Just a minor correction but in my experience you Should not try to Rule/Dominate with people's knowledge. There's lots of ways to influence larger organizations on both sides of the Neutral line. And what people don't know, people won't get rallied together to crush you for.

Ofcourse the problem with evil organizations focused on this, is that players tend to loose interrest fairly quickly. Even if you cause the odd war between organizations here and kill a maiden or two there.

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Adair - Druid and part time treant cosplayer

+1

Having played my evil character almost exclusively I can't help but stress the above statement. I've been around for over a year now, seen evil factions rise and fall and a lot of the time its because they just draw WAY too much attention to themselves. Good factions, they have very little trouble in teaming up with another good faction when it comes to vanquishing evil, for the greater good or whatever cheesy explanation you want. That Coalition of Powers idea that we had going for a little while was an awesome idea, if somewhat poorly executed (banites and cyricists don't mix). Ultimately the thing that just murders factions, is inactivity, boredom. From what I've noticed a lot of people will make good characters so that they can jump ship now and then and get involved in plots or other RP that might otherwise be unavailable to their evil character.

The Leader has to keep everything interesting for the faction, make sure they got something to do and not the constant idle RP that's as productive as discussing the weather. But it doesn't all fall on the leader, a leader can only be as good as his/her faction members allow him to be. Like if the players never do what the leader tells them to and only gives constant assurances that it will be done, it hurts the rest of the faction. Leading a group of players is no small feat and takes time and dedication to keep them interested, and think before you act. If you start pissing on the good factions and letting them know that you did it, you can expect them to band together and retaliate.

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~Draco Bloodcloak~ In the mind of a tielfing
~Xanhorn Dragonsbane~

Yes, the Coalition of Powers was an awesome idea that had a lot of potential. It was a shame it abruptly came to an end. I miss those days.

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Involving Cyricists in anything that has a plan tends to be a bad idea.

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Khaldun Menetnashte Khalfani
Victor Wilkinson

^totally not a lie or anything.

Well, maybe this will end up gathering up all the various remnants of other factions into one place. We'll see.

This faction has no desire to "conquer" anyplace. We use guile, trickery, manipulation for control, not brute force...mostly.

There are times when a swift kick in the butt, a sharp whack on the head with a stick...is needed.

But those should be the exception, not the rule.

Leading the horse to water and letting it drink is far easier then dragging the horse struggling to the water and trying to hold its head under until it either drinks or drowns.

One gets you the ride you want...one gets you a pissed off horse and alot of folks screaming animal cruelty and you are not even going to get to walk because jail cells are not mobile by design....heh

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Ya see, long time ago, me father taught me somethin that be right true.
An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices till they can't get it wrong.
Dwarves are professionals at what we do.

I agree with most of this post. It's a good read, if you're at all getting involved in any evil factions.

It's tough to fix boredom if you are always behind the scenes and not impacting any plot.

Also, be careful of who you let in the faction. I see most of this is being handled through PM's, and probably consist of characters who are just on paper at this point. Remember that secrecy can be fucked basically, by one person who at any time decides he/she is tired of the idea, then claim they wanted it all along. This doesn't only pertain to evil actually, I'm sure a similar situation arises in every faction, but if you're maintaining a secret order it is imperative, if you want to last more than a few weeks.

Organize a meeting IC where you discuss what your players do while they're not with the faction. Make sure you're all on the same page with what you want other people to know and what you don't want them to know, remember everyone plays a different amount and with different people. Obviously, you can't be everywhere at once, but if you neglect this, you will most likely regret it later down the line.

With any DM related interaction (event) you plot, try to involve the least amount of unrelated non-members you can. I can't stress enough that you don't have to invite anyone at all, for someone to be there at an inopportune moment to spoil your plans, so no OOC invitations or notices are necessary.

Don't rule anything out completely, for example "conquering." Noone said you had to conquer any place that anyone cared about. The only thing that matters is that -your faction- cares about it. Factions need a place to call home; where they have their meetings. Inevitably, you will occupy some area. Having a nicer area adds prestige, and ultimately helps greatly in maintaining and recruiting for the faction. It shows authenticity.

As Jimbo said, don't mix Cyricist and Banites. But remember that that's only one of the combinations that leads to a disaster; there are others.

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a.k.a. Audrey Zinata

All great points and I can tell you..yes...I have thought of most of them.

The Coalition sounds very similar to the end game of this faction BTW...end game meaning post epic to level 30...now, the level grind is gone so what do we do now that we can really do stuff better....

I have a WEALTH of ideas....but each and every one has the potential for great fun to utter disaster. It will always be that Simeron's aim is the following...

All players involved on all sides will end up enjoying the RP.

That is why I am doing this...point blank.

To me, Amia NEEDS a viable evil...it needs villains and villainesses.

And I mean long lasting ones...not flash in the pan ones...the issue I see is that so far...evil just has not been able to get its feet under it or its tripped itself up somehow...

Believe me...I intend for the faction to 'conquor' places...those already talking to me know I have some pretty tall ambitions and designs...plenty...maybe too many...

And already some have shifted as other players are coming.

What I ask of any player that comes to this faction is three things....

1) Tell me your level of commitment from the start...Active (50% of my time or more) or Support (49% or less)

2) Honest roleplay.

Meaning if you do have a Knight character...tell me...don't metagame...etc...remember this is for the benefits of the Knights too. I have had 3 players so far of the Knights all say the same thing...they hope I manage to pull this off.

Why? Because they want someone to be a KNIGHT AGAINST!

How can you be a hero when there are no villains to vanquish or be vanquished by? A few lone evil players is not a challenge...not to a group like the Knights...

3) Be involved but also, keep the whole picture in your view..not just your own.

By this I mean be willing to work toward other peoples goals and the factions goals in hopes that your goals will also get met at some point.

Remember, EVIL does not mean SCREW EACH OTHER OVER. Not necessarily. There are PLENTY of folks that want to do that...at this point..right now...EVIL should me LETS BAND TOGETHER OR WE ARE ALL DEAD....

Again, all this is OOC right now as I build the "leader" up...he's already very effectively slipped into places and he has his cover and everything well working. I'm playing him as learning the lay of the land and growing in power. Avoiding alot of forum posts too because I dont want to use the forums much...prefer IN GAME stuff...

But I need support people too....so if you can't be "active"...you can be an "active support" meaning you are active but, just not really able to devote time.

I am also talking with the DM staff about goals and getting what I can back from them. Alot of my questions are meeting with "Find out in game" to avoid the appearance of favoritism...

+100000000 for that guys and gals....

This is OUR faction...not theirs...our ideas, our goals, our failures..OUR VICTORIES...

I will hopefully get a few interested in being our support DMs...I think so...honestly...I get the feeling the DMs have been wanting a good evil faction to rise up and survive then thrive for a long time...I'm taking my shot...this thread is asking two things....

1) Do you want to come along for this ride?

2) Have you got the guts to ride this sucker to the top or into the bottom?

Either way...I can promise you one thing....

ITS GOING TO BE ONE HELLAVA RIDE....

As Kurgan (note not KRUGAN folks) said in Highlanders...



I believe that is true but what is better is this...

It's better to burn even and constant and never fade away...

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Ya see, long time ago, me father taught me somethin that be right true.
An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices till they can't get it wrong.
Dwarves are professionals at what we do.

We just.. need to not burn so brightly that it attracts the immediate attention of one thousand fully-buffed swords. The ideas will come through. Looking forward to seeing you all in game.

Bah, you know what they say. A +5 knife in the dark is worth a thousand +4 swords at dawn...

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@Thanatopsis#6293

To be honest the reason why evil factions are not accessible is because they take the mission too seriously. You need at least one character with the Male, High-strung Evangelist voiceset who can laugh on cue. Why be serious at all when you can lampoon all those organisations that went before?

You have to consider what is going to keep the faction going. Being able to laugh at previous failures, even those of your own making, is important when the cards are going to be stacked against you by virtue of everyone supposedly opposing evil.

Small bump...if you are still interested in helping get this rolling better...now is the time to PM me (or PM again) if you have not received a PM.

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Ya see, long time ago, me father taught me somethin that be right true.
An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices till they can't get it wrong.
Dwarves are professionals at what we do.

I've already spoken on the lack of evil in this server. There isn't enough conflict really in my opinion and it just makes the server dull. Too many times have I logged on and just been bored. RP lately has been very stale in my opinion and I've just lost interest in the server altogether. But that's a different subject in itself.

If Sim could pull this off, then that would be good. However be aware that people do tend to metagame as I've seen with my drow. I've seen people actually turn tail and run away from me without even interacting with my character (because you can obviously tell that a fully armored elf in the forest is a drow)

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I Play.....
Zeo, Great Kobold Sorcerer
Taal Datton, Half-Elven Ranger of Mielikki
Redelin Flintfar goodly cleric of Moradin.
Alaund Lolarox, enigmatic Weapon Master.

...on Amia

And you can tell why the character is running away, obviously.

If people are metagaming and you have proof instead of assumptions report it to the DM team with screenshots, don't air your dirty laundry in the forums.

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Well, I don't know if I can pull this off or not. But I am giving it a good run and so far, so good.

We'll see what plays out.

I can tell you this, so far, I have not seen anyone that is openly outing my character and I have several people I have made contact with....there is quite a bit of interworkings going on right now. Its going well.

I have a few lines of development in my head...and they are nothing like what I originally figured but, I am going with developments as my character would...he sees opportunities and modifies his plans accordingly.

He has made contact with people to head up the different teams....other faction leaders that would be helpful...support characters as well as "active' ones too.

He has progressed to the point that I am now beginning to put things to notes contained in a real note book as well as on computer and in his journal entries while he himself has managed to level to the mid teens and will so become epic (with a bit more time).

For the moment, I am hopeful I can pull it off. I have to figure more things out (me, Simeron) but, I (Simeron) try to adapt to things as needed while still pursuing the intended goal...which is a PERMANENT, Evil faction that is a COUNTER to the many GOOD factions on Amia.

That does NOT mean I intended to have open PvP warfare with any of them. Quite the opposite. Given the server environment, I feel ANY Evil faction that is openly fighting them is going to get pasted right now...but that is me...I wish those that are doing it the best of luck...don't get discouraged...keep it up...please....pretty please...

You are making my job easier...heheheh

With everyone focused on the "obviously evil oh my god they are trying to kill us" people and things...I can work far more quietly on what I need to do...heheheh.

Now, that is not saying I don't have plans to have an openly evil wing to the faction...folk that have targets on thier foreheads do have a place. And frankly, if they are intelligent and are willing to work correctly, I don't view them as a red shirt either...*wink*

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Ya see, long time ago, me father taught me somethin that be right true.
An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices till they can't get it wrong.
Dwarves are professionals at what we do.

I'm sorry for pointing out that people like to metagame on your perfect server, but its true. I was just using my drow as an example.

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I Play.....
Zeo, Great Kobold Sorcerer
Taal Datton, Half-Elven Ranger of Mielikki
Redelin Flintfar goodly cleric of Moradin.
Alaund Lolarox, enigmatic Weapon Master.

...on Amia

Drop the attitude. It's only making yourself look silly.

Nor is this the place for it.

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"Let's unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words."

lol attitude huh? There is no attitude because I really don't care much. Sorry Sim for screwing with your topic, but I've pretty much quit this server because RP has just become stale and boring, people tend to metagame and cheat, and DMs play favorites. So I'll just move on because this server has pretty much become a joke in my opinion.

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I Play.....
Zeo, Great Kobold Sorcerer
Taal Datton, Half-Elven Ranger of Mielikki
Redelin Flintfar goodly cleric of Moradin.
Alaund Lolarox, enigmatic Weapon Master.

...on Amia

bye

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================-<Cory ShadowFlame>-================
Risenlord-Shifter(OMG a Non-Dragon Shifter that can hold his own in PvE)

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Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play:
Salema Nefahri :: A penny for your thots
Zrae'a'stra'fryn :: That which nightmares are made of
Khasir :: From the East a storm is coming

QFT

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"Thou that smelled it thine own self dealt it." - Zorak

This ultimately is a wonderful idea. It will create interest (though it already has) I am looking forward to this 100% and I think it would make an interesting slant for the server. I believe this will benefit everyone, even if you play mainly a good character. Because you know what they say, good wouldn't be good if not for evil being evil.


Lifespeech. It is all well that you do not like this server, but you gain nothing from posting your thoughts on why you are leaving. What do you expect to accomplish? To have someone follow in your steps and quit as well or for some of us to see your logic and congratulate you on a job well done? Just leave and don't say anymore.

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Jorn Wesson
Tuarr
Zok

Bench press - 845x2.. oh wait wrong forum

Well, all I can and will say is, I am giving it an honest attempt and thus far, I have had quite a bit of good return on the effort.

Things are coming together nicely...but the seed, while planted in good ground, has not really had the chance to grow yet.

But, it is growing and has not been snuffed out so....time will tell.

If anyone that PMed me before but has not received a PM about meeting with the faction head, please RESEND your PM to me here at the Simeron account and we will make arrangements to meet you in game.

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Ya see, long time ago, me father taught me somethin that be right true.
An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices till they can't get it wrong.
Dwarves are professionals at what we do.

No I don't plan on gaining anything but I do feel the need to put in a last word. Yeah sure I'm rage quitting because I'm mad that this RP server ended up becoming a disappointment. Where halfings are lawful as judges, where drow aren't evil they are just really bitchy or good drow. Where knights of the Triad are just warmonger. Where the most exciting thing that happens when you get on is talking about the weather or RP that amounts to nothing. Where if trouble brews people will just say "Well there is gonna be PvP better get on my powerbuild". Where there is no such thing as consequence when you die you can just hit the respawn button and you're all good.
Where people use OOC knowledge IC. Its become a joke and if you really like playing in such a server, then fine have fun.

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I Play.....
Zeo, Great Kobold Sorcerer
Taal Datton, Half-Elven Ranger of Mielikki
Redelin Flintfar goodly cleric of Moradin.
Alaund Lolarox, enigmatic Weapon Master.

...on Amia

While I agree (unfortunately) with especially the re-spawning and no consequences part, I think rationalizing an entire faction with the horrible RP of a few, generally tends to lead everything into a bad light. I've seen opposites of all of the aforementioned, and played in a good light that would contrast with the cynicism. This, coming from someone who is very critical of evil's survival.

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a.k.a. Audrey Zinata

Amia isn't perfect. Its also large, so you're bound to run into nasty people. Just the way it is.

I would have to say, I'd much rather evil be done for a character's sake, or connections.. than just for evil's sake. Why are they doing it? Why would they? Are they confused? Are they delusional? Were they deceived? Were they just fed up?

Was it the only option?

To me, evil should always have a reason - and that reason usually isn't 'for evil's sake'. While it is supported and viable by the worship of certain deities.. in my opinion there should be a reason why evil is done. Find the reason(s), the machinations, the answer to why and you will find the driving force behind a character that exists or can exist. And at that point you have set up for an amazing story that practically will write itself, and will enable you to use that to see how they would act to any given situation.

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Dwagin [Duh-wa-GIN] N. - 1a. Small and cute thingum, particularly fond of four legged scaled creatures of the metalic and chromatic varieties.

-Extraordinarily ordinary in the mostest of ways.

The above post makes me happy.

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~Draco Bloodcloak~ In the mind of a tielfing
~Xanhorn Dragonsbane~

I'd just echo things a lot of people have already said. I've had the pleasure of playing with characters I've known were evil OOC but Rosie didn't even consider it because they were nice to her and befriended her to the point where she may have even supported them assuming they weren't planning to do anything so anyone/place she liked, and the best part was they weren't all white skinned, fanged, red eyed, suck your blood the instant they saw you evil, they were conniving self-preserving evil

I think for the most part the player base is respectable, I think as a whole the DMs check and balance each other to reach a fair solution for everyone and most of all to keep the server in a good state. I mean honestly if the player base was as bad as some people try to make it look, this server wouldn't have lasted as long as it has.

My opinion on the "evil" allignment is that they should (assuming the other stats and RP support it) try to be self-preserving and do what they can to progress their own devices. I dislike the "I'm evil so I'm going to hit everything I can find with a Hellball and be uber aggressive to all the goodly races and people b/c I'm evil and that's what all people do"

I do wish you luck in all your IC endeavors and hope your faction does well, I personally don't like Evil because I'm very bad at playing self-interested characters >.> and I just don't enjoy it

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Rosie Adenney

Say. Is Tarkuul still active?

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~Draco Bloodcloak~ In the mind of a tielfing
~Xanhorn Dragonsbane~

I usually spend some time there before running off to do other things just to see who frequents it.

This is an alignment known by many as Stupid Evil.

A bit of a quote:


It has it's place in some works, but when it's the most common evil alignement, ti's kinda tired.

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+1 Zedrik!!! This is great IMO!!! hahahahah



The links here at the bottom that page are great!!

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I Am:
Derrin: 'Nothing to see here'
Beck: Hard working dwarf paladin.
Naela 'Widow': Wandering priestess.
Celinor Triellian: Paladin of Corellon.

If it is it should stop.

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Khaldun Menetnashte Khalfani
Victor Wilkinson

^totally not a lie or anything.

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~Draco Bloodcloak~ In the mind of a tielfing
~Xanhorn Dragonsbane~

Jimbono has a personal vendetta against Tarkuul due to DM events that he should, please, stop taking out on the forums and in public.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

I've actually always thought Tarkuul was a cool place. Only if more would be active there. Ah well, I'll at least try and remain active there.