The Future of the UD -- what happens now?

[BigJ]

well a coordinator will not help the first one, people are intimidated by the UD because its different and not the surface, DMs and builders alike, thats a personal interest issue but there is general info in glouras already

I disagree. Having someone to goto to ask questions always helps a situation. The situation as it is now is a lot of DM's get intimidated by the UD. If you do not change the situation then the situation doesn't change.

the second one is a bit more understandable as the guild/factions forum gets cluttered, there could be a topic added and stickied in glouras with only UD guilds/factions to make it easier on DMs

info is already there or can be added to make things easier

A lot of information is there, always has been, yet here we are. A players / dm's only option is to trawl through it, if they have the time, and hope its all current.

Check out my thread in the suggestions forum on adding all schools/house sshamath sites to the city. Rather than just ask the question "can we add all the schools to Sshamath", I collated the IG lore in the thread, made a TLDR section for easy ref., looked around IG for possible sites and included a map to show good locations. All this to make the Devs/staff find it easy to review the question and proceed if they think it a good idea. This is the sort of thing I'd be doing, the legwork.

I don't mind btw if the 'admin' person isn't me, I just think its a good idea to have someone, or even sometwo in the role, to change the situation.

BigJ

[Blackman D]

right, tho if the issue is simply not having or not knowing where to go to find the info then wouldnt a compiled list of UD only stuff in glouras for everyone, DM/devs/players alike, to see not fix that issue? and at the same time be the easiest solution

and from looking, unless im missing something, the only thing really missing is what UD guilds there are, which seems to be the main issue no?

I disagree. Having someone to goto to ask questions always helps a situation. The situation as it is now is a lot of DM's get intimidated by the UD. If you do not change the situation then the situation doesn't change.

not saying it doesnt help, tho holding someones hand is a crutch and not a fix for any situation because what happens when the one holding the hand is no longer around? remove the crutch and they just fall back over

if the issue is information, and in this case seems to just be UD guild info, then having a single place anyone can go and get that info without needing to dig thru a lot of forums would be more effective

seems like all thats needed really is a list of public and private UD guild/faction rp threads

[DM Hera]

Hey guys lets stay on topic.


What would you like to see in RP. Events, or stories. What direction do you want to go in?

I have my own idea's and I suspect most of you would love them. A few of you will down right revolt I suppose. I just assume you cant please everyone, thus I am prepared for a few nay sayers.


But please stay on topic. What do you want to see, do not worry about how we will achieve it. That is on us =).

[Blackman D]

well stories would allow anyone to take part and not have to worry about their level, one thing that lobo did pretty well when he took over was keeping the event mobs fairly relaxed for the most part and it let the lowbies actually do a lot, which was kinda nice seeing how the lowbies currently outnumber the epics in the UD

[freekender]

why does the name need to be changed?

and its already IG, given the bureaucracy operates under the conclave it already has a base in the stone stave, which is just a simple meeting room but given who makes up the bureaucracy its plenty

the bureau itself needs no NPCs because its suppose to be completely player based made of up reps from the different factions, all of the NPCs involved with the bureau are conclave reps that liaison between the two

and the members of the bureau is documented on the forums pretty well... the only issue with that is who can see the forum DM wise, associate DMs cant see anything

so most of that is already in place, the only real issue is not all DMs can use it

The only issue I have with the name is it doesn't convey authority to me, or make it immediately clear what it is. Say 'The bureaucracy' to a new player and he may just think its a bunch of red tape, not a council, but its a minor thing.

The main issue is it needs to be placed in the middle of things, not away in a room in the stonclave, or a restricted forum. I'm saying this for the player side as well as DM's, so all can see what it's about and try to get involved, either by creating a PC to join one of the Schools not represented, or even better trying to take a seat from someone else

It maybe doesn't need a new building but at least a noticeboard of some kind that helps create awareness IG, and a visible presence in the forum.

As for named NPC's, I always find they help create familiarity and immersion but that may just be a personal thing.

At least were talking about though, the more its discussed and the more people discussing it the more likely good ideas will grow.

BigJ

I think the Bureacracy could be a little more "public", as I have been OOCly asked twice what it is the last time I played with Uelaereene. I do not mean to make public all that is going on on it, but yes its members and some RP that could be made public (and, of course, what it is, as it seems to be rather unknown). I think this can aid to "move things" on the UD.

well stories would allow anyone to take part and not have to worry about their level, one thing that lobo did pretty well when he took over was keeping the event mobs fairly relaxed for the most part and it let the lowbies actually do a lot, which was kinda nice seeing how the lowbies currently outnumber the epics in the UD

A good point Blackman. I completely agree with it. What the UD need is more fresh meat and players. Low lvl newbies must be encouraged to play there.

[pimpjwp]

I would like to see more interaction with underdark players and the city's leaders at moment surface groups have same or more access to the powers that be in sshamath than the residents I would like this to change

[DM Hera]

I would like to see more interaction with underdark players and the city's leaders at moment surface groups have same or more access to the powers that be in sshamath than the residents I would like this to change

Ssham is controled by a council, 8 members correct?

One for each school of wizardry ?

Are these all NPC's or is any of them a player?

[DM Hera]

well stories would allow anyone to take part and not have to worry about their level, one thing that lobo did pretty well when he took over was keeping the event mobs fairly relaxed for the most part and it let the lowbies actually do a lot, which was kinda nice seeing how the lowbies currently outnumber the epics in the UD

Gauging the power of spawns isnt to rough...

Its the kind of play more in question for me.


Do you want these to be adventures around Ssham and intrigues with in it? Or is cooler to meet outsiders, other Drow Cities. What happens if Menzo sent a group of merchants?

Would you all prefer a what happens when you go to deep underground... even for the underdark or a Infernal plots....

Do you all want to help Ssham grow in power... how to rise up.


I personal think drow look more inward then outward, I like to see the schools jockey for power over each other (as drows do) and this means schools recruiting groups to do their dirty work. Or recruiting more players into them to compete. A school would recruit guards, spies, wizards, scholars, and adventurers. We could delve into topics such as what is Loyalty, Fear and power?

I like to see the Llothies try and push for representation, while the Ellie's convince the tide of people to go against their nature. All the while the other drow gods who are worshiped are only receiving lip service? or do they need to push back against these 'enemies'

Just some of my thoughts. This is before mentioning houses. I also like certain drow themes that some just glance over. Such as being a commoner, with no name, no house, no school, no knowledge is looked down on and you should strive to one of these. Or make your own... but it better be strong. The Drow have a strong Servant - Master relations, sometimes what we would call an Upstairs, Downstairs mentality. Like Evil Downton Abbey. And yes that is in cities like Ssham, where wealth and power buys villager and as drow you flex it all the time.



Thoughts? am I on the right path?

[DM Hera]

A small forum thought I had. If you look at the Surface forum it has 5 or 6 DM Rummor Threads for major area's and then it has 5 or 6 player rumor threads, along with public rp stuff.


Right now you are all so secretive and some just don't post enough its not easy to know the going on's of the UD, or helpful to new players interested in Role Play, on the darker side.

I am thinking of suggesting the following.

DM Rummors of the Upperdark.
DM Rummors outside of Ssham.

and then player stickies ... such as.

Rummors of the Upperdark
Rummors Outside of Ssham.
Rummors of the Schools of Magic.
Rummors of the Great Bizarre
Rummors of Rockrun


I think you all know what be more helpful, would these rumor threads on the RP forum help at all? I think they would. What rummor threads would you like to see and would you all actually use them?

Its nice because forum posts are good way to show rp back ground to new players, new dms, also makes a nice paper trial to show a start of a project to its completion.


thoughts?


I also noticed I hijacked Lobos thread... *gets lobo some treats*

[pimpjwp]

All of them are npcs . It's not uncommon up top to have interaction with city or areas leaders like the Duke of bg , the guy that owns friendly arm inn etc etc we see these npcs involved alot with events story lines . In the underdark we in 5 years have never seen the actual conclave once however many surface groups have made trades agreements treatys etc with the conclave drow are not allowed to see this is what I would like to see more less of. As it stands now the conclave are pretty much glorified politicians that don't actually do anything . They reward groups that terrorize there city and don't defend there citizens against threats of any kind . Lets have the conclave threw dms have a much more involved role with the citizens and factions of the underdark .

[DM Hera]

All of them are npcs . It's not uncommon up top to have interaction with city or areas leaders like the Duke of bg , the guy that owns friendly arm inn etc etc we see these npcs involved alot with events story lines . In the underdark we in 5 years have never seen the actual conclave once however many surface groups have made trades agreements treatys etc with the conclave drow are not allowed to see this is what I would like to see more less of. As it stands now the conclave are pretty much glorified politicians that don't actually do anything . They reward groups that terrorize there city and don't defend there citizens against threats of any kind . Lets have the conclave threw dms have a much more involved role with the citizens and factions of the underdark .

What happens if you dont like it?

I may have a thought they would, and you may disagree with it.

Such as in my opinion Ssham hates when drow go to the surface and raid settlements. This is bad for business, things bad for business is bad for trade, if trade gets hurt, Ssham gets hurt. They are in the end, as much as they are heads of schools of magic, they are business men. Ssham only exists because of the strength of its economy and trade value.

[Blackman D]

well until recently sshamath has only ever been one major place with its one rumor thread that people do use, so when you compare it to the massive surface areas... yea its not that surprising

but yea more rumor threads would help since it has expanded some

as for the type of play, idk, i suppose it wouldnt matter too much

tho as far as power goes i think its a bit hard to say that one school has more power over another when there isnt really a gauge for measuring such

expansions wouldnt be bad, like how mist lake was turned into an outpost, and especially after being attacked one would think they would want to reestablish/create a decent perimeter around sshamath

[Blackman D]

as far as the conclave goes, i dont think anyone would really see them all in one place outside of the stonestave, you would see one with their respective schools if anything

lobo did use tsabrak quite a bit to push the campaign since the school of necromancy was more or less the staging area for a lot of it, but yea it was nice seeing one of them used but unless something is happening in the stonestave itself i cant imagine all of them ever doing something like that when it really only takes the one

[DM Hera]

well until recently sshamath has only ever been one major place with its one rumor thread that people do use, so when you compare it to the massive surface areas... yea its not that surprising

but yea more rumor threads would help since it has expanded some

as for the type of play, idk, i suppose it wouldnt matter too much

tho as far as power goes i think its a bit hard to say that one school has more power over another when there isnt really a gauge for measuring such

expansions wouldnt be bad, like how mist lake was turned into an outpost, and especially after being attacked one would think they would want to reestablish/create a decent perimeter around sshamath

So here is the thing that stuck me odd. Ssham is a city in a bottle. It really is hard to assault and that is through the grand stair well. Not like the drow need a perimeter, as that would make trade unwelcome looking...

Though as who has more power when it comes to schools. I would assume the school who one ups the other. Membership, deeds, wealth, actions done, the stuff of rp. and not like a player would run rim shot over others either. Because really the council is super balanced by the fact all the other school just vote against the one. 8 makes it impossible for Ssham to get things done but also prevents them most of the time from blowing themselves up. It works super well.

This conversation is super helpful by the way!

[Blackman D]

Not like the drow need a perimeter, as that would make trade unwelcome looking...

well a super heavily fortified perimeter would i suppose, tho the one at mist lake is not like that

a perimeter is simply a means of providing early warning but can have different functions itself, not to mention with being a trade city one would think that they would have checkpoints with goods inspections before merchants entered the city, would be insanely easy to attack them if not

trojan spiders everywhere