Posts Thanked By User

761

Introduce Yourself / You and your Role-Play

« on: October 09, 2007, 02:40:28 am »

I saw this done on another server of mine, though it was the DMs posting this so players knew more about them. Here, I think it'd just be cool for everyone to post, just to share more about you. If it's a bad idea, go ahead and just delete it, if not, if enough people reply ... would be cool to have it stickied.


Forum Name: Lydyn
Login Name: Lydyn
Age: 20
Sex: Male
Location: That one place! :p
Timezone: -7 GMT (Mountian Time)
NWN Experience: About 2 years worth of role-playing. Played on Aertheca, A Land of Dark Dreams, The Crimson River, The 3 Kingdoms
PnP Experience: None! Except I have over 15 source books.
Occupation: Remodeler and Addictee to NwN role-playing.
Characters played: Ellena Ste'fesser

What I like to see IG: Heart (otherwise explained as the player relating and being able to feel what the character does), patience, respect for other players, creativity, and enjoyment (also spelling and grammar, but I don't hold anyone against it ).

What I dislike to see IG: Metagaming (excluding under the situation of starting role-play for the sake of role-playing), players getting upset, impatience, disrespect for other players.

-Lydyn

- - - - -
Copy & Paste Code:

[b]Forum Name:[/b]
[b]Login Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Sex:[/b]
[b]Location:[/b]
[b]Timezone:[/b]
[b]NwN Experience:[/b]
[b]PnP Experience:[/b]
[b]Occupation:[/b]
[b]Characters Played:[/b]

[b]What I like to see IG:[/b]

[b]What I dislike to see IG:[/b]

762

Character Development Quests (CDQ's) / The Troll King - (CDQ/GCDQ)

« on: May 06, 2015, 10:26:45 pm »

Check out my mini-profile under the "Ask a GM" forum to get an idea of what you can expect from me as a GM. I'm in Texas (GMT -5 or -6, Daylight Savings pending). Currently, my times are "by appointment." However, I'm usually around: 9pm CST/CDT - 11pm CST/CDT (Mon thru Fri) 10am CST/CDT - 10pm CST/CDT (Sat and Sun)Current CDQ: 1. Nym2. Andulf3.In Planning: 1. Ulkazzar2.3.4.Backburner: 1. Storold2. Danny3. Tobias4. BorisSpecial project: 1. BeliKeep rockin'.Special Note: Due to possible conflicts of interest, I will not run any CDQs/GCDQs having to do with the Leringard Arms, the Angels Merchant Guild, or the Tower Academy.

763

General Discussion / Hannah Cole

« on: May 09, 2007, 08:07:37 pm »

In case any of you were wondering where ole' Milty's been the last few days...

Monday, 05/07/2007, at 4:41 pm CDT, Hannah Cole Gilchrest was born. She weighed 8 lbs and 7 oz (not sure what that translates to in kilograms), and she was 20 1/2 inches long.

Two days later, we're both wiped out. And neither of us did the pushing.

Hannah's the little bulge of blankets sleeping on top of me in the attached photo.

764

General Discussion / Zelda1, Some Clarity, Layonara Balance

« on: April 01, 2007, 05:35:57 am »

Okay this is a combination of quite a few things so bear with me here.  For some reason I decided to keep them all together though it's kind of three posts in one.

Many of you were left wondering just what the heck was going with regards to this thread:

http://www.layonara.com/general-discussion/114789-messenger-bad-news.html

I've been in communication with Zelda1 and she had a few things to say and a few confessions at the same time and has asked me to relay them.  First off, in regards to the mentioned thread, she insists she has no idea where that came from and was no part of it.  So we're still a bit up in the air on just where that all came from.

But Zelda1 does want to clear the air on some things anyway and has asked me to relay them.  She originally came to Layonara and was instructed to pretend she wasn't as young as she is. She, like many of us have had at times, got a little too caught up with her character, but also the persona she had taken up and decided to take a break. She returned again but due to some more conflicts left once more.  She returned in V3 and the new forums under a new username to set the record straight on her age and who she was but that never came to fruition before this event with the alleged coma took place.

She is upset and sorry for the grief she may have caused for this mistaken identity, she didn't realize how caught up one could get.  I have asked that she focus on her studies and keep in touch, but she will not be playing.  I believe also she has a few friends to contact to set the record straight.

Layonara is going to leave this episode to those who are very closely involved and step away from it.



Now onto a few of my thoughts...

I thought about some things and while my initial anger probably was a fuel for the harsh tone I had in my post that closed that thread, I think in retrospect I should have handled it better.  Obviously there were some people who would be feeling great emotion if they have been going through this thinking it's the full truth and for me to "slam" the door with terms such as "sick joke" might not have been the best.  I think a more calm "Something is not adding up here and I fear some people are not hearing the truth as the evidence of this story's fabrication piles up" might have been a bit more sensitive.  So to those who I may have offended in that regard, I'm sorry.

I also want everyone to know that we have a protective nature here as well and are looking out for the best interests of the community and we'll use all the information that is available to us to protect Layonara and it's community.  

Some of you may not know but when you connect to the forum you leave a trace of your internet connection. This sort of information is viewable to the Administrators of the forum who can be viewed on the User Groups Page.  

When you're in game you also leave this information and Dorganath, OneST8, Leanthar, Nibor21 and myself have access to that information via the database and Pankoki and EdTheKet through server logs.

One person asked me about Forum PMs. OneST8 and myself have access to this information only via the database though, there's no "Read this person's Private Messages" or anything like that.  It's on a database, it has to be stored somewhere... But that's the risk you take when you submit most information over the internet.  That is why you should always make sure your network admin gets cookies.  With that said, we're not going to read your PMs.  Unless a law enforcement agency asks us for them or we have an extremely strong suspicion that you may be guilty of something illegal or very detrimental to the Layonara community.

All poll voting is private but the information is stored on a database so once again OneST8 and I have access to that information.

No one can see tells in game.

No one can see private IRC communications.

I want everyone to understand that even though to some it may not seem so evident recently, we do really care for the players here.  Our number one goal is for you to have fun and enjoy yourself.  We want you also to meet new and interesting people in a family friendly environment where the magic of our fantasy world can help us feel young and creative and for us to be able to take out some of the real world woes on monsters.  Emotions can flow in every single direction when a group such as our playerbase joins up.  Many relationships have evolved from Layonara; great friendships, confidantes, mentors, coworkers and even love.  

Alas these emotions bring along other ones though.  There is indeed a Balance to the Layonara community too (oh no here comes the Plen!), and things go on tilt. Scores of differing opinions rise, rumours flow, relationships end, people fade, deception behind the computer, envy, frustration pile up then to add to that, there has been a lot of change recently to Layonara.  Very balance upsetting!  I've talked to a few people who are concerned about this and I find a rather large irony in the fact that these people approached me much like I think characters would approach Plen. I as a person can do for the community what Plen has tried to for the game.  Because like the cycle of Layonara's Nature, there is the one with the Layonara community and I intend to help keep that balance in whatever capacity I can

-orth(y)

765

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*)

766

Roleplaying / Emote your heart out!!

« on: March 19, 2007, 07:44:41 pm »

[SIZE=18]Tired of trying to type in battle?  Tired of repeating your introduction to the umpteenth person?  I have the solution right here![/SIZE]

Those of you that have travelled with my PCs were probably thinking to yourself, "That fellow can type up a storm!"  While I can do that, I've added to my repetoire by taking advantage of this nifty software:  AutoHotkey - Free Mouse and Keyboard Macro Program with Hotkeys and AutoText.

This free bit of software allows you to write rather complicated hotkeys and macros.  The nice thing is that it can intercept the keystrokes before they reach your game.

Take my paladin of Vorax, Wanark.  He had a dozen or more short blessings that he'd say (some in dwarven) when just prior to casting bless or equipping his waraxe.  Then he had longer blessings that even included him kneeling.  Finally, he had the entire Vorax paladin credo he'd use when he visited the temple.  All of these I had assigned to hotkeys outside the game.  Brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it?  Beautiful.

I'll give an example from my current PC that you can use to build your own set.  (Careful of line wrapping if you cut&paste into your own file.)
[INDENT][SIZE=16]
;; ------------------------------------------
;; A utility routine to say something
;;
[/SIZE][SIZE=16]Say(s)
{
    global prefix

    SendInput {Enter}
    Sleep 250
    IfInString, s, /tp
    SendInput {Raw}%s%
    else
    SendInput {Raw}%prefix%%s%
    SendInput {Enter}
}

;; ------------------------------------------
;; This will send yourself a tell with some help
;;
::/o help::
    SendInput {Raw}/tp "Pen N Popper" name, description, wearing, ^f
    Send {Enter}
return

;; -------------------------------------------
;; Give your name
;;
::/o name::
    SendInput {Raw}rolan tennesen... *bows* sellsword in the employ of the freelancers
    Send {Enter}
return


;; ------------------------------------------
;; A random color emote of walking along
;;
^g::
    Random, num, 1, 5
    if ( num == 1 )
    Say("*hurries along at an uneven pace, pausing now and then to catch breath*")
    else if ( num == 2 )
    Say("*moves along at a steady pace*")
    else if ( num == 3 )
             Say("*hurries along, gaze taking in his surroundings*")
    else if ( num == 4 )
             Say("*marches along with quick strides, sounding a bit out of breath*")
    else if ( num == 5 )
             Say("*moves at a deliberate pace*")

    Sleep 100
    SendInput {LControl}
return[/SIZE]
[/INDENT]I save this to a file called "rolan.ahk" and then run it.  Ingame, when I hit Ctrl-g a random description of walking will be sent.  When I type in /o description the verbose description of Rolan is output.

You can see that this can have as much flavor as you can think of.  It is especially handy during battle when all I have to do is type Ctrl-f for a fight emote.  (I even have it setup to fill in which weapon he is using to the emotes are correct.)

Good luck!

767

Roleplaying / Roleplay and adventuring

« on: March 19, 2007, 01:32:24 am »

I felt the need to express a few points in relation to RP on this server.

Yes this server is RP driven but this does not mean that RP has to involve players spending hours on end sitting in Port Hempstead and chatting. If you have time to do this there is no problems whatsoever with that but what my concern is that a few people have been made to feel as if they are not good RP'ers because they "dont" do that.

While this is a fantasy world the reality is that people behind these chars have wide and varied lives in the Real World. This can mean they have an hour each day to play or a few hours a week or a block every other day of a few hours to play or they can play all the time with little or no concern.

With such a mix people we need to know that if someone gets on with less time than others and simply wants to organise a group and go and 'adventure' then don't misjudge them for that.

I think strong RP'ers show their true values when they are in a group situation and are travelling the world, exploring places and eviscerating nasty beasties AND maintaining strong RP.

The Paladin that holds the enemy at bay so a wounded comrade can fall back to the cleric waiting to tend them.

The Bard singing for their comrades to fight well in battle and cursing the enemy as they roar and shriek.

The rogue who taunts their comrades urging them onto greater feats of daring then laughs at their angry or good natured retorts.

The Aeridinite and the Rofireinite who debate the use of force in bringing order to a region as they battle their way through a horde of undead.

The Katian druid and the Mistite Cleric arguing what is the greater force, nature that could cover the world given time and reclaim it or the cyclone that tears the trees from the ground and casts them away like twigs.

The party that turns glares and harsh words on the sorcerer who nearly blew them all to bits with a mistimed fireball.

RP can take place ANYWHERE while you are doing ANYTHING!

Please remember anytime you are standing somewhere having a merry old RP and someone is getting a group together to go and explore....they may not be 'just another hack n slash group'.

On the other side of the coin what I dont like to see is groups such as this go out and not engage in ANY RP at all....thats just bad form.

So..if you want to get a group together in short order, go and explore and investigate this great server we have...go ahead..and enjoy it...and RP it!!!!

And if you want to hang around a place and RP then do that too! Either way works for me!

768

Wild Surge Inn / 106 Hlint is open for Portal Access

« on: November 04, 2006, 10:33:50 am »

Citizens of Layonara....

With so many seeking housing in a limited market I offer a small amount of relief for those who desire the use of a Housing Portal device.  I have constructed a temporary wall to separate the entry from the rest of my house.  I will leave the front door unlocked so that any who wish may enter and use the convieniently located portal in the Foyer.  I of course could lock the door at anytime if misconduct of any kind occurs, but I trust that most will see this as privlege and respect my home appropriately.

Sincerely,
Dorax Windsmith

769

Character Submissions / Do Not PM GMs About Character Submissions

« on: October 23, 2005, 09:33:00 am »

Alright everybody.  This is getting out of hand. I want to remind you that we do this for free and when we have time to get in to the forums and game to work on things we do.  We do this as often as we can and we try to be as timely as possible.  Sometimes RL and other things do not allow us to be here 24/7 (no really, it doesn't) even though a few of us would like that and it seems like a few players demand it.  So have some patience please, we need to have a life as well.  Please do NOT PM GM's asking for character approvals and such--this has gotten out of hand.  No more PM'ing GM's asking us to come and approve characters.
  Thank you for your understanding.