenge them to a duel.  Or arrange it for the arena, or whatever.  I will schedule a player event once a week depending on interest.  Others are welcome to do so as well.

----

Crikey!  Who would have thought there'd be so much fighting on the first day!
 
Just to avoid any confusion, here's how to update your ranking. If you duel and beat a higher ranked opponent, you are eligible to move up one level. Post in the IC thread with your name, your opponents name, and whether or not a level was gained. (eg. Joey beats Bob for a rank increase)  It is the victors job to post the results.  (eg.  Bob beats Joey, no rank increase)
 
Remember, beating someone of higher rank doesn't jump you ahead of them, it only moves you up one position. (If it's your first fight you move out of the 0-0 category to the bottom of the list on your first win.)
 
Do not PM me with information, it gets too confusing.  Good luck!

8

Layonara Server / Black Raven has been banned

« on: January 09, 2008, 09:25:41 pm »

Black Raven, player of Drea Llewellyn (formerly Katrina), Iilzetrahd'yah and Vellucia Kasha has been banned in relation to this event:

http://forums.layonara.com/layonara-server/156142-server-configuration-change-everyone-please-read.html

I have very little else to say about this that hasn't been said in the other thread.  This was not her first infraction, but it is her last.

This is a disappointing attack against the community and in particular the six people whose characters she hijacked last night.

9

Layonara Server / Server configuration change -- EVERYONE PLEASE READ

« on: January 09, 2008, 08:26:05 pm »

Hello all,

I sadly must take some time to inform you all about a change we have to make to the configuration of our game servers.  This change may result in people being unable to log into any Layonara server when Bioware's Master Server is down.

Last night, between the hours of 22:00 GMT Jan. 8th and 00:00 GMT Jan 9th, there were 6 Bioware accounts and characters accessed by someone to whom they do not belong.  This person was able to do this because our server was set to permit logins when the Master Server was down, so that everyone could continue to enjoy Layonara during periods of outage, planned or otherwise, in Bioware's server.  It's a calculated risk, but one which has not caused us any problems in all the years I've been here.  Unfortunately, due to another case of a few (or in this case, one) spoiling things for everyone else, we have made this change to protect the community.

During this period of time, this individual targeted six people and logged on with their characters.  This individual used this access to remove gold from bank accounts and character inventories among other actions.  Two characters were killed while controlled by this individual, one of which died 5 times in 9 minutes and lost 2 soul strands in the process. I am still gathering reports from those players who were affected, but there is also at least one report of item(s) missing from character inventory.

This is disappointing to say the least, and while only six characters were directly affected, this is in fact an assault on everyone in the community.  

After pouring through our database, server logs and forum logs, I am confident in the identity of the person who did this.  I am in the process of banning this individual and once that is done, I will post a follow up for everyone to see.

To close on a positive note, I'd like to thank those players who have been affected by this with their understanding and cooperation.

10

Just for Fun / Just to Make You Smile

« on: August 29, 2007, 02:59:08 pm »

Have a great day!

YouTube - Hand Puppet Master

11

General Discussion / The Easy Guide to PC Suicide, by Eight-Bit

« on: August 23, 2007, 12:45:58 am »

I've noticed this is a subject that most people just don't get. I usually like to keep quiet and make the occassional snide comment here and there, but every so often I like to add something useful to the community I so dearly tolerate.


Murder is a lot of fun! Murdering yourself is when it gets tricky. With the help of this guide, your imagination, a tasteful post on the Character Development Forum, and a post in the character deletion thread you can be fresh on your way to being remembered vaguely and referenced obscurely, or god willing you'll never be mentioned at all.

Step One: The Big Choice

This is a toughy and one that shouldn't be made in the heat of the moment. A character that kills themselves surely can come back from the wonderous magic of the Bind Stones. How a character commits "suicide", which is hereby understood as self-termination and not following a massive group of poorly-equipped idjits to Firesteep to die at the first bridge, is by my definition a total lack of the will to live and a self-applied method of death. You are pratically giving up your spirit to the Soul Mother and taking your own life, by your own free-will. It's a purely boolean situation, and like real life, this ain't a round trip.

So there's a few questions you need to ask yourself. Important questions! They are, but not limited to:

- Do I want to do this?

- Am I going to regret this? (A little bit of regret is all right. But don't do it if you're going to stress about it!)

- Is there a good reason for this or do I just want attention?

- Am I bored with this character?

- Am I willing to accept that I will never play this character again?

- Am I aware that this means I'll have to start over?

- Are my alt-characters worth developing?

Step Two: How the heck do you tie a noose anyway?

Now that you've asked the though questions you need to wonder how you're going to go about doing it. I've always been partial to characters jumping off of things and making a horrible mess. They leave that moment for the poetic "last thoughts to go through head, before head and thoughts are smeared over Port Hempstead" goodness that I quite enjoy.

"And, alas, I shall miss my Mitsy the most. Mitsy."

SPLAT!

There are several ways to go about it, and I'll give a few prompts because I'm a nice guy and I've had a few:

- Having a witness in game. This allows for two great situations, which include, being seen doing it, and doing it in game. This way people can know and the word can spread on its own. It also allows for only the people who care to know.

- Going out on your own. Why not just swan-dive off Ozy's roof into the shark infested waters that are his backyard? Sure, this is pretty much the most awesome thing ever, and it leaves the actual details out of it. Perfect for your loner characters. If I can't get my CD key to work (long story), Yu is doing this for sure.

- Keeping it a forum issue. This usually amounts to the best result, as there is 100% control in that of the user and no swanky jerks casting Hold Person on you while you're carving up your wrist like a hot thanksgiving bird. You can add the most detail, and depending on the perspective in which you write your character development thread, you can add a lot of feeling, thoughts, and motivation. This is my preferred method, despite how awesome being eaten by sharks is.

The Third and Final Step: Getting it all stamped and legal.

The third step happens to be the easiest as well. Just follow the instructions in the Character Deletion sticky and you're done!

Hooray!

You've just committed digital suicide!

12

General Discussion / For all DM's out there

« on: August 22, 2007, 02:22:23 pm »

...well, a thread was here recently closed before I was able to answer it and it was not my plan start to flame or a discussion.
I just wanted to say:
"Good job!" All GM's I met were kind and creative. Everytime I met one I had fun and a good time!
I normaly send a tell after that like thanks for your time you invest here to make this world for the players even more enjoyable.
Now I wanted to put this in a place where every GM can read it.
Thanks you do  a good job. A good job for free and I wanted to thank you for doing this for the players. Just that you know there are players that appreciate this.

Thanks for reading
>Xirion>

13

General Discussion / Feeling Ready?

« on: August 18, 2007, 05:34:04 pm »

Well, it's been building up for months now... and some folks, namingly Dorg, have been dancing quite the complex jig since Nibor left us...

[SIZE=16]But here it comes![/SIZE]

[SIZE=18]
[/SIZE]

[SIZE=18]The[/SIZE]

 [SIZE=18]Final[/SIZE]

 [SIZE=18][SIZE=18]V3

[/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=18][SIZE=18]NOW[/SIZE] [/SIZE][/FONT]

14

Introduce Yourself / hi!

« on: August 03, 2007, 04:18:22 am »

hey im kinda new i allready made my character but havent played yet so yeah ill get around to it.

15

Introduce Yourself / Hi Im new here.

« on: July 31, 2007, 05:09:36 am »

Hi Im new here and I hope this is a gratifying experiance for me.

mtfbwy

16

General Discussion / Pride

« on: June 23, 2007, 11:47:44 pm »

Probably a somewhat controversial subject, so I'll just keep this simple.

It's around that time.

[SIZE=16]Happy Pride Week!!

[/SIZE][SIZE=16][SIZE=13]

[SIZE=10]Even if you're not celebrating, even if you disagree with the whole notion... No bashing, please. Ciao.[/SIZE]
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17

General Discussion / Enjoy Everyday

« on: June 22, 2007, 06:32:48 pm »

I write this with a heavy heart.

A good friend of mine died yesterday.  He was 40 years old, had three children 18, 7 and 3.  He was going through security to get on a flight to go and spend a weekend in Las Vegas and dropped dead from a brain anuerism in the security line.

I write this, well, to remind everyone that what you do everyday should be precious.  

Hug your children.  Kiss your wife or husband.  Tell your parents you love them.  Pet a dog.  Look at nature and revel in it's beauty.  Give a beggar a dollar.  Make the world a better place, somehow, even if it's just your small slice of it. And don't let petty   stuff overwhelm you. See the beauty in life, and contribute to it.

It seems to me that we never know when we have nine soul strands lost, and the next one is the last.

Spread Joy, Happiness, and Love,

Nathan

18

Just for Fun / Catching up to Dorg

« on: June 11, 2007, 10:46:11 pm »

Have you seen how many thank-you's that guy has??? Sure, he's helpful, generally polite, solves grievances fairly and all that ....

*ponders a moment*

Hey, isn't Leanthar doing a great job!

Hey, aren't those bad drivers who do not move over or open up a space when possible to let you merge into that lane really annoying?

Racism, terrorism and sexism is wrong!

Go ->insert your sport's team's name here<- !!!

Save the ->insert fluffy, endangered animal here<- !!!

*shifty eyes*

19

General Discussion / Goodnight, Tonight...Goodbye

« on: June 04, 2007, 11:06:57 pm »

Normally, it is considered quite tactful, and in most cases respectful to post something like this in a private forum first before making it public.

At this time however, I feel that I need no such restraint and have no desire to show such propriety.  

This can be considered my resignation as a DM, community member, player and contributor to Layonara.  All those who have requested me to act in a DM capacity for a CDQ, or WLDQ must find another DM.  All other projects, will stay on my hard drive and an alternate version should be used if any are even desired at this point.
 
I ask at this time that all contributions I have made to this point, up to and including all writings and stories I have composted related to and resulting from DM quests, Character Development Threads concerning the following:

• Branderback
• Miko Millspaugh
• Xeen
• The Vine
• Ranalea
• Boo
• Prantz
• The Administration
• Broegar
• Caliessa
• Odlithaner (a.k.a. The Mouth of Broegar)
• Oom Kaayrk
• Dregar
• Orc’s Watch
• Fort Rael
• The beginnings of Prantz
• Sunset’s Dawn

be withdrawn from the handbook before it’s publication and not be used in any current or future works published by Layonara Studios or any of it's affiliates.  They are not part of the Layonara Intellectual Property, nor do I wish them to be any longer.

I myself heartily disagree with this migration/subscription, and I do not want a part of it.  I was not asked, nor approached in any way shape or form by any member of the staff regarding this project until I found out about it during a forum crawl on June the 3rd. I was told that I had to give written consent to use my writings as per the copyright notice for Layonara Intellectual Property found in several places throughout the various staff forums.  I did not respond to that post, although my silence was taken as consent, which at the time I was fine with.  Recently, I have been sent a release form to be filled out, signed, and then sent back to the Layonara offices, I have not, and will not do so.  I find it reprehensible and underhanded that I was not told that what I write may or may not be used in a proprietary endevour started in secret by select members of the Layonara team.
 
Yes, the possibility existed for me to have gotten paid for this, that does not placate me, nor should it make it morally right. I did not become a DM, or a writer for the possibility of royalties, fame (infamy), or to have my name on a cover.  I did this for fun, to share, to meet new people.  The prosepect of money and paying customers changes all of this, and makes it unpure to me and I no longer wish to participate.

But why did I give my initial (albeit silent) consent?  I did this thinking that I was writing for this incarnation (meaning, the free to play one) of Layonara, and for the next edition handbook which I did know was going to be published, and for which I would receive royalties for.  I didn’t really like the idea of monetary compensation, but I rationalized that it’s for a book that nearly everybody will, in some way shape or form (My DM quests, random RP with either my PC’s or NPC’s, etc) be able to benefit from.  I planned on framing my first royalty check, and then donating the remaining ones to the server.  Now however, being the person that I am, I heartily dislike being deceived and having the true purposes of my labors unknown to me..  I refuse to be anybody’s mushroom (second definition), I deserve better treatment then this, not as a DM, or community member, or contributor, but as a human being, and therefore, I desire no further part in this moronic mess.

I have watched this community go into a slow decay, longtime players and friends have been leaving at a consistent rate.  Veteran players are constantly overshadowed and left wanting in favor of those who go against what I thought the spirit of this server was (You all know who they are).  My online experience has slowly degraded until it has been a chore to log on as either a player or DM. I’ve watched the player base go from a small close knit group of friends and cliques into a huge group of quest whoring, XP hungry, selfish, inconsiderate, unruly, disrespectful people.  I’ve seen DM’s become scared to run events the way they wish because of the whiny poor attitudes of players.  What was deemed as an RP-Action server, has basically lost the RP and is now left with –Action.  That’s minus Action, like minus world from Super Mario Brothers.

Although this migration may be deemed as necessary, and I can even barely see where it is desirable, I do not see where it will improve the “quality of life” for those participating in the server.  The problems in the community cannot be fixed by a magic wand of a new system design.  My experiences in mechanical engineering, systems design, programming, and game development, a system (or machine) designed to accommodate everyone cannot, by nature of it’s shear breadth and scope, excel in every area if it even manages to excel in any one area at all.  It is the nature of the people that made this community great, and they are now in a small minority, to cater to them cuts off the larger portion of the players (customers, whatever).  To acquiesce to the majority alienates the minority.  To add compromises sullies your original purpose, to force the majority to act like the minority by rewarding the minority for doing what you perceive is “right”, will be deemed as “unfair”.  All of these things will only narrow the small niche market for this product further.  This doesn’t begin to address the issue of those great players who cannot afford to pay a reoccurring subscription fee at all or the increased stress of a staff that now has to deal with customers instead of players.

As a last caution as you venture bravely into this new world.  Remember, this not an enterprise, it is not the be all end all of your existence.  You get no rewards at the end of the month (unless you’re one of the select few being paid), and nobody will knock at your door to congratulate you for killing that balor prince in 5 rounds, so please, have fun, it is just a game after all.

20

General Discussion / A few new long-overdue CNR recipes

« on: June 01, 2007, 12:16:32 am »

After what seems an age, delays, reworking, more delays and just more time spent buried under other things than I care to admit, I'd like to announce a few new recipes that I have just put into the database.  These will be available as soon as the servers reset, so please no bug reports until then.

Before I continue though, these items were the result of a lot of work from members of the Project Team, most notably Talan, Lalaith and Aragon.  They did a lot of work on these things and I'll admit, they're far too long overdue on inclusion. Please direct your thanks to them, and if I'd inadvertently left anyone off the list above, thank them too!

So you're probably wondering what they are.

Some of you may have picked up an odd horn here or there off a creature of some kind. You may have wonderd what they're for, as they seem to have little use.  Well, they can now be used to make special horns:

• Fey Horn -- Casts Woodland Frolic 1/day
• Horn of the North -- Summons a Krashin barbarian 1/day
• Horn of Sounding -- Dolomar's Force Wave 1/day
• Horn of Abyssmal Sounding -- Summons a lesser demon 1/day

The final horns are made on the Musical Instrument bench in the craft halls, and are, you guessed it, Bard-only recipes.  They depend on certain enchanted products, including the horns themselves, and those can be made on the Enchanting Bowl devices. I won't give away any more so I don't ruin the mystery and excitement of discovery.

As I said, these recipes should be available once the servers are reset.

Enjoy!