General Discussion Thread IX

[El Jefe]

He has to try--if he loses, it's okay. He can respect their power over him.

First, I'm thankful that we don't have this class as written in LEW.

Second, if I was DMing a PoS (love that acronym!) and had to make the call, I wouldn't be so strict. It says at every opportunity. As DM, I would judge that a bar full of higher level characters, a higher level bouncer and an even higher level proprietor didn't really constitute much of an opportunity. But failing to help granny across the street... and then "help" her to the next world as soon as no one was looking would constitute a breech. I'd also be more strict about disrespecting authority figures. For example, in the RDI, meekly announcing one's name at Joe's request would cause loss of PoS abilities. I'd require a PoS to make a big scene about "Nobody tells me what to do! I'll tell you all who I am after I've decorated my blade with your entrails!", etc. Followed by the inevitable challenge to Joe, or to Gort, or to whoever was handy.

Or, there's the old standby, "Rules, eh? Rules? Ok, I'll abide by your rules. My name is Doublewide Buttstomper, and not only can I lick every man in this bar, but before the night is through, I will! Who wants to be first?"

If no one answers the challenge, he doesn't have to immediately initiate carnage, just make a few disparaging comments about the lack of fortitude that the patrons and staff display.

 

[Patlin]

I agree with El Jefe on all points. Well said, sir.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I like the way El Jefe was handling it, but that brings up the unfortunate point that the class as written requires just those hard judgment calls on which two people might not agree (someone else might say that the PoS needs to take a tiny step further from El Jefe's scenario in the RDI and also draw her blade to attack one person (probably either the strongest or the weakest) if nobody accepts a challenge--after all, the PoS isn't an honourable Knight who issues challenges and only attacks those worthy) and then the PoS loses their power. At least with the Paladin, while it may always be in danger of losing the power, the wording is vague enough that in a living setting, there can be discussion as to whether there was even a problem--with PoS, the wording is explicit and so anything allowed beyond that is clearly pure judgment call.

Anyways, I agree with Bront that the class would be better off reworked, if allowed at all. Also, it's the kind of 'stupid evil' that would cause problems in just about any group (whereas most of LEW's current evil characters would not, for instance, kill their wounded party members and take their stuff if they were the last one left conscious after a fight, this guy would undoubtably do so)

 

[doghead]

Whizzbang made an interesting point in the Talking the Talk thread. Perhaps it would be an idea to look at how the LEW material is presented with regards to people considering joining. In the Guide thread, it may be that a simple rewording, or an addition of headings like "the basics" & "advanced material" could help. Although the Player material says that characters are created using the SRD, it doesn't really explain how the other material listed below fits in. Perhaps a "getting started" chapter? A new thread?

I think that there is rather a lot of clutter at the top of the forum. The only thread that needs to be stickied is the Guide thread, perhaps also the Character Tracking ... er, actually I mean the other character thread. The rest could be tracked through the Guide page. Sblocking the basic information blocks, or using a contents page with page links to the information could reduce the amount of material that needs to be scrolled through. For a new person, it is a bit intimidating in its size.

On a related note, I also think an updated map, perhaps also a world map and something along the lines of a wiki needs to be considered. Its getting to the point where there is so much information. The longer it gets put off, the harder it is going to be to keep things consistant in the various adventures.

thotd

 

[Heckler]

To Doghead, Dungannon, and Velmont:

I am a friend of heckler's he will be gone a while - a sudden hospital stay. He said to ask you to run his character as an NPC.

 

[Patlin]

To Doghead, Dungannon, and Velmont:

I am a friend of heckler's he will be gone a while - a sudden hospital stay. He said to ask you to run his character as an NPC.

I hope he gets well soon! Give him our regards!

 

[Moonstone Spider]

Whizzbang made an interesting point in the Talking the Talk thread. Perhaps it would be an idea to look at how the LEW material is presented with regards to people considering joining. In the Guide thread, it may be that a simple rewording, or an addition of headings like "the basics" & "advanced material" could help. Although the Player material says that characters are created using the SRD, it doesn't really explain how the other material listed below fits in. Perhaps a "getting started" chapter? A new thread?

I think that there is rather a lot of clutter at the top of the forum. The only thread that needs to be stickied is the Guide thread, perhaps also the Character Tracking ... er, actually I mean the other character thread. The rest could be tracked through the Guide page. Sblocking the basic information blocks, or using a contents page with page links to the information could reduce the amount of material that needs to be scrolled through. For a new person, it is a bit intimidating in its size.

On a related note, I also think an updated map, perhaps also a world map and something along the lines of a wiki needs to be considered. Its getting to the point where there is so much information. The longer it gets put off, the harder it is going to be to keep things consistant in the various adventures.

thotd

I second this. I've spent the last four days wading through the morass of information figuring out how to get started here and I'm still not up to speed enough to feel confident about making a character or submitting it.

 

[El Jefe]

I second this. I've spent the last four days wading through the morass of information figuring out how to get started here and I'm still not up to speed enough to feel confident about making a character or submitting it.

That's inexcusable. You have my complete apology. I've already revised the first post in The Guide to Living EN World thread in an attempt to make this place a little less chaotic. Other judges are welcome to expand and improve on my efforts.

Moonstone Spider, please bear with us. We're trying to provide an environment that is both accommodating and fun for both DMs and players. Part of that is allowing enough "house rules" in to allow for creativity and fun. But another important part of that is sticking to the SRD, and making those house rules easily accessable to DM's, so that they don't get swamped with a lot of unfamiliar stuff to adjudicate. Our proposal system answers that and works well, but it does tend to clutter up the front page sometimes.

Also, we've had as many as 20 different adventure threads active at one time. That's in addition to well over a hundred concluded adventures that linger around on the back pages. Since this is a living world, events in those old adventures resonate throughout the world and can have consequences literally years in the future (if DMs and players so desire).

Since all of this stuff is active at once (proposals, adventures, in-character recruiting, and out-of-character discussion on this thread), LEW can seem a little chaotic and even intimidating to a newcomer. Again, my apologies, and I'll try to be a little more sensitive to this. I hope the other judges follow suit.

 

[Erekose13]

I think we may want to unsticky a few things as doghead suggested. I like your quick FAQ though. Hopefully that kind of quick intro can help draw people in.

 

[Bront]

If anyone knows a good place to put the Wiki, we can get started on it. We have plenty of people willing to work on it off and on.