Best Of
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
1-3) I actually don't know if I find these inconsistencies, honestly. At least for me, I start from the premise that Lusternia--the game world--is not ours, and in the cases where there might be clear similarities (e.g. certain physical principles like, I don't know, gravity?) that is incidental. Do other games or media provide in-depth rationale for phenomenon in them? Not all the time. Even in some roleplaying games, when like the nature or mechanics of the planes are described, they might have only a small section of material compared to other issues like history or societal customs (I'm thinking here of the 5e D&D DM's Handbook that barely references the planes). I think, in a similar manner to many players who suspend disbelief between game mechanics and game atmosphere (e.g. the number of firefly squid that you can actually GET SQUID vs. the ones that might exist within the ecosystem), I suspend disbelief that I can presume to know what Lusternia's reality is meant to be. I do think we get the luxury, being a fantasy game, to say that magic solves our problem. Why do the tides not go wild when the moon acts up? Well, because Mother Moon has control over all aspects of the lunar cycle, which implies that She can prevent tidal destruction. Maybe to say this another way, I think I am readily willing to allow mystery to remain, ambiguity, incompleteness rather than desire full and complete details. I think it is a balancing act between being a worldbuilder (which I actually believe I lean more toward) and a storyteller (because as many of us may be aware, novels, short stories, novellas, etc. don't always spell out every detail of world to us).Ayisdra said:Shall the title of Quizmaster be taken? Maybe not to today, but there will be questions still.1) How do you deal with inconsistencies in the game-world when they don't match with real world facts - Do you ever find yourself just assuming something works in lustenria the way it does in the real world only to find out much later it doesn't because Magic? for example how moondancers basically have full control over the actual game moon, and yet this control doesn't seem to have advise effects on the planet and how the average person probably wouldn't think 'oh, the moon just moves freely because wiccans'2) What do you think of those of us that want to learn very exact and precise details about the world - Do you think the level of detail some of us hope for is too much? The type of questions of applying science to this fantasy world, like 'how big is Lusternia really.', 'how far away is the moon'. 'Why does the tidal forces change with all this moon-magic'3) What do you think of most major inventions/discoveries being made by NPCs rather than PCs? Over the years many of have us have asked for X thing and told no, only for some NPC do it instead sometime later.Less serious questions:
4) What area do you hate the most and why?5) If you could snap your fingers and it would be so, what game mechanic would you change (and to what) or create?6) Assume it is possible and say your godrole loses its soul and becomes some sort of soullless-lite type of being that isn't completely about consuming. How does this change them and their views?
Does this mean that players who want to know the mechanics of the world are wrong or bad or should give up on that quest? I don't think so. Do I think we might need to reevaluate we want out of this game? Perhaps. I think (and to stress here, this is my perspective, not any other Godmin and definitely not our Producers!) that we are being challenged with are the limits of player agency. This, I think, ties into your third question too. What gets to be known as an answer to a question; what can be verified as an answer to a question; and who gets to answer the question. I think Lusternia is constantly trying to negotiate that, for good or for ill. Because of the makeup of the Havens--including Producers, Godmin, and Ephemerals--we might end up in a sort of stalled or more conservative understanding of what that agency might be (and this is likely because we have a host of folks who have different ideas on how lore is shared).
For the third question especially, it might be able to think with an example rather than a general "we want X; you said no; but then NPC comes with x." Mainly because thought experiments aren't really that useful in thinking with.
I don't know this response answers your questions, but this is the response it elicits.
4) This is actually a hard question, haha, because the area was someone's work that they may have done for months! I actually won't say an area, because I don't really dislike any; however, I will say that I am not the biggest fan of what we call "pockets" (which are the little micro-areas that often have quests attached). This is mainly because I think that often, unless they have some sort of amazing reward, that people will forget about them, and therefore, they are better off as events.
5) I have no game mechanics that I would change, and what I would create isn't really something major for Lusternia as a whole. I would probably try to create some sort of "church" system so that there could be an actual effect between worshipping Supernals and Celest in some way.
6) Whatever grief that Terentia currently possesses would simply magnify. The Soulless represent a particular kind of pain for her, re: Meridian, Amberle, others. I think Terentia would become someone who is utterly self-loathing.
Terentia
2
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
1) The game world doesn't need to match up with real world facts. It has its own physics, its own energies and forces. Any comparison to the real world is generally a writing device to make things easier to understand.Ayisdra said:Shall the title of Quizmaster be taken? Maybe not to today, but there will be questions still.1) How do you deal with inconsistencies in the game-world when they don't match with real world facts - Do you ever find yourself just assuming something works in lustenria the way it does in the real world only to find out much later it doesn't because Magic? for example how moondancers basically have full control over the actual game moon, and yet this control doesn't seem to have advise effects on the planet and how the average person probably wouldn't think 'oh, the moon just moves freely because wiccans'2) What do you think of those of us that want to learn very exact and precise details about the world - Do you think the level of detail some of us hope for is too much? The type of questions of applying science to this fantasy world, like 'how big is Lusternia really.', 'how far away is the moon'. 'Why does the tidal forces change with all this moon-magic'3) What do you think of most major inventions/discoveries being made by NPCs rather than PCs? Over the years many of have us have asked for X thing and told no, only for some NPC do it instead sometime later.Less serious questions:
4) What area do you hate the most and why?5) If you could snap your fingers and it would be so, what game mechanic would you change (and to what) or create?6) Assume it is possible and say your godrole loses its soul and becomes some sort of soullless-lite type of being that isn't completely about consuming. How does this change them and their views?
2) There's two problems you're going to have to overcome with that kind of goal: "the unreliable narrator", and "how can this be achieved with the technology mortals have?" Not all lore is written as fact - a lot of it is written from the point of view of somebody who lived it. This makes learning exact/precise details difficult. As well, a lot of these scientific questions can't really be answered with the current technology of mortals, and even if they can, you need somebody interested in that question to really develop the lore and answer them, which can be difficult as not every aspect of the lore interests everybody.
3) The thing with this comes down to telling a story. It is difficult to work with PCs at times. A lot of it comes down to people not being around at the times we need, people not really working at the level we need them to to make them a major part of the discovery (which isn't a criticism of the players as much as saying it's something we have to train every ephemeral for for months on end, and if we tried to do that with players, they'd burn out, we'd burn out, and there'd be no game), and very often we'd have to lore dump on the player to make this possible which nobody enjoys and has a lot of room for error. We love player ideas, and we love implementing them, but sometimes we just need to make sure they get implemented correctly, and that requires bringing in an NPC.
4) I don't really have an answer to this. Every area in Lusternia was crafted with love and has meaning. If I had to pick something, it would probably be the Inner Sea and Sea of Despair, and it's not hate as much as "There is a lot more that could be done with them to make them interesting and not just hundreds of rooms with similar descriptions."
5) If I could snap my fingers to do it and didn't have to work on it? Probably game balance or economy. If I had to actually work on it, neither of those things. Probably making quests and mob progs easier to write (which Ianir has been doing for the last 4 years almost nonstop.)
6) I can't answer this question in case it actually does happen at some point.
Raezon
1
Re: Lack of Raves VI: Rave Today, Tweet Tomorrow
A fun minievent for a customization I got. 
I hope the others involved enjoyed it too, ended up roping in more people than I had really planned, not that I minded at all.
I hope the others involved enjoyed it too, ended up roping in more people than I had really planned, not that I minded at all.
Uzriel
4
Re: Lusternian AMA
Terentia said:Reclaiming my Quizmaster crown as I remain away(ish) while continuing my exam preparations.
5.) How do you perceive scale in Lusternia? How do you imagine how big is the Inner Sea? How do you reconcile there being only 10 firefly squid in the ocean (this isn't true, but this is an example)? This is a theoretical kind of question, I think.
Presume there's other firefly squid in the sea but we just interact with so many.
I use `observe` and get sense of rooms based on their description and their adjacent locations. So Moonhart Mother is huge and has tons of space on the ground. But then library stacks are cozy squeeze for an igasho.
6.) Do you prefer longform emotes or predetermined/overridden emotes?
In discussions, I prefer responsive communication, so if someone can respond at a decent pace, I don't mind either. Xiran uses lots of the latter to indicate she's listening or thinking without breaking the other person's train of thought. I mainly slip some emoting into says.
A habit from old ritual days is that I may prep custom emotes in a text editor, so I can edit and throw them out without slowing things down. These aren't full on paragraphs though.
7.)
Mugwumps are the best.
8.) I know you all like Divine interaction, but I really wonder, what exactly constitutes that? Is me interacting with you in-person enough? Fulcrux? Through Order-related denizens?
Any level. Can be as subtle as a couple room ambients that stick out because we know an area. For Xiran, even short interaction with denizens would be cool, as they help flesh out the world.
9.) How do you imagine how you relate to the Gods (especially those of you in Orders)?
Non-order person. IG, Xiran loves/respects Serenwilde's Elders (while mildly intimidated). Respects Glom's without desiring interaction. Avoids the rest but tries to be respectful. OOCly, any interaction's cool and feels special.
10.) How do you best communicate to others (players, perhaps even Godmin) the story beats or plots that you want to engage or participate in? What do you think would be a good way if there is not a "best" way?
Throw a brick. Land it real-life years later. /only partially kidding
With players, I try to extend threads of interest that might have started earlier, but if it's not picked up on, I chat and see what new interests they have. If Xiran still has an interest, I'll stash a note to possibly resume later or find resonance with someone else.
Xiran talks to NPCs like they're players. So even if she's just gathering info, she's talking with full sentences around keywords. This probably obfuscates when she's actually seeking interaction, oops.
Maybe a good way is to allow some manner of scheduling? Something like ISSUE but for roleplaying when it wouldn't make sense to contact a divine directly. Ex. Because it's about lore of a region they might not be strongly tied to ICly (as mortal players don't know who worked on what behind the scenes).
Xiran
4
Re: Lusternian AMA
Terentia said:Reclaiming my Quizmaster crown as I remain away(ish) while continuing my exam preparations.Picking those I feel I have an answer to.5.) How do you perceive scale in Lusternia? How do you imagine how big is the Inner Sea? How do you reconcile there being only 10 firefly squid in the ocean (this isn't true, but this is an example)? This is a theoretical kind of question, I think.I wondered that myself, given how much Aeldra zip around the basin due to path track, I sometimes end up wondering how big it really is. I would assume the Inner Sea to be at least sbig enough to have salt water and be allowed the name "sea", however, you can almost entirely walk around it on the road so... yeah. I generally tend to treat all rooms roughly equal size if they're outdoors and roughly equal smaller size when they're indoors.6.) Do you prefer longform emotes or predetermined/overridden emotes?That depends on the situation. Like if am actually in a longer conversation with someone, I try to switch to long emotes to express my character more, her pose and actions and things, though I often tend to forget doing that when am particularly enticed by the conversation itself. Short form gets mostly used if it's a short conversation or I want to convey an reaction quickly, or something that aeldra does just often. I also have a few personal longform aliases for things that I consider Aeldra's quirks/personal habits.8.) I know you all like Divine interaction, but I really wonder, what exactly constitutes that? Is me interacting with you in-person enough? Fulcrux? Through Order-related denizens?I'm feeling a little like what @sapphira said there. Personally getting any sort of interaction at all is fun and usually rewarded, even if it's just a single line or an npc just chattering a few lines with me.
9.) How do you imagine how you relate to the Gods (especially those of you in Orders)?Hm. For Aeldra, she's always considered the divine as awe and terror inspiring, generally trying to not draw attention from them unless she actually either seeks something of them or intends to serve them. She considers the chance to learn from a divine a great chance not to be passed up (if she considers the divine's obvious intentions somewhat aligned with what she believes in). In specific to her current Order, she feels a connection to Lantra that she's not felt for quite some time with any divine and feels like that through serving in her order, Aeldra's going to learn insights and get guidance that will help her to be both a better person and a better member of her city.
Aeldra
3
Re: Lusternian AMA
Reclaiming my Quizmaster crown as I remain away(ish) while continuing my exam preparations.
1.) Out of all the movies, books, and TV shows in the world, what character of figure in that wide world best matches or captures the essence of your character?
2.) What is one fact that few people have caught on about your character?
3.) What is your favorite IG literary book?
4.) What is your favorite IG scholarly book?
5.) How do you perceive scale in Lusternia? How do you imagine how big is the Inner Sea? How do you reconcile there being only 10 firefly squid in the ocean (this isn't true, but this is an example)? This is a theoretical kind of question, I think.
6.) Do you prefer longform emotes or predetermined/overridden emotes?
7.) What are some of your questions about... mugwumps? (This is a @Mboagn bone of a question, but you can offer other questions about Lusternian peoples; NB, this does not mean I, or any admin, will necessarily answer them).
8.) I know you all like Divine interaction, but I really wonder, what exactly constitutes that? Is me interacting with you in-person enough? Fulcrux? Through Order-related denizens?
9.) How do you imagine how you relate to the Gods (especially those of you in Orders)?
10.) How do you best communicate to others (players, perhaps even Godmin) the story beats or plots that you want to engage or participate in? What do you think would be a good way if there is not a "best" way?
1.) Out of all the movies, books, and TV shows in the world, what character of figure in that wide world best matches or captures the essence of your character?
2.) What is one fact that few people have caught on about your character?
3.) What is your favorite IG literary book?
4.) What is your favorite IG scholarly book?
5.) How do you perceive scale in Lusternia? How do you imagine how big is the Inner Sea? How do you reconcile there being only 10 firefly squid in the ocean (this isn't true, but this is an example)? This is a theoretical kind of question, I think.
6.) Do you prefer longform emotes or predetermined/overridden emotes?
7.) What are some of your questions about... mugwumps? (This is a @Mboagn bone of a question, but you can offer other questions about Lusternian peoples; NB, this does not mean I, or any admin, will necessarily answer them).
8.) I know you all like Divine interaction, but I really wonder, what exactly constitutes that? Is me interacting with you in-person enough? Fulcrux? Through Order-related denizens?
9.) How do you imagine how you relate to the Gods (especially those of you in Orders)?
10.) How do you best communicate to others (players, perhaps even Godmin) the story beats or plots that you want to engage or participate in? What do you think would be a good way if there is not a "best" way?
Terentia
3
Re: Lusternian AMA
Just picking out a few while I have a second of downtime:
6) Whatever's more comfortable for whoever's doing them. I know there are tons of interactions where I'm tired, lazy or just trying to downplay my input so as to not be obnoxious, and I'll opt for preset emotes to get my point across. If it works it works!
8) All of the above. Just something that says "hey I'm busy and I know you're also busy but I haven't forgotten about you or disappeared, mwah!". Legitimately any form of interaction makes my day, no matter the day.
9) Eri has always held the belief that Gods are just like people, only with a little more juice. He fully embraces being a shard of an Elder (though as a changeling this is up for discussion), which means even though he is tiny and insignificant compared to the Real Thing, he and other people still matter and have a right to exhibit their own strengths and desires even in the face of a God. While he really only cowers and kowtows in specific situations, he doesn't buy into the whole "must loudly respect all gods all the time" line of thinking.
10) I'm one of those people that will latch onto anything and act like it's the best thing ever, with a few exceptions (see: the dracnari interior designer that Eri loathes and avoids at most costs). I'm very, very rarely the one to dictate what's to be done, as I prefer to be the side character in someone else's stories than pursue my own.
6) Whatever's more comfortable for whoever's doing them. I know there are tons of interactions where I'm tired, lazy or just trying to downplay my input so as to not be obnoxious, and I'll opt for preset emotes to get my point across. If it works it works!
8) All of the above. Just something that says "hey I'm busy and I know you're also busy but I haven't forgotten about you or disappeared, mwah!". Legitimately any form of interaction makes my day, no matter the day.
9) Eri has always held the belief that Gods are just like people, only with a little more juice. He fully embraces being a shard of an Elder (though as a changeling this is up for discussion), which means even though he is tiny and insignificant compared to the Real Thing, he and other people still matter and have a right to exhibit their own strengths and desires even in the face of a God. While he really only cowers and kowtows in specific situations, he doesn't buy into the whole "must loudly respect all gods all the time" line of thinking.
10) I'm one of those people that will latch onto anything and act like it's the best thing ever, with a few exceptions (see: the dracnari interior designer that Eri loathes and avoids at most costs). I'm very, very rarely the one to dictate what's to be done, as I prefer to be the side character in someone else's stories than pursue my own.
Eritheyl
3
Re: Lusternian AMA
Terentia said:Reclaiming my Quizmaster crown as I remain away(ish) while continuing my exam preparations.
3.) What is your favorite IG literary book?
4.) What is your favorite IG scholarly book?
Forget what they were submitted as, but Uzriel wrote a d'Vanecu ABC book (it won the bardic too) and it hilariously awesome. Also, his book on cleansing techniques that don't require water. Check it out, there's some great ideas (sandblasting, anyone?)
6.) Do you prefer longform emotes or predetermined/overridden emotes?
This really depends on the context and my own current RL patience level. There are times (which sadly seems most often of late) that i don't have the attention span for long, elaborate emotes - like, i can't appreciate them as i should and i'm going to get impatient waiting 10 minutes for a response. i will use lots of preset emotes, or quick, short ones.
That being said, other times i adore it and can get very verbose myself given the room and an interesting setting, and love to consider the details of how my char is moving and tone and emotion and also that of my rp buddies - the more i engage in it, the longer my emotes get, ha. But i don't have the brain space to always rp like this. it's a lot of effort? Does that sound bad?
8.) I know you all like Divine interaction, but I really wonder, what exactly constitutes that? Is me interacting with you in-person enough? Fulcrux? Through Order-related denizens?
Yes. Anything, I will take any crumb and it will make my day. Even if it's one sentence on an aether in passing, like hi you guys i'm still awesome and watching, don't mess up - I will carry that on with my char for a long time if need be.
9.) How do you imagine how you relate to the Gods (especially those of you in Orders)?
For me, Drocilla still feels very much like a distant paragon, to be admired and worshipped and emulated, and thus i am but a speck on the lens - maybe noticed, maybe not, maybe an annoyance, maybe not. Maybe about to be wiped from existence, WHO KNOWS.
10.) How do you best communicate to others (players, perhaps even Godmin) the story beats or plots that you want to engage or participate in? What do you think would be a good way if there is not a "best" way?
I don't know, send help. I mostly move on with my own thing and if someone bumps into that, that would be awesome. Or more recently, I pondered how I could conceivably approach some divine with an actual excuse beyond hi i'm in your fulcrux, i've got nothing but notice me. So I sent some letters asking to hopefully discuss a topic relevant to my char. We'll see how it goes!
Sapphira
5
Re: Lack of Raves VI: Rave Today, Tweet Tomorrow
Nepenthe said:And breaking Lusternia in the process.
Look, one can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.Sapphira said:Uzriel's scientific expeditions are dangerous.
Uzriel
5
(c) Iron Realms Entertainment 2012.