Underdark General Discussion Thread

[ZabelSword]

I'm sure this has been posted somewhere in the forums but the following link has a ton of lore regarding Sshamath.

http://drowcampaign.roleplaynexus.com/citysshamath.html

Knowing the lore can help guide player/DM goals/quests. Even the simple goal of acquiring as many magical items as possible for trade and study is a worthwhile quest to attain permanent citizenship (for drow only) and respect (for all races).

*edit*

Which leads me to the question of how does one attain citizenship?

[ZabelSword]

Just going to throw something simple out there for discussion...

Mages of Sshamath are always looking to get their hands on gems or enchanted items to study and even duplicate. Lolth (and other deities) demand sacrifices, this need not always be a blood sacrifice, sacrificing items of power or great value can be worthy sacrifices too. Merchants in Sshamath are always competing and looking to find an edge over their competition.

So perhaps instead of players looting just to sell magical items on the auction block to the highest bidder they could be used for RP. The item(s) would have to be given up without immediate gain. Some DM involvement would be required to handle the exchanges, and the reward might not be immediate nor should it involve only one player. It would be up to the discretion of the DM to determine the outcome. I see this as being something of a gamble, there is always the chance that you could give up something awesome only to lead to a quest which ends in death, or some other misfortune.

Pretty rough concept, but this is a city of trade and magic, as I said just throwing it out there for you guys to discuss. Lets have some fun!

[Empoweredfan]

I'm all for this actually. . . could go a long way to enhance Sshamath is a good and interactive way.

[Storm Munin]

As long as the DM:s can handle the extra workload of deciding what to do with the sacrifice made, why not. More reason for acting out a faith and roleplay in general.

I sincerely do hope that a +1 item donated to whatever faith by an epic character is more likely to produce no result to misfortune at an epic level.


Meanwhile the benefit of blood sacrifice in the suitable religions does mean more effort made at roleplaying and getting to know other players. If it involves the sacrifice of an NPC/pet there is still a ritual to be performed (with or without witnesses). If a toon is demanded..

It does take some (mental) stones to allow your toon to have his heart cut out of his body under the greedy eyes of a permastrike ready DM. Can you really trust the other player(s) not to have a change of heart (pun intended) or to be screwed because of infighting within the faith?


Making a religious gesture in solitude while tossing an enchanted item at the altar.. not so much.


/M

[illithid]

Which leads me to the question of how does one attain citizenship?

Rasael's update, if it goes live

[Servin]

With this rise of interest and potentially numbers, it would be a good time to assign a willing DM to the Underdark. And a Strahd/Absolution/Wretch caliber one too... Since it can't be the quantity of the DM's let's at least have quality...

[Empoweredfan]

There is a lot we have to address to make this work, and it will be hard with the sparse population we have. . . but we have a group of new players now that we need to help settle in. =)

We should focus on keeping them, and helping them getting used to the setting of Sshamath culture and life. A little Dm assistance in this would be nice, but we players can do it as well.

illithid organised an evening of entertainment that was a very fun affair, where there were both singing and gambling. A few such gatherings in the month might just be what the UD needs.

Such, non-violent (player violence) events enables high and low level to mingle freely, and I for one find that most enjoyable. Such as the monster fighting idea. It could be fun to watch, and see who turn up for them. Perhaps a small arena where they can be pitted against each other?

If not, then it could be organised outside the city, away from the prying eyes of the guards.

[Storm Munin]

Nawiel wants Winter dead or crippled so she can have some quality time minus dogbreath eh?

Knew she was like all the other crazy psychotic drow females.
If you dont want him in the bedroom just tell him you know.


petfights, gambling, drinking, dancing, telling tales.. why not.

Maybe someone should start a black mask theatre trope?

[illithid]

//I'd like to put more energy and time into things, but with a new baby my time on the server is shorter than it used to be, and my time is *tries to think of a word which exceeds haphazard*, erm...unpredictable....!

That being said....*checks wifey isn't watching* http://bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=18&t= ... 82#p479682

[Empoweredfan]

Sussuri might just have to take second place where dog breath is concerned. =)

And Nawiel is differently crazy than the usual psychotic female. She is still trying to 'humanize' drow society, in her own book idolized way (impossible to succeed, but it is something to work towards).

. . . but anyway. More events, I think, is the answer. Don't need to be large, don't need to be spectacular, don't even need to be rewarding (xp,gold). Players just need an excuse to come together. Isn't that, said to be, the reason why the Friendly Arm Inn has such a high player population at near all hours? Because that is where things happen?

We can't blame people for running off into the dark to grind and be anti-social, when there is nothing happening in the city. As has been mentioned, a DM presence could help with this, if they would trade a few words with the odd player through NPC's or the like. It is a city for traders after all. What fun can't a DM have with that?


Eks:
"Look look, master drow. This here lamp will grant you a boon when you need it most. It is true! When you need it, it will give you the thing you need the most. . . "

- - - Later, out in the tunnel. Basilisk cave. - - -

In the darkness, the lone drow suddenly hear a mighty booming voice. "I SEE THOU IS SHROUDED IN DARKNESS, MORTAL. LIGHT SHAL GUIDE YOUR PATH!"

And suddenly the poor drow is illuminated for all to see.

[Storm Munin]

Like EmpoweredFan write DM assistance doesnt have to be timeconsuming or adventuring oriented, anything can promote roleplay really.

The lusty city guard the other day was hilarious and caused cascading roleplay.

[Empoweredfan]

Exactly. All we really ask is that the powers in charge looks after us now and again, so that people (in the ud) will know that we are not alone in the dark. . . so to speak.

[Empoweredfan]

To get things rolling again. . . Look at what a DM presence have done for out dark little world? There are people on at near every hour now. There is role play left and right, which just goes to show that a little attention is all that is needed.

[Nyeleni]

Ah, all my chests and retainers are looted, when I log in. J/K, great to see UD crawling with adventurers. And Furia post your dice game already in the rumour section, or I will .

[Empoweredfan]

And Nawiel has spread the dreaded dice into the UD. . . Gambling has risen.