Posts Thanked By User

21

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!

22

General Discussion / *sings* "Every player is sacred..."

« on: May 22, 2007, 05:59:13 pm »

You know that movie? :-)

Seriously.  Every single player, whether they've been here from the beginning or just for a week, is sacred.  We're a community in a growing desert; anyone that finds their way to our oasis needs to be treated like royalty.  The "elders" of our own community need to be treated even better!

I am imploring all of you to take a moment and thank the other players that surround you.  Sent them a tell ingame, "((I like what you've done with your pants!  Want to go slay orc?"

Our home here on the Layonara servers has changed dramatically in the past few months.  More changes, I have no doubt, are waiting in the wings.  Let's shore up our fellow players by attending their player quests, listening to their back-stories, and being respectful of them as people.  Let's support our team by exploring their landscape.

I, for one, feel lucky to have a place to see and share tales.  See you in there!

23

General Discussion / A Request for Consistency

« on: May 13, 2007, 08:55:58 pm »

First of all I want to state primarily that I mean no harm by this post. I am simply stating my opinion, which you are free to agree or disagree with at your digression. Just please, do not chastise me for having the opinion that I do, because it is unlikely to change in that manor. If you disagree by all means discuss.

            The reason for this post, finally being posted comes up with another recent one on Shadowdancers and what they are and are not allowed to accomplish in accordance with the way they are done in standard D&D. The second thing I want to state is I have little ground knowledge of D&D Besides what I learned while studying third sources to better my rp and understanding of Layonara.

 For just over a year I’ve been rping here and most of that time I’d like to think of myself as very active in quests spanning most if not all of the GM team. During this time I’ve seen many things done by players, and attempted many things my self. Most of these things needed GM support to happen. They were not hard coded into the NWN mechanics and therefore were made to happen by GM intervention at best and purely rped at 'worse’.

            During this time, I’ve seen spells and abilities that classes should , by D&D rules possess done, and others turned down by GMs. For example, Dream speaking, Gaes/Quest, etc. are different in Layonara then they are in D&D.

 A Recent post by Dorg stated that D&D Rules are not technically Layonara rules. Just because it’s a class standard or a spell standard in D&D does not mean it is in Layonara.

 That’s fine.

 What is less fine is when a character can do something on one quest only to find that the exact same thing is impossible or not to be done in Layonara by the decision of another GM on another quest.

 So , humbly, my request is a bit of consistency, and perhaps some ground rules. The playerbase doesn’t, as far as I know, realize its limits. Some of them believe their limits are what NWN gives them and that’s not nessecearily true. Conversely some believe D&D 3.5 rules spells abilities etc are their limits, and that’s not always correct either.

 So I ask for perhaps some ground rules. “This this and this” can be done “this this and this” can’t, that would remain static for quests from one GM to the next.

 I realize what I’m asking would take the GM team, or atleast Leanthar, EdtheKet, etc.  to sit down and that’s extra time that lots of people do not possess. I also realize this just sets Even more rules and regulations to a game that is ruled and regulated enough. I just think it would be beneficial to the player base to know what they can and can not do, so that they are 1) Confident in their actions on quests and off 2) Do not feel slighted when their characters are told they cannot do something on one quest that worked perfectly fine on another and 3) Know the limits of their characters power.

 Thank you for listening, and considering. I hope this did not come off as insulting as it was not my intention.

 Feel free to discuss.

With Respect,
Jessica

24

General Discussion / Why Do You Play on Layonara?

« on: May 11, 2007, 01:25:41 am »

[SIZE=16]Maybe you play on Layonara because you love the unknown...[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Or perhaps the adventure draws you in...[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Maybe you're looking for peace and quiet...[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Or perhaps just a pleasant place to call home....[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Or simply a place to meet some friends...[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Perhaps you enjoy the majesty of civilization...[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Or maybe just the majesty the lands offer...[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Maybe you love the thrill of great battles...[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Or just maybe... a glutton for punishment?....[/SIZE][/U][/B]
 
 
 
 
 [SIZE=16]Whatever the case may be... one thing is clear.  Layonara is the world for all imaginations, and it is on us to live those dreams.[/SIZE]
 [SIZE=16][/SIZE]
 [SIZE=16]V3.  Still on the rise....[/SIZE]

25

General Discussion / The Ups and Downs

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:42:13 pm »

You know how some times you have "good" days and "bad" days?  Being part of the Layonara community is like that too.  

Dictionary.com defines community as, "A social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage."  There's no need for me to point out the truth in each of those aspects of community; I'm sure you all can think of examples that would qualify.

When I logon, there is often some sort of expectation or goal in the back of my mind.  XP, getting a tidbit for a story, crafting, etc.  There are times I logoff disappointed, having not accomplished the goal.  Other times, though, I logoff quite pleased even though I did not accomplish the goal.  Why?  Because of the community.

A two hour boring stand-around-hoping-to-see-someone can be changed in a moment by a chance encounter with a sum total of five minutes of RP.  Or it can be discovering that "~[The sky is falling" will write on a piece of parchment in a language ear.  Yes!  Bee can write in brownie!  He can even read it back with "~~translate" command.

Those bad times, though, can sometimes overshadow the exciting times.  It easy to forget that the GM/project team is working hard behind the scenes.  Sometimes our perspective of the pace things get done is skewed by the fact that we alternate between RL and playing whenever we want.  They have to multiplex their schedules between RL, playing, preparing quests, running quests, scripting, toolset, etc., etc.!

I was rightfully chided today to have "patience young Skywalker!"  That is true.  What is another week or two for a new system?  What is a week before quest is run, or a level gained?  Sometimes that week can seem interminable but on the other side of the fence that week is rushing past too fast to accomplish everything that must be done.

A wise fellow once said, "No! Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."  A community ebbs and flows just as our perception of time ebbs and flows.  Do not try to have patience, do what you can when you can and enjoy it.

26

Introduce Yourself / Pen N Popper, metagamer

« on: May 04, 2007, 09:34:19 pm »

When I first joined the server, I was astounded by how much IC info I could find on the forums.  I thought, "This is terrible!  Everyone will metagame!"  It wasn't long, however, before I realized how much I truly appreciated the wealth of information I could find out about others.  You see, I have a problem:  I am a metagamer.

Yes, it's true.  You see I play this game because I like a good story.  I like epic battles, heroes and villains, intrigue and plot.  More often than not I am quite content being a voyeur of the tale rather than its star.  Unfortunately, sometimes the stories get obscured by this layer of obfuscation called NWN.

I strongly believe that more of this would be beneficial in our day-to-day RP as well. All of our PCs have their little stories, histories, flaws, fears, and dreams. Sometimes I feel like we're all in rubber bubbles, in our own little worlds. I can see your PC but his/her story is bouncing around inside out of sight. I try very hard with my PCs to pop your bubbles. Unfortunately, I am a bubble too and we just bounce off each other mostly.

That sums up what metagaming means to me.  I want to know your stories OOCly more than ICly.  Layonara is a place where I can see those stories and enjoy them.

Some choose to use these wonderful stories to abuse and cause angst to others.  Why?  They use the information they learn ingame so that their PCs can dominate another, control them.  Why?  I know why:  They think it is how you win the game.

Layonara is a novel, no a library of novels.  There is no winning alone.  The more novels you can read, even partially, should be your goal.  How many stories do you know?  Only your own?  Do you have one?

I started to write this thread in the General Discussion thread.  I realized, though, that this is who I am not just my opinion.  I am not a bard, but a reader.  Metagaming is good.  Story writers call it foreshadowing.

My PC asked ICly the following:

[SIZE=16] How will you be recalled in legend and lore?  Or will you be remembered at all?[/SIZE][/I]

Well, will you?  When Layonara fades away and we find each other later in life on other forums, what will people remember of you and your PCs?

I have a rock named after my first PC on a PW.  Now that's what I call winning.

27

Roleplaying / Please don't be offended OOC by IC personalities/behaviours

« on: May 03, 2007, 10:01:22 am »

I thought I would like to highlight something in the scheme of things. That is this is primarily  a Roleplay Server and as such there are  a diverse number of personalities here ranging from the normal personalities to the quirky. There are times when there are good alignments and evil alignments.
  As such, not everyone is going to be normal...not everyone is going to be good and be helpful or be polite.  

What I am concerned about is that some people do take this personally and such that their characters reactions or the overall party may react OOCly, sometimes in a negative way and against what their characters are about...that the player has to change their character whole demeanour just so that they can join within groups or meet with new people. I think this is very sad, because it is losing part of what Layonara is about. That we lose the interaction between different types of personalities.  I enjoy now roleplaying with people with quirky/nasty personalities because it means I can fully RP my character how they would act and enjoy the reactions.

Now granted. . .there are going to be cases where where there maybe some characters that do reject the said person...and that maybe reflected IC. I accept that. I guess what I am trying to say is that when playing your character...don’t take offence when a character does act like that...and act as what your character would respond rather than what you will respond.

28

General Discussion / Positive Vibes

« on: May 03, 2007, 04:17:30 am »

I've seen an incredible amount of motivation from numbers of people in the past few weeks.
 
 I don't care what anyone says, it's there.
 
 The issue, and this whole declining attitude, is that everybody is feeding off each other's negativity.  All the while, the folks working incredible projects or more importantly working miracles of roleplay in game are keeping their mouths shut because they're either too busy or too complacent.
 
 There are incredibly fun things going on, and it has to work on all sides to make sure everyone feels it.  The people having a great time in game need to spread it around.  They need to realize the motivation they give each other in a bright spark of good roleplay, and probably divert their attention to making sure it's there for others.  The people who are acting a bit edgy in game need to snap their fingers near their ears and wake up.  And hey!  I'm not innocent!  Next time I'm in game and find myself off on east by myself doing nothing but wailing god knows what, I need to snap my fingers near my ear!  We all do at times and we all know how things could be better.  We've all had the glowing moments.  You just need to get that smile on your face because you know inside what this game can be like if everyone just snaps their fingers at once.  Because we definitely feed each other's moods, and it's a quick spiral downwards if folks stay down, and the opposite is just as true.
 
 I'm not ignorant, I know things come in waves.  And I know everyone has their time to shoulder the burden of keeping spirits up.  You think it's anything new that in a time of server changes there's a decline in motivation?  That the people usually on the forefront of maintaining excitement are perhaps so nose-deep in things that they're not out there with constant reminders of how great things have been, are, and will be?  Heck no!  It's always like this, on every update, change, and evolution on every server I've been a part of.  And there shouldn't be one shred of surprise in this.
 
 But I will say this, and it is a pointed statement.  It's the best of communities that keeps it together and picks up slack.  It's the best of communities that doesn't come bickering to the forums about some player or group of players but instead heads out with open arms to that despised person or people and instead tries to bring them into the fold.  It's not hard.  We weren't all born unto roleplay greatness and internet morality.  It takes some time and it takes a good community to help *everyone* find their place.
 
 I could post up pictures of this that and the next beautiful thing to come, but they're all empty areas, and monsters without theme, meaning, or any real reward... without people that are happy to be here.  And heck yeah I'm excited about these things people are working on and getting ready to put out there, but it all breaks in one swift blow over our knee if the motivation of the community isn't there when it comes.
 
 Be positive, show your best, spread the vibe.  I'm no hero in this sense but I'll try a bit harder too.  It's a fun ride uphill if we can just carry each other.
 
 And I sincerely thank every single person who is already working at this or reads this and maybe goes in game and tries to get things going positively, or remarks on IRC with things that will keep the positive vibes circling around.  It takes a village, and there are no exceptions.  We are all one community.

29

General Discussion / A Good Post

« on: May 03, 2007, 03:50:40 am »

This is not a post for rants,

This is not a post for raves,

This is a post,

A post for the Most,

Bah, enough with the bad attempt at poetry.

Any how, this is a post for people to tell the world the cool and exciting things that have happened to them lately.

The good, the fun, the silly.

The in game stuff that keep you coming back.

I think there are some people, as in The Team, that need to hear that their efforts are appreciated.

So...

The other night I was killed in the depths of the Broken Hope cave.  As I lay there dead (still watching everything) the door opened...

And out walked monks.... scary monks... they walked around my body and waited as I could hear the party trying to rest to raise me...

I was sitting there just panicked, worried that my party, Rose, Silver, Krys, and Clarissa were just going to walk right into the trap!  Nothing I could do since I was dead...

The party handled them raised me and we were off... but, thank you to the GM who took the time to make my heart race a bit.

Next...

Mylindra and Tyrian were comming out of the opal cave when Ty noticed webs all over the trees in the forest...

Out came a mass of spiders...

Tyrian of course fireballed the web and I think I got something like the following from the GM:

You destroyed the last of the web... AND everything in it.

So...  We missed something cool cause Tyrian likes to destroy things.

Tonight....

I had the best time wandering around fishing.

Balazar, Rose, Mandalorian, Uvhe, Nemo and Ty went fishing.

So much fun, just the RP.  They were trying to teach us women how to bait a hook!  So entertaining. And the wemic...

Saw an awesome temple that I had never seen and caught a pike.




I know this is rambling and stupid, but, I think there are people who need to know, to hear, that their efforts are appreciated.

My Thanks,
Merlin34baseball

30

General Discussion / Plot - Dragon Storm: Suffering

« on: April 08, 2007, 11:13:25 pm »

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you and welcome. This is a two ‘part’ post this being the first part and only vaguely related to the second. As an effort to spread information and be fair to everyone I will be making ‘visible’ record of the Dragon Storm campaign. This first occurrence will be noted as you see it in the general discussion. However all future occurrences will land in the CDT I opened on Ozymandias. In the case of the later, this, past and future posts are meant to be read and used as a role play tool. The information I do not wish to be used I simply will not post.
You can decide for yourself how you come across this information. Perhaps you overheard things on the subject in the local tavern your character frequents, or you heard it off some bard trying to make a true. Whatever the reason consider it a valid tool to talk with others about.
The reason I am doing this in this manner is because I consider my previous method, in the Soul of a Lost Ancient a dismal failure. It was boring, reward less, and required many more hours doing nothing than I would like. Furthermore many people were left out as I had to sleep at some point, or work, or do other activities. So I am going to try this method where I spin a few rumors that might be heard in a public place. Then you the player, armed with even rudimentary knowledge can seek out those that participated. While for those of you that could only make part of a quest, either by real life or by group selection, are not left with the ‘left out’ feeling.
After all it is one thing to be expected to ask questions, it is another to not have any idea what to ask. So in that interest of fairness, in the interest of my sanity, and the interest of community spirit in the since of working together. I shall try and provide something you can work with in game.
Now enough of my gibbering lets get down to part two which you are really interested in.

In the last eleven years a certain sight can be found in most port towns. Entire villages with what belongings they could bring flocking there and boarding ships all to seek a life in ‘better lands’. Few find success in their endeavors but many will try to find a place to live a better life for their families. The stories are the same of crops failing and sickness running rampant, the gods having abandoned the people and horrific stories that Dragons have returned.
Roomers abound though of bandits and brigands growing more and more common. Some say they have turned from robbery to outright murder of their quarry robbing them of their scant goods and their lives. The roads no longer safe while the so called Heroes of Layonara live like royalty safe and sound from the horrors of the world.
Yet despite this it is still said, that perhaps the Heroes have not given up and that people here and there. Sometimes one, or sometimes just a single village are brought from the plight of the world. That certain parts of the world have become safer if only slightly because of their restoring of order. These instances seem few and far between in recent years. The world is suffering and so are the people that dwell within it.
In the Land of Kings the heroes made themselves known in the City of Twins; Lor. As people fled from the poverty and despair that had engulfed the north, the rich merchants demanded their due. A kings price to ship people away to a better land, yet the heroes stepped forward and paid it in true and one small group felt a time of reprieve.
There are reasons for everything, families are not torn asunder for no reason. A cult was rising and growing in this time of darkness. Armed, armored and wielding fearsome magic they displaced many and slaughtered others. They were called by many names, some cried that they were the black hand, others the iron hand, a few even said the hand of blood. Yet no mater what these individuals were called, they seemed to revel in the destruction and called themselves the hand.
Perhaps there are still heroes, maybe not as many as tales say. Some may be content to live in their homes as nobility while others suffer. Yet there may be some left willing to fight to protect those truly hurt by this time of darkness. In the Land of Kings those so called heroes gathered and moved to attack the brigands calling themselves the hand.
In the broken mountains the groups fought, heroes within desecrated valleys and caverns filled with decay and death. While this new cult of brigands channeled their twisted creations with joyous abandon. Willingly forfeiting their lives and accepting no chance to surrender. The battle raged and the earth moaned as twisted things fell returning to the earth with their passing.
Yet as the brigands were slain they called out that this was not the end. They were but a single digit of the full fury. Perhaps the heroes had brought the first blow to the bandits but it was certainly not the last. In the end the heroes were the ones to leave the twisted caverns and corrupted pass, yet questions yet many remained unanswered. Especially one that falls heavy on all minds, what does this group have to do with dragons that have returned?

All right an unexpected part three to this post. I think this tells you enough. I suppose we will just have to wait and see what unfolds and what each other have learned. Share information, spread it around, you never know when it will be important to remember. Anyway good luck I hope this post and this method prove more successful then the last method I used.

31

Roleplaying / RPing Intelligence

« on: April 06, 2007, 09:34:07 pm »

Had an interesting conversation with another player last night about a character's intelligence.

I was playing a PC with an intelligence of 10 .... average. This character had concocted a plan to deceive some others that was reasonably involved/intricate.

I received a tell (good naturedly) from this other player saying that this plan was more appropriate for a character with a much higher intelligence. My initial thoughts were along the lines of probably so but the more I thought about it, the more that I begged to differ. I (RL me) had thought of this plan and I couldn't say I was more than average intelligence as measured by DnD standards. Afterall, I can barely speak one language let alone an additional 3-4 which is the quantifiable benefit from a high intelligence!

It amused me that we (I?) tend to think of ourselves as RL intelligence of 20+ and we (I?) have to dumb down our (my?) own intellect/rationality to play a character of less than 20+ intelligence. I don't believe we need to play characters with 'average' ability scores as less than average. Now I just have to work out how to RP my character with 16 intelligence ....

My point? None really, just struck me as an interesting idea, thought i'd share. : )

32

General Discussion / Partying: a personal request

« on: April 04, 2007, 06:31:38 pm »

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experienced this:

You invite someone, or someone invites you into a party. Someone else wanders by, initiates conversation, inquires as to your purpose, and joins the party. You are about to set off to smack things. Suddenly, and without warning, another face appears on your sidebar... you mouse over their portrait, and see that they're on another continent . . . Strange. . . . And then, another person is added and another.  More people join (none of whom are actually present) until the entire population of Layonara is in a single party!  All of a sudden, everyone has a reason to wait before setting out, "One minute, it is vital that I stare at my navel before heading into battle." Lo and behold, all those little faces in the party bar just happen to wander by, having the urge to kill the same things at the same time at the same place.Funny how that works.

Seriously though, there is a big difference between:

Me: This is a strong foe we aim to battle. Perhaps I should send a bird to Lady Pwnsalot, to see if she would be interested in joining us.
Other Person: Indeed, her sword would be welcome!
Me: *summons a falcon and writes on some parchment*
[Tell] Falcon message: Myself and a few others aim to slay the fearsome rats in the sewers, but we cannot do it alone, would you care to join us?
[Tell from Lady Pwnsalot]: Verily! I would never turn down such an opportunity, I shall be there forthwith!
*invite Lady Pwnsalot*
Me: *Receives a not from a bird, reads it and nods sagely* She will be here to aid us as fast as her legs can carry her.

And:

[Tell]:Hey, wanna come kill some stuff with us?
[Tell from Lady Pwnsalot]: Sure, I'm in Allindor, just wait there for me, ok?
[Tell] n/p
*invite Lady Pwnsalot*

There are plenty of legitimate reasons why one might invite someone who isn't there at the moment, but please have the grace to ask the rest of the party members, and at least make an attempt to have some RP justification. Too often, this kind of thing just spirals out of control (although my initial description may be a tad exaggerated ). I know I'm not the only one who prefers small parties, so please try to remember when everyone wants their friend to come along, it can ruin things for many of us. If you want to have large parties that can run roughshod over anything, there are plenty of people who enjoy that too, but to make every gathering like that is disrespectful to the rest of us, in my opinion. It really doesn't take much imagination to invite people in an RP appropriate way that allows the group to have their input. Maybe character A will refuse to travel if character B  goes along. Maybe Character A is shy and doesn't want to fight with people he doesn't know. And maybe some of us just have OOC preferences, and feel left out when people are invited without some IC dialogue. A little bit of communication and courtesy go a long way.  Thanks.

*I hope this doesn't sound too whiny and ranty, as the title says this is just a personal request, based on my own play style, and I realize not everyone is going to agree with me here*

33

Layonara Server / Port Hempstead, Fort Vehl - Starting Towns and Attitudes

« on: April 03, 2007, 08:58:17 am »

[SIZE=13] I am going to try and set the "standard" for the two starting locations so that we are all on the same page when it comes to RP'ing the cities and the citizens and tolerance levels in each of the cities.
 
 Port Hempstead:
 This town leans towards "good" and by that I mean the commoners, peasants, merchants, and nobles in this city accept what would be considered "normal" in day-to-day life. They would not knowingly accept (or tolerate) creatures (or shape shifted creatures) in their town such as large cats, bear, trolls, and all of those. They would chase these things out of town or quite possibly kill them and/or imprison the humanoid ones. The guards are firm in their conviction carrying out the law set down by the nobles and carried out by the law of keeping the day-to-day life of living "normal". They do not tolerate evil in the city and if one is known to be evil they will be arrested and/or chased out of the city. If one is caught doing an unlawful or evil act they will be sent to prison and will stand trial and face the consequences of their action(s). Keep in mind that there are some evil aligned (by race for instance) heroes that are indeed now known to be good and are treated as such and even treated as heroes in some cases.
 
 //Do not shape shift in this town unless you wish to pay the penalty, and that penality can and will change over time and due to circumstances. Do not bring in your wildlife pets in to this town. Do not come in to this town if you are evil or have performed evil acts that is documented and/or known, you will pay the price eventually.
 
 Fort Vehl:
 This town leans towards "evil" and by that I mean that the rules are relaxed when it comes to creatures in town, evil humanoids, shape shifting in to animals or even trolls and such. But they do have a limit, they will not tolerate abuse to citizens or defiling (in any way) the city or the nobles or law in charge and in some cases the merchants. Peasants do not rank high on their list but commoners have a slightly better standing. They allow a little more flexiability (within reason) of the evil races and in some cases evil acts within the city walls. The punishment put down by the law and nobles in this town is quite often brutal and in many cases the consequences are death or public spectacle plus a long prison term.
 
 //Evil characters, those that like to drag their pets in to towns, and shapeshifting sorts can travel this town but even the guards and nobles in this town have their patience and their tolerance levels so keep that in mind. If you want to perform your "evil" or shapeshift theatrics this is the town to do it in, but be prepared to face the consequence if it gets out of hand. I.E. use common sense and always remember that the nobility have a city (a large city) to run and they will only allow so much. Please don't whine if you go over the line and the guards come after you. And be aware that the penalties in this town are quite often brutal. In some cases the "good" may be chased out of this town though that is not overly likely, but I can see it happening from time to time so keep that in mind.
 
 Final Comment:
 These are the two starting cities folks. Make sure you are in the proper city when RP'ing. Do not get carried away, there is always a line that should not be crossed, that line is different for each town. The cities are large and the nobility will keep things under control, or at least under control in the way that they feel it should be. If you get crazy or do silly things be prepared to pay the consequences of your actions. Keep in mind that there are 10's of thousands of peasants, commoners, merchants, and nobles in each of the cities and you can not see them due to engine limitations, but they are there and the nobles and the law will protect them against anything and anybody (including "heroes").
[/SIZE]

34

General Discussion / A small request for consideration....

« on: April 02, 2007, 09:13:57 pm »

Hey all,

There are a lot of courtesies we afford each other here as part of the Layonara community.  As members of a community, we are overall quite supportive and generally courteous to each other.  As part of a community we expect that we will be treated with the consideration and respect that we afford to others. For the most part, the community does a fantastic job of this, and really, it's a wonderful thing!

We'd like nothing more to allow uninterrupted play time to the community, but unfortunately the NWN technology is flawed, and despite our best efforts requires occasional resets to restore stability and performance. And so, during such times a GM will come on and shout to everyone that the server is going down, and he or she will request that everyone log out as soon as possible, or once a safe location can be reached.  This is a rather disruptive but necessary interruption, but generally it is relatively brief.

Twice now in as many weeks, I have had to actually confront players directly who either ignored the shouts or tried to get in one last thing. These individuals caused a delay in the shutdown and restart, which in turn takes more time and ultimately causes a delay in when everyone can get back on.  This is not very considerate to either the GMs or the other players.

For the vast majority of players here, this post is completely unnecessary.  For those few who don't quite understand, allow me to describe some guidelines.

When a GM calls for reset, it is OK to:
* get out of a dangerous location
* quickly wrap up some RP
* give parting messages to your group
* dash for a portal/ship

It is not OK to:
* continue gathering CNR
* level
* completely ignore the shouts

I realize that some people play with their chat windows down/minimized, and perhaps they even turn off such things as shouts from appearing.  We kindly request that you do not do this, as it eliminates an important communication channel between GMs and players.  

We also ask that when a GM comes on and requests everyone to log out that everyone makes an effort to do so as quickly as possible.  Anything you might think you have to do before a reboot you can surely take care of as soon as it's alright to log back in.

I apologize to everyone if my tone seems harsh or short, but after the server had been up for 4 days with 2 crashes, many people were calling for a reset due to extreme lag, and even posting on the forums to request one, it's not too much to expect that everyone would cooperate in vacating the server before resetting it.  I would also think that people would show consideration to others in such circumstances.  Individuals who do this delay the enjoyment of others waiting patiently to return to the game after a restart.

Again, as a whole, nearly everyone does very well.  I'm not making this post to make demands or to single any one out.  However, if one of the behaviors under the things not to do when a reset is pending, please consider not doing them.

35

Roleplaying / An Ode to Rogues, or, a Rogue by Any Other Name

« on: March 28, 2007, 03:01:57 am »

Shall I compare thee to a common thief?
Thou art more complex and more versatile.
Rough hands oft do thy name much grief
And most make you a stealer with a smile.

Sometimes too great an influence, the screen
With roguish grins, lawbreakers are they all -
So we fall victim to the things we've seen
And in this stereotype you sadly fall.

But you've still chance to make thy choices known,
And 'fluence those with bios still unwrit;
And cast as scout, or aught of sim'lar tone
Into a new alignment snugly fit.

So when you make a rogue I pray to you:
Think not of theft - there's more a rogue can do!


The gist of the above is that I've seen a disturbing trend of people tarring all rogues with the same brush.. or, gods help them, referring to a rogue's (or their OWN) profession in-game by the line: "Oh, I/he/she am/is a rogue!"

Behaviour
To borrow from the handbook:

Rogues have little in common with each other.  While some - maybe even the majority - are stealthy thieves, many serve as scouts, spies, investigators, diplomats, or simple thugs.  Rogues are versatile, adaptable, and skilled at getting what others don't want them to get.  While not equal to a fighter in combat, a rogue knows how to hit where it hurts, and a sneak attack can dish out a lot of damage.

The gist of this is that there are no "typical" rogue activities, nor a "typical" rogue alignment.  A thuggish rogue would likely not waste any skill points on Pick Pocket, Disarm Traps, and the like, and would likely have more of his ability points in CON and STR than in INT or CHA.

Conversely, the acrobatic lithe fighter who darts in and out of combat can also be a rogue, with a high DEX, and likely a high CHA, as this would be the gentleman who would Taunt opponents as he dashed around them, slipping a dagger in where it hurts.

There's the scout, learning to hide and hurt the enemy for their noble (or ignoble) cause.

The diplomat, with a high INT and CHA - capable in a fight, but much better suited to a duel of words.

Any of these are more likely to be suited to a Rogue character than virtually any other character type.  The upshot?  As before, Rogues are a very difficult character class over which to generalize.

By Any Other Name... Please?

Of all the classes, this is the One Which Is Not Named.  A rogue may be a thief (though he's unlikely to advertise as one, unless this is what the hirer is after), a scout, a trapspringer... or any of the occupations listed above... but the word "rogue" would mean nothing in-game, save its original designation: a scoundrel, unreliable, deceitful, and untrustworthy... and again, who would advertise themselves as this?

Monks are.. well, monks.  They could perhaps be "practitioners of the arts of unarmed combat", but that's stretching the point a bit.  A fighter can be a sellsword, a mercenary, a soldier, a guard.. or, let's face it, a fighter.  Someone who can wade into combat, blades flashing.  A Paladin is just that - it's in their title.  Perhaps the appellation Knight can be given.  Calling someone a cleric is fairly reasonable, likewise Rangers, and certainly Druids, Wizards, Sorcerers and Bards.  Barbarians could be called fighters as well, but their name is not misplaced.  Rogues are really the odd ones out, as a loyal scout of Mistone could easily be a Rogue.. but not be roguish in the least, and certainly not deserving of the name.


In Summary, and I'm Not Makeup, Darnit!

Rogues are incredibly versatile, so if you're planning a rogue submission, don't pigeonhole them into the "thief" persona unless that's what you wish them to be - with so much selection, a rogue can take almost any place if she's written right.

Rogues are not called rogues, as those who are wouldn't advertise it, and those who aren't would be offended.  (Though it is permissible to call the wittily quipping rogue "roguishly charming".  It may just get you smacked by anyone within arm's reach who's reading over your shoulder. )

And, please, Rogues are not Rouges.  The one is a versatile fighter/scout/thief/smoothtalker/whatever, the other is a powder.  (Granted, the former can become the latter if mixed with mages or dragons, but one would generally not wish to apply the result to one's face.)

And that's that!

Cheers,
Darkstorme.

(N.B.  Yes, I'm biased, with a primary rogue character, but sometimes I weep to see what is done with my.. erm.. noble profession.  *chuckles*)

36

Layonara Server / My message to the party on the quest server for todays quest

« on: March 25, 2007, 07:16:48 pm »

Here it is, so that it is not cut off. Hope this helps if you had questions.

//All of this OOC but I am going to explain a few things for this quest and future plot quests as well as why we are doing a few things at this time.

//Sorry for the spam to follow, I have a lot to say on this first full blown official campaign/start. *chuckles* when don't I!!? *smiles*

//First, a personal request to help Layonara. Please use the stores and the classifieds system at layonara.com folks, it will help to keep the world moving foward or indeed online. Please donate as well. Spread the word! Thank you. Second, thank you to Pankoki, Dorganath, Orth, and the entire Project Team for bringing us the first step of V3. Looking good everybody, thank you.

//Third, thank you to Orth for continuing to work on and imrpove the new layonara.com site, it looks great. Fourth, a personal request to help Layonara. Please use the stores and the classifieds system at layonara.com folks, it will help to keep the world moving foward or indeed online. Please donate as well. Spread the word! Oh did I say that already? *smiles playfully*

//Fifth, please spread the word about Layonara folks, we need to grow the community. So talk to your friends and their friends and friends friends, family, your co-workers, their co-workers, post on forums and post in newsgroups, talk to guilds. All of them. Spread the word.

Okay...on the plot/quest series stuff...1) Communicate with everybody and all players outside of the quest. Ask any of the old time players. Communication is the key to success. You will need to know information as the plot unfolds. Communicate and keep the community involved. 2) Be smart, think things through, and apply past knowledge to everything within the plot quest.

//3) There will be many times where I will do something you do not agree with or you think is wrong and your character should have been able to do xyz. Sometimes I miss things due to the size of the parties involved *looks around at everybody*. Sometimes I feel that is the result that should have happened at that point in time with everything going on.

//4) There will be times, and for long periods of time it could happen, that I will limit the party sizes and I will also limit the character levels. I don't do this to "keep" people out of the quests, everybody deserves to have fun on the plot. I do this to try and keep battles consistent and "difficult" for the part of the plot we are in. I also do it because I don't like to kill characters in unfair battles. Level requirements are needed in those cases.

//So please don't start ranting about how unfair level restrictions are the plot quests, there has to be restrictions in many cases. 5) There will be times that the plot will end in very "odd" locations, areas, or situations, so don't freak out when that happens. *smiles*

//6) There will be times that the party "loses" a session. That does not mean a loss of the plot (at that time at least) but it does mean that things will unfold a little differently due to that "loss". As a notification, fully 20% of the sessions were "lost" in the last plot session that last four years, but in the end Blood was still defeated. So losses can happen, and will happen, it is part of life in Layonara.

//7) I am well aware of the times I run the quests for the plot, but I do the best that I can with the time I have available after working, helping the teams with Layonara, and spending time with the family. It is the best I can do with my time at hand. I am looking in to a Saturday sort of session time frame but I don't know if it is going to happen or not. Stay in character at all times. No OOC nonsense on these quests please. People gather together on these quests to stay IC and to have fun, let's make sure that happens.

//9) No arguing with the GM, simple as that. I may make an incorrect decision for whatever reason or action but I usually know when that happens and if I feel it is warranted I will make up for it. No arguing with the GM(s) running a plot quest. That is how it should always be as well folks, for any quest run by a GM.

//10) There will be many times that I ask the players to choose a quest leader, that is up to you guys who the leader is...but when that happens don't go back later on and start crying about the choice due to the leaders actions or decisions. That gets old fast. On the same note, there will be times that I specifically state who is lead the party that quest session and I due this to past involvement at various sessions in the plot. It is not a sense of "favortism", that label gets old fast too folks.

//I do not play favorites, I try to stay consistent, and that goes with choosing party leaders or decisions. So when you get in to that sort of mindset it is time to step back and rethink things as you are taking the fun out of the game by your own thoughts and actions, for yourself and those around you. 11) Why did I state all of this you ask? Because I have heard it all before in the last campaign/plot and I don't want it coming back and ruining the fun for me (or other players involved) again this this campaign.

//12) There will be times that I give out xp and will not give out xp at the end of a quest session. There will also be times I give out items and many times I do not give out items. It is how I do things as the plot unfolds. 13) I reward RP and staying involved and working within the abilities of the party and characters around at the time. So lets stay in character and be involved. Don't whine about "xyz player" being more involved or less involved, it is how things happen on quests. It is not a favortism thing.

//I almost didn't run a campaign/plot quest because of the childish and immature actions by others in the past campaign/plot quest, they take the fun out of everything and in the end it just is not worth it. I hope this long running campaign/plot is different. Things happen in the campaign, lets be mature and deal with them in the proper fashion and without ruining the fun for the GM's that will be running the various sessions and most certainly for the players involved.

I then went in to specifics about that quest and what was coming up.

37

Introduce Yourself / Obligatory Introduction Thinggy

« on: March 12, 2007, 07:34:38 am »

Well Hey, This looks fun so I suppose I’ll write a little blurb up to.

...

Hi!

Anyway, My name is Jessica, Lynn Juniper is a pen name from my middle name and the street I was born on, in case you’d like to know. I’m 18 as of last December and a freshmen (urg) in college studying Journalism as my major. I enjoy writing (anything really) editing ( I try not to do it unless asked), Reading/being read to (yes I’m childish in that aspect) , and hmm...Video games!

Well I started the whole RPG thing with Final Fantasy and liked those a whole lot up until around the time I got my first computer, then I decided to give MMORPGs a try at the prodding of a friend and downloaded Ragnarok Online. Well that was fun for a little while at least, in a cute little way. All the while I participated heavily in Text based rping with a small group of friends that would write 20 page posts in a round creating the story as we went along. Meanwhile NWN sits in a dusty corner of my room until one day around a year ago I decide to pick It up because I’ve heard of people using it to make their own RP worlds. I clicked on some random “NWN Prestige World Top 100” List, found Layonara , clicked and joined. And well, Here I am.

Well, I guess I should say that I’m online quite often and am always around to answer any questions the best I can. My main character, unless you don’t know already, is Rhynn, and if you don’t know her yet you will. A lot of people love her, a lot of people hate her. But I have lots of fun with her and hope that my RP experience with you, fun times, or conflict, is enjoyable. See you in game!


EDIT:  Fear the blurriness of my crappy camera.