Unwillingly

LT Note:

 

 

 

 

“The weak are meat and the strong do eat.”
 

 

Through a dark and unnatural rite, Naztherak may surrender the last of their blasphemous soul to the powers of Moz Strimoza, and in doing so, shed their mortality. They take up the mantle of Twisted King, Zar’akal, and serve their patron Zar’rokul as a harbinger upon the mortal plane. The ‘akal walks amidst mortal kind as a wolf amongst sheep, luring potential Princes from the flock, and preparing the rest for slaughter.

 

A Naztherak who has dedicated four slots to their devilish arts may take the final leap to become a Zar’akal. There is no going back from this path, typically only undertaken by those Princes who have truly lost themselves to the powers of the Pentacle. They are often distinguished above other Inferi as a commander or general is over footmen, wreathed in embers and ash, crowned with horns, and some even cloaked in great wings.

 

- Acquiring Zar’akal requires a T5 Naztherak to have dedicated four slots to Naztherak; this includes Malflame, Demonology, Curses and Pacting

- Although the creation of a Zar’akal does not require one’s RP consent, OOC consent is required.

- The transformation into Zar’akal is irreversible.

- The emote counts for combative casting are unchanged from normal Naztherak.

 

 

 

As homage to the Pentacle, it’s not uncommon that a Prince may devote an area to the lords using a litany of candles, blood-altars, and scrawlings, tainting the periphery with devout worship of ra’Urdol. Some might perform a sacreligious prayer to Kholidav, while others might drain a goat of its blood to Velkuzat. 

 

A T5 Prince leading the rite will bleed out the subject of transformation. With the aid of 2 other Naztherak, they will infuse the subject’s body with 50 counts of maleus and spur the process of turning the bloodstream entirely to such. To the subject, this is an utterly agonizing, torturous experience, as their mortal ichor is surrendered to the pure essence of all things Infernal.

 

Only when the full body is infused with five counts of Rakir does the leading Prince, using a blade of Rokodra, stab the subject through the heart, marking the death of the Prince and the birth of a King. 

 

Now a mere corpse, the character is unplayable for 1 OOC day as the metamorphosis of mind, body, and soul takes place. The subject will later awaken as a Zar’akal.

 

- The creation of Zar’akal must be taught in RP. This ability is not required for a TA, but one must have a TA in order to lead the ritual. Learning Zar’akal creation must be logged on one’s MA, denoting who it’s been learned from (RP name and IGN included) and when.

- Two T5 Princes are required to help a T5 Prince lead the ritual.

- The Princes will not automatically gain knowledge of the ritual by means of simply participating, and must instead be told the process step by step. This must be logged on one’s MA. "Aden (Kiiztria) has been taught the Creation Rite by Castiel (Unwillingly)."

- Although there are no rigid emote-counts for this ritual, a minimum of 5 quality emotes are required.

- Although one may learn of Zar’akal creation at a lesser tier, they cannot circumvent the former redline by pooling together maleus from other Princes or Inferi, for example.

- The Rokodra used for this rite, as with all lore items, must be ST-signed.

- The character undergoes a temporary shelving period in which they may not be played for 1 OOC day once the ritual concludes.

- Flavor and aesthetics are encouraged, so long as the general premise of the ritual is to be adhered to.

- Although a character may be turned into a Zar’akal against their will, OOC consent is required regardless.

- Should this ritual go unfinished or interrupted post-maleus infusion, the subject falls into a state of great sickness, leaving them weakened and frail for 1 OOC day. If not completed within this time, the ritual will need to begin from the start in order to be performed again.

- Additionally, requiring managerial approval,  a Naztherak may be ascended via event lines deemed appropriate by the overseeing ST, be it to encourage healthy longevity of the CA or other reasoning.
 

 

With their last vestiges of mortal mundanity cast away, a Zar’akal is consumed almost entirely by their Malice. A newfound form brings with it the catalyst to their mental undoing, wherein the will to walk this accursed path has trumped their humanity. They are selfish to a fault, shedding the moral laws of man that once hindered their dark ambitions and dreams. The primary malice is further emphasized, dominating the Zar’akal’s fractured mind, as well as their secondary malice to a lesser degree.

 

The whispers and nightmares bestowed upon them by their patron do not fade, but such a wretched thing might find comfort in them. The Twisted King may find they hear their Zar’rokul more readily now, or are merely broken and delirious enough to believe they do. In any case, the mastery of their dark powers culminates with the ability to cast their abilities without the need for a Grimoire, their demonic mind able to comprehend, remember, and recall Ilzakarn, speaking incantations without aid.

However, when these creatures use their Facade, the onslaught of these attacks return to that which they experienced as a mortal False Prince. This entails that they may again experience things such as moral dilemma, uncertainty, self-doubt, emotional turmoil, regret, et cetera in conjunction with their default malice and striith interactions. 

 

- All memories, skills, knowledge, etc all remain intact at the player's discretion.

- A Grimoire is no longer required to use Naztherak abilities, but they may choose to keep one.

- Connection to the magic for a Zar’akal is instead denoted by constant embers, small flames emitting from them, or other aesthetic emotes. This takes the place of the grimoire emote as the connection.

- The implication of emotions and mental dispositions such as moral dilemma, uncertainty, etc., are restricted to only their Facade form, and not their revealed Inferis form. 

- As such, this is not a total erasure of the effects of one’s malices or striith influence, and should be treated no differently than when one was a mortal T5 False Prince.

 

 

 

Examples above of the extent with which Zar’akal may appear humanoid. Their cheeks are sunken, horns jagged, skin discolored, and eyes striking. Although humanoid in stature and appearance, this does not entail beauty nor an ability to simply “pass” as non-Zar’akal. 

 

Examples of the more monstrous Zar’akal. Their faces are nigh unrecognizable, snouted or beaklike, while their flesh may be scaled, feathered, skinless, leatherlike, furred, etc. They may possess multiple limbs or a lack thereof, and otherworldly, unimaginable traits foreign to descendant anatomy.

 

Zar’akal are no longer bound by the constraints of their descendant-flesh; they are indistinguishable from other Zezimar, their Naztherak mutations heightened and their image hideously warped. This new flesh of theirs would be impervious to the effects of malflame.

 

The Zar’akal can take a wide range of stature and appearance. Some may emerge as horned humanoids, while others are born as monstrous amalgams of their former selves in respect to the patron who has chosen them. Kings claimed by Kiiztria, for example, may emerge as serpentine hybrids, while Kings claimed by Kholidav may appear a hideous, rotting winged creature. 

 

They may emerge taller or shorter after their transformation, reaching a maximum of 9 ft and a minimum of 4 ft. Zar’akal possess a deeper pool of 65 maleus and lose the weakness obtained from the connection as a Naztherak, matching the peak strength of their original descendant race, but no more agile or quick than before.. As well, the Zar’akal is capable of casting without a grimoire should they choose, wherein the emote of grabbing one is substituted for some other optional tell, such as a glow in the chest, a colored aura, wisps of smoke, etc. Regardless of form, physical contact with these creatures, be it as mundane as a handshake or a hug, will inspire a great sense of dread in those unfortunate enough, as though doom looms over their head for a split moment until touch is relinquished, as though a sense of goodness within themselves has been withered.

 

These beasts will come to realize their appetites have also changed, reliant on a meat-based diet to remain at their peak strength, and such waning should they be forced to subsist only upon plant-based foods. A zar’akal made to rely on vegetation would fall into a weakened state but will live. They may consume descendant races, without risk of negative side effects and disease.
 

 

 

 

As with any gift from the Hells, there is a cost to such a mighty form. The King would find that materials and phenomena that may have once been obsolete to them as False Prince now cut deep and burn hot. These weaknesses are only effective when the King has abandoned his Facade and is considered a “revealed dark creature.”
 

 

 

REBIRTH

The ascension to Zar’akal breaks the shackles binding a False Prince to the standard cycles of life and death. Now bound to the pentacle and their whims, a Zar’akal will be banished to Moz’Strimoza upon their demise. In these hellish planes the wretched soul thrives, mending itself of wounds sustained. Zar’akal recover within the following timeframes:

 

-When bled out or suffocated, the Zar’akal will recover after 2 IRL days.

-When disemboweled, stabbed through the heart, organ failure, etc. The Zar’akal will recover after 3 IRL days.

-When beheaded or dismembered, the Zar’akal will recover after 5 IRL days. 

-When burnt alive, the Zar’akal will recover after 2 IRL weeks.

-When eaten, either dead or alive, by another Zar’akal, the Zar’akal may only be resurrected via Rite of Revival. A Zar’akal who is killed via any of the aforementioned must be eaten within the same RP encounter. Good-faith RP is encouraged between both participants.

 

Though immortality becomes these Kings, death is no less a feared ending. The souls of these creatures are manifested in Moz’Strimoza upon death — a plane of eternal bloodlust, carnage, and torment to all that is infernal. Here, the saying “the weak are meat and the strong do eat” becomes law, even to a Twisted King. On the material plane, these creatures retain vivid and powerful memories and phantom pains of their time in such a domain. These creatures are burdened with this dread from birth.

 

 

DEIFIC CORRUPTION

[3] Emotes | [20 ] Maleus | [10] Blocks of range with line of Sight | Combative, Non-Combative

Over the course of [3] Emotes, the King may will into a deific target a sliver of his corruptive Maleus,  therein briefly the mind with a range of afflictions that may serve to sow doubt, panic, or fear into these otherwise devout warriors. Once afflicted, all effects last for a minimum [3] emotes, though may be extended at the target’s discretion, see below. 

 

Should the mage be actively casting, this spell will sever their connection and necessitate a reconnection. Mentally, this corruption may affect each individual differently. While those of great mental fortitude may readily recover from such an attack, a mage who is more susceptible to insecurity and influence may find themselves easier succumbing to the corrosive maleus of the King.  

 

 

FACADE

[4] Emotes | [20] Maleus | [Non-Combative]
 

A means to lull descendants into false feelings of safety, the Zar’akal can temporarily take mortal shape by siphoning soul essence untainted by maleus. This form is not permanent, however. A reminder that true humanity is no longer theirs, nor will it ever be.

 

A Zar’akal saps a descendant over the course of [4] emotes, or [2] if the target is willing. This occurs in a 2 block radius around the Zar’akal, the aesthetics left to the player so long as clear tells are conveyed; such as tendrils of malflame wrapping around a restrained target, or a shimmering pentacle beneath as a warlock conducts an elaborate ritual. Once complete, the victim is left in a lethargic state for 1 OOC hour, too weak for combat but able to attempt escape and recover their energy. A side effect of intermingling with the corruption of a Zar’akal leaves the victim’s complexion withered and wrinkled, as if they had suddenly aged decades (or centuries, for elves). This can be remedied with sprog’s elixir.

 

A Twisted King bargains with a mortal.

 

A Zar’akal experiences the adverse. Over the course of [2] emotes, they revert into a seemingly mundane descendant for 10 OOC days. Their chosen appearance cannot be altered unless they siphon the purity from another.

It is not unusual for a zar’akal  to behave differently in this form, for donning the flesh of the past can be conflicting for some. For example, a Zar’akal might become overwhelmed with despair over failures of their time as a mortal, disgusted by those they once considered friends, doubt the truth of their reality, or even have their mind shatter completely.

 

Unable to cast their own hellfire while using their Facade, the Zar'akal will seek to avoid being within the proximity of holy spells while disguised. This is defined as a range of [20] blocks with line of sight. This aversion can come as vehement disgust, profound fear, or whatever else might reason him to slip away from the company holy casting. Should he linger for more than [4] emotes, he will be seized by gradually increasing migraines, cold-sweats, and other forms of unwellness until he abandons the scene.

 

POSSESSION
[4] emotes | [20] Maleus | [Non-Combative]

Manipulation and deception are among token tactics of the Zar’akal in their eternal pursuit of power. A newly uncovered ability, a Zar’akal may will their presence into another vessel, effectively seizing control of them not unlike a marionette, or muddying the mind with falsities, insecurity, and paranoia alike.

 

A character who is possessed remains mentally conscious and aware within this state despite having lost almost all autonomy of their body, only retaining however much the Zar’akal sees fit .They may see, hear, and experience their surroundings from their natural POV. Now sharing one mind, the two souls may internally communicate with one another via telepathy while the body is puppeteered by the Zar’akal. It is only within this state that the victim may cast out the Zar’akal unless he is banished sooner by external forces. Any injury the possessed individual experiences, be it a stab, slash, burn, or other magic, will be felt equally by the Zar’akal so long as they remain within this vessel.  Some may choose to reflexively abandon their possessed vessel to avoid these pains, while others may require a greater deal of effort to cast out. Interaction with Holy magic, Lunarite, Aurum, and Thanhium will forcibly cast out a Zar’akal, regardless if the intent is to spur a “combat” encounter or not. 

 

While this ability does not require RP consent, OOC consent is required. Requiring line of sight, this ability takes [4] emotes to perform and costs [20] maleus. One for the standard casting tell, two for concentration, and one for a verbal Ilzakarn incantation (freeform). The Zar’akal must be within 10 blocks of their desired target in order to enter the vessel, though may then freely travel beyond this range upon a successful possession. The Zar’akal must place an interaction sign at the location of their body should they leave its general proximity (which is defined as the same room/corridor, or 20 blocks) while within the vessel. Telepathy during this state may be done either through /msg or #w between the mind of the Zar’akal and the victim. This ability lasts for [1] OOC hour, where at that point the victim may roleplay forcibly casting out the Zar’akal in whatever fashion they please, or Zar’akal sooner leaves of their own volition. As stated previously, Holy magic, Lunarite, Aurum, and Thanhium will instantly and forcibly cast out a Zar’akal should substantial contact or injury be made for 2 emotes or more. Simply poking or grazing does not suffice.
 

The Zar’akal may additionally possess the striith, requiring a standard [4] emotes and [20] maleus to perform. However, the Zar’akal and striith will continue to share the single mind, if not to a greater degree, resulting in a maximum threshold for this type of possession to be [3] OOC hours at which point the mental torture and closeness of the striith is no longer tolerable.

Should the Zar'akal attempt to possess a holy mage, the holy player must roll out of 20 to determine success, for the minds of these divine knights do not so readily succumb to the dark. Rolling goes as follows.

Upon successful possession, the Zar’akal is at their most vulnerable. With their presence now in another vessel, their true body is rendered unconscious and inert while the eyes gloss over to a solid foggy white. Attempts to interact with his form will be fruitless so long as his consciousness remains in another vessel. He may, however, be equally slain. Should such happen, standard death mechanics are to be followed. 

 

 

THE GIFTS OF RA’URDOL

Primary Spells — [4] Emotes  | [30] Maleus | [4] Emotes of Duration | Combative

Secondary Spells — [2] Emotes | [5] Maleus  | [2] Emotes of Duration (or longer if the target desires) | Combative

An attempt to coax forth the devotion of prospective Kings, the lords of the Pentacle have bestowed unto them a unique gift that might be used to garner favor and retain what little shackles remain upon their proxies.

 

Each Zar’akal is gifted with an ability respective to the patron they’ve pacted with, each with a primary and secondary spell. All primary abilities require [4] emotes to perform. The Zar’akal must be within [15] blocks of their target and have line of sight. Maintaining focus of the target, he will utter a personalized Ilzakarn incantation devoted to their patron (left to the player’s creative liberty, although it must contain the Lord’s name as part of a tell), and may connect to the target on the 4th emote. 

 

Crow Queen, Daria Rashev

A Zar’akal summoning a murder of crows using Kholidav’s bastardized gift.

 

Once connection is made, the target experiences a shiver down the spine, a sense of looming unease as this King weaves his way into their psyche. If line of sight is broken at any point for the duration of casting, the spell will falter and must be started from the first emote. 

 

While the primary Lord abilities will serve to impede and hold tangible harm during combat in accordance to their description, secondary abilities are akin to aesthetics. These will not induce any real harm, be it physical or mental. 

 

 

Kholidav

Primary 

The target will gradually begin to uncontrollably vomit and cough a variety of entities and objects that lodge their way up from the trachea. At the peak of this spell, the victim may feel tremendous, discomforted scratching, slicing, crawling, itching, etc., respective to the determined effects that may serve to impede any actions or objective they previously pursued, as such an occult phenomenon may wrack the mind with fear. 

 

There is no rigid list of objects that may or may not be expunged, meaning the appearance is mostly aesthetic. The effects/harm imposed, however, is restricted to the following list and may not cause extensive damage beyond what’s written. For example, just because a character bleeds from the mouth doesn’t imply they may begin choking on their own blood or may have their tongue or trachea shredded by glass. Bugs may not be venomous nor controlled, etc.

- Small bleeding cuts and fleshwounds in the cheeks and mouth. For example: glass, sewing needles, metal nails, etc.

- Minor suffocation that may impede speech and restrict (but not totally prevent) breathing. For example: water, sand, blood, etc.

- Disorienting squirming/crawling of living creatures. For example: bugs, spiders, worms, etc.

 

Secondary

The target is seized by a sudden but brief nausea. A violent stomach ache may accompany such, perhaps inspiring a moment of weakness and vertigo.

 

Drazhana 

Primary

The victim will experience sensory hallucinations and the earnest belief that they are being hunted by hellhounds. In their ears, the devilish cackling and howling of devildogs become prominent, and in their eyes, shadows dart in the corner of their vision. At the peak of this spell, the victim will perceive a full manifestation of a gnarled, bloody pack of hellhounds stalking them in the distance, encircling them, etc.
 

Perhaps the true terror of this spell is borne that the victim’s allies cannot perceive these creatures, no matter how tangible or “real” they may appear. The victim is left to their own devices, fearful of that which none other can see, hear, or touch. 

 

Secondary

The victim is stricken with a pang of terror throughout their body and mind. The heart may flutter, anxiety may swell in the chest, the hands may grow unsteady, etc.

 

Kiiztria

Primary

The victim is seized by the sensation of snakes constricting or biting the body, as though they are being eaten alive. They will grow short of breath enough to induce lightheadedness. Deep within them does a chronic terror of serpents and snakes embed itself, leading them to become fearful of any such themes or creatures for a minimum of 1 OOC week. This may include symbology, depictions, real snakes, etc. After the week has passed, the victim may either overcome this fear by whatever flavorful means the player desires, or it may linger with them for a longer duration.

 

Secondary

The target experiences a swift slithering sensation down the spine or up the arms, as though a snake has weaved its way onto their person, which may instill paranoia and discomfort that such a serpentine creature stalks them. 

 

Velkuzat

Primary
This target, led by the malevolent force, has an insatiable need to steal and amass the most peculiar of objects. Wretched carcasses, cursed accessories, and even soiled food all fell victim to their relentless clutches. Each stolen oddity became a testament to the curse's dark whims, added to their ever-growing, grotesque hoard. 

 

Secondary
A harsh curse instills the target, reducing their once-radiant complexion to an appearance of malnourished disheveledness, as if the essence of life had been sucked from their veins, or they hadn't eaten in many, many days.

Zathairn

Primary

The target is instilled with the overwhelming feeling of paranoia, haunting their every thought and action. These intrusive thoughts can manifest themselves in whatever nature the Zar’akal sees fit. It can be anything from the crippling fear that something tragic has befallen a loved one to that one of the many Aenguldaemons of the realm will suddenly appear and strike them down where they stand. Whatever the case, the paranoia they experience is crippling and causes the target to lose all focus.
 

Secondary

The target is once again instilled with thoughts of paranoia and fear, though far less crippling in nature. Instead of tragic, over the top fears, the images running through the targets mind are far more mundane in nature. Perhaps they get the feeling that a piano is about to fall on their head and they feel the need to look up and ensure the coast is truly clear. Or perhaps they have the fleeting thought that they forgot to lock their door this morning and have to take a moment to recollect their memories from that morn. 

Ra’Ilkgarokk - The Infernal Sickness 

 

 

 

The Ra’Ilkgarokk is a powerful ritual that turns a lush environment into one that imitates the realm of Moz Strimoza, so that the semblance of disorder and chaos may flourish instead.

 

The landscape transforms into a desolate, barren wasteland with harsh and unforgiving terrain. Now littered with lava pools, dead-bushes replace the colorful lively flowers, jagged rocks with sorrowful faces, trees made of flesh and licked by malflame scatter throughout the terrain. Additionally, the sky would remain in perpetual darkness within this afflicted region, with only lightning strikes illuminating its landscape. The air grows thick with smoke and the smell of sulfur lingers, burdening any non-Inferi with a slight tightness in their chest. Despair is all a Descendant would feel when stepping into the area. 

 

The area becomes the Zar’akal’s sinister canvas, allowing the region to appear however they desire. 

The ritual requires the Zar’akal to draw a pentagram in the center of their chosen land, and willing [5] units of their rakir onto it. This should occur over the course of [5] emotes, and the player may have the creative liberty to add whatever other aesthetic flare to the process in order to describe the full corruption of the land.

 

This region does not span more than [75x75] blocks unless approval is given by the ST or RO. Otherwise if created as a lair, the land may be as large as the lair if the Zar‘akal wishes. It may be smaller if one wishes. Here, Infernal Blood Magic rites & rituals are given an automatic +3 modifier if cast within the area.

 

Despite being a testament and replica to Moz Strimoza itself, the ritual is still relatively weak during formation. Should the ritual be interrupted, those with adequate power have a brief chance to banish its presence from the region and return things to normal before it can be completed. After its completion, it may be purged using ‘Holy’ magics. 

 

 

Zar’Kazlirt — Ritual of Twisted Rebirth 

 

 

 

Moz’strimoza is a twisted, cruel hellscape that seeks to consume or control all that dares enter it. The same goes for any Zar’Akal who is unlucky enough to find their soul trapped there for some time should their body meet an end. The process to ‘heal’ the ‘soul’ can be a long and arduous task, taking upwards of 2 Elven weeks to restore to its former glory in mundane causes of death, and indefinitely should the Zar’akal be eaten by another. It is not typically in the nature of  the False Princes and Twisted Kings to take pity upon each other and throw each other a bone, but Zar’akal who see fit to summon the fallen Kings, be it for political gain, unfinished business, or other zealous justification have but one sacred rite at their disposal to do so: The Ritual of Twisted Rebirth.

 

With the help of at least two living Zar’akal, a Zar’akal who has been eaten may return to the mortal plane. Symbolic to the foundation from which all descendant life originates, the two living Zar’akal must collect the lifeblood of a pure Elf, Orc, Dwarf, and Human, each possessing untainted souls, be it a mere vial’s worth or a whole basin. Once collected, it will be mixed in with a wicked mix of rakir before encircling a pit of bloodridden corpse to form a series of Ilzakarn tongue. They will then calling upon the Pentacle to return their fallen brethren over the course of [6] emotes. When the chant is complete the fallen Zar’akal shall be reborn, consuming and rising from the remnants of the corpse, but at the cost of their own strength.

 

When reborn through Zar’Kazlirt one is able to return to the mortal plane despite having been eaten by another Zar’akal, but they will find their soul weakened and frail during this recuperation period until the soul has replenished itself upon the mortal plane. This process to reacquaint the soul with the body takes 4 OOC days. 

 

 

Credits
 

@Bonito @Unwillingly@VanAtreides/Sykotic— Lead writers

@BobBox @TimberBuff @Witchring@RMW01 @Benleft— Feedback & Idea spitballing

@Luciloo - Previous write.
 

Changelog as of 8/24/23

• Added the following redline under Revival, "-In the case a Zar'akal suffers multiple "killing-blow" injuries, the death timer will be applied to whichever came first. For example, a Zar'akal who is bleeding out may not then be burnt alive to increase the death timer."
• Removed the requirement for a flavorful RP post in order to create a CA, as well as implication of Moz'strimoza honoring the creation of a "new King"
•  Nerfed peak orc strength to peak strength of original race

it feels like server culture is shifting in a direction of utter non-interactionism. stick to yourself, RP in your own house, idle circle sprinting, afk standing, and gates that seem to be closed more and more often with less and less compensation

originally i thought this was just a me issue and that i wasn't trying hard enough, but over the months ive been asking friends and people within my circle, many concurred that RP is dreadfully sparse. any doubt i still had left upon seeing that 173 people think the RP quality on the server is either meh, bad, or terrible according to the recent mod polls

this means that RP is underwhelming, disappointing, what have you, to a large portion of active players. I can't speak for everyone, but personally it feels like RP momentum started off ridiculously slow at the start of the new map, when normally it's the opposite. it SHOULD be the opposite. new maps should be the opportunity to reinvigorate RP, but instead we see now that a lot of players are disappointed with the current sphere of server RP

I sometimes check /locals for either myself or to tell some poor guy in ooc who asks the nth "where's everyone at" of the day. what I see is maybe 2-3 places with more than 10 people, and the rest of the 15 or 20 nations/settlements barely breaking 2-6 people. this has been consistent since the start of the map it feels like. despite this map being far smaller than almaris, RP feels more spread out and sparse than ever

and of the few places that show up as active on /locals, you go there, and see absolutely no one because they built a colossus ******* 300x300 godzilla city for a community of maybe 30 active people, so every time you go to a city that shows as having 12 people, need to play where's-waldo to even find them. an easy solution to this would be to regulate how large cities can be built, especially considering how we now have an even smaller map than almaris, because there's not a single community on the server that needs to have a 300x300 city

for a brief period, I think it was at the start of map launch, it felt like every nation gate was open, but now we're at a point where many if not most of these places keep theirs closed 24 hours of the day and you're lucky if someone comes by to run you through. i'm a little disappointed that we never got to see a rule that moderates gate traffic, even though I remember a poll being issued on the subject maybe a year ago during almaris that would enforce gates can only be closed when a player is there to man them, in which they'd otherwise need to be open. i think that this would be an wonderfully effective rule to apply to communities that advertise themselves as RP hubs

(edit: islamadon also makes the point that people probably do this to not have to deal with raids. I think a fun little social-experiement would be to enforce that raids need to be issued with an hour's notice and see how it influences how often gates are open/closed)

anything else it feels like is just people not wanting to interact anymore, whether they're standing afk or zoning out while MC sprinting around a fountain in the square. of course the easiest solution would be for me to just say "just emote at them," but when the person you're emoting at doesn't even seem like they have a modicum of interest to interact, what even is the point of trying with them

part of me is disappointed we don't have impromptu ET events anymore. not just the ones that are part of larger, grandiose eventlines, but ones that are small, one-off encounters that would serve to incentivize interaction among the people who experience it and give them something to build off. guards consolidating their brotherhood after fighting a monster together, people telling one another about the odd trader in the city recently, etc. i understand why things are the way they are, but i think people severely underestimate how much RP potential these surface-level events can have in the long run. the average player isn't going to be experiencing these large-scale and deeply complex eventlines, and i think more effort should be made to deliver RP to the average person

lotc is what you make it, that's always been a principle of the server, but the avenues of RP we currently have feel strangled and bottlenecked into either the slim chance you come across an eventsite or find RP you're genuinely invested in, and my interest in the server has severely, severely waned over the last few months because of it

it might be a bad take, i don't know, but i don't think the solution to this is adding mechanical avenues of gameplay, such as quest boards with NPCs or mob killing regions. not saying they're inherently bad, just that they're genuinely not what we need right now. people want rp. people want player-on-player interaction, not RPG styled or whatever plugins, which I feel like will be the immediate instinct-solution that comes to mind. if people wanted that they would go to wynncraft

i'm not saying we should spoon-feed people RP either. i'm saying we need to create avenues of interaction for the average player and incentivize RP