Best Of

I know the horse has been beaten to death but I still need to get my licks in.

I took a bit of a break during the time the major events we're having started popping off, but I was excited to hear about what was happening even though I wasn't really in the headspace to participate. By the time I got back, the war was won and the events we're seeing now began to unfold. I cannot express enough how much I've truly enjoyed Aetolia in the past year, how alive the game has felt not just since Ictinus took over but especially NOW. Never did I think player agency could have such a huge impact on the future of Aetolian storylines because honestly always felt like it had the capacity to encourage it, but ultimately nothing would come of it. The staff has been fantastic in facilitating and pushing the game onward.

@Sibatti and @Mati Having gotten to be in the Shamans under both of your Watchful eyes (ho ho) you two really made it an amazing experience in helping me get to do that sweet sweet witchy-shaman roleplay with other people who inspire ideas and immersion for our little guild in the forest. Being GM now with the both of you as Hand only makes me feel the excitement of a child when I think about the road the game is heading at the trajectory we're on. Thank you both, really.

@Valorie: My favorite sad junkie. I've really enjoyed everything that's happened during this personal arc we've had, and the quality of your roleplay is something that's always been refreshing to me, and I'm glad for the storylines we've written together the past couple of years. You'll always be my favorite person to RP with.

@Jakarn @cinnamae @Valeria @Pilar @Mahar (sorry if I forgot anyone): My Shaman peeps. Excluding Pilar, watching you guys grow into Shamans of your own, finding your own way, and embracing the roleplay avenues that have come up for us recently has really warmed my heart, and I'm really proud of you guys. Seeing you all latch onto it makes me want to be a better GM for all of you and help you however I can. Stay dope.

@Iesid @Rihrin: Really if it hadn't been for the both of you, none of this would have happened. For better or for worse, I think the result was nothing short of amazing. Our characters initially didn't see eye to eye, but we got to a place where we could operate with one another peacefully enough. I particularly like the responses both characters had for this personal arc i'm running, and opened doors for new beginnings between our characters. I look forward to it.

@Ayanala @Yvi @Devin @Finid @Daelares @dakari @ardaun: Some of you i've known for a long time, some of you i'm just getting to know. You guys' contributions to Duiran's environment, the Shamans, and my character's personal story where applicable hasn't gone unnoticed. I'm glad to share an org with some cool people and their characters.

To @Ictinus @Razmael, all the Celani that have been making the game feel alive for the Shamans/Duiran: Long have I felt that Duiran was just the doomed org of having to fight off so many adversaries while clinging onto what little bit of the world they had left with no real meaningful way to fight back. For the first time in my experience, Duiran feels like they have -real- power now that can and will affect the world in meaningful ways. I understand the potential for it has probably always been there and not really utilized for a variety of reasons, but I'm extremely happy that it's happening now. I love that the importance of the Guardians is now being pressed onto Duiran as a whole and serving as these pseudo Gods for us to worship/be able to rely on in times of need. Easily one of the things i've desired for a long time, and just that much happier it's happening.

NOW BRING ME KAARN.

I finally won a great hunt! I've wanted to grab one for a while, but I didn't quite have the chops for the past couple. Did a lot of optimizing in my basher, and it really paid off; but the truth of the matter is that I would not have won were it not for support from all my friends. Lotta moral support, and some practical support, from @Maeve sending me a red amulet because I forgot to get one, or @Paxe giving me a flower crown, or @Kurak talking strategy with me, or @Naadu and any number of others who sent me chocolates and rooted for me, or @Teramasce checking Tet's house for imp traps so I could keep bashing, or even @Mjoll sending me armor because I forgot some. I know it's a silly thing to care about, but I've wanted to secure one of these for a while, and it feels good to close that book. Now I'm off to avoid screens for a while. If I missed tagging you, sorry, know I love you

This is something I've said before: Azvosh, Dendara, and the Shadow/Spirit plane, while absolutely interesting (and Azvosh/Dendara are some of my favourite parts of the game and its lore) are passive, intangible pieces of the game that discourage conflict rather than encouraging it.

If something happens to the Pillars, Azvosh crashes into Prime and everything goes kaput. If Dendara dies, everything goes kaput. If Shadow breaches Prime, everything goes brainwashed kaput. If Spirit breaches Prime, everything goes brainwashed kaput.

This is not compelling or conducive to conflict between orgs, as it is in no side's interest to potentially lose everything just to "get one over" on their enemy.

If this planar lore was a background set piece, this largely wouldn't be an issue. They would add flavour to their respective orgs and other aspects of org RP would encourage conflict. However, that's not how the planar lore has been introduced or implemented to the game at large, instead defining entire orgs and being the lynchpin of their RP and the game's "conflict".

Its unhealthy and, you're right, it needs to change. The planar lore needs to be shifted into the background or retconned entirely so as to be tangible, interactable parts of the game world that can be attacked and have stakes beyond "everyone dies".