I wish the UD was like this ...

[NeNeJaJa]

The main reason i always loved the concept of the UD is the constant struggle for power and to gain rank on the ladder and climb it by outsmarting others. The hierarchy in drow society and everything that comes with it offers so much great (evil) rp that it is really a shame there is nothing of it found on BGTSCC. Like, literally nothing.

Sure you can join one of the schools or one of the player run guilds but there is not much of a reason to try and advance because there are no benefits doing so. Most of the time these guilds aren't very populated because the underdark doesn't have as many players and the schools being seperated does not help either. I believe with some changes that aren't that hard (i think?) to implement this could be different however.

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Step 1

Because of the ooze threat the conclave has decided that all the schools of magic within S'shamath are combined as one and are now to work collectively in order to deal with the slime threat.

This would help to streamline things. PCs wouldn't be scattered across many different sub guilds but instead, be part of one big universal school of magic with hierarchical structures they can advance in.

Step 2

Mages that join the school of magic start as acolytes. An acolyte does not gain any benefits but higher ranks do (i will talk about this later). In order to advance in rank one of higher rank has to lose his rank. This can either be done by killing him/her or in other ways outsmart him and discredit him/her. Those that lose their rank start out as acolytes again and have to once again begin from the bottom.

At the beginning everyone will start out as an acolyte. Even those that are already a part of one of the schools of magic. The higher ranks will be DM controlled until all are filled with PCs.

Ranks above the acolyte rank are limited. However one can not advance high enough to gain control over the entire school. Those are reserved for NPCs.

Step 3

Ranks bring a specific insignia with them. Once every 30 days these insignias can be used at a special NPC to retrieve specific rewards.

Archmage rewards (highest rank):

20.000 XP
20.000 Gold
5x unid random items
5x random wands
10x random lvl 7-9 scrolls
5x random gems

These rewards are only an example. They would have to be balanced of course. They shouldn't be too good but at the same be desireable. Given that they would only be given out once per month i don't think something like the above would be too crazy for the highest rank. Lower ranks would have to be scaled down accordingly.

Those that are of higher rank than acolyte will be downgraded to acolytes again after a longer period of time that they are inactive.

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I think something like this would be really great to create a more interesting drow hierarchy in the Underdark and create a lot of opportunities for great conflict rp.

So far it is nothing more but a concept that still has to be fleshed out but the basics are there.

Any thoughts?

[AlwaysSummer Day]

Step 1 could be done through RP I am sure. It would take a long time and a ton of RP but doesn't sound out of the question.

There simply are not enough UD players for step 2 I think. You are talking about like 5 characters scattered across different timezones.

Step 3 I am confused by. You want to give loot, gold, xp, scrolls, wands etc. to a character as a reward for playing a drow? I think getting dm events is far more important than free stuff.

[NeNeJaJa]

Step 1 could be done through RP I am sure. It would take a long time and a ton of RP but doesn't sound out of the question.

There simply are not enough UD players for step 2 I think. You are talking about like 5 characters scattered across different timezones.

Step 3 I am confused by. You want to give loot, gold, xp, scrolls, wands etc. to a character as a reward for playing a drow? I think getting dm events is far more important than free stuff.

The last couple of days ive been playing with 5+ players every single day. Yesterday evening there were many more online. Its true there are not as many UD players but its not as bad as you say.

No, i dont want to give free loot for only playing drow. The rank you achieve will come with rewards. To give them a purpose.

The point is to create structures where typical drow rp can flourish.

[Kauaiian]

Step 1 I would love to see but the 8 schools of Sshamath is the foundation of sshamathian lore and society and something that I can see would be extremely hard to break. I love the idea of the 8 Schools vieing for power but with a lower player base its hard. Ive tried a multi school collaborative RP and it was fun for a while but died quickly.

Perhaps a wizard guild of some sort? Each PC caster could opt to be a part of it, but could still RP allegiance to their chosen school to keep that competitive pride. The guild could have a Conclave appointed NPC as it's head with all the different PC wizards working together/plotting against each other to gain favor with that NPC. Kind of like a central hub. Emphasis on that guild membership would have to be clear and offer some boon for drow wizards to want to join, maybe access to higher level scrolls, a research facility or increased social standing above School associated Drow NOT part of the guild (the last would have to be enforced by the conclave). This guild would recieve priority in taskings from the conclave and the specialist that succeeds the most in that tasking would bring greater prestige to their perspective school. Every guild tasking would be Almost like a Hunger Games style of competition.

The UD has some of the finest RPers Ive enjoyed company with on the server and I miss it quite a bit at times.

[AlwaysSummer Day]

Step 1 could be done through RP I am sure. It would take a long time and a ton of RP but doesn't sound out of the question.

There simply are not enough UD players for step 2 I think. You are talking about like 5 characters scattered across different timezones.

Step 3 I am confused by. You want to give loot, gold, xp, scrolls, wands etc. to a character as a reward for playing a drow? I think getting dm events is far more important than free stuff.

The last couple of days ive been playing with 5+ players every single day. Yesterday evening there were many more online. Its true there are not as many UD players but its not as bad as you say.

No, i dont want to give free loot for only playing drow. The rank you achieve will come with rewards. To give them a purpose.

The point is to create structures where typical drow rp can flourish.

Exactly, 5+ players and often the UD tops out at about 10-15 total players. Not all are drow wizards.

What you could do is hand out rewards yourself. A sort of fee for being in the school collected from the low ranks. It pays the teachers and provides a reward for the extra work leadership brings. A little put to the side to pay for mercenaries and other expenses.

[Planehopper]

For your first idea, to maintain lore, perhaps a DM NPC or even better yet a higher leveled PC could form a 'task force' (not named that of course), for the purpose of the ooze campaign or any other standing threat. A sort of sub-council of lowlings put together for a specific purpose. Perhaps it would grow from there?

For the second idea, it may be a bit ambitious for the playerbase you are working with. See above for alternatives. You could always try to build this structure yourself.

For the third idea, something like this would be DM prerogative. Based on my experience here this seems an unlikely boon for a guild reward.