No Interest in DM Factions?
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In may be just my opinion, but why are almost all the DM factions struggling hard for membership, while the PC factions are positively brimming with activity and numbers?
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Some people might find the application process a little tedious. It's 2011 and we're playing a game that was released in 2002, and that fact shows in the dwindling playerbase.
This is just one player's opinion, but we might see more interest in DM factions, prestige classes, subraces, and interesting concepts if the application format was abbreviated to something like:
1. Do we know this player?
2. Will this faction character/subrace/concept break the setting's immersion?
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"Do we know this player?" really isn't all that relevant. I'm pretty certain nobody knew me when I applied to join the Red Hart, at least not beyond 'oh yeah. there's the guy who… uh...'
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For me, because it's more inviting to log in and have some no-strings-attached fun rather than feel obliged to do anything. That said I'm probably going to aim for a mage guilder next or something.
The application format isn't that off-putting, my biggest problem remains that I outright cannot fit everything in to <250 words, ever.
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The player base has remained constant, I think, in the 5 years I've been playing CoA. I don't see it dwindling at all. The age of the game matters little. Counter Strike still has alot of players, as does Diablo 2 and mods are still popular for Morrowind. At the moment, the only game sucking CoA players and DMs away is LoL (won't last though).
DM factions are the easiest to app for. Just ask someone already in the faction, or former member, for some advice. Subraces are a little harder, and require a concept other than "I think it would be cool". PrCs are the hardest to get because they require the ever-so-vague "Do awesome stuff to earn it" requirement…
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@Khamal:
The player base has remained constant, I think, in the 5 years I've been playing CoA. I don't see it dwindling at all. The age of the game matters little. Counter Strike still has alot of players, as does Diablo 2 and mods are still popular for Morrowind. At the moment, the only game sucking CoA players and DMs away is LoL (won't last though).
DM factions are the easiest to app for. Just ask someone already in the faction, or former member, for some advice. Subraces are a little harder, and require a concept other than "I think it would be cool". PrCs are the hardest to get because they require the ever-so-vague "Do awesome stuff to earn it" requirement…
When I started here, the server was at 55/55 constantly most weeknights, and god forbid you try to get in on a weekend.
Now we're lucky to get 30 at peak hours.
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Application process takes all of 4 days. If it was like that everyone and their aunt would be a werewolf!
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I'm with FZ. CoA has seen a loss in player base. Not huge; alot of the main player base is still here.
More on topic, perhaps one reason people prefer player over DM factions is freedom of expression. Your player faction can be damn near about anything as long as you have people who are interested. DM factions are much the same song and dance. They are options already there for you fit fit into the mold.
Another possible reason I think has more to do with play-ING preferences and style. Alot of the DM factions tend to be politically based somehow, so playing in a DM faction can get horribly complex sometimes.
I'm also with lizard in when I do happen to log in, I'd rather have some fun without having to worry so much about what goals the faction needs to get done (This depends more on what time you have to dedicate. Even the good player factions have goals that need to be accomplished).
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It usually has less to do with PC faction/DM faction thing and more to do with where the action's happening.
The PCs offering fun and excitement are going to be drawing a ton of people to whatever faction they're in.
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From the comments here, especially Archangel's, I'd say the problem is most players don't seem to get what the DM factions are about. I'd point them to the player resource forum.
Basic facts:
1). Factions are not one size fits all, many different concepts fit into them.
2). Factions are not "political" and have plenty of room for adventure.
3). The only "strings" that come with a DM faction is this, you must be doing some fun awesome stuff to involve other players in stories and plots.
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I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy DM Factions. They tend to give things that PC factions struggle to gain and only the best of them achieve.
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A Base.
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Storage.
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Immediate and consistant camaraderie.
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Clear and Consistant Factions Goals.
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Clear and consistant membership.
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Stability
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Free sendings and sleeping.
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Immediate Political Status.
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Few restrictions.
I have found other players in a DM faction far more restrictive than the DMs in most instances. The DMs seem work on the principle of "If folks are involving other folks and having fun, we'll let them hoist themselves on their own petards!" I have often had NPCs comment negatively about character plans and decision, but, I don't think it's the DMs saying "Don't do this", they are reflecting the views of NPCs. I've often seen two DMs give conflicting advice for the same decision from different NPCs. NPCs are not God and can be argued with and ignored, though there are IC concequences that can actually be rather fun.
Player factions are different from DM factions. Anyone can set up or join a player faction, but on the reverse, anyone can apply to be in a DM faction, they just have to think a little before hand about their character, which is no bad thing.
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I agree with what Lamancha said above.
Also adding:
10. Free and usually (very) powerful gear
11. Immediate and consistant enemies and hatersPoint 2 and 6 I'm not so sure of. There are often huge fluctuations in memberships. Many find themselves alone for long periods of time (which can be tedious as this leads you to be swamped in politics and can take you away from the fun adventuring). Sometimes you are more than one person, but still never meet each other due to playing times. (For instance I met Loony once during all my time in CoG and I was an active player)
I often struggle in factions when I have to one-man things or have little clue as to the actual ways I can move things forward (4 isnt always as clear as you'd think). This may be my lacking creativty or somesuch, but its hard when you are in such a position.
Factions often alienate alot of people, while drawing in others depending on the status and polularity of said faction. It divides the playerbase you can hang with so to speak.
Factions take a bit more planning ahead and a bit more effort while playing, but is most often very rewarding. It does take more dedication than laid-back fun and casual playing however. -
i have tried to join the factions on many occasions mostly through connections in game first, it never progresses to the level of needing a written application.
..but I only try to join for something to do, I have no real intention of joining (and honestly both my characters my main and my secondary character are not really material for any of the DM factions), but I do love to see the reactions the PC in the faction have when they get back to me.
The thing I do find a bit dismaying is that it is harder to find PC's to talk to now who are in the DM factions, but that is selfish on my part, since I am only approaching them for personal entertainment, which I should note has always been stellar with any members of these factions I have iteracted with in the past.
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@Darlene:
I am only approaching them for personal entertainment
I wish people would come to find me for entertaining RP instead of demanding this and that for them to achieve teh winz or yell abuses. :(
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Factions these days just might not be all that interesting any more.
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I'm pretty bored of all of them, admittedly, but the problem isn't the factions themselves, they've just been around too long.
That said, factions are awesome, and they definitely don't restrict your PC goals in the slightest. Look at the Sheriffs for chrissakes. Just look at the past membership and tell me how diverse it was. Same goes for the Mage's Guild.
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Chaotic Neutral Cleric of the goddess of lies and deception, LN proud noble, and insane mass murderer.
Funny enough, Crey and I got along well…
In short, plenty of room in these factions for new blood, and diverse blood.
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No real conflict between the factions that I can see. Everyone gets along, and they seem stale.
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I'd like to see some new factions, now that the Zhents are gone. Currently, we have the Mage's Guild, the Harts, C0G, the Sheriffs, and poor Lamancha trying to hold the Purple Dragons up.
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So many cool things you could do with any of these factions, really. IMO boredom sets in with factions because players fall trap in thinking of stereotyped characters as defining the faction.
You should define your character, and not assume an expected definition from a faction.
I'm limited in play time, but fast getting the urge to apply.