Your View: Protagonist Proposition

[paulie 181]

everyone is going to be spy

[susitsu 871]

Allow me to note something else as well. In Aegis, one of the greatest driving forces that actually exceptionally damaged The Undead were villains. I can seriously say for myself I had the most plots running against The Undead and was the most successful while being viewed as one of them even.

 

Shades were also one of the greatest forces against The Scourge. Shade magic was actually used quite easily as almost anti-Harbinger magic.

 

But in both these cases, almost nobody knew. With the current powerful forces among the server that are all evil, but do in-fact oppose things like this, I'd like to see some room for us to kick their asses. In-fact, even while being involved with the people I was in my return and the plots on the move, I did quite a bit of damage to The Harbingers and ensured Setherien died, working with Herun Antha.

[Aedan The Bard 350]

 

The first item of our brainstorming was how to make a potential protagonist exist without allowing room for elitism to grow, as was the case in past attempts (including the Ascended which was more or less regarded as our most successful protag so far). We explored the roots of elitism to solve this problem, and we agreed that it mainly stemmed from players thinking they’ve earned the right to be seen as “better” than everyone else. For this reason, we decided to focus on the initiation process of the protagonist (which WILL be made up of mostly players if we have one). Rather than having the protagonist be invitation only, where only those who show certain qualities are invited to join, we decided to do it in a way that is parallel to many existing guilds and organizations. Anyone and everyone can join, but to do so they must approach a higher up within the protagonist (exactly like asking an Archdruid to join the Druidic Order, or asking a Captain or other officer to join the Oren military), after which they have to complete a trial. This trial would not be something that only certain people can pass, but rather one that is based on commitment to joining. We believe that, under this system, protagonist players would be less inclined to feel “better” than others since everyone would have the ability to get to their position.

 

 

I find a huge discrepancy here. By introducing a trial, you will be promoting elitism. Those who made it into the protagonist group will feel superior or better than those who failed at the trial. There's something wrong with this.

[Heff 2460]

First.

Let others make their own Protagonists in response, it'll have to happen eventually. If it doesn't fall through, make a Protagonist group and then after a month hand it off to a dedicated player, remove all staff ties to it (except maybe magic) and see how that goes.

This.

We need the ~Players~ themselves to make a protag group

[argonian 14254]

Ascended were extremely elitist and they'd even use FM buddies to lock ban reports to save their friends from getting banned(Shoi saving BigWilly from getting banned after he kicked people from the FOA for OOC). They never did anything other than hide in a base built by the FOA and world edit.

 

While Aegis was a great map, we can't kid ourselves into thinking the Undead and Ascended were perfect. But the Undead were definitely better than Scourge, while the Ascended did nothing other than cause scandals.

[Ricky 321]

Since the law of the server is taken from many places of inspiration(in some cases just taken) can we have Greywardens, they are perfect, I could write an essay on how perfect they are for a protag (that is possibly why Bioware used them in DA :) ) please!

[Rissing 199]

Perhaps dont make a protagonist.
Community is more than self productive in getting wars and ingame drama rolling.

They'll create their own wars and what not.
No need for pew pew or forcing laser blades into players their hands.

[RK9ify 86]

I want to see useful protagonists that actually contribute to defeating the antags. I've never seen the Golden Lance contribute to defeating the scourge. Hell, I didn't even see them in the final battle against the scourge, but then again, that's just my experience with them. 

[susitsu 871]

I want to see useful protagonists that actually contribute to defeating the antags. I've never seen the Golden Lance contribute to defeating the scourge. Hell, I didn't even see them in the final battle against the scourge, but then again, that's just my experience with them. 

Uh...were you actually at the final battle of the scourge...? I literally fought alongside The Golden Lance at every scourge event I was at. I had interesting after-RPs and even in the middle of crazy PvE rp. I made allies in them even with what my character is. This isn't really the subject at-hand, but I just wanted to say you are honestly by far wrong. The GL were lots of fun for me to interact with.

 

 

Since the law of the server is taken from many places of inspiration(in some cases just taken) can we have Grey Wardens, they are perfect, I could write an essay on how perfect they are for a protag (that is possibly why Bioware used them in DA :) ) please!

Because not everyone actually knows what you're saying...

 

To my understanding, Grey is to reference to the lack of care for the individual's moralities and Warden is to speak of their act of ensuring all life and protecting it. If there was a Grey Warden set-up in Aegis, I would have been so totally on-board for that rather than avoiding fully working with The Ascended due to my methods against The Undead.

 

I feel like actually have some strife among even the 'protags' would be damn interesting. They would unite against greater attacks, but when it came down to dealing with the enemy...they'd all be doing their own thing and being all over the place basically. Everyone would have their local Grey Warden whom conformed more to their nation's laws and local moral beliefs.

 

Hell, with a Grey Warden gig...you would even be giving us villains a chance. Even in villain groups would you have your badass Grey Warden styled dudes.

 

I would like an essay on why from you.

[Major Dom 1297]

How about no antag or protag? Players come here to play, not to watch two staff teams and their assorted butt-buddies duke it out.

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

First off... Ascended being "successful"? They were perhaps the most elite failure of a protagonist the server has ever seen. 

 

 

 

And let player groups create their own protagonist. You don't need some special snowflake group to save the world. Let people becomes the heroes (or villains) in the greater storyline. A pre-established protagonist group only leads to a more scripted storyline (where the staff can instruct a certain group one way or another). 

 

Best way to look at this: the protagonist is the player.

This.

 

Also, a single linear storyline and a server antag is a stupid concept. The scourge was stupid and we should simple allow for...gasp...dynamic RP in 4.0.

[Ricky 321]

As requested by susitsu here is my full 4.0 Greywarden protagonist idea. If you have a comment, question or problem there is a preferred version of contact and comment at the bottom of the doc. All my own views and I am looking for any possible problems you would have or questions.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rBlNY4UqCMBHQSUyZxBs4C4GY-7yKIg9Fw2yYMbBu1E/edit

[Lanader - Richard Tarus 197]

There are already multiple potential-player made protagonists. Take the Clerics, for example. They are player-made, and they practically accept anyone with the right conditions, and people aren't immediatly special/OP with lots of uber magics. Protagonists don't have to involve the staff, be staff-made, or pre-made when coming in to the map. Tahariae Clerics #2k15protags.

 

They've been around since Aegis and have lots of lore behind them already, (even the Itharel.)

[Ricky 321]

I think making the protagonist/ antagonist about magic or religion constricts the possibilities. Plenty of flux in events is what could make this a good 4.0.

[Nononymous 306]

I would rather see a large player coalition of protagonists versus "special-snowflake" antagonists. Many people say "player run" and others say "administration run" (granted the administration run is a small minority) regarding both antagonists and protagonists leadership hierarchies. A proper balance should be established of the two; there should be a GM dedicated to the protagonist and a GM dedicated to the antagonist (or possibly two GM's for each, the specifics don't matter at this point). The actual leadership positions should fall into the hands of the players themselves, however there should be a direct protagonist GM adviser that can plan events and such with the Administrative team and the antagonist GM adviser.

 

Initially the groups should be formed by GM's, but the reigns should be handed to players eventually. For example, say we have a corrupt mage state attempting to conquer the common folk. The opposing protagonists could be a warrior based group without special powers that have a longstanding hatred for this mage state. This is merely an example, but what I'm trying to say is that there needs to be a very STRONG difference between both the antagonists and protagonists, which the last few have failed to do as there hasn't been a protagonist since Aegis. The last antagonist was up against a chaotic-neutral population of Anthos, whereas the arguably more successful (as far as entertainment) antagonist of Aegis (the Undead) directly contrasted with the ideal Ascended, whom were essentially beings selected by a god (Aengul technically).

 

To summarize; there should DEFINITELY be a protagonist that directly conflicts with the antagonist and it should be run by players (though with dedication/assistance from the administrative team). There also needs to be distinct differences in views of both the antagonist and the protagonist so people can pick sides and effectively become invested in whichever side they choose.