Floundering.
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Hello!
So I've been kind of sitting here thinking for a bit about my character's goals and plans and such and then I'm kind of stuck on things and I find myself at a loss. It just seems to me that everyone and their mother has their own agenda (almost always political) or the will/IC competence just kind of isn't there.
There was something going for a little bit but for some reason or another I pretty much lost all interest in it due to some IC and OOC things, motivation just totally tanked all of a sudden.
I guess I'm asking how people find their motivation again or /do/ they? Because right now I'm starting to consider retirement options for Lisa for the simple fact of just not having fun with her and I'm sick of watching all these stories she's involved in either amount to absolutely nothing or be something I think about outside of the game in unkind terms.
Any ideas would be welcome.
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Hi,
You got bloodstones illegalised didn't you?
Pretty cool stuff. Major goal done.
Could retire, or you could go out with a bang fighting the most powerful illegal bloodstone trader still at large. Who knows, you might win, and find out where they were getting them from. If you lose, your problems are over.
TL/DR
Make new concept or go for a massive risk.
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@Kathrine:
It just seems to me that everyone and their mother has their own agenda (almost always political)
This much is true. I often look at events and characters in CoA and a lot of the time, they seem wholly artificial, made to push forward a playing style that people have been lead to believe is "right" - for example, the manner in which new factions arise rarely appears to have all that much to do with recognising a PC drive and more to do with a view to the future and what direction CoA should be taking.
It is frustrating, but some of the most fun I've had on CoA has been while playing characters whose goals were as foggy as a pane of frosted glass, but they had clear agendas. Perhaps that's just because I try and prioritise CoA to be the lowest of the low, and it's easier to pick up and drop an agenda than it is to pursue a particular goal with an idea of the time frame required.
As to how to save a character you're losing motivation for, the best solution I've found is to take a break from them for a bit, come back in a week or so, and usually that helps clean the slate enough to be able to view everything from a fresh perspective and try again. Otherwise, retirement is not a bad idea, just be sure you really do want to stop playing the character and that it's not something you're likely to reconsider before too long.
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I don't in fact know what your characters main motivation is but having one from the start is always for the best it really helps you to keep intrest.
I always make the main goal somthing simple because if it's smple you don't get bogged down in details and can have more fun.The best advise for getting others involved with your character is talk to everyone you meet,let your ideals or virtues etc..show through during the conversation this way players get a feel for the character and if they like it then they will make an effort to get involved with them,be it as friends/allies or foes.
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@Kathrine:
has their own agenda (almost always political) or the will/IC competence just kind of isn't there.
Well that's just obvious, isn't it? If a character doesn't have their own agenda, they don't have anything to work for. And if they don't have anything to work for, they won't have a lot of will to do stuff.
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Take a break for some time, a week or two. Come back and get into one of the factions aligning your PC goals with Faction and start having adventure and fun.the primary and foremost reason you are playing the game. I recommend joining faction because it’s easy that way with DM attention and clearly defined goals and vision along with the privilege of driving events and story effecting Arabel.
There are friendly DM’s out there who can help you run events and create adventure. Use them!
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@Kathrine:
has their own agenda (almost always political) or the will/IC competence just kind of isn't there.
Well that's just obvious, isn't it? If a character doesn't have their own agenda, they don't have anything to work for. And if they don't have anything to work for, they won't have a lot of will to do stuff.
What a horrible view of Life.
Your character has a certain mindset. Put yourself in it. What does she want to do? retire? watch from the sidelines for a while? Simply respond to event? Take a proactive stance in a semi-private way? Be a out-front protagonst?Put yourself in the characters postion based on how they feel re: current events and situations and then just DO THAT.
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Put yourself in the characters postion based on how they feel re: current events and situations and then just DO THAT.
That.
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I feel her pain, my own NPC's never respond to my letters!
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I feel her pain, my own NPC's never respond to my letters!
It may be that they got over looked. There is so much DM's need to read every day that often we miss something or think 'I'll come back to that' and then for get to or even 'I'm lazy today, I'm sure some one else will tend to that'.
Point me to your letter(s) and I'll have a look.
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I miss people that just exist to explore and discover. "Adventure" is also part of the motto last I recall. Intrigue is nice, when its not only political. Just looks like everyone wants to get their hands in politics lately, partly our fault for that, I think. So many intriguing plots to follow through. Religion, racial, idealistic, ruling power, personal agenda… so on.
In the end someone has to "win". If you all work at the same "area"/"plot", only one of you will probably get it, while the rest will lose. Its like who gets the last cookie on the jar (considering you're all fighting over the same package of cookies).
Anyway, just my DM/player view. As always, this is my personal opinion, so don't take it as all DM's think the same.
Cheers
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If playing your PC feels like a job, then take a break or roll up an alt. You don't have to change the face of the server to have fun.
I know there has been a perception that every character has to have earth-shattering goals like raising an army, destroying the City, turning it into a magical pony wonderland, or whatever, but I'm more than happy DMing for players who want to get out and have adventures, or want to portray an entertaining character.
If what you're doing isn't fun, then do something else. If you're stuck on a plot, then talk to us in IRC/IG/Forum tells. :)
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If playing your PC feels like a job, then take a break or roll up an alt. You don't have to change the face of the server to have fun.
I know there has been a perception that every character has to have earth-shattering goals like raising an army, destroying the City, turning it into a magical pony wonderland, or whatever, but I'm more than happy DMing for players who want to get out and have adventures, or want to portray an entertaining character.
If what you're doing isn't fun, then do something else. If you're stuck on a plot, then talk to us in IRC/IG/Forum tells. :)
How about getting turned into a magical pony?, heck aprils fools was fun when para turned us all into woodland creatures!
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From what I can gather, it seems to be mostly "team good" who are feeling these frustrations these days. I know I have them, and most of my fellow "team mates" feel similar.
I cannot say what is causing it. And I too, am looking for a cure.
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I can confirm Olouth's statement because, as someone currently on "Team Bad," I've been hearing a lot of complaints and even a few pointed remarks loosely aimed at me. Now, in all cases I've tried to talk to the individuals in question and have (grand majority of the time) come to sensible, polite ends to those conversations. That personally gives me hope, but it also makes me worry that there is a lot of OOC bitterness that is not being effectively addressed. I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse, but I think OOC rudeness - propagated by a handful of irresponsible people and amplified by others out of frustration with the progenitors - is causing this general "blah" feeling with some of our players.
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This is what happens.
One group does things that are fun for people and DMs.
DM's do things for them.
This motivates players.
they do more things that are fun.
They get more DM time.
Motivation.
Repeat.
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Other players see enemies getting DM stuff.
This demotivates players.
They dont do stuff.
They see more DM things for enemies.
More demotivation.
Repeat.
Moral?
Do stuff, have fun.
Or make a new character.
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I'm going off of the whole, 'Team good seems to be hatin' on Team Bad OOC'. I noticed this in the recent year (Mainly in the Clar Banda Plot).
It seems to me that there is a change that has been going on that some people aren't liking… That there really isn't a Team Good or Team Bad anymore... There is a Team: We get stuff done and Team: Meh we just cruise on the bandwagon. I realized a lot of the Get stuff done are on Team Bad so they are getting stuff done which has taken the server on a huge tilt.
This is sorta upsetting a lot of people because most people think Team good should always win. IDK. Maybe this is just what I have seen. I know there are many other reasons but this is the reason I have seen people sorta complaining about.
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I dont think it is so much that people think team good should always win, it is more that no matter what team good does it does not make much of a difference
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What makes you think that?
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This has turned into another discussion entirely, through i hope the op is getting something ot of it.
I think what makes Zyla think that, is probably my post at the top of this page.
Zyla, all i can suggest is talking to DMs about your ideas, irc is best as you can get instant response/constructive criticism.
They wont hand you the solution, that'd be boring, but they'll certainly try and give you a hand if you have some ideas.
Course, you have to act on them in game too.
I feel like this has been said before…
Yeah, i think i'll leave this topic alone now.