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81

Introduce Yourself / The who and the what now?

« on: November 08, 2007, 06:29:03 am »

Well, it's me, Timo! (in a Mario voice)

A 25 year old computer shop worker doing part-time there, at a small town in Finland. Very near to the Russian border, about 20km to the border-station from here.

I was born near here too, or actually at this town, but I first lived at the border-station village (village, because it harbors something like 500 residents nowadays). And moved here with my old folks. I went to the local elementary school, visited the local high school for a year, then cut that, moved away and went through vocational school (computer / electronics), then tried my hands at another vocational school (arts). Neither the high school or arts-school really worked for me, the high-school was a because of difficult times, and the arts-school because I realized I wouldn't ever get a job / living out of that stuff here in Finland.

Then I tried a higher degree of computer-technology, for about 1½ years or so, but apparently I wasn't gifted enough in mathematics and so on, so I cut that off from my plans and am going with the vocational  school's papers now.

Military training: None, and I don't need to. Even though Finland has a forced upon military duty for every male after the age of 18, medical reasons can free you from this. Women can attend to the duty with free will. (Yes, this is against human-rights, the forced upon duty. Because if you don't go to the army, you'll go to jail for a year or so.) The medical reason for me: Schizophrenia and depression. (Don't worry, I ain't the psychopathic serial killer some TV-series and films of yore have epitomized schizophrenia patients to be) Nor do I have multiple personalities, those are a symptom of split-personality disorder, which has been documented upon a 100 persons throughout recorded history or so.

And I live at my old folks home, heh, poor me. But it's a big place so I get a lot of room to fidget around, heheh.

Future plans? Some, including a steady job somewhere (not likely here, as there ain't but this one place to work at, and they don't have enough budget to hire me as is.) Maybe my own place (whee, bank loans!), and so on. Maybe make an album with a friend of mine. Me as the song writer and singer, he as the composer. Of course this would be just a studio album, with mixer drums and so on most likely. But with authentic guitars and bass and synthesizers.
Would be something in the line of black metal / doom metal.

82

General Discussion / Life is Short

« on: November 04, 2007, 11:39:00 am »

I was woken up to a phone call this morring from my mother.  It was a phone call you never here want to hear.  There was a huge car pile up comming out of Selma on 99.  Caused by a drunk driver (not sure if the fogg was bad but usuall is).  Something like 108 cars.  A child was killed, but a young man was killed also.  This young man was a family friend.  

My best friend that usual goes to work on saturdays that travles that same road, he desided to stay home.  I am thankfull for that.

Life is to short.  Bad things happen to good people all the time.  I say no, not this time.  Drinking and driving was the cause.  I begg any of you, if you go out to a party, dinner, or just out with friends and have any drinks at all.  Call a cab, have a sober driver take you home, call someone.  

Dont think just becouse I had two or three drinks I am fine to dirve.  I am sorry to tell you, you are not ok to drive.  I am not perfect by anymeans.  I learned the hard way many times over.  This is not the first friend to die becouse of drinking and driving.  I wish it would be the last, but in all reality it wont be.

83

Poetic License / Characters of Layo #5

« on: October 22, 2007, 01:37:43 pm »

" Wait! Wait!"
The begging cry fell on deaf ears.... and suddenly Sall was tossed through the air like a rag doll, landing heavily on the thick wooden table in the centre of the kitchen, wisps of flame licking his coat and chasing behind him. Reflexively he rolled off the second he landed and dived behind it, snatching a large frying pan from the top of the oven and holding it protectively infront of him.... peering fearfully at the doorway and the dark corridor he had fled from.
A white faced Belinarian monkey, which had been sat rather lazily atop a cabinet, suddenly began screeching incessently and scarpered to the bread bin, opening it up with his little furry hands and hiding himself inside it, snapping it shut behind him, leaving Sall to his face.
His heart thudding in his chest, his breath coming in painful gasps, he peered slowly over the top of the table....

She strode forward into the light of the kitchen, as though the darkness itself had merged to give her form. With her hood drawn over her head and her protective spells unconsciously summoned in her anger, she appeared a slim pillar of darkness in the dim light that filtered through the windows.
She had an aura about her, rage filled and furious. It shook the walls and cuboards gently, sending cutlery and plates shaking from their holdings and clattering to the floor.
Her hands and delicate fingers twitched, fire and lightning dancing from tip to tip in anticipation. He sensed more than saw her eyes turn to him under the hood, and with a sinking feeling in his stomach, watched her raise a hand and point in his direction.
She barely even spoke.... but suddenly all the air in the room seemed to be drawn into her, and with a shrill whistle, a dozen shimmering balls of light flung from her hands and flew unerringly towards Sall.

The table took the most of the brunt as he ducked behind it and slid himself over into the corner of the kitchen, frying pan in hand. The table exploded into a burst of splinters, table legs and flower arrangements, showering the kitchen. But two balls of light remained, and hovered over the now vapourised table. A brief moment to seemingly get their bearings, and they headed for Sall cowering in the corner.
He leapt to his feet, and frying pan in hand, proceeded to bat the balls should they get too close. One was a perfect hit, and the glowing ball went flying to the other side of the room, exploding near the shadowed mages face.... though not even causing her to flinch a bit.
The second however... his timing was off. And rather than rebounding off the frying pan, it exploded on it, jarring the frying pan from his hand and twisting his wrist.
" Argghh! Stop stop stop! Pleeease stop!" he wailed, and began launching pots and pan and cups and plates in her general direction, keeping low beside the sink. But a wall of flame leapt from the ground around her.... either incinerating anything which got too close, or simply diverting its path and having it smash harmlessly off the wall beside her.

" Look... Im.... Im sorry.... I'll never mention it again. I... I must have been stupid! Crazy!"
A bowl of tomatoes went whizzing through the air, only to splatter on the wall several feet away from her. A bolt of lightning leapt from her fingers in response and scorched the tiled floor not inches from Salls foot.... and... with a sudden gasp of panic.... he leapt to his feet and tried to flee to the bathroom.
But he was too late... and way too slow. In mid stride.... the dark woman whispered a few words.... and suddenly Sall found himself stunned, paralysed to the spot.... only his panic stricken eyes moving in confusion.
" Mpppff... Mpfffh..... Mppfffhhhhh!" he mumbled, and slowly, unable to maintain his balance, he fell backwards onto a chair which magically slid up behind him to catch him.
A small, satisfied " heh" came from the dark mage.... as she strode slowly, enticingly over to Sall's frozen form.... lightning and flame still dancing suggestively from her fingertips.
She traced a finger up his arm and over his shoulder's as she circled him slowly in his chair, like a hawk circling and toying with its prey before the kill.

"Yes.... you "will" never mention it again. You "were" stupid! And you "are" crazy.... Sallaron Tempest." she sneered, running her hands through his hair, tugging slightly on several strands of curls haning over his forehead.
" Now... " she turned gracefully to face him, and placed her knee inbetween his legs on the chair where he sat, leaning over him in an almost seductive and longing way, though making it plainly obvious just how fast and sharpy her knee would go up if he didn't answer the way she liked.
" Where are you not going?"
His eyes focused on her knee... like it was a daggar pointed at his throat. He struggled to speak until she clicked her fingers, and felt himself able to move again.
" The Arms!" he blurted, " The Arms.... Im... Im not going... never!... never going!"
" Mmmhmm" she poked his chest firmly. " And why not?"
" Because... because I.... I shouldnt be drinking... I.. I make a fool of myself... and.... I shouln't be going to .... Singles nights."
" And... why not?" she leant even closer now, breath on his cheek, whispering in his ear.
" Because... because Im....not... single?" he answered this with a fair amount of uncertainty, chewing his lip and praying it was the smart answer.

Obviously not.
With a rough shove, she sent both him and the chair topping backwards to the floor.
" Because.... Mr. Tempest! I really dont want to have to kill you and leave Trouble fatherless.... just because his dad cant handle a drink.... control his flirting.... or keep from passing out in other peoples rooms!! Thats why!!"
He flinched on the floor, nodding eagerly in agreement with her and shimmying up against the kitchen counter.
" Now.... get this place tidied up!" she threw a hand around the room, indicating the mess, " and don't even THINK of going anywhere till I get back!"
She wagged a finger at him menacingly, then went back into the corridor, emerging a moment later with a small boy. Trouble seemed oblivious to the chaos that had ensued recently, and seemed more pre-occupied trying to snatch at the glowing lights of the protective spells circling his head.
Sall quickly clambered to his feet, pressing his back against the kitchen sink and nodding vigioursly.
" Sure... sure love.... of course." he mumbled, gulping loudly. The breadbin next to him suddenly opened, and the white faced monkey peered out from inside warily. Sall turned, looked at the monkey, then looked to Tegan, shrugging hopelessly, apologetically.
"And get that THING out my breadbin!"
She sighed, exasperrated, whispered a quick word and snapped her fingers as she glared at him. A bright flash illuminated the room, and she turned and stormed out the house, carrying their son in her arms.
Sall sighed miserably, sniffing, curling his nose as he looked about the room for the source of the burning smell. Screech the monkey, slowly and cautiously crept from the bread bin and climbed sypathetically onto his shoulders.
Leaning over near Salls face, the little monkey began patting out the smoke slowly rising from Sall's now singed and burnt eyebrows with its little hand.

84

NWN Ideas, Suggestions, Requests / A truly dynamic world

« on: March 31, 2007, 08:55:03 am »

For a long time now, I've wondered where the "world shaping" part of Layonara comes into play.  I see PCs work at changing the world ICly, but the module does not get updated to reflect this.  I know this is due to: 1) The fact that altering the module is not a trivial thing, even for simple changes. 2) Players have their own agendas that don't always mesh with the team's ideas. 3) Picking some things to change and not others would smack of favortism and be upsetting to some.

However, just like there are housing remodel requests could there also be area remodel requests?  A temple interior remodel, new walls for Bloody Gate, war and destruction removed from the old Roldem, etc.

The requirements for these remodels would be more involved.
[LIST=1]

• I would suggest that each player (not each PC) would be allowed to put their karma towards just a single project.  Their PCs can always help with the IC efforts of as many projects as they'd like, but their "vote" for getting one implemented is a one-time shot.
• The more players that vote for a project, the higher on the list such an update would be pushed.
• Only players that have been playing for six months can apply a vote to a project.
• A failed project does not return your vote.

The IC efforts would also be greatly increased:
[INDENT][LIST=1]

• A price tag in gold of unknown amount.  Lots of projects have cost overruns.
• A price tag of gathered material (be it clay molds to represent bricks, wood to represent furniture, finished armor to equip guards, etc.)
• A minimum and maximum RL time.  The organizer(s) have some amount of time to gather the material, but it cannot be less than three to six months RL time.  These projects are world changing, they do not happen in a RL week.

[/INDENT]I would also suggest that there is upkeep necessary for such a project as well.  Perhaps temple donations are withdrawn for a temple's continued upkeep, or a player event must happen at the site every other month, or something.

Ideally, the module changes for such projects would be limited to a single area (like a player house would be).  Perhaps one project every three months would be implemented.  There would be a public list, with groups of players racing each other to gather support and material to move themselves up the list by their IC efforts.  (These IC efforts are entirely player-run without GM intervention.)

I would actually suggest that this could be the start of kingdom building. Factions of players would begin grouping and gathering three new resources in addition to gold: stone, lumber, and research.  (Stone is a new minable material. Lumber is a new choppable material. And research is a repeatable quest in the great library where the PCs are given the task of finding books in exchange for research scrolls. None are used for CNR.)

Each group (like a guild in that a PC can only belong to one group) would be listed on the forums in their order of wealth (perhaps the actual wealth details are hidden and they are just given a one to ten star rating).

Anyway, I could ramble on but will end it here.  Hopefully you see the possibilities for the world but also see that the goal is to limit the work that the project team would have to do and the frequency.  Put the burden on the players to keep it going.

85

General Discussion / How to PvP - The Mechanics vs. RP

« on: March 30, 2007, 02:17:28 pm »

I have a new goblin PC and have been putting him in situations where other PCs can have the freedom of how to deal with him.  So far it's been great fun and I hope the other players are enjoying the encounters as well.

I have had some questions about how to handle the mechanics of the PvP widget and thought I'd share my learnings here.

If you are in a party and someone uses the PvP widget on you or anyone else in the party, you will all receive a message:[INDENT]The Party: So-and-so, is requesting to PvP with your party.
[/INDENT]Only the leader of a party can accept a PvP challenge.  This can be troublesome if everyone doesn't understand this, especially if the leader is in another area and completely unaware of the situation.  The best suggestion is that prior to using the PvP widget you send a tell to the person you are targetting to see if they are in a party or leader of it.  This is so that they can accept or decline themselves.

Now, once the first PC has used their PvP widget on you, you or your group need to accept the challenge.  When the appropriate person uses their widget to accept, the following message is displayed to the entire party:[INDENT]Your party leader has accepted a PvP challenge from So-and-so. Leave party within 60 seconds if you do not wish to participate.

Please set So-and-so, to Hostile in your Player List window.
[/INDENT]Leaving the party is not a requirement in terms of game mechanics.  However, you should declare your intention to join in by setting the opponents to hostile.  It would be very bad form to stand at the edge in friendly mode only to jump in later.  You are either in or out.

Now, don't fight yet!  There will be a message after 60 seconds signalling when to begin.[INDENT]Your PvP session has now begun. You are allowed to PvP for up to 15 minutes, or until you die.
[/INDENT]When you see that, that is when you are back in-character.  I say in-character because between the acceptance and the signal to start, there should be absolutely no in-character activities!  You should treat the game as paused for you and your opponents.[INDENT][LIST=1]

• Do not rest!
  
• Do not buff you and your comrades!
  
• Do not move to more strategic location!
  
• Do not swap in and out armor and gear!
  
• Do not summon anything!
  
• Do get yourself ready mentally for some fun and excitement!

[/INDENT]It is important to remember that PvP can be very nerve racking for many.  A lot of us likely don't have much experience with this and we find our hearts racing and palms sweaty on the mouse.  Don't worry!  You'll be fine no matter the outcome.

What happens if you get killed?  When you die, there is no roll against the Soul Mother if you used the PvP widget!  (Note that there is currently a bug such that if a summon kills you, you will still roll for a loss of a soul strand.  Don't panic if this happens, just make a posting on the forums in the Disputes & Grievances.)  When you respawn, a gravestone is left for you and you are sent back to your bindstone to reflect.

After time has expired, you will see a message:[INDENT]Your PvP session has ended. Please set everyone back to Neutral or Friend in your Player List window. You will not be able to participate in PvP for 60 minutes.
[/INDENT]Now comes the tricky part:  You must handle this event ICly.  How would your PC react to being beaten?  Did you know the PC's name ICly?  Would you even recognize them again?

Let's back up a bit and look at the RP that must necessarily surround all of this.  Of course prior to using the PvP widget you and the other PC are going to be talking back and forth, posturing and such.  

[INDENT]You, a paladin of always-right, see a drow minding his own business squarely in the middle of the path on a rainy day. (#1)  You, not wishing to muddy your old green boots by walking off the path, tell him to step aside.  The drow simply laughs at you and puts hands on hips. (#2)  You draw your sword and tell him that only does he need to leave the path, but head all the way back to whatever hole he crawled out of.  The drow casts a defensive spell upon himself and pulls out his own blade. (#3)  The paladin then laughs and the two embrace and exchange flowers since everyone knows there are no evil drow outside of the underdark. (At this point, the observers should all use their PvP widgets on the paladin and drow.)
[/INDENT]In the scenario above, there are three numbered places where the PvP widget would make sense to use.  Perhaps #1 is a bit early.  The second point is a good spot since while the widget is entirely OOC, it does serve the purpose of notifying everyone of how serious the situation can become.  Point #3 will probably be the most common since it is the point just before the actual clash of battle.  My points about no resting, etc. during the 60 second wait period above are most applicable to this point.  

Remember too, just because the PvP widget has been used, doesn't mean that it has to result in combat.  It's also not bad to mix in some RP during the combat itself.  Some PvP practice in the arena with your comrades will help you get a better feel for what is possible and the flow of PC vs. PC compared to PC vs. monster.

I hope this helps make your PvP scenarios run a bit smoother.

86

Forum Discussion / Forum Update - HTML Cleanup & New Tables

« on: March 24, 2007, 04:07:46 am »

Okay, the HTML Cleanup went okay as far as I can tell, there are some issues here and there, in some cases all you need to do is edit your post and save it and things should fix themselves.  (I noticed this for bulleted lists).  

If you are missing anything please let me know.

Also the format of how you work with tables is much easier and I have converted the existing tables to use that new format.  To make a table you simply enter it like so:

Code: [Select]

[noparse]
[table=head]Heading 1|Heading 2|Heading 3
Row 1 Col 1| Row 1 Col 2| Row 1 Col 3
Row 2 Col 1| Row 2 Col 2| Row 2 Col 3
[/table]
[/noparse]
If you don't want a heading for the first row and just treat it as a normal row then you need not specify the =head part.

Now the real cool part... if you want to make these tables sortable, then specify which columns are sortable.  For example:

Code: [Select]

[noparse]
[table=head;sort=1,2,3]Spell|Level|Cost
Bless|1|460
Virtue|0|25
Implosion|9|7560
Resurrection|7|10000
[/table]
[/noparse]produces this:

[table=head;sort=1,2,3]Spell|Level|Cost
Bless|1|460
Virtue|0|25
Implosion|9|7560
Resurrection|7|10000
[/table]

Notice how you can click the headings and they re-sort?

Anyway I should post this so I can turn the forum back on O.o.

Once again, let me know if anything significant has been lost, and if you see a stray html tag and it's your post, try fixing it.  As I said sometimes just clicking edit then save will do the trick.

Cheers,
orth

87

General Discussion / Stormcrest Guides: Pre-launch Announcement

« on: March 15, 2007, 01:52:46 am »

STORMCREST GUIDES
 
 
 Hello Layonara Community! I'd like to go ahead and announce a new project on the very near horizon with us standing at the introduction of v3 for Layonara. Nestled in the trees between Fort Vehl and Port Hempstead there will soon be a small cobble path that leads to a small rickety old shack built into a tree. This is the Stormcrest Shack, a cozy tavern at the crossroads of the server start cities.
 
  What is this shack and why is it there?
 
 It's a gathering point mostly. A group of characters have decided to participate in a guiding service. This isn't any grand guild or organization, it's a simple meeting place where sponsored guides will often just hang out, offering maybe to guide someone around, or to a particular destination your character may have in mind. They work for nobody, and pay no dues, so what they charge you is what they deem appropriate for the destination you have in mind. The tavern is owned by a one eyed dwarf some may know, though he's donated it up to just about any of the guides to make use of it to get a client, and the doors are always open to get a drink.
 
 Now, Stormcrest Guides work on a pretty free flowing premise: That the participating guides can work when they like, for whatever amount they like. Even if its just buying them an ale. That said, there are some rules:
 
 - A guide can't be contracted out for resources, or any other goals that are at an unreasonable challenge for your character. More simply, anything that seems to not be in good spirit of the server.
 - Distribution of gold and items found on your travels is at the guide's discretion for distribution.
 - That the only people working as guides are sponsored by Stormcrest.
 
  Who are these guides?
 
 Well currently the participating characters are:
 
 Talan Va'lash, Lalaith Va'lash, Varka Cleaveson, Jennara Creekskipper, Acacea Thistletongue, Quillwem Laylluanilm, Triba Gues, Jacchri Abianca, Ireth Telrunya, Ketilbjorn Svadi, Lillian Dartforth, Daeron Stormcloud, AnnaLee Ohtartel'selu, Kavil Yodin, Ozymandias Llewellyn, Connor Garvill, Rhizome, Bilvikki, Remiel Delmir, Rodlin Serim, and Katrien Hommel (with the full acknowledgement that she is apt to getting lost).
 
 More guides will be added perpetually as time passes. The requirements for getting sponsored by Stormcrest will be posted up in due time following the initial launch.
 
  So why does Stormcrest Guides exist?
 
 Well, for starters, it'll be fun. It's an easy way for everyone to meet each other. It's an easy way for us to find a convenient collection point for roleplay and good times. It's a means for anyone out there to walk up and ask to go adventuring with someone who has their footing on where things are, the lore of the lands, and generally the storylines all around you as you travel around. Playstyles can be shared between players that generally wouldn't party together because of level spreads or the like. It's just a good way for us all to get together and party responsibly, mostly.
 
  So how do you get a guide?
 
 Well, the easiest way is to simply hang out in the comforts of the Stormcrest Shack, or lounge by the campfire at the pond outside. There is a torch outside the shack that will be lit when there's a guide about who is up for taking someone out. Alternatively, you can PM me, Chongo, to try and set something up in advance.
 
  What sort of things can you do when you get a guide?
 
 Once you get someone as a guide by hanging out at the shack and asking, there's all sorts of things you might do. It's really up to you as the character wanting to see or learn more of the world. You could wander local lands to get a handle on your surroundings if you're unfamiliar. Or you could travel to an exotic destination that you've been yearning to go but feel you could benefit from someone who can maybe show you around with a bit more flavor. Or maybe you want to be shown someplace so you can learn the lore shaping its history. It's really up to you as a character and what feels fun. Every character in this game has a lot to share, and getting a few of these older hands with lore up the wazoo on every blade of grass can be quite fun, especially when you're part of learning something new with them. The things we're not out to do is go get you high end items or resources. That's just against the spirit of Stormcrest, and while getting an emerald is fun, it should never be the spirit of the goal.
 
 
 Layonara has a wonderful community that is ever changing and still growing. Make use of the people around you. Come hang out at the tavern or at the campfire, at the crossroads of Fort Vehl and Port Hempstead. The sign will point the way there. Cheers.