You've entered sticky territory with that question. There is quite a bit a god can do to influence the decision-making of the population, but it's a cautionary tale we share with each other up here. To a degree, yes, there is fire and brimstone.
If Magnagora decided to one day cast off their tainted fetters and rebuild the Celest Empire, Drocilla and Morgfyre would be well within Their rights to light the whole thing on fire and start making their lives gruesome. If the players hated this level of forced roleplay, it would probably go before Estarra, and She would have to decide whether to save the puny lives of Magnagora or overrule the Gods (in which case, it would probably become some kind of major event where the players' dogma forced us to untaint Magnagora...which is extraordinarily unlikely).
In the end, we truly do have a lot we can do, behind-the-scenes and in your faces, to get the organizations back on track, but it's uncomfortable for everyone. Players truly do believe their roleplay is the "right way," and administrators are often following the will of Estarra's vision as the producer.
As someone who has clashed with and unpatroned key org divines in other games, I don't advise it unless masochistic. That's mostly a joke tho - Estarra seems to keep things in line here! I can't imagine seeing the sort of backlash from divine I've seen in other games. Admin here are just way above that sort of thing.
I feel its shitty to do to the admin if done out of spite or because of a clash. They are just trying to play their role and in hindsight I've learned there are better methods for everyone to sort out differences of opinion about orgs.
Roleplay wise, it can be awesome, though...if done right. There needs to be RP trust and delicacy but I've unpatroned a guild patron before as part of a big arc for my guild and it was super engaging.
I think a lot of this too falls on the fact that "patron" is just a very strange position, which is something we talked a lot about during the overhaul for the faction mechanics.
To expand further on @Ayisdra's question (and @Isune's answer), I think it is, and could be, entirely possible that a god leaves their original nation and moves to a different place. I mean, we have seen that twice with Elostian and Isune in Celest. It would require a lot of roleplay and Estarra's approval at the end of the day, but I can imagine it being done - despite whatever early development may have happened.
Re: @Shaddus, I agree with @Lisaera and Isune that if it becomes too rowdy, there will be some big-time intervention that happens. Because honestly, IC a God is pretty much omnipotent in comparison to mortals and OOC an Administrator has nearly so much power at their fingertips, and any sort of retribution from on-high would only lead to player dissatisfaction. Granted, I think something like it can be done, and done well, but we have very few examples in Lusternia's history.
Roleplay wise, it can be awesome, though...if done right. There needs to be RP trust and delicacy but I've unpatroned a guild patron before as part of a big arc for my guild and it was super engaging.
I really like this part of @Breandryn's post, and I agree with it. However, I am not sure how much trust really exists between Patrons and mortal characters, given precisely the strange IC/OOC nature of the patron title (or even the roles of gods themselves).
Well threads like this definitely help build it. Sometimes it's easy to forget that everyone wants the game to be awesome, in the end. Players just have a much more micro view, while admin have the macro and remembering that helps, at least from the player side. It's so easy to villify those omniscient omnipotent admin, but it's important to be able to remember that they have a much bigger perspective of the game. On the other hand, a GM or GA may have insight into the details that a god doesn't have the time to notice. My best divine interactions as a leader have been with gods who recognise my strengths and insight into those I lead while also clearly conveying their IC stance to me, such as by giving hints at deeper truths I'm not yet privy to or by giving me a glimpse of the God's motivations. For me, personally, that seeds trust and makes the IC/OOC divide more clear.
@allgods I wonder about one thing in particular. How do you manage to keep roleplaying through different denizens at the same time with so many player needing things at once? I've seen it in some major events and given I sometimes struggle to keep my own RP line on track during the evenings... just how?
@allgods I wonder about one thing in particular. How do you manage to keep roleplaying through different denizens at the same time with so many player needing things at once? I've seen it in some major events and given I sometimes struggle to keep my own RP line on track during the evenings... just how?
Practice, Practice, Practice.
Personally, I try to avoid using a denizen unless I have a clear mental picture of the personality, speech pattern, and mannerism of said denizen. Making use of mannerisms and speech patterns really helps me keep my mind in the right place for each mob. However, sometimes I mess up, and sometimes speech patterns or mannerism bleed into other characters if I'm really tired and the evening is going long.
For me, the hardest part is remembering which denizen is currently "active", and feeling nervous about delaying my response while I'm busy looking it up to double check that I have the correct mob speaking or emoting.
Just to clear the air about my last question, no. I'm not currently plotting to try and crusade against any of you, more curious as to whether if an org takes a path the patron disagrees with, how far along the org is able to go without outside intervention.
Everiine said: The reason population is low isn't because there are too many orgs. It's because so many facets of the game are outright broken and protected by those who benefit from it being that way. An overabundance of gimmicks (including game-breaking ones), artifacts that destroy any concept of balance, blatant pay-to-win features, and an obsession with convenience that makes few things actually worthwhile all contribute to the game's sad decline.
@Aeldra A lot has to do with practice, and sometimes if a mob takes a while to respond it's because of that juggling factor of trying to help everyone with questions at once (while remaining true to that mob's personality). You will see this most when we release new quests because everyone is there with questions and trying to complete it at once, or on our worst moments foiling it, that it can be hard to keep up.
Also, as you develop familiarity with a particular mob or set of mobs, they become easier to RP with and the responses are a little quicker and more natural.
On the vein of Aeldra's question, do you Godmin have universally-Havens-accessible logs so that you can determine how a mob you're possessing should act, or something like notes on each denizen's behaviour to reference?
Tonight amidst the mountaintops And endless starless night Singing how the wind was lost Before an earthly flight
On the vein of Aeldra's question, do you Godmin have universally-Havens-accessible logs so that you can determine how a mob you're possessing should act, or something like notes on each denizen's behaviour to reference?
We have both actually. All our interactions as a possessed mob are logged (although, it is a one-sided conversation), and we also have a way to comment on mobs so we can write about their history/interactions. Often times, we forget about the comments part and just go on the logged stuff.
Do you guys claim non-order mobs? For example, I'm assuming that Isune would frown on anyone else possessing Volucer, because he's pretty firmly attached to the character. But what about Master Quettle, Fraesic, or other mobs? Does people just grab them whenever, or is it mostly the same god every time?
Any sufficiently advanced pun is indistinguishable from comedy.
Do you guys claim non-order mobs? For example, I'm assuming that Isune would frown on anyone else possessing Volucer, because he's pretty firmly attached to the character. But what about Master Quettle, Fraesic, or other mobs? Does people just grab them whenever, or is it mostly the same god every time?
We tend to have our domains, so generally only a city's Pantheon will control or interact as those denizens loyal to the city. We don't cross that boundary often except with specific permission or when we have ephemerals coming along for training.
@Portius and even within a city/commune, some of us have favorites. @Hoaracle is so extremely gifted with mob possession that he has laid claim to several of the Serenwilde mobiles, and for good reason. No one can really craft a personality like he can. I have my favorites, and they do overlap at times, but my hat goes off to him in that arena.
@allgods How do IG languages work for Divine? Would You be able to understand players regardless of what language they use?
On the subject of languages, do Divine have native languages (besides Divine, of course) too? Differing tongues for every creche?
Mechanically at least, we just see it as if you speak common. We can understand any language naturally. In terms of native languages, there is Ae, of course. But Ae is less a "native" language and more like academic jargon, meant for a very specific purpose of manipulating reality/energy. There isn't much done with other languages of the Divine or if there were unique creche accents.
That said @sciomore and dreamgods, During the Dreaming event, Hallifax developed encryption on our ooc clan. What was the havens reaction to that?
Honestly, we flipped our shit with laughter. I think we either figured it out or learned of whatever document you guys were using that had the code or whatever; but I think Ieptix was going to start talking to you guys in it without skipping a beat.
@Weiwae was this the inspiration for your description?
The deep, rumbling voice of Weiwae says from within your heart, "I am so happy to hear of your progress, and I thank you for bringing my influence over more shards of My Brother Tae."
The deep, rumbling voice of Weiwae says from within your heart, "I am so happy to hear of your progress, and I thank you for bringing my influence over more shards of My Brother Tae."
Comments
Not that that answered your question exactly.
If Magnagora decided to one day cast off their tainted fetters and rebuild the Celest Empire, Drocilla and Morgfyre would be well within Their rights to light the whole thing on fire and start making their lives gruesome. If the players hated this level of forced roleplay, it would probably go before Estarra, and She would have to decide whether to save the puny lives of Magnagora or overrule the Gods (in which case, it would probably become some kind of major event where the players' dogma forced us to untaint Magnagora...which is extraordinarily unlikely).
In the end, we truly do have a lot we can do, behind-the-scenes and in your faces, to get the organizations back on track, but it's uncomfortable for everyone. Players truly do believe their roleplay is the "right way," and administrators are often following the will of Estarra's vision as the producer.
I feel its shitty to do to the admin if done out of spite or because of a clash. They are just trying to play their role and in hindsight I've learned there are better methods for everyone to sort out differences of opinion about orgs.
Roleplay wise, it can be awesome, though...if done right. There needs to be RP trust and delicacy but I've unpatroned a guild patron before as part of a big arc for my guild and it was super engaging.
To expand further on @Ayisdra's question (and @Isune's answer), I think it is, and could be, entirely possible that a god leaves their original nation and moves to a different place. I mean, we have seen that twice with Elostian and Isune in Celest. It would require a lot of roleplay and Estarra's approval at the end of the day, but I can imagine it being done - despite whatever early development may have happened.
Re: @Shaddus, I agree with @Lisaera and Isune that if it becomes too rowdy, there will be some big-time intervention that happens. Because honestly, IC a God is pretty much omnipotent in comparison to mortals and OOC an Administrator has nearly so much power at their fingertips, and any sort of retribution from on-high would only lead to player dissatisfaction. Granted, I think something like it can be done, and done well, but we have very few examples in Lusternia's history.
I really like this part of @Breandryn's post, and I agree with it. However, I am not sure how much trust really exists between Patrons and mortal characters, given precisely the strange IC/OOC nature of the patron title (or even the roles of gods themselves).
Personally, I try to avoid using a denizen unless I have a clear mental picture of the personality, speech pattern, and mannerism of said denizen. Making use of mannerisms and speech patterns really helps me keep my mind in the right place for each mob. However, sometimes I mess up, and sometimes speech patterns or mannerism bleed into other characters if I'm really tired and the evening is going long.
For me, the hardest part is remembering which denizen is currently "active", and feeling nervous about delaying my response while I'm busy looking it up to double check that I have the correct mob speaking or emoting.
Also, as you develop familiarity with a particular mob or set of mobs, they become easier to RP with and the responses are a little quicker and more natural.
Tonight amidst the mountaintops
And endless starless night
Singing how the wind was lost
Before an earthly flight
Pretty please?
Absolutely love the concept of an Ancestor-Ephemeral (unless I misunderstood stuff)
On the subject of languages, do Divine have native languages (besides Divine, of course) too? Differing tongues for every creche?
https://estelss16.deviantart.com/, visit if interested.
That said @sciomore and dreamgods, During the Dreaming event, Hallifax developed encryption on our ooc clan. What was the havens reaction to that?
Honestly, we flipped our shit with laughter. I think we either figured it out or learned of whatever document you guys were using that had the code or whatever; but I think Ieptix was going to start talking to you guys in it without skipping a beat.
What Traitor would you be? And/or, why would your character become a traitor?