As Most of you probably know, I play a Dwarf called Whurak, who has recently been crowned King of Barak Runedar. This... I feel, this event of changing the Hold from a Democracy to a more traditional dwarven form of Government should change the RP of the place, as well as my own individual RP. I have been thinking for some time about what form that change should take; to which I am taking some time to hammer out my thoughts here for all to see. I would like to see not only the opinions of the people who play dwarves, but of the DM's, of the people of interact with Barak Runedar, of those people who have considered making a dwarf, or have one but have never really gotten involved within the hold.

If I were playing a Human King, such changes to RP would be simple. I could appoint lords and ladies, Knights and other such feudal types. However, Dwarves are not such, Their character is much more communal, much more about clan and hearth and home, rather in individual glory. Nor, in my reading, have I encountered "Dwarven Knights" or similiar. However... most dwarf players... are from distant clans, individuals who have for one reason or another came to the islands in search of wealth/glory/redemption/adventure/what have you and so this side of dwarves is rarely seen outside of a general sense that all dwarves are kin.

I have seen the odd player Character "Clan" in the past also, with several PC's playing characters of the same family group. Unfortunately... such things have never lasted due to one or more of the players having less time to play, having less interest in the character, real life issues, or the myriad of other reasons that a character sinks into ignominy. My Thoughts on the Matter are thus...

Your average Dwarven clan is fairly large, being composed of not only the extended family of the Elder and his line, but also in the case of larger clans several closely related family lines also. They may share a common origin, but a long lived race which has extreme family values can lead to even a small clan, having over a hundred members. For this reason, I think Dwarf clan's should have an NPC presence to them, numbers and a few old, stubborn NPC's who are known. However, This is a game for players and I would not expect, or desire, for the DM's to do everything in my vision to how Dwarven RP should change, so alongside the NPC presence, each clan should have a number of Player Characters. These would be the driving force of the RP, the source of initiative and action. Whilst this may seem that the not much would change, I can see several consequences to this.

First of all… Politics. Whilst Dwarves are community minded, and I cannot see them working against the good of the community for the sake of their own advancement; Dwarves with their clansmen around will also have the agenda and betterment of their clan to consider. Their clan will be better thought of if it has members which are productive, the prestige from having their members appointed into positions such as the Kingsguard, or a Minister would add to their overall prestige within the hold. With a King in Barak Runedar, other rewards could be handed out also. Mining rights upon a newly uncovered vein for example; this would bring wealth into the Clan’s coffers for example. This would also work both ways, for if a member brought shame to a clan, through incompetence, or treason, it would hurt the clan as a whole, giving them a reason to try and present their best members to the world, whilst hiding those who are less than capable. I feel that these considerations could add to the depth of RP, not only within the Hold itself, but outside of it as a Clan may take initiative on outside trade deals, etc.

Second of all… Legacy. Player Characters, for the most part, are not constant. They come they go, sometimes they are active, sometimes they are not. This is the way of online gaming, we all have other matters or interests to occupy our time. However, the NPC presence within a player character organization leads to stability, the clan isn’t going anywhere. In this way, a player characters deeds are preserved, they have added (or perhaps subtracted) from the clans presence, wealth and/or prestige; And so every player character member of the Clan, builds upon the actions of the other and previous Clansmen. Whilst players do have a legacy, and do leave a mark upon the server, I think that being part of a PC/NPC entity such as a Dwarven clan could build upon such. Old characters can leave, knowing they have done their bit… and new characters, can come in knowing that they are already part of something, and do not need to build their characters name and identity from nothing.

And thirdly... Identity, I think it would enhance the culture of the Dwarven Hold, it would enrich our RP not only as a faction but also as indivuals are our characters would have family to call up, to ask advice, and other such things. It would also give us an alternate take on “Feudalism” and the "Royal Court" scene than what most people would readily identify as medieval or Arthurian Feudalism. We don’t want knights as Dwarves, if we wanted that we would play in Kohlingen; but I would like to add something to the fact that we have a King in Brogdenstein, I don’t want that RP to just become “High councilor by another name.” I want to give the fact that we took this path, and recovered the crown, and voted who would be king, and all of that, to mean something more than a title in front of my characters name and that everyone now calls him "Your Grace." So! I am suggesting this idea

If we were to do this, rather than importing more dwarven clans, I would use the NPC clans, which have in the past had a Player Character or two, which already have a history within the hold. I would want to start with two, or at the most three, using names such as the Anvilmar, who came to assist Barak Runedar in the Winter War and who’s elder was a candidate for the throne, The Thunderhammer, who came from Mithril hall and now that one of their own sits upon the throne come in increasing numbers. Luckbringer has also pointed out that there is a History of a Stonehelm clan within the Citadel, which could also make a good second. This one, whilst it has not had had any recent NPC interaction, could also be a good second or third clan to have within the hold.

My one main thought against this whole thing is what to do with existing player characters, who ICly are from other clans on the mainland, and should not be willing to cast aside their own clan name so easily. Therefore, reasons may have to be found, such as Adoptions, marriages to NPC Clan members, or simply being offered a place. This of course, would be a voluntary experience, and I would not want to make anyone feel as if it was mandatory. At this point I am simply sounding out ideas, and seeing what people think of them.

So I am after thoughts, feelings, criticisms, and suggestions from everybody, Dwarf players, DM, Other players. Lets hear it!

Characters:

Rook - Tiefling Witch

Grumdur Bari'Var - Dwarven Raider

Desimir Maric - Spellblade of Savras

Cassius Dain - Scribe of House Gulderhom

Timezone: UK (GMT+0)

Count Kaldrjarn Pitt | Archmage Kilmar | Sarguk Morderer

Count Kaldrjarn Pitt | Archmage Kilmar | Sarguk Morderer

Characters:

Rook - Tiefling Witch

Grumdur Bari'Var - Dwarven Raider

Desimir Maric - Spellblade of Savras

Cassius Dain - Scribe of House Gulderhom

Timezone: UK (GMT+0)