Minorities of Arabel
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I am currently engaged in a grand endeavor to create racial groups of elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings and developing them as viable factions with perks, buildings and even small subdistricts within Arabel, with a vision towards changing Arabel going into V5. Arabel has long been a human-centric server which has had amazing non-human groups rise and rise again. The Iron Anvil, the Halfling Militia, and the various Elven warbands immediately come to mind. As Arabel begins to concentrate its activities into the city, I wish to change the current dynamics, and create PC factions that can last, involve dozens of players, and are thoroughly enjoyable.
For example, you can create a PC that is a member of the Halfling Diaspora, yet is also a Luckbringer of Tyche. An Elf that is the Chieftain of the city Elves, yet is also a Mage Guild Apprentice. A Dwarf that is a member of the Thane's Council, yet is also a veteran member of the Adventurer's Guild and a experienced Smith. A Gnome that is a talented troubleshooter for the City Watch, yet also has a small mercantile company of his own, made up entirely of gnomes.
My aim is to change the dynamics of Arabel. Not just Factions. Races. Not just Races. Political Alliances. A Web of Race, Factions, and Politics where everyone is a member of two, maybe even three groups, with divided loyalties, friends and enemies on all sides, and a great great amount of fun.
Comments?
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Actually, I would be a bit careful with this.
When we don't have an active community numbering in the hundreds, we should try to focus more PCs in fewer groups, so those few groups can really be active and fun. A bunch of different groups with 2 PCs in it isn't going to get very far, unless their idea is so amazing that people are attracted to them.
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Thats the thing. Its like a community centre. Everyone is part of the community centre, but they may be in the karate club or the piano club and still be part of the community centre. Likewise, you're not just an elf, you're also in the mage guild. In the elven community you can have independent rangers, MG, PC factions, all under the Elven Community. Basically, I want to add an additional layer onto Arabel. The Elves have done this with some success before, I want to try and extend this to all races.
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I'm currently aiming to try and get a Elven Enclave up to try and change the elven dynamic for V5. I don't want to create a dm faction per say, more something like the Temple of Tyche, in which a player could app to be part of it, but most of the time it be a npc building with a little shop (and buckets of lore).
Basicly as elven player factions come and go, the ones who get awesome might find they get the attention of the Enclave, with missions, gear and npc support within the city.
It also be a great way to immortalise elven pcs who do well.. they get a statue there or something!
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Ah, I understand.
Prestige factions. It's something we're considering ourselves. Sure, knock yourself out.
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Don't think a player should be entitled to anything extra only because he happened to roll a non-human character. I'd rather racial communities kept rising and falling due to PC activity like all other factions, so nothing is taken for granted.
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That is up to the PC, really.
This is not a DM-supported venture. If the PC wants to support minorities, that's the PC's call. Just as if the PC wants to support only humans.
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Don't think a player should be entitled to anything extra only because he happened to roll a non-human character. I'd rather racial communities kept rising and falling due to PC activity like all other factions, so nothing is taken for granted.
It more about creating a backdrop of sorts, being a place some random new guy could visit and learn about elves and go "Wow this Seladine seems interesting, I might roll up a Elven Bladesinger!" instead of rolling up a pointy eared rogue for the +2 dex. Or a elven player faction could hang out and do ceremonies and such. I mean while elven factions do come and go, but they always turn up again sooner or latter.
That why I want being part of the Enclave to be like being a Luckbringer. Tyche/Tymora a major religion in Arabel since forever, but there's been big gaps in Tyche activity, and you have to agree it be kind of silly to keep tearing down / lock up the temple every time the latest player faction dies wouldn't it? :wink:
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Sounds to me like it'd just make things that much more confusing, at least if it was me. Not to mention not everyone can split their attention that much. I myself would rather devote my time to one faction maybe with one little group going on the side rather then six smaller groups all over the place, especially if they clash.
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@ArabelsPhoenix:
Sounds to me like it'd just make things that much more confusing, at least if it was me. Not to mention not everyone can split their attention that much. I myself would rather devote my time to one faction maybe with one little group going on the side rather then six smaller groups all over the place, especially if they clash.
I find clashing interests create rp opportunities. Had s half elf Tormite priestess once who was part the Black Dragons. Was quiet interesting when tension rose between them and the elves!
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Once part, yes. But having a character a part of several different and opposing factions at the same time screams metagaming to me.
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hello…am pretty much thinking like my caracter lol AND AM SORRY IF I BE LITLE RUDE HERE.. IT juste becose my english not good and have to use simple words.. or simple ways to explain my ideas..
hey!!! it be great to have elven npcs and such place for make elven ceremonie.. or temple..etc..
But my opinion is there still peoples arond who like play elveand play them in the wild area or natural area and try to get elvens npc and home in this elven natural environment.. .. with circle of stone. or in some kinds of houses surounded by big trees in trees ..Etc... they want have to find a secret path maybe for reach the home of the encien elves...etc..
THE THING IS IT NOT not juste play pointy ears with +2 in refl...stay in town and do all your rp there...and sudently..when DMS SHOW HIS SELF FOR take the elves in town and bring them in some elves old ruine or sacred place... THERE elvens PLAYERS WHO REALY PASS THE 3/4 TIME OF THEM TIME IN GROUPE IN THE WILD.. AND COME AND GO IN TOWN WHEN THEY FEEL IT TOO ..IS there a place for them ? a place where they can work them wood crafting skill ? . ... .
IT ALREADY A LITLE RIDICUl to heard the sending from elfs who want to regroup elfs front the east gate... Elfs shoud use something els unsted of humans town sending for be able to reach eachother..
PERSONALY..I USE THE GNOME DEVICE saled at eveningstart.. ''befor'' you use it for contact peoples ... you can not tell them words. but they can come at a meting place if you already decide...like a secret elve place.. or a futur elven home... ..
.AND ELVE lifes and phIlosophy sometime not mach with temporary humans ideas... alote of PLAYERS PLAY ELVES and some time are in trouble with the law of Arabel..So if you creat a place for the elvens , PLEASE DO NOT BUILD IT IN TOWN....
YOU GONE FORCE PLAYERS WHO WILSH TO PLAY ELVES TO GO IN TOWN FOR SEE THE ELVEN NPCS etc.. ??
Once agains i try to see what kind of elves are creat recently and behind this enclav idea.... but am sorry . .they constently stay in the guildhall.. and even make them meting there...and i met them out of town only when they quest or..as i said.. when they know DMS arond for play with them... and for me is juste boring .. to see all thos elven tourists coming in the wild with a dms behind and watch them enter in Hullack.. without having to go deep or in particular place linked to the elven history.( there many place like this in Hullack and arond )
I remember a moment ..I WAS in the Hullack.. patroling.. doing my RP.. IN A IC place for my caracter do it..AND sudently a got this tell from a other elven players.. said we coming in Hullack for a dm game... I SAID : ho cool where you go in Hullack ? .. THE PLAYER ANSER ME.. : IT NOT IMPORTANT WHERE ..THE DM WILL CATCH US...
BEURK ... SO ALL this time i rp in Hullack with some other players or sometime alone.. exploring.. for searching elvens signes etc.. mean nothing ??? cause at the end.. SOME DMS , and not all. and not always.. but sometime.. DMS DOSENT REALY CARE . ?? . IF THEY WANT MAKE A DMS GAME WITH ELFS.. THEY go get them in the guildhall and tell them to come.. UNSTED OF TRYING TO CATCH THOS WHO REALY RP IN THIS AREA AND know about it IC......
AND THIS ENCLAV IDEA ELVEN WANT A BE... GO IN THIS WAYS OF MIND AND I DONT LIKE THIS..
:p
Azazel.
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LOUD NOISES…. snip
Get the elves out adventuring in the wilds then. Form a group and shun the ones that stay in the city. But keep it in character, and try not to tell people how they should play theirs.
The server however is -city- of arabel. Not woods of Cormyr. It's only natural that most of the stuff in game will revolve around the city, thats the setting.
Let's try and stay on topic though.
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heu ok .
i am sorry then .. :/…
i probably push a litle.. .. have fun ... i think ..lll i want to said... is ..if there a place for elvens in town.. there shurly need one out of town .for all kind of elvens players...can find a place where they feel they play them elfs..as they like.....
.. have fun.. .
Azazel
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Keep in mind that elf doesnt necessarily mean living in the woods. The Sun elves are responsible for the greatest elven cities on faerun. Cities like Myth Drannor. Moon elves live just about anywhere, even in human cities. The wild and wood elves are more incline to live in the forest/nature since the drow war.
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I understand …
but like i said. like dwarfs at TH..... Elvens.. even they can maybe have some ''ambassade in Human town'' or shops..... they shoud . have a place out side of town.. but TRUE IT NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE FOREST... it can be in a elven town... where the sun elves lives... I aisely imagine a area with a big tower here the sun elfs live with litle house arond un the top of tree... or not... Elves city probably dosent look like humans city.. ..the wood elves can live in the forest arond this ''elven city'' where the sun elfs live...
But once again. that maybe not what peoples want.. the players.. the dms..etc.. after it not the started setting of City of Arabel.. and it still call City of Arabel.. so. i will understand if you juste anser me... :
IT JUSTE NOT WHAT WE WANT FOR THIS SERVER.. and it cool.
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Not sure there are any elven cities close to Arabel in Canon.
Then again, we have strayed quite a bit from canon.
Try and build an elven settlement in game. People have built settlements before, one player created settlement still exists, called New Kilgrave, for example. I think some elves once got quite close to building their own, too.
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There have been city elves in Arabel ever since Arabel was a city. Generations of elves growing up, having children, and dying in Arabel. These are mostly Sun and Moon Elves. Wood and Wild elves are much rarer in Arabel. There are populations of wood elves in the Hullack and the King's Forest, but I suppose that would only come to Arabel to trade. That being said, Arabel is home to Elves, Celas and Nebriliniar are only two examples. There would be carpenters, smiths, weavers, dyers, brewers, craftsmen, all producing work that may be catering to the more "superior" clientle.
Edit: PS, as an ex-elven faction leader, I can say that we were a hairs breath from having out own settlement, alas, we lost the battle that would have given us the settlement. Before my time, there was also another group that came really close, but several IC decisions caused the group to disintegrate.
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^ lol at edit
Every race at some point has attempted something akin to what you're apparently describing there Azazel. All had varying degrees of success, but you can't know how close they were without being in the faction itself, so anything is possible.
As to the OP. I don't see this working out, you can certainly try though.
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I think Jaded is getting more at putting emphasis on race, rather than just forming tons of factions for everything.
My thoughts are, rather than make Racial DM Factions for V5, make Racial Districts, or something akin to them. Areas where maybe there are racial "perks": A special NPC vendor who sells cheap or otherwise thematic gear, an Inn where members of that race rest cheaper, and just generally has NPCs of that race.
For example: Elven noble district, dwarven trade enclave, hin ghetto, just for example.
It might help encourage people to really choose a non-human race for RP reasons, and to consider canon racial traits when concepting. Maybe when people roll that evil elf, they risk losing access to elf "perks" of the district, for example. Could help emphasize that odd-ball characters (which are fine) are in fact odd-balls.
Then again, it might not, and maybe there are reasons this isn't already so. Might make people less likely to push ideas like this IG I guess.
TL;DR - Anything that makes race more prevalent is a good thing, IMO.