Considering a New Game - call this a "sign up" if you will.

[Legolas]

That, or simply assuming he did, would work best.

[DrowArchmage]

I leveled up and posted my left over points.I was wondering,If i,oh i dunno, decide to leave the game to pursue a better understanding of how to be a good player, how would i die? I'm not going to do that yet, but i'm considering it.

[ 02-06-2006, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: DrowArchmage ]

[Legolas]

I'll have an advancement post up either later today or tomorrow, pardons for the delay.

[shamrock_uk]

First, to business:

I've stockpiled my XP gain and noted in the inventory. I've left the option open for Detheriel to imagine whatever has caught his attention CD, I presumed that a perception of 3 and his skill at distinguishing different sounds in an outdoors setting is enough to at least get an inkling of this mysterious creature, but it's your call of course.

Secondly, re this:

Originally posted by DrowArchmage: I leveled up and posted my left over points.I was wondering,If i,oh i dunno, decide to leave the game to pursue a better understanding of how to be a good player, how would i die? I'm not going to do that yet, but i'm considering it.

Just my thoughts, I hope you don't think it's too presumptuous that I offer them DrowArchmage.

The best way for you to pursue a better understanding of how to be a good player is to keep participating - I would advise against bumping off your character for that reason alone. Your posts have come a long way since the very beginning in my opinion.

By roleplaying an evil character you've made it very challenging - the fine line you have to walk is restraining yourself enough to not turn the entire group against you, whilst still roleplaying in your true evil colours. Not an easy task I'm sure!

I certainly don't think it's a 'bad' thing having such a character in the group, indeed the volatility can be refreshing. It also gives the rest of the group someone completely different to interact with which is never a bad thing. Having to get along with the group doesn't necessarily mean acting 'nice' or trying to emulate the behaviour of other characters (unless of course Zak is deceptive like that) - just not pushing the group so far that they snap.

Above all, it's about roleplaying Zak how you see him, not how you think we think he ought to behave. Presumably, even if entirely self-serving, he could still adopt the Edwin approach and restrain his more extreme side whilst the group is still of use to him.

If you want any advice as to your roleplaying, I would simply say that attention to detail is the key. We can't all write posts to the standards of Legolas for example, and luckily we're not expected to, but if I put your last post into a grammar checker for example there would be loads of errors because there are no spaces after the full stops. Just compose your post in Word (which is safer anyway in the event of a browser crash), take advantage of the spellchecking etc, and then copy it into the forums.

It may seem petty, but people really do care about spelling and grammar in these things - that little extra effort into checking them both would go a long way. Also if you took just an extra few minutes to add a little more descriptive information into your posts, I think you'll be surprised at the difference it makes. (eg before going straight to a conversation, perhaps describe what Zak is doing immediately before, or the surroundings etc)

If you're concerned about comments made in another thread, do remember that this is a different game. Ultimately, it's CD you have to satisfy with your posts and assuming he is happy then I for one think that the group would be less interesting without Zakaria and would encourage you to persevere rather than looking to kill yourself off. Just my 2c.

[ 02-17-2006, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

I can only echo what Sham's said in his post (to which I agree with fully, btw. Nicely done [img]smile.gif[/img] ) and I'll admit, that I expect a lot of the failure is mine for not making things clearer at the start.

I would advise that you do decide on an alignment for Zak and stick with it. It may make things easier for you in the long run. Having checked back through the game, I've noticed that he has a tendency to believe that he is "good", and then gets pissed off and contradicts himself. While this is perfectly fine and I’ve no problems with it, it can’t make it any easier. But as Sham said, it’s your character; you decide. The DM isn’t here to force people to play their characters – he just controls the NPCs and the World around them. A DM’s role ought to be offering choices and letting the players make their own, while writing up the reactions and other out-of-player-control events.

Don’t feel you have to leave. As Sham said, the other comments were made in another game. While I would prefer it if all posts where up to Leggy’s standards *wink, wink nudge, nudge*, I don’t expect them to be. I know that people don’t always have that much time, be it to post or otherwise and everyone does have other obligations. I would ask, however, that some effort is at least shown. This is a slow game – it isn’t hard to write out a slightly longer post, or make the effort because people won’t be responding to it immediately. Even if you want to go back and add a bit to it before a reply is given you have the luxury because things aren’t moving fast. Just take a look at the dates between each post if you don’t believe me. While fast games aren’t a bad thing, (and are actually my preference as I’m sure everyone knows [img]tongue.gif[/img] ), they do tend to lack in well constructed, thought out posts more often than not. This isn’t the case with a slow game, and if you can make that extra time to construct your post and give it just a bit more thought, the difference will become clear and start to show through pretty quickly. It may seem quite a daunting task at first, but it isn’t as hard as it looks! It also becomes easier as you grow more accustomed to writing more. I mean, look at this post – its three paragraphs already (or near enough).

I know it may come across that I’m an impatient or demanding DM, and for that, I do truly apologise. I’ve no excuses to make, aside from the fact that apparent lack of effort is something that really grates and eats at me. I know that we should all take a step back and see things from each other’s point of view, and that’s not always easy. From the DM’s point of view, not only does he have to design the game and the setting around it, but he also has to keep up with the plot, keep things interesting and make sure that everything is running smoothly. When a player seemingly stops caring or doesn’t bother then to the DM’s view, he or she is a weak link. It also means that something is wrong and that they are no longer having fun – which should be the focus of any game. From the player’s(or players’) point of view, if the DM is being overbearing or too demanding, it won’t be fun and they will lose interest. Things do get stressed and the job of a DM is not easy – a player’s job isn’t easy either, but they get off more lightly because they need to only control a single entity – their character. At the risk of sounding like a DnD Druid – a balance must be maintained in order for everyone to have fun.

I guess what I’m really saying (in a rather longwinded and drawn out sort of way) is that, a game should be fun and you shouldn’t feel like it’s a chore. If you are, there is something wrong. If that is the case, don’t be afraid to say so – come out, say it and we’ll try to resolve things. It is only a game after all – try not to take things too seriously. If things are getting heated or out of hand, then just take a step back – advice we all should follow. Don’t feel you have to leave because you’re not meeting expectations – if something is wrong, I’ll tell you – or one of the others will (this applies to all of us), and I would hope you would all do the same for me, be it as a DM or a player. I guess sometimes we could all use a pat on the back. Anyway, you are more than welcome to stay but please try to put a bit more effort into your posting. A DM can’t always be your friend you know . It’s part of the job. If there's something wrong, let me know and we'll try to sort it out, okay?

- CD

[DrowArchmage]

Thanks.I thiink i'll take your advice.
Zakaria is an odd character and is getting harder to play because of personality but i'm willing to try my hardest to make it work for you guys.

[dplax]

DrowArchmage (and Shamrock and CD partly):

With comments I make in a game (both IC or OOC), I try as hard as I can to treat that game as a seperate whole and not to carry over emotions (again both IC and OOC) from other games. I'd be crazy if I said that this is something I always adhere to, as that would be fully impossible, but I try.

From your comments I guess that you were referring to comments made in Distant Shores discussion thread. I realise that probably the comments both there and here aimed at you DrowArchmage were unfortunate to come at the same time, but I can not control what happens in this game, only what happens in mine.

I realise that it was probably really unfortunate to have Nivram go agressive on Zakaria at the same time that I was critisizing your method of writing in my own game, but I ask you to believe me when I say that it was a purely IC reaction to Zakaria's own actions.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

I too would like to clarify that games should be kept seperate, and that any comments made in DS's OOC and in the AA OOC should be treated as such. Any overlap was unintentional, on my part at least. Just so all parties involved know. So I would like to echo Dplax's above post.

Hopefully we can move on in the game now. So, what's keeping everyone?

[DrowArchmage]

Thats alright Dplax. It did seem that way to me but i understand after going back through AA and reading posts, Zak was asking for it.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

DrowArchmage, would you mind editing your last post please? I would prefer it if you added an action rather than just reacting. So far, it's just been talk-talk-talk between all of you, and it would be nice to see you guys actually doing something.

Cheers,
CD.
Edit - I will ask the same of all of you. Please post actions as well as talk.

[ 02-25-2006, 08:16 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]