Hey all,
I'm a veteran from long ago (active 2003-2007) looking to get back, but I know next to nothing about current politics. From what I gather
Atamara is still in pretty much the same deadlock as it was, EI changed quite a bit - but I have no idea about other continents.
What I'm looking for is somewhere lively, with active politics, wars, frontlines moving constantly, RP et cetera.
I held pretty much all positions there were in the time I played (save for Banker), and was one of two original creators
of Da Goat, glorious (albeit pretty stupid) God of Redspan (Atamara).
What are continents which are most fluid in terms of realm politics, territory, RP ? Which realms are the whackiest ? Help me choose !
Belunaterra's borders change all the time thanks to daimons. If you want to fight big monsters with over 40k CS (and do not think it is the same 40k CS human soldiers), come join Thalmarkin on BT.
Politics of Dwilight is pretty interesting as all realms struggle against the only true faith ;).
As for EI, Some realms are dead and dying. Only three original realms are still standing. Well Fontan is there but is about to die.
FEI has a realm called Sorraine which apparently have a lot of RPers.
I can't say much for AT as I have no character there.
Dwilight is the best! It is the biggest island, with the most realms, a quickly evolving political scene with three groups of realms vying to dominate the island, and lots of opportunity for advancement in nearly all realms. In addition, it is a one-character-per-account island. None of this nonsense of propping up your realm by having three or four families with two characters each in the realm, or the same set of people controlling two realms through having characters in each realm, or the inevitable information sharing that happens with multiple characters per island.
AT has lots of fighting. The sides have shifted a bit since 2007, though. Sometimes only the names of the realms have changed, but some realms have shifted sides altogether. Not the most dynamic political climate, but lots of fighting.
FEI is a bit boring right now. Not a lot of war. The Church of Sartan is on the rise again, and that may lead to some new wars. But for now, not much fighting.
EI is in a bit of a rebuilding period. The north (where Old Rancagua used to be) has been burned to ashes and Nivemus is still trying to rebuild the land. In the far south (Where Itorunt and Ibladesh used to be, both now dead) has been torched by Caligus and Perdan. The area is also trying to rebuild, but it is slow going. Westmoor (a realm where Oligarch used to be) just had Sirion declare war on it. We'll see if Perdan or Caligus rush in to help. Fontan just died, no idea what's going to happen there yet. There could be some big changes coming in the political scene due to all the new realms being formed, and the power vacuums being left by all the dead realms. Could be slow going, though, as the new realms try and get on their feet without disturbing the established giants of Perdan, Caligus, and Sirion.
BT... the fifth invasion may be winding down. Or maybe not. But the daimon armies are still kicking ass, and more realms may yet die before it's over. The political landscape is mostly dead until after the daimon Overlord is vanquished.
Thanks for the recommendation - Dwilight looks really promising, but it's a testing ground - do things break often ?
Also, what do you mean by the only true faith ? RP'ed religion ? Is it sanctioned by realms or is it something that doesn't
really belong to realm politics (as in, people from enemy realms still have thwe same religion) ?
Yes, it is a testing island. But this is a good time to join, and the codebase between testing and stable islands was recently synced, so all islands are, for the moment, mostly the same. And if something does break... meh... roll with it. :)
As for religion... Zakilevo is referring to Sanguis Astroism (http://wiki.battlemaster.org/wiki/Sanguis_Astroism). It is by far the largest religion ever in BattleMaster. We have over one million common followers, and something like 140 nobles, as well as over 100 temples. There are currently five theocracies with SA as their official religion, a few more realms where it is the major or only religion, and the rulers of two more realms who follow it as well.
Tempting, very tempting... looks like a perfect time to create opposing religion ! :) Fight those heathens ! ;)
That's one char - I intend to create one more. What's the second best choice ?
Quote from: ry2n on June 06, 2012, 11:23:56 PM
Tempting, very tempting... looks like a perfect time to create opposing religion ! :) Fight those heathens ! ;)
That's one char - I intend to create one more. What's the second best choice ?
Despite the lack of fighting, I would say that Sorraine is, because of the amount of rp. I would say it is reminiscent of the time when you left, back when there were more players per realm.
I got kicked out from Sorraine as soon as I joined so I can't say much for the realm but I can say that Thalmarkin on BT is pretty awesome. Every time we fight Overlord, we get 5 or so RPs :) I post RPs regularly but that is just me trying to post as many RPs as possible.
I'd say you'd want to make at least one character on Dwilight, and if you only make one, then make it on Dwilight. It has so many options of places to go and different cultures that if you get really unlucky and start in a realm you don't like, there are plenty of other options. It is my favorite continent by far, and many would agree with that. (I think there was a poll somewhere, once.)
The other continents, it really depends upon what you're looking to get out of the game. Indirik's descriptions are pretty good. I'm only really playing on Atamara other than Dwilight, so can't speak for the others, but the current fighting is not in fact the same as it was when you last played. Some of the positions are similar, but the realms are different, and their leaders are different. That means the dynamic is in general somewhat changed, even though CE still has a lot of its weight thrown around. BUT, there is a lot of fighting. Nearly every realm on the continent is fighting or was recently in the war.
Dwilight (Solaria), BT (Thalmarkin), and FEI (Sorraine).
Quote from: Solari on June 07, 2012, 03:45:38 AM
Dwilight (Solaria), BT (Thalmarkin), and FEI (Sorraine).
What is this? Cmon, no need for the realm pushing.
Coria on Atamara is where its at though. ;) We have one of the highest gold/noble ratios on the continent and sit right smack dab in the middle of everything.
Quote from: Solari on June 07, 2012, 03:45:38 AM
Dwilight (Solaria), BT (Thalmarkin), and FEI (Sorraine).
ROFL! Solari wants another noble ;)
I am simply giving my honest opinion on the GREATEST REALMS THE HISTORY OF BATTLEMASTER. Or, is being helpful against the forum rules?
Or you could join Ohnar (FEI). It's the underdog in the region (surrounded by haters), which adds to the challenge. A new religion is just taking off, and there is internal conflict, and a promise of future wars that should be epic and lead to FEI shattering events 8)
Dwilight is the best continent, hands down.
However, they all have some good things going on currently it seems.
But for sure have a character on Dwilight.
In my opinion, Dwilight is the best island, Beluaterra being the 2nd. I am rating them on the basis of battles, RPs, and change in politics.
Dwilight has changed a lot. Two old realms, Madina and Pien en Luries are dead from civil war. A new superpower called Aurvandil flaunts the largest noble populace. And a number of new realms provide good opportunity to rise quickly in the hierchy ladder.
Over to BT, Thalmarkin is pretty good. They have got a lot of gold, nobles, regions (and enemies).
Quote from: Cren on June 07, 2012, 10:36:19 AM
Over to BT, Thalmarkin is pretty good. They have got a lot of gold, nobles, regions (and enemies).
Mostly relative to the rest of BT (under blight) that is :P
Quote from: Cren on June 07, 2012, 10:36:19 AM
Dwilight has changed a lot. Two old realms, Madina and Pien en Luries are dead from civil war. A new superpower called Aurvandil flaunts the largest noble populace. And a number of new realms provide good opportunity to rise quickly in the hierchy ladder.
Pian en Luries isn't dead yet. Indeed, it's the only original Dwilight realm that still survives.
Well, 3 active nobles and one hurting city... it's not dead but it isn't exactly very spry either :p
Should be easy to get a council position in PeL.
Thanks for all recommendations.
I'll definitely give Dwilight a shot, maybe FEI too. Beluaterra is kind of too NPCish for me.
see you on the battlefield :)
Dwilight involves too much letter writing and real relationship building.
FEI has too many RPs and is too relaxing.
BT boasts too many challenges for the players to work together to overcome, including NPC invasions that are too interesting.
AT has too many wars and requires team coordination as if it's what the game is about.
EI includes too many conflicts and has too many focused and dedicated characters.
Colonies has too few abbreviations.
Come on, who *doesn't* love letter writing ? It's what makes BM BM.
LetterMaster: The Game (and I wouldn't have it any other way)
Quote from: ry2n on June 07, 2012, 11:04:36 PM
Come on, who *doesn't* love letter writing ? It's what makes BM BM.
LetterMaster: The Game (and I wouldn't have it any other way)
Ignore him, He's trolling you.
I know :) So am I.
Whoa, trolling oneself is a rare art I have yet to master.
I like to use creative ways to convey information.
Quote from: Lefanis on June 07, 2012, 09:01:07 AM
Or you could join Ohnar (FEI). It's the underdog in the region (surrounded by haters), which adds to the challenge. A new religion is just taking off, and there is internal conflict, and a promise of future wars that should be epic and lead to FEI shattering events 8)
Its funny how you think Ohnar is that important :P. If it was, those FEI shattering events would have happened already, silly.
Anyways, I'll offer my most sincere advice. My preferred continents are FEI and Dwilight due to the overall seriousness of the players. On Dwilight, the 'power blocks' are actually a representation of their game style; political, cultural, or religious. (Unlike FEI, where the power blocks are merely geographical.) Since you seem to be leaning towards Dwilight, I will give you my impression of the continent.
As it was mentioned several times, the northern half of both islands are claimed by Sanguis Astroism. (Morek Empire, Corsanctum, Astrum, Iashular, Kabrinskia, Summerdale, and Libero Empire.) These realms all offer a very good religious game, mixed with a lot of intrigue and political conflicts. Right now, Kabrinskia, Sanguis Astroism's colonization attempt in the west, is in a large conflict with the western republics. On the very northern tip, Summerdale just ended their conflict with Libero Empire, and are now being taken apart by the hungry wolves at their dinner of sheeps. Out of those realms, I would suggest either Morek Empire or Iashular. Morek Empire will soon meet its borders with the Lurias, (eastern power block), and create a colony in the only city that has yet to be conquered. Fun should be in incredible abundance soon. Iashular because its still a 'young child' of a realm, and has yet to establish its identity. They've only recently conquered Darfix, the largest city on the continent, and have many more regions to take. If you want a lordship or position of power quickly, giving you the opportunity to be a contributing member to its identity, then I would suggest going there.
The western republics (D'hara, Terran, Barca.... Asylon?), known as the Moot, are exactly what they sound like: republics - making politics their unifying quality. I don't know too much about them, but what I do know is that they border the Zuma, the passive-aggressive Daimons. From the RP's that I've seen, Asylon seems to be the realm of choice for me, though I don't fully understand their place in the western power-block (being a Monarchy and the odd one out, yet supporting their war against Kabrinskia.) Someone else would have to correct me and expand on this, should they wish, if you want to learn more.
The Lurias (Solaria, Luria Nova, Luria Vesperi, and the City State of Pian en Luries) are very intriguing places. It was the first and only places I've played on Dwilight, having its memorable moments and its not so memorable moments. Here, I would say that the unifying trait is culture, since 'being Lurian' and part of the land outlines the principal theme. Essentially, 'being Lurian' really means being a backstabber, as civil wars and plots are so frequent, you could cut the political tension with your quill. Right now, and I hope my Lurian friends can forgive me, I would put these realms in second place next to one of the Sanguis Astroism realms. There are a lot of players that are so heavily entrenched, it makes it difficult to get anywhere past the position of lord. However, with Sanguis Astroism making a big push in Solaria - after the fall of Pian en Luries and the Manifest Path - and Aetheris Pyrism - the second largest religion on Dwilight, which originates in southern Luria - solidifying its position across the Giaskan Bay, there's bound to be conflict. The Lurian Empire is also in the process of being formed, with an Emperor soon to be chosen.
The south is not a powerblock, or at least the way I see it. Aurvandil, which used (?) to be a friendly monarchy to the Moot, recently took over Madina (the realm) and is now consuming Barca through broken oaths (Lords altering their allegiances.) I would consider them their own entity, as they don't really have any allies. The Grand Duchy of Fissoa is the other realm. They border Luria Nova and Luria Vesperi primarily, and border Aurvandil through their control of Madina (the city). The Lurians see Fissoa as 'Lurian' in essence, as they have been vassalized in the past by Pian en Luries, but the Fissoans see themselves differently. Most of their interactions are, however, with the Lurias, making them a political/culture split game. Regardless of some OOC concerns around Aurvandil, I would still chose Fissoa due to their inherent rights given to nobles (referendums on wars and such), while managing to survive the wrath of Luria for so long.
I have tried to keep this as general as possible. The choice is ultimately yours, unless you have already made it :P
I can attest that Arundel's description of the realms is pretty unbiased.
Well done.
(And Arundel's char's hate me too...)
Quote from: Dante Silverfire on June 10, 2012, 06:21:58 AM
I can attest that Arundel's description of the realms is pretty unbiased.
Well done.
(And Arundel's char's hate me too...)
(Caspius left long before Solaria was even a realm. He thinks that she was killed by Solaria and Luria Nova. Alice didn't believe whatever was said in Solaria -i.e, them blaming you for her death - and believes the same as Caspius. So no, my characters don't hate you :P)
Quote from: Arundel on June 10, 2012, 07:35:06 AM
(Caspius left long before Solaria was even a realm. He thinks that she was killed by Solaria and Luria Nova. Alice didn't believe whatever was said in Solaria -i.e, them blaming you for her death - and believes the same as Caspius. So no, my characters don't hate you :P)
Well one of them did...
you think everyone hates you.....
Katayanna liked you and Kellaine does not know you yet
I hate him.
ie. Dwilight is the best, but the other continents all have good stuff too.
P.S. If you want people to trust you, don't kill the King. (Or at least have a good cover up, so at least your realm-mates believe you)
Quote from: Perth on June 10, 2012, 10:20:01 AM
I hate him.
I can't help it that your army just got destroyed by my realm about a week ago, your other char can't seem to win his war against my alliance, and you keep getting yourself pwned in Diplomacy.
Quote from: Dante Silverfire on June 10, 2012, 07:39:44 AM
Well one of them did...
Katerina didn't hate you. She didn't have the capacity to hate you, nor did she want to continue living since you killed that portion off with your betrayal.
Quote from: Dante Silverfire on June 10, 2012, 03:40:22 PM
I can't help it that your army just got destroyed by my realm about a week ago, your other char can't seem to win his war against my alliance, and you keep getting yourself pwned in Diplomacy.
Gah... it really is like you're some hell-spawn sent to ruin my life!
Quote from: Perth on June 11, 2012, 12:59:39 PM
Gah... it really is like you're some hell-spawn sent to ruin my life!
He has that effect.
Quote from: Arundel on June 12, 2012, 11:18:48 PM
He has that effect.
I blame the woman, if she hadn't seduced the King, no one would have had a problem.
Quote from: Perth on June 11, 2012, 12:59:39 PM
Gah... it really is like you're some hell-spawn sent to ruin my life!
Well you just smashed CE so I think my luck may be turning. Especially with events in Terran.
Quote from: Dante Silverfire on June 12, 2012, 11:21:36 PM
I blame the woman, if she hadn't seduced the King, no one would have had a problem.
Pft! The King needs a wife and an heir; someone's gotta do it ::).
Quote from: Arundel on June 12, 2012, 11:38:00 PM
Pft! The King needs a wife and an heir; someone's gotta do it ::).
No one needs an heir in Luria. Just means they have to watch their children die before their eyes while another takes the crown off their head.
Dwilight in my opinion is not the best choice at all. I would say the worst of those i visited. I see it as going to its death. Half the map belongs to Sanguis Astroism theocracies and the other half has realms having so much Sanguis Astroism worshippers that its almost the same as if they were. Sure they sometimes go to war against SA federation but the half SA worshippers they have go with cold feet and give intelligence to SA.
There is a mechanism put in place to avoid one realm owning all the map. In my opinion SA bypassed that with its theocracies federation. From what i have seen so far truly boring.
Quote from: Philippe Faux on July 07, 2012, 07:34:13 PM
Dwilight in my opinion is not the best choice at all. I would say the worst of those i visited. I see it as going to its death. Half the map belongs to Sanguis Astroism theocracies and the other half has realms having so much Sanguis Astroism worshippers that its almost the same as if they were. Sure they sometimes go to war against SA federation but the half SA worshippers they have go with cold feet and give intelligence to SA.
There is a mechanism put in place to avoid one realm owning all the map. In my opinion SA bypassed that with its theocracies federation. From what i have seen so far truly boring.
Same goes for Atamara. CE owns half of the map. Can't change it now. SA and CE both worked their way up.
@Philippe
A lot of work went into SA and CE's federations, be it theocratic or alliance based. If you want to dislodge them, don't rely on game mechanics, put in a comparable amount of work and you might be able to replace them. If you feel that's boring, try to change it either from the inside or outside.
Like what was stated in relations to the combat script. 10 soldiers will almost always beat 2 soldiers. It's not a bug, and a realm with tons of active nobles will likely beat a similar realm with almost no active nobles. These are not bugs. There is nothing to fix here except telling you to go and actually play the game. :-/
Quote from: Philippe Faux on July 07, 2012, 07:34:13 PM
Half the map belongs to Sanguis Astroism theocracies and the other half has realms having so much Sanguis Astroism worshippers that its almost the same as if they were.
There is not a single Astroist in Aurvandil, Pian en Luries, Luria Nova and Luria Vesperi. I suspect nor in the Grand Duchy of Fissoa, but I'm not 100% sure.
You would be incorrect. ;)
Astroist Temple, Lord, Duke, Banker, General, Judge or King, then.
1. Beluaterra.
2. Dwilight.
3. Irrelevant.
Quote from: JPierreD on July 07, 2012, 11:04:56 PM
Astroist Temple, Lord, Duke, Banker, General, Judge or King, then.
Wrong again!
SA has majority within GDoF only in Fissoa city.
Quote from: Cren on July 09, 2012, 05:08:09 PM
SA has majority within GDoF only in Fissoa city.
Wow, sad times!
A noble & Adventurer on Dwilight guarantees a ton of fun. Of all the continents I play (I've tried them all), Dwilight is by FAR my favorite. SA seriously pisses me off but to be honest, that makes the RP more interesting. Belluaterra is QUICKLY becoming my second-favorite although its annoying to have everything all burned down and destroyed by daimonhordes :-P About to start a dissenting poly-panentheistic religion of the neo-pagan variety in Bellua for a bit of intrigue as soon as this Blight is over. Tempting to make my future-priest a Hero just so I can tell epic stories as an aging Warrior-priest in the future. :-P
If you're up for it, I'd love a good Knight in my realm in Terran, plus you have a good chance of becoming a Lord. :-) Very nice and understanding folks, very supportive and respectful, plenty of room for growth and ascension based on your effort, skill, and RP, RPs happen when they may (often at my hands these days :P Lord Perth, I won't forgive you for beating me in that duel :-| I will have revenge!), and the overall mood is very very pleasant despite wars going this way and that, political intrigue that never ends, religious friction due to SA to the north and the anti-religious whats-their-name to the south, and so much more.
I was originally bent on joining Astrom when I started playing with 6-7 friends. One went to Astrom, one went to Morek, one or two went to Summerdale, one went to Aurvandil, and I forget the rest. Every one of them hated their nations, except for the three who later joined Terran, rofl. Not that there's anything wrong with those nations, I just think the internal politics didn't go well with their playing styles. (This particular group are intensive, experienced roleplayers from my old RP website, half of them GM/DMs, and their previous RP with me were as dissenting religious fanatics from the long-lost Cult of Draolus in Hazordhu II - With the help of one of the games admins who gave the green-light to most of my unorthodox but highly-rewarding RP ideas that always brought in new players. Oh, how we enjoyed shackling up folks who'd come near our fortress, torturing them for information, and then have a courier bring back the severed head to their leaders, bahaha... Great RP moments, man, some of my favorite.)
Put simply, Summerdale got roflstomped by a Morek-Libero slaughter, Astrom twiddled their thumbs and watched Summerdale burn because of previous engagements, Aurvandil is raping and pillaging as usual, Barca just got nailed by Aurvandil, Asylon's in-and-out of war with Kabrinskia, and Terran is bobbing in the middle of an ocean of chaos along with their allies - an island of ever-changing borders and shifting politics on account of our dead-center position between multiple opposing factions. I think I picked very well when I decided to choose the one friggin' non-theocracy I could find at the time :-P I was actually IN SA for a while, but left because I didn't agree with some serious issues going on internally - its not my style to discuss the secrets of others even if I think they're totally out of line.
Regardless of your decision and our pushing for either nation, I know you'll have a guaranteed blast joining Dwilight. :-)
Quote from: Ehndras on July 11, 2012, 04:19:20 PMSA seriously pisses me off but to be honest, that makes the RP more interesting.
I would be rather interested to hear why.
I generally would rather not discuss it.
If I MUST, it comes down to an IC and OOC reason.
IC, I dislike the blatant corruption and politicking that goes on under the guise of SA. A lot of what I'd see in the SA conversations weren't even IC-RP like is normal for a religious group. Its all fine and dandy to RP a bunch of corrupt priests wanting to hoard power for the blood-gods but all I really saw were a bunch of chaps ignoring the religious aspect and using the religious chat vessel to talk sh*t behind other's backs and power-play. So much power-play. That already peeves me because I believe in RPing, hence why I'm on Dwilight. If it was another continent then fine, but even our half-assed religions in other continents get RP'd at least a little bit. There are some players who at least make a vague mention of SA in a religious scope, but most I've seen just completely ignore it and go straight for the political aspect. I find this to be in bad taste both as an abuse of the religious system as well as a fallacy on a roleplayer's part - it is your duty to maintain faithfulness to your religion and if you're in it just for the political connections then what the hell? Just make a guild like the 'Moot.
Maybe the brief time I was in the SA I just happened to come across 30 or 40 of the most politically-inclined postings and nothing else. Maybe its just a coincidence that the near-DEAD religion I worship, Triunism, in the two posts that have ever been made in it, were massively more religious and RP than everything I've heard of SA here on Dwilight. Maybe its just that the most SA-related thing I've heard was Vellos randomly forgetting I'm not in SA and asking me if I'd take some gold to increase the size of Vassar's temple - which I guffawed at because Vassar is a 100% Triune nation led by myself, a Triune-worshipping Lord. Oh boy did those scribes of his get a beating I'd imagine. :-P if it wasn't so hilarious I'd have had a fun opportunity to be seriously pissed-off IC for some epic religious-schism RP.
Anyway, back on topic. The most quasi-religious display I've seen IC was Glaumring's nude-dance to the gods of war, the closest thing I've seen to IC SA activity was Vellos' epic mistake, I saw nothing as a member of SA that I'd reciprocate or emulate in my own IC religion, and I disagree with SA's general methods. This has nothing to do with my actual opinion of SA as a religion, which will come next.
Now, for the OOC and my actual feelings on the subject. I find the SA to be a badly-written parody of medieval Catholicism beneath the guise of quasi-paganism, emulating all the things that are commonly despised about medieval Catholicism. The hypocrisy, the corruption, the lack of cohesiveness, the religious crusading for political-economic reasons, and a laughable adherence to religious values that are at best politically deviant and at worst morally destructive. I think its the political pull of SA that has forced its spread and ascension to the biggest religion of BM because the content of the religion itself isn't stressed at all. I'd understand if they RP'd a lot or took it seriously but at every turn I've seen little beside politicking. Perhaps its different on Dwilight or perhaps my vision is skewed due to my relatively recent arrival to BM, but if I am asked for an honest no-holds-barred opinion on SA at this point in time, my belief is this: SA is a political powerbase beneath the guise of religion and in no way seems to take its own beliefs seriously, often flying in the face of its own values for the purpose of economic or political gain - just because "Why the !@#$ not".
Anyway, its not my place to discuss other people's business. I am no longer a follower of SA on any of my characters and couldn't care less. I fully respect SA's right to exist, Terran's right to be partially-SA, and my friends of worshipping SA. I have nothing against what you'll read of SA in the wiki. What I dislike is the power-mongering the players behind SA so commonly engage in. What I dislike is the blatant disregard for your own laws and views as soon as they give you even a slight handicap. Is that not the point of IC religion, to provide incentive to RP, if not an entertaining crutch or handicap which you must roleplay around? I always thought the point of having religions in game at ALL was not for economic or political benefit, which guilds can fulfill just fine on their own, but for a chance for more intensive and entertaining RP than "Oh, let's have a duel?" or "I don't like the way your peasant-like nobles slice their mutton, 'tis a disgrace to proper etiquette! TO WAR! FOR THE MUTTON!"
Jeeze, I am one ranty, brutally-honest bastard today.
Please avoid asking me questions today unless you want the truth, all the truth, and nothing but the bloody F-U truth.
Quote from: Ehndras on July 11, 2012, 06:01:36 PM
The hypocrisy, the corruption, the lack of cohesiveness, the religious crusading for political-economic reasons, and a laughable adherence to religious values that are at best politically deviant and at worst morally destructive.
I...think that if you studied the history of SA, you'd find that the
vast majority of that type of thing was in no way planned or intended. It's just the sort of thing that happens. Human nature at work.
I'm not in SA, but the players of Constantine and the Duke of Mimer have both made pretty good conversion attempts and/or religious discussions. I wish that the Verdis Elementum's priests would actually...you know...preach. You would think that sending letters, like the early Christians did (Letter to Corinthians, Letter to Ephesians, etc) would be part of the whole priest gig.
Of course, I never did when I was a priest, so maybe I expect to much.
Quote from: Ehndras on July 11, 2012, 06:01:36 PMI generally would rather not discuss it.
If I MUST, it comes down to an IC and OOC reason.
Well, I didn't say you *had* to discuss it. I just asked a friendly question. But thank you for your response. You have touched on several things I have thought myself. Some of it is due to the nature of the game, the nature of the formation/expansion of the religion, and the laziness of players (myself included).
In the interest of not getting into a huge debate, I'd just like to say two things.
1) Religion is politics, and politics is religion. This is doubly true in BattleMaster. You cannot have a religion that is interested in expanding, and spreading their faith, without that same religion being involved in politics. The fact that many religions try to not get involved in politics is why you have so many inconsequential, failing religions with 10 or 12 nobles, two temples, and one priest. The founders/elders of SA are definitely believers in the faith. True, we don't talk theology constantly, but that doesn't mean that we are corrupt politicians only in it for the power. There are plenty of nobles in SA specifically for the power side of things. When you have several large theocracies that only hand out positions to members of the faith, what would you expect?
2) Discussions in SA tend to ramble, and swap rather quickly between several-month dry spells, and a few weeks of insanely furious debates. Some of these are theological in nature, most probably are not. You can't really stop the non-theological debates, and we don't really try unless they get very bad. Let's face it: Right now, SA provides the single largest audience
in the game. There is no other place in the game where you can write one message, and get it sent to 160 other characters. (We used to have that in some realms, but not any more.) The multi-realm nature of the organization means that when someone wants to get their message heard far and wide, they come to the SA all-members channel. (Or the full-members channel if they want to be polite.) The fact that these realms sometimes also get involved in their own wars against each other means that they come to the common channel they have to debate things. And of course they get heated, and there's a lot of shouting. Meh... it has its good points and bad points.
Anyway, I'm not really looking to turn this into a big debate on the merits and evils of SA. I know it has some good sides and bad sides. But to me, that's what makes it fun. :) Sorry that your experiences in Summerdale soured you on SA (and Astrum :( ). Perhaps if you had been around before the war started, you'd have a little better understanding for how things really happened, and not be so bitter about it.
Actually, I did have one other question:
Quote from: Ehndras on July 11, 2012, 06:01:36 PM
...all I really saw were a bunch of chaps ignoring the religious aspect and using the religious chat vessel to talk sh*t behind other's backs and power-play. So much power-play.
What definition do you use for "power-play"? People use so many definitions for terms like this, I'd be interested in knowing what you mean by it.
Hmmm... Blood Stars. Wait! Thats some kind of cosmic horror, at least I consider that. Come join us at Path to Eternity and join the crusade against SA.
Quote from: Cren on July 11, 2012, 08:02:17 PM
Hmmm... Blood Stars. Wait! Thats some kind of cosmic horror, at least I consider that. Come join us at Path to Eternity and join the crusade against SA.
Or join AP and stop fragmenting the non-SA side!
Quote from: Ehndras on July 11, 2012, 06:01:36 PM
Please avoid asking me questions today unless you want the truth, all the truth, and nothing but the bloody F-U truth.
Well, biased versions of the truth, but everyone's biased, so can't avoid that.
All truths are naturally skewed in the favor of one's own experiences - I simply try to be an unbiased I can humanly muster. (Which isn't much, but still, at least I try)
Quote from: Ehndras on July 11, 2012, 06:01:36 PM
emulating all the things that are commonly despised about medieval Catholicism.
What's bad, OOC, about this? We emulate lots of bad things about medieval society.
Poor Triunism. :'(
I had some ideas to bolster the faith planned for the peace time following the Kabrinskian conflict, but Aurvandil had to come along and put that stuff on hold! >:(
By all means, do so! I'm tempted to introduce my faith to other continents beside Bellua but I can't be assed to have 2-3 Priest characters. :-P Lets get Triune bolstered!