Antagonists Re-Booted [And A Few Comments]

[Samson Option 9652]

[3/2/2014 9:34:59 PM] Kevin [Viper3X]: I will allow you to assist in their leadership, but I can't just hand over the reigns after just giving Crazyfish a chance. You two can co-lead -- or he can be the GM lead, whatever

 

Without further ado, I would like to begin by being rather candid.

 

We are all players in the end of a multiplayer video game. Due to the nature of the game, it being role-play, we are allowed to bring our own flavors, what we personally find "great fiction" to the server and try and throw it into the mix of the world we have here. Just as we bring our expectations to what we find favorable to our likings, we also carry with us an understanding of what we don't like. Some like realistic, harsh warfare which translates into military conflict fiction while not liking cartoonish [be that Anime or otherwise] influences. Some folks like more emotionally-driven content, but revile boots-in-the-mud war fiction.

 

That being said, harmony will only ever be achieved if people can learn to cast aside their different dislikes. It is as simple as recognizing that you are playing a multiplayer video game with other folks with their own pleasures, personalities, and preferences. What you may find odd may be found normal, what you find normal may be found odd. Jains walk the Earth trying to kill or harm as little as humanly possible [going so far as to wearing surgery-masks to not breathe in bugs], we find that odd whilst they find it normal. Orthodox religious groups find it appalling that folks role-play, yet we do so now.

 

Read Further Please

 

It seems that the internet has enshrined the idea that, if you argue and banter, then you will eventually achieve some sort of "utopia" or "success". I think we can be frank with ourselves and realize that the forums has been filled with enough "b*tching" "arguing" "philosophizing" and "feedback" to realize that you will never achieve anything by being harsh, cold, purposely provocative as has been seen. In fact, it actually raises the question "Is this really what I would want [Mom, Employer, Boss, Girl/Boyfriend, Comrade] to see if they found me partaking in what is practically fiction-writing and playing?". Many folks have thought they found enlightenment by saying "it is only a game", but will when you play by the rules of the game akin to rules in basketball or pool or chess?

Kindness is not hard to achieve, biting the bullet is too easy since you are on a computer. Blaming it on human nature won't achieve anything while you confuse your nature that is able to be adapted with your ego. Treating others with a morsel of respect means less stress from both sides, less "drama", and is just as easy since you are on a computer. I merely appeal to you all to try to have a little compassion and cordiality [kindness] with people that you are dealing with. Less arguing on forum threads and in the video game and more merely trying to respect one another. "Pick your battles" is a saying for a reason and arguing on every single little minute point to achieve what ultimately equals nothing as a reputation on the internet isn't even as important as your human reputation. "Bite the bullet" is a saying because you will have to go through unfair actualities in life. "Be the better man" is a saying because as rotten as some folks are, devolving yourself into a monkey as well just to mud-sling and pseudo-intellectually argue will grant you no benefits except worsen ties with others.

 

Ostracism has been applied on the wrong folks, never ostracize those with different tastes than you. Ostrasize and ignore those who make fools of themselves by denigrating folks over the internet, for not only is it daft - but they waste their time as it shouldn't have any real effect.

 

The Scourge

 

Read to Understand why there is an Antagonist

 

Let me give you a short run-down on "how antagonists worked in the past". The Undead provided a common enemy, just strong enough to give a hard challenge to players in 1.0, but were easily countered throughout. They are in place so that it was not a Total War hotseat campaign via Minecraft where nations just bashed each other throughout. Unbeknown to the staff, 1.0 was suffering from chunk errors that showed that the map was becoming less stable. We had to rush to 2.0 rather quickly and thus the Undead were brought to bare and rush us to the Verge Portal - godmode was used, GM abuses from Lirinya and others were well known. We don't bring this up, it was an experiment that showed us that an antagonistic force will earn the err of players and that they had to be counter-able. Reason not much disdain was earned was because even the players understood that 1.0 was becoming too unstable.

 

Now this is where folks have actually worn their "rosy goggles", not in viewing PvP default, but in viewing a "uber-strong Antagonist". No one cared to remember that 2.0 did not have much of an antagonist force because the players did not take kindly to the abuses surrounding the Undead. 2.0 lacked an antagonist and showed that massive nation-nation conflicts did not work. Yes, I agree there needed to be an antagonist. I heavily disagree with an antagonist that even through their Skype chats speak of "being able to crush nations". Im not here to crush kids' dreams and "drink their tears", that ironically IRL sounds like a sadist and a sociopath, but I guess Im being "too mean".

 

Shiftnative and I spoke about this, about how the antagonists should be more cinematic, realistic, and not out to "wreck" in total destruction.

 

Crayfishchris and I have now been assigned by Viper3x to co-lead the Scourge. I have made head-way in actually appealing to players, being cordial and kind with them as we speak together, and I got high marks for the Four Horsemen that was geared towards Oren respectively [due to a complaint that ET was only catering to Elves]. I think I have earned a swell reputation for being outgoing, speaking with a wide array of players throughout the server, and being a creative and legitimate fiction writer. So the first of many changes has been made and we will be revamping the Antagonists as such. I've spoken with a good many of the Antagonists already and will relay this information to our Skype Chat.

 

Changes as of 3/3/2014

 

1. There is no more hivemind amongst the Scourge. This is a change to more properly align ourselves with player-bound rules.

 

[3/2/2014 9:39:19 PM] Gaius Khan: Not so much the lore, but can I be honest? I appeal that we remove hivemind. That was one of the things that ticked folks off about the Undead gangbang into 2.0

[3/2/2014 9:39:22 PM] Gaius Khan: Undead had hivemind
[3/2/2014 9:39:25 PM] Gaius Khan: They eventually removed it
[3/2/2014 9:39:28 PM] Gaius Khan: I appeal that we do the same
[3/2/2014 9:40:45 PM] Kevin [Viper3X]: Sure thing

 

2. The Antagonists, Admins, and Game Moderators are now on the same page about the purpose of the Antagonists. We are here to provide common enemy, we will not be the reason everyone goes to 4.0

 

And are we on the same page as Shift? AKA The antags are not supposed to gangbang players into 4.0

[3/2/2014 9:36:03 PM] Gaius Khan: If you want to see what I wrote as to the reason against this, I can copy-paste here
[3/2/2014 9:36:36 PM] Gaius Khan: Let me and Cray re-evaluate it
[3/2/2014 9:36:56 PM] Gaius Khan: Ive kept the coolest head, I haven't gone off in that Harb chat once, I dont get hostile with players, I go about to every TS3 and talk to EVERYONE
[3/2/2014 9:37:05 PM] Gaius Khan: Which all the others have not done besides Cray actually
[3/2/2014 9:38:45 PM] Kevin [Viper3X]: Rewriting the lore this far in would be pretty drastic -- what do you want to change?
[3/2/2014 9:39:00 PM] Kevin [Viper3X]: And yes, Setherien isn't meant to funnel people into 4.0

 

3. Any and ALL coding to do with the Antagonist plugin MUST be reviewed by Crayfishchris and I.

 

Current /antag Stats as they stand currently

 

 

AoE Offensive Spell: 4 hearts, Area Range of 3 blocks, 10 second cooldown

Plague Spell: 2 hearts, Blind/Slow/Weak II, Wither, 20 second cooldown

((This spell should be used thematically, not "shot after shot" such as offensive spell))

Summon Spell: Wither Skeletons in diamond helm, 2-3 hearts, good AI

 

 

4. Events will be pre-planned and discussed, especially heavily-themed and complex events.

 

5. We will be dynamic, expect us to be more "turning up the heat" before big events than mere "come in and corrupt". Small fry will be agitated into consolidating with larger nations or guilds.

[Samson Option 9652]

A GM can move this to News Sub-Forum anytime.

[MamaBearJade 2090]

I loved the read Gaius. Also I wouldnt mind talking to you about a few tidbits I might like to toss around~

[Booklight12 481]

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

this gave me a hard-on, thank you islam-loving gaius

[Dreek 1633]

Moved

[Samson Option 9652]

this gave me a hard-on, thank you islam-loving gaius

La uhibu ar-rijal!

[Samson Option 9652]

http://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/106665-bow-the-knee-to-prophecy-bow-the-steed-to-setherien/

Example of prime content, we will bust out the big guns to entertain.

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

Thanks for the post, and the new events. I've seen two or three different instances of the re-booted antagonists, and it looks promising. However, I must say that I'm extremely disappointed by the reaction of the common players in the last few days. Twice did the Scourge try to bring RP-focused events to my town, and both times a rather large group of people who had no business being there or even knowing about the event showed up to 'boycott', pvp, and completely derail the RP of the antagonists and the actual towns-people. This has caused a lot of frustration for myself, the people in the town, and of course the antagonist players, and I would like to kindly request that this stop. Some stricter GM moderation of such behavior may also be advised. I can provide ample screenshots of these events as well, if anyone would like to see what I'm referring to.

[Samson Option 9652]

Thanks for the post, and the new events. I've seen two or three different instances of the re-booted antagonists, and it looks promising. However, I must say that I'm extremely disappointed by the reaction of the common players in the last few days. Twice did the Scourge try to bring RP-focused events to my town, and both times a rather large group of people who had no business being there or even knowing about the event showed up to 'boycott', pvp, and completely derail the RP of the antagonists and the actual towns-people. This has caused a lot of frustration for myself, the people in the town, and of course the antagonist players, and I would like to kindly request that this stop. Some stricter GM moderation of such behavior may also be advised. I can provide ample screenshots of these events as well, if anyone would like to see wht I'm referring to.

I respect your "ability to express reactions". As you may have read, less making viral your reactions and more trying to interpersonally and directly speak with said "group of players". I refuse to let this thread turn into a "billy-club" session between two or more groups of players and I hope you respect this. I think the boycott will end soon anyways ;)

[Sky 0]

Gaius, I applaud your effort to assist in the antagonist.

[Gwonam_Blaze 385]

Glad to see the feedback is mature and mostly trusting, so far. Take it from me; Most of us will be trying our best to ensure these changes and feedback aren't just brushed aside like they have been for all too long.

[Samson Option 9652]

It isn't even just me, Im actually a drop in the ocean compared to most of the Harbs that have agreed to these changes and will work with me and Cray.

[Tsuyose 3285]

Good luck, Gaius.

[Overland 349]

Best wishes to you and Crayfishchris with operating the antagonist. I trust that you will be able to do a good job.