(IR) 2nd ooc-thread of the 5th IR (open)

[James Heard]

No Post

 

[Bugbear]

Some thoughts and rambles...

Greetings and Salutations all

It seems we have had a bit of a crisis during the night, eh? To Recap: TFO Drops all his claims and brings in the Ethergaunts. james Heard takes one look at them and runs for Polaria. Confusion and doubt run rampant.

To James: I can fully understand why you don't want TFO as a neighbor. I wouldn't want the Ethergaunts in my backyard either beleve me. While they couldn't wipe you out in a turn or two, they could cause a lot of havok early in the game which I'm sure you don't want to deal with. The position which you had chosen, which had at first looked fun at first, no longer looked so enjoyable. So you did the rational thing (even if it was for irrational reasons) and dropped your claims and claimed something else. I don't think any one should ride you over this. TFO did the same thing. Besides Polaria looks like fun. Fun for you and fun for everyone else. I personaly can't wait to try and negotioate a treaty with the people whio use flash cards for communication.

concerning the Ethergaunts: At first glance the ethergaunts, look too powerful. But as the vast amounts of information was digested, I realized that they won't smash us all flat in turn one, and for that matter won't neccessarly go on a IR wide killing spree. It was this passage in your discription that convinced me that you want to play with us, not aganst us.

Ethergaunt society serves the dual goals of philisophical progress and self-preservation. The Khen-zai define progress as the culling of emotion in order to approach perfect rationality. They define self-reservation as the removal of any threat to their carefully developed objective philosophy. The inhabitants of the Material Plane threaten both philosophy and preservation, and hence must be destroyed.

An ethergaunt can be reasoned with. Cut off from support and the rest of there race, outnumbered on an alien world millions to one, and with very limed reasources avilible, the ethergaunts will have no choice but to negotiate with the natives of Oreth. Khen-zai is a path of logic over emotion. The emotional response is to kill 'em all and let the black ethergaunts sort it out. Logic will show that to attempt this will lead to the distruction of there colony. So logicly they must either avoid detection by the natives or compromise and work with them. Logic and self-preservation are the basic tenets of ethergaunt soceity. They may not like us, but they have no choise but to let us exist until such time as they can contact the rest of there race. Only then will the gloves come off.
If I am way off on my interpertaion of Ethergaunt society, TFO, please correct me. I think that they are interesting antogonists, and that they make an excellent addition to the fifth IR. I suport your choce of faction. And I have no doubts about Serpenteye's GMing abilites. He won't let them get out of hand unless the other players let them get out of hand. remember this isn't a computer game where a peice of bad code can throw everything out of whack. Serpenteye is a person (I assume) and therefore can use better judgement than a game AI in ballancing factions aganst each other.

~Bugbear~

 

[Bugbear]

The power creep in this IR's preparations has been extraordinary, and honestly not what I would prefer or do myself. I'm committed to hanging about though, as long as no one twists my arm or something. Mostly because I'm curious as to what it's all about, and so many people seemed to be so fond of the previous ones. So, respectfully, I'll stick to the gnomes. I'm afraid that TFO's apparent intended play style wouldn't be particularly fun for me even if he were playing a faction of pacificst kobold paladins. As far as I'm concerned Lynn and the Mare Mysticum are dead to me. Viva le gnomes.

The Power creep in this IRis NOTHING compared to the Power inflation and Land-grabs that happened in IR3. There seemed no rhyme or reason to some of the claims made back then.

 

[The Forsaken One]

Compromise. You and James want opposing things.
So I would rule on a compromise that gave you both what you basically wanted.

If my neighbours would want peace if I went on a killing spree, they had better work for peace through diplomacy. My enemies will have to earn their peace and so will I when I get myself in a tight spot.

An ethergaunt can be reasoned with.

I love you.

You're the only one who thouroughly read the description I never said I was going on allout war, I might still. But like I posted like 3 times before. I'm not stupid, and I didn't say I'd do anything as of yet

 

[The Forsaken One]

The Power creep in this IRis NOTHING compared to the Power inflation and Land-grabs that happened in IR3. There seemed no rhyme or reason to some of the claims made back then.

Preach on =] You're on a winning streak

 

[Serpenteye]

Spread through any means arcane, psionic and mundane:

So many worries in this world.
Ethergaunts eradicating your population?
Hordes of Underdark denizes scouring your landscape?
Pesky Paladins destroying your favoured undead?

Do not despair good people of Greyhawk.
The Sikari are now available.

If it threatens you we lend you the best trained troops you could ever want.
If your man are disheartned we will show them hope.
If your enemy is invading your land we will protect your towns and citizens.
If you're too broke we will cut you a deal!

Our soulwarped warriors are one hundred percent loyal and reliable, can be trasnported instantly to any location the customer requires and are capable of performing any military duty you find yourself in need of.
If you are interested in more infortmation or would prefer to view a demonstration, our emissaries are on the way to YOUR capital right now to provide extensive and free council on any possible buisness arrangement.
Whatever you need, be it a small unit to garisson a city close to riot or a whole army to launch a major invasion, the CLAW mercenary company is your best choice.

the speaker:

I think that demand will be high for your services...

Suggested payment: PLs (representing wealth) and permanent or time-limited shares in the income from the industrial capacity of their territories.

--

Notice: This is the last "All PL, no IC -faction" I'm going to allow. If the current players relinquish their claims they will not be compensated for it by an increase in any kind of PL.

Cool faction but I've got meta-game concerns and have to stem the tide, so to speak. (Nothing personal to anyone)

New map time, with some adjustments. Have fun.

That's the map of my dreams! Great job James. Thanks.

A SUGGESTION TO SERPENTEYE, FORSAKEN ONE, AND JAMES. AND ANABSTERCORIAN (down at the bottom of the post.) ANY EVERYONE ELSE (by default! )
Serpenteye, what do YOU think of my proposal?

I'm not going to straightjacket anyone. I will not force any of you to do anything. You never did that to us in the 3rd IR, and I won't do that here. This is not a solution to the problem of some players being unhappy. It would only cause resentment and annoyance and make the situation less fun. In fact, I'd rather ban Forsaken Ones faction entirely, and that's not on the agenda.

I hate from being barred from options... And I was discussing other alternatives with SE over email this afternoon and we aren't finished on that yet (I believe).

Don't worry, be happy.

Compromise. You and James want opposing things.
So I would rule on a compromise that gave you both what you basically wanted.

I don't think it would mess the rest of us up too badly, since we will unite to kill those infernal Ethergaunt. Heh. You know we will!
Unless of course, Vecna shows up and allies with them. I wouldn't put it past Serpenteye to do something like that ... (chuckles ruefully)

"You can never give everyone exactly what they want." It wouldn't be an old saying if it wasn't true.

" happens." That's another old saying with a lot of truth in it.

 

[The Forsaken One]

In fact, I'd rather ban Forsaken Ones faction entirely, and that's not on the agenda.

That ethereal flu again eh?

 

[James Heard]

No Post

 

[Bugbear]

A request: Does anyone have those Ravenloft 3rd edition books where advancements for elder Vampires is described?

I have the core book. Let me know how old your guy is and I'll give you the details. If you want to keep it secret, E-mail me.

Fledgeling 0-99 years
Mature 100-199
Old 200-299 Yrs
Ancient (so that's how you spell that) 300-499 yrs
Eminent 500-999 Years
Patriarch 1000+ Yrs

 

[Serpenteye]

I'm happy with the way things are now, with me in Polaria (which is the southern ice continent, not Hyperboria the northern one). My only concern is that everyone else seems to be in such a tissy because I've "left all that work" behind. It's no big deal, it's all saved and I'm happy to have created it. I don't need to actually use it though to justify some sense of abuse of my time. It's just not a factor.

In fact, this way I get to explore Polarian gnomes and their bestest friends the kobolds if I have time before or around Xmas. I moved so that Forsaken One could do as he'd like and because it doesn't bother me to scoot over and let him do his thing. My only concerns are whether or not I've got a notion that I'm now persona non grata because I've changed factions (even though I've really not interacted with anyone, never planned much on interacting with anyone, was only writing much about my faction for the joy of showing off my mad writing skillz ) and that I be able to find a faction that very few people would care about away from the business of Oerth.

It wasn't the fact that you changed factions that got me in a tissy , but the reasons behind the change were. I was a bit put off by the "vote of low confidence", the implication that I couldn't handle the situations that would arise, (hence my repeated usage of the words "Trust me") but I'm over it. I got a bit too defensive, I realise now, but it's over. I think we've worked trough this little crisis.

Your far from persona non grata, James, sorry if I gave you that impression. I'm looking forwards to more chances to admire your writing skillz.

I suport your choce of faction. And I have no doubts about Serpenteye's GMing abilites. He won't let them get out of hand unless the other players let them get out of hand. remember this isn't a computer game where a peice of bad code can throw everything out of whack. Serpenteye is a person (I assume) and therefore can use better judgement than a game AI in ballancing factions aganst each other.

~Bugbear~

I have to admit I can get a bit out of whack occasionally, but thanks .