Questions about the new Metafactions
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Last night, the DMs introduced the first of our new Metafactions. What is a metafaction you may ask?
In City of Arabel a Metafaction is typically composed of several separate groups who have their own goals and agendas, usually represented by a few Non-Player Characters (NPCs). The Metafaction are led by a noble and their retainers often form one of the Subfactions alongside the other important NPCs in the Metafaction who lead their own Subfactions or may be over seen by a single NPC who must rely upon several subordinates or partners who lead the actual Subfactions.
The concept behind this is that the DMs are busy, our player base is shrinking. We want to see a variety of factions available, we have in the past managed as many as 12 at a time. Those days are gone, some DMs wanted to move to three factions and no more, others worried that it would limit the types of characters who could get into factions, and some even suggested we just make factions so broad that every PC on the server had a chance to join one.
We decided what the hell, let's try all three approaches with one!
So our first metafaction is the Cormyte Metafaction. Its leader is Viceroy Beldred Truesilver, and it has three Subfactions (House Maleen, House Marliir, and House Wyvernspur). While Truesilver has demanded these three Subfactions work together, the truth is they are all rivals and wish something different for the city. While all of their goals are for the good of the city as they see it, we expect that the individual members of these Subfactions will still be rivals, will still compete, but all while maintaining their loyalty to the Viceroy.
Players who wish to be involved in the Metafaction have two options to do so.
1). Apply for one of the Subfactions. This is the best route, and gets you the most perks and involvement. You will join one of the three Subfactions, either with recommendation from a current member and a DM Application or you can just supply a DM Application (less preferred route mind you).
2). Associate yourself with the soon to be formed "Cormyte Metafaction Non-Application Rank". Right now, we've told the Subfaction members in-game to start forming this and we're going to try to leave some of the details up to them. However, here's the basics, we're asking these Subfaction members to all try to loiter in the Silver Palace in the Gilded District, in the Library room. In fact, we moved all their sleeping quarters there as well (a few may have missed last night's event and still need to move). So it should be easy for players who are loyal to Cormyr and the Viceroy to loiter there as well (I'll be adding a sender and a pull chain as well soon so its even easier to contact Subfaction members). These "Associates" will be where the Subfactions look for new recruits, with all members keeping an eye on the Associates and recommending those with potential to their own Lord or even another Lord more suited to that character. The Wyrm Guard (our newest faction which is not a part of this Metafaction precisely but will have good reason to be in close contact with the Cormyte Metafaction) will also look for recruits from this Metafaction.
So that is the basic idea, I opened up this thread to let people discuss, respond, and ask questions. This is a new experiment! It will work I imagine, and after 11 years of DMing on CoA, I have a good idea of what works and what doesn't. Once we work any of the kinks out of the system, we will begin to introduce our other planned Metafactions. In the end, the DMs hope to have THREE Metafactions with very different goals and agendas, giving players choices on who to align to, and plenty of variety within the Metafactions as well.
With the shrunken player base, Metafactions are a fine idea because there should always be plenty of "Associates" and even if only one or two Subfactions have an active PC for some reason, the Metafaction itself is clearly still active and able to recruit people into the under-filled Subfaction smoothly and in-game.
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So the guard faction is now comprised of all four current DM factions?
Or did i read this wrong. -
You read it wrong.
There is one Guard Faction. But it can, in certain situations under NPC direction, yank people from a Noble House to help support the Guards for a limited time. Basically, say an army of drow attack the city, Anya may require the retainers to work as guards for the duration of the emergency, but they are still in their Noble House.
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What kind of concerns me is that all the current DM faction seem to be super friends. While the constant waring of v4 got old towards the end. These new factions seem to have formed one supergroup that if your not part of, you get no were, and heck the expected tension between House Wyvernspur (anti-magic) and House Maleen (pro magic) seems completely missing, which is distressing to me as a player occly.
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The tension is there Alice shadowhand and will actually build I expect to surprising ends.
More importantly, there will be more Metafactions which will create more tensions too. We're starting with just one to get people use to the idea.
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@Alice:
What kind of concerns me is that all the current DM faction seem to be super friends. While the constant waring of v4 got old towards the end. These new factions seem to have formed one supergroup that if your not part of, you get no were, and heck the expected tension between House Wyvernspur (anti-magic) and House Maleen (pro magic) seems completely missing, which is distressing to me as a player occly.
The reason you think this element is missing is because you aren't part of the plots. You have no ability to see this conflict. If your character wasn't reviled ICly by every alignment and faction and PC, you'd probably be able to participate in more plots and even quests and see this.
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2). Associate yourself with the soon to be formed "Cormyte Metafaction Non-Application Rank". Right now, we've told the Subfaction members in-game to start forming this and we're going to try to leave some of the details up to them. However, here's the basics, we're asking these Subfaction members to all try to loiter in the Silver Palace in the Gilded District, in the Library room. In fact, we moved all their sleeping quarters there as well (a few may have missed last night's event and still need to move). So it should be easy for players who are loyal to Cormyr and the Viceroy to loiter there as well (I'll be adding a sender and a pull chain as well soon so its even easier to contact Subfaction members). These "Associates" will be where the Subfactions look for new recruits, with all members keeping an eye on the Associates and recommending those with potential to their own Lord or even another Lord more suited to that character. The Wyrm Guard (our newest faction which is not a part of this Metafaction precisely but will have good reason to be in close contact with the Cormyte Metafaction) will also look for recruits from this Metafaction.
Pretty sure none of us have been told, in fact, there is IC-Opposition to it. I think some forum posts or DM-Possessed NPCs needs to actually tell Retainers to do this.
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It was said by the Viceroy last night. So you were all told and I'm not sure what part you are IC-opposing.
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We weren't at the event, and there's no write-up in the forums. We just didn't like the sound of it without knowing any of this stuff.
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Didn't like the sound of what part? Is there something that needs explaining IC or OOC?
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No, no. Jaded made a suggestion that most of us opposed. It's apparently something that Truesilver wanted. We just had no clue about it.
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No, his suggestion is FINE to oppose.
The thing the Viceroy suggested is that the nobles houses establish a group of adventurers from which recruits and help can be drawn, and from which the houses support and nurture new members until they prove ready to join the that House.
How you do it IC, is mostly up to you guys. As DMs, we just want something like the Mage Guild apprentice rank for "Cormyrians". You join that group easily, maybe get a unique item to I.D. your loyalty, and Factions watch the group to pick new Faction members, as do DMs. Making it easier to earn faction membership in game.
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Basically like the volunteer thing that I know other retainers did like, kinda like the people's militia. But without any proper rank, just a membership so that you know where to go for support and if you want to earn your way IG that volunteering part is key?
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Hmm kinda like deputy's in the watch…They can't really Do anything, but they are there if needed and are technically Part of the watch?
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Yes, and but where we expect to recruit you into a faction and DMs will be watch you more closely.
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So,is there a app? or are you recruited IG but watched alot more closely?
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No application for the "associate" status, you just join an informal group known to work for the Cormyrians and noble houses. No perks, beyond recognition for being a member and trusted by the faction.
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Ok, maybe I'm misreading things here. Just so there is no confusion….
Are the orders to"Form a Community Talent Pool for all Houses/Wyrmguard to draw upon for retainers/Wyrmguard" ?
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Looking forward to this metafaction thing. So is it possible to earn a subfaction position in game without any application?
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As I understand it, the metafaction has 2 levels
DM Factions
and
"The Help"The Help is application-less, and easy to join. It will come with some VERY minor perks, or none at all, and that is it. The Help is a stepping stone to greater things. I believe The Help is going to replace all mini-factions and watch deputies, but thats up for IC to sort out.
