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Volunteer AMA!
Brax
Immortal
Hi everyone!
We've been chatting, and thought it might be fun to do an AMA-type thread here on the forums for you to ask us questions.
Want to know what it's like to run an event? Curious about how a certain achievement in game was pulled off? Just want to ask a Celani what their favorite color is? You've come to the right place!
We'll keep this thread open as long as it remains civil, while keeping the following rules/consideration in mind:
- There will probably definitely be questions that we're not allowed to answer, either on the basis of lore considerations, or simply policy considerations.
- Information offered in this thread isn't meant to be taken in game. Metagaming is bad!
- This won't be the place to vent frustrations or voice attacks at the volunteers taking part; that puts Tiur into protective mode.
- The opinions offered here belong to the individual Celani giving them, and aren't necessarily a representation of how the Pools Team(TM) or other Celani feel.
We'll make sure to edit this original post as needed if/when the roster changes, but the Celani currently offering to take part are:
@Brax, @Haelra, @Minaret, @Raah, @Karizyna, @Ceraen, @Zeheia, and @Tedrunai.
Ask us your questions! Feel free to ask them to specific Celani, or just all of us in general!
We've been chatting, and thought it might be fun to do an AMA-type thread here on the forums for you to ask us questions.
Want to know what it's like to run an event? Curious about how a certain achievement in game was pulled off? Just want to ask a Celani what their favorite color is? You've come to the right place!
We'll keep this thread open as long as it remains civil, while keeping the following rules/consideration in mind:
- There will probably definitely be questions that we're not allowed to answer, either on the basis of lore considerations, or simply policy considerations.
- Information offered in this thread isn't meant to be taken in game. Metagaming is bad!
- This won't be the place to vent frustrations or voice attacks at the volunteers taking part; that puts Tiur into protective mode.
- The opinions offered here belong to the individual Celani giving them, and aren't necessarily a representation of how the Pools Team(TM) or other Celani feel.
We'll make sure to edit this original post as needed if/when the roster changes, but the Celani currently offering to take part are:
@Brax, @Haelra, @Minaret, @Raah, @Karizyna, @Ceraen, @Zeheia, and @Tedrunai.
Ask us your questions! Feel free to ask them to specific Celani, or just all of us in general!
2
Comments
I have had recent conversations about how much autonomy players should have in running a organisation, and how much would be seen as too much for the organisation. Is there a clear line where it should be drawn at? I'm curious to know the limits of our creativity, and if there's some elements that just shouldn't be touched.
I'm a first time Celani but long time IRE player.
I can more accurately answer some of the questions for people considering coming up for the first time or people just curious about a first timer's experience.
I have also been given cautious permission to inform you guys that I am the one who ran the most recent Templar event!
I'd rather adopt all 200 of them and conquer the world.
* Elene asks: I have had recent conversations about how much autonomy players should have in running a organisation, and how much would be seen as too much for the organisation. Is there a clear line where the line should be drawn at? I'm curious to know the limits of our creativity, and if there's some elements that just shouldn't be touched.
This varies by the organization! Generally, my opinion is that players should have a large degree of autonomy in how an organization's goals are pursued, but they shouldn't have the power to change or actively work against those goals, or the stated lore that leads to those goals being important, without cooperating with the admins.
A lot of the time, player autonomy butts up against long-term administrative plans... and this can be frustrating, because it means choosing between disappointing players or redoing things to fit the ways the players are moving, even if we've spent considerable time on them. Player creativity is really awesome, but keeping things cohesive from an administrative and lore standpoint is also a huge priority of ours.
The way these needs compete is a difficult problem to address. I wish I had a clearer, more satisfying answer than this!
* Elene asks: On a lighter note, what are each of your favourite denizens existing in Aetolia so far?
You're making me pick just one???
In that case, I've got a major soft spot for Rhulin Glintspear. He was introduced making catapults to launch adventurers through the sky, and he's remained just as snarkily amazing ever since in spite of being juggled through several different volunteers and events. His existence has always entertained me.
@Nisavi I would never like to fall afoul of fowl, so clearly 100 duck-sized Omei is the superior answer here.
@Elene I can't answer the first part, but the part specifically asking about creativity - in my experience and opinion there's no limit to what can be proposed creatively by players in an effort to shape their organisations. Sometimes those ideas may not fit into the overarching themes that have been established, or may conflict with plans or ideas the admin might have ruminating and will therefore not be implemented. There's no hard line drawn in the sand, but there will always be the consideration of if a proposed change still fits thematically. I think that it's pretty important to consider these thematic concepts when looking to see what your org is, or things quickly become very homogenous and less interesting.
I don't have a favourite denizen, though I have a weakness for any Atavian!
@Elene: On a lighter note, what are each of your favourite denizens existing in Aetolia so far?
I'm not saying anything about anything here, but fireduck is great.
If in doubt, please refer to the Forum Rules! If in more doubt, please reach out to a moderator.
Act as you would wish to be treated.
"It costs you nothing to assume that we are acting in good faith."
You launch an arc of blue fire at 100 duck-sized Omeis at POOLS.
100 duck-sized Omeis suddenly seizes up as though struck by a jolt, then collapses to the ground,
dead.
You would have earned 6,325 experience here (4,600 base).
Having slain 100 duck-sized Omeis, you retrieve the corpse.
You launch an arc of blue fire at 100 Omei-sized ducks at POOLS.
100 Omei-sized ducks suddenly seizes up as though struck by a jolt, then collapses to the ground,
dead.
You would have earned 6,325 experience here (4,600 base).
Having slain 100 Omei-sized ducks, you retrieve the corpse. Vampire babies is the line.
In all seriousness, in my opinion autonomy is good but only to a certain extent. You can't change the overall direction of the organization - Teradrim can't suddenly become treehuggers, for example. You can't try to turn lore upside down on its head - vampire babies, for example. How you envision the organization progressing along its overall direction has a lot of leeway though.
The tools chosen to nudge organizations back along the right path when they stray is tricky from the Pools side. Abhorash has traditionally been a very blunt instrument, brought about to hold down the enter button on a zap alias when vampires decide they can procreate. This is the simplest, easiest way to force re-alignment but I don't think it's very enjoyable from the players nor Pools sides. I think environmental/cultural reminders and reinforcement are the ways to go, setting up lore/events/other stuff. The downside to that is it takes a lot of attention/time which is usually volunteer-driven.
To get more current, I'm going to speak a bit about the ongoing Bloodloch situation (because I know that's what you all actually want to hear about). Bloodloch is meant to be an imperialist city of Strength at all costs, brutal in its efficiency, free from the shackles of morality and ethics. Which doesn't mean you can't have morals, but they can't get in the way of capital s Strength.
The territorial revolts are meant to be that lore/event push to realigning Bloodloch with its purpose. A stark reminder that hey, you guys go out and conquer people and subjugate them. If you take your foot off the throat, show weakness, your vassals are going to pounce on the opportunity. They don't love you, they admire (or are forced to bow to) your Strength.
What Bloodloch is not, is the City of Antislavery, which is honestly the way it feels like it's going lately with all the city's conflict (inner and outer) being centered around this one issue. Sure, the idea that bloodslaves/slaves breed complacency and weakness is fine, especially when the bloodslaves in particular are just there for decadence. But if it comes down to losing your territories in the world vs freeing slaves, that really shouldn't even be something up for consideration.
Again, Bloodloch is all about capital s Strength at all costs. That latter part of "at all costs" has to have some meaning to keep Bloodloch grounded as the brutal, evil, imperialist city. Having everything work out sunshine and flowers with slaves deciding they should just be renamed servants and still voluntarily sticking around to get brutally exploited undermines the direction of the city. Bloodloch isn't meant to be loved, or to be just, or to be fair.
For the event itself, honestly it's grown into its own beast. I'd say it's majority-player-driven now, with us just supplying some cool tools to facilitate it and nudging things along. I honestly have no idea how any part of it is going to play out anymore. Overall though, it is intended to bring Bloodloch back to its roots, so there are going to be some tough choices if antislavery continues to be The Hill That Bloodloch Dies On (although to be honest, these choices aren't supposed to be tough for Bloodloch). Which doesn't mean anti-slave solutions are going to be discarded if they make sense but that should not be the priority for Bloodloch. If it comes down to freeing slaves vs keeping territories...well, again, "at all costs" has to have some substance.
tl;dr my favourite denizen is Draden.
Give me the ducks please. I wouldn't want to fight even one Omei-sized Omei. I'll build a nice little pond and befriend them. I think Ted nailed it super well here, and I find myself agreeing with him. There's a lot of room for creativity if it's handled in an organic way and it fits. Spinesreach is a pretty good example of this I think, having grown and evolved over the years to look like something different from the days of the Dhasani, but still something altogether still Spirean at its core.
There'll always be guardrails in place to keep cars on the road, but the roads taken and the cars themselves can be different as long as they're still ultimately heading towards the intended destination. Sometimes the GPS will insist you take the next exit because it's faster, or there's construction ahead that you didn't realize.
Re: Favorite denizens, that's a tough one. I have a special place in my heart for Giovelli. That said, I love pretty much any denizen that when possessed begins immediately lighting up esteems or spawning memes in discord or forums. I can't take credit for playing Usham, but the memes generated about him were just amazing.
As for favorite NPC, that's hard. I have a special place for Rappu since I created her at the beginning of me working on Ylemnics. If I can't pick my own, then probably the little girl selling fireflies in a jar in Duiran. I secretly think she might be hiding some insane skills.
2. If you (as a real person) could take a one day vacation to Aetolia, where would you go?
3. What's your personal favorite thing you've done/made/whatever as a volunteer?
2. <redacted> because I think the <redacted> gardens would be so peaceful by the <redacted> not to mention watching the blood-sucking <redacted> mess with people would be great. (Not yet released, obviously!)
3. I was the celani who first revamped Minia into Sehal many years ago. It was a big moment of pride being able to change something so fundamentally Achaean and make it our own.
If in doubt, please refer to the Forum Rules! If in more doubt, please reach out to a moderator.
Act as you would wish to be treated.
"It costs you nothing to assume that we are acting in good faith."
2. The remotest place possible that no players or denizens would ever go to. I would hide in a corner and try to be unnoticeable and hope that some autobasher doesn't "accidentally" pick me up and slaughter me. Aetolia would suck for normal people.
3. Either Farkle or the Chiav skillset. Two major efforts that were vindicated with a lot of use and player excitement.
What is your equivalent of "SCORE, STAT, NSTAT, QW, SCENT"? (in that order, obv)
2. Has anyone been twerked out of the Pools during something really important?
- I could fly, which is awesome.
- I would use portals to go everywhere I didn't fly to. Lunch break? Time to open up a portal to another country to get some delicious authentic food. Wanna go to the beach on impulse? Hold on, Fiji is just a portal away.
- Moving trucks? Naw, we'll just shove anything we need to transport into a fulcrum and pull it back out at the destination.
- Illusions? Illusions.
- Elemental mastery would also obviously have its perks.
..Ok I'm sure you get it, but yeah, Ascendril.
2. This was also very tricky. I think I'd also go to Enorian. Getting to see the Temple of the Gods in person would be amazing, beach is nearby.. there's a lot that would be really fun to see, and super scenic.
3. I'm going to take a rain check on this one, since I'm absolutely blanking. I feel like all of my favorite things from the Pools side are the ones where it's a collaboration between a bunch of us, or an event that's started absolutely aimlessly with a few of us because "why not" rationale that then spirals into something hilariously bigger than intended.
GODWHO, COWHO, OWHO, QW, WHOGROUP, ZAP BRAX, TRUEIDLERS 1. See below.
2. Not twerk, but one time we were discussing quests and somehow the conversation turned to brainstorming a quest where you had to brush someone's back hair. And then we looked at the brush emote and it was all ew icky kissy emote. So I progged up a global emote replacer for gods that replaced the default brush emote with one about brushing back hair.
A bit of background, when Celani/Gods are invis mortal characters can't see their emotes. Any time you're in a super serious RP event with a vis Pools member, chances are there's at least one other Pools member sitting there invis, spamming lewd emotes and generally being a nuisance.
So a Celani just passed noobdom and vis'd on Slyphe for the first time ever. Big moment, lotta nerves, etc. Naturally, I show up and brush Slyphe's back hair.
Except, being a progged emote and not a real one, it wasn't hidden from players. So, in the middle of Slyphe's triumphant return, this poor Celani's first time ever being vis, I spammed a room of 10+ players with:
Tedrunai brushes Slyphe's back hair until it is gloriously silky and untangled.
On a lighter note, what are each of your favourite denizens existing in Aetolia so far?
Herolt, 100%. Completely biased since he is my creation, but I have enjoyed giving him some dimension and more of a presence.
1. If all the Aetolian classes suddenly magically existed in the real world, which would you want to be?
I struggled deciding, but likely Illuminai because priestess, yes.
2. If you (as a real person) could take a one day vacation to Aetolia, where would you go?
Mostyn or Enorian.
3. What's your personal favorite thing you've done/made/whatever as a volunteer?
Grand Library/Herolt and Biardha because making horoscopes was just fun to figure out.
1. What's your favorite secret god emote?
YEET
2. What's your favorite area in the game, thematically?
3. What are some books, games, movies, etc. that have really inspired you?
Commands: GODWHO, STAT, QW, RPWHO, PUNT TEDRUNAI BIGAGITATE. It's like agitate, but.. bigger.
I forgot this was a thing for a sec. Brb. 1. You're cool!
2. Seer's Wood is really, really neat. If you haven't before, spend some time reading the descriptions there.
3. I find it really, really hard to pinpoint specific ones. I've always been super interested in mythology as a whole, and sometimes when I'm looking for inspiration I'll do some reading about the deities in different mythologies around the world.
Different books/movies/shows will trigger different bits of creativity in different areas. Watching a good horror movie always makes me want to write something creepy. If a song gives me a strong feeling, I like to listen to it on repeat a few times with my eyes closed and let that help with some brainstorming, then listen to it while I start writing up whatever it is that resulted, or starting whatever interaction may have come to mind.
As far as games go, my biggest takeaway tends to be dialogue trees and implications of said dialogue trees from games like Fallout, Skyrim, Outer Worlds, etc. The NPCs that you get really attached to. I want to make NPCs of that quality here that players get equally attached to.
Alternatively, Illuminai, so I'd be able to help out at a hospital or something (and teleport, if someone else in this hypothetical universe also decides to be one!) I have absolutely no self-defense skills, so vacationing anywhere in Aetolia seems honestly terrifying! I'd probably travel to Spinesreach, though, and do some sightseeing and library perusal. Honestly, could I just do a library tour? There's some beautifully described libraries in this game that I wouldn't mind getting lost in. If I'm forced down to just one thing, my favorite is the redesign of Enorian. Imagining how it all fit together was a lot of fun, as was finding inspiration to draw from as I envisioned the city! My favorite part of it in particular is the temple, and the ways in which I was able to imply its scale by fitting fields and groves all along it... I ended up studying city planning and historical cities so I could have a better sense of how to arrange things. GODWHO, WHO, SCENT, NSTAT, CWHO, SCORE, STAT is what comes to mind immediately. IMGALLEUS2 Probably hold some sort of liquid substance Might be because it's autumn? Honestly? I love the entire mood Spinesreach captures. Even though the city itself has changed a lot, there's always been a certain something about snow, mountains, an ancient citadel, and lots of booze that just... hits right for me. Oh gosh, this is a huge, huge question, and I could probably go on all day answering it. I'm going to limit myself to
fiveseven highlights in order to not totally derail the thread!- Bastion, by Supergiant Games. Artistry, narrative, gameplay-wise... it's just there. What I love about Supergiant is the ways in which they explore conflict, freedom, and reconciliation throughout all of their games, and how they take pains to give their characters believable interiority. Plus Darren Korb's music...
- Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and Legend all occupy a place together because collectively, I can acknowledge that they have some less-than-perfect moments, that they can get confusing, and that they are unquestionably creatures of the '80s... but they've been so formative for me and my aesthetic tastes that I can't not mention them!
- Final Fantasy 6, a game which made me cry multiple times on first playthrough - sometimes because of its narrative, and sometimes because of its moments of sheer artistic beauty. Uematsu's music is sublime, and even though some of the characters aren't as well developed, the ones who are? Are incredible.
- Terry Pratchett's Discworld (and also Good Omens.) I've read Pratchett's works since I was a teenager, and he's had a profound influence on my writing, my sense of humor, and me as a human being. GNU Pterry.
- Lord of the Rings. My parents read Tolkien to me growing up, and I've revisited him several times since then in book form, and uncountable times in movie form. I love the mythology it presents... and I loved the constructed languages so much that I ended up constructing a few of my own (and several for Aetolia, too...)
- Planescape: Torment is a video game that blew my mind repeatedly when I first played it, and showed me the complex narrative possibilities that video games can open up. It not only defined my standards for RPGs, it made me reconsider what a game could even be.
- The Princess Bride. One of my favorite movies, and also one of my favorite books - even though they're completely different experiences! I've always really loved swashbuckling/adventure movies, and this one ends up on a lot when I'm sick.
Guhhhh there are so many others but I'm making myself stop now.3. What's your personal favorite thing you've done/made/whatever as a volunteer?
Without giving specifics, my favourite thing has always been to bring some little cultural development to a race. Something minor, but that can help shape future developments until we have something unique and varied.
What do you find most engaging/inviting when it comes to spontaneous RP moments?
People expressing themselves. I always found it awkward when people grovelled and scraped. Just roll on up to NPCs, whether just in general or Order ones, and just… interact with them. It’s more fun when it just happens and it feels natural.
1) if you had to design a cup what would it do?
It would be suspiciously normal. You would drink tea out of it. It would simply fill you with vague unease, like something was not quite right.
2. What's your favorite area in the game, thematically?
Saluria and Djeir have always been my two favourite, especially the latter. Someone put a lot of work into it and it shows.
3. What are some books, games, movies, etc. that have really inspired you?
I actually don’t tend to use much from books or other media. I prefer to look to real life inspirations to help to try and develop a ‘real’ area/personality/etc. However, there are certain elements of world-building that always make an impact and that depth is something I take into consideration when I try to design something for the game. For example, The Way of Kings, or the Realm of the Elderlings books. I want the things I do, to have an impact on someone. If a player can step back and come away with a sense of how something really -looks and feels-, then I've done my job.