One trend I've noticed lately is that more and more players don't want to have much, if anything, to do with Out of Character communication, especially ingame.  This makes it very hard to do everything from trying to set up and plan RPs (since we simply don't have the encounter density needed for randomly running into people to suffice for keeping plots from stalling out) to simply finding out what people want out of their RP, or even simply building relationships at an inter-player level.

Why is this?  Is this just me, or is this something we need to sit down and have a discussion as a community about?

So, I was reading an article about combat in D&D and was wondering if the core thesis applied to how we RP combat in PS as well, with some players leaning much more strongly towards sport and others much more strongly towards war...or is there some overpowering reason that we should stick to one side of this divide or the other?

Discuss, flame, whatever...

The issue with the lack of criminal/bandit/... type characters in PS has been rattling around in my head for quite a while now, and I've come to the conclusion that in order for banditry and other nefarious RP to be able to leave the city walls, it needs one (only one!) mechanic to support it: interdiction.

Such a mechanic would allow a player character to build a non-lethal trap in a certain area that would hinder the movements of everyone that passed through that part of the world (i.e. slow them down to 10% of walking speed, or prevent them from moving for say two to five minutes), but not do any damage on its own.  It would use the existing (albeit unimplemented) "Set Traps" skill, and such traps would require materials to construct as well (say Arangma silk for an entangling trap, or alchemist's glue for something adhesive).

The non-lethal nature of this mechanic -- in other words having it only affect the mobility of victims instead of inflicting damage through falls, poisons, spikes, or explosions -- is needed to prevent an unattended or abandoned trap from being fatal (or at least catastrophically RP-altering) to a character whose player has had no opportunity to consent to the RP that the trap was created for.  Of course, one could RP injurious traps atop this basic mechanic (all you'd need to do is put a book there describing what the trap does RPwise).

These traps would also "wear out" under this proposal, either after a set span has passed, or after a certain number of people have fallen into it.

Thoughts? Further suggestions? Questions? Flames?

someone who RPs a skilled hammer/mace wielder (including RPed combat).  If you are that someone, please send Kaerli a /tell ingame.

The current state of the Realm is...a bit underwhelming, to say the least.  I think we all know this, so I'm going to throw a long-term suggestion out there for how it ought to look, drawing some inspiration from my experience in other games.

Specifically, I'm considering a Death Realm that consists of a large handful (a dozen would make a reasonable starting point) of 'chunks' (room-sets, walkway mazes, caverns, and perhaps even some green fields for variety's sake) that are interconnected by (bidirectional) magical portals that are spawned at random (perhaps with a few rules thrown in to keep Londris from flying off the handle when trying to get around the Citadel!).  Exits from the Realm would be subject to the same random spawn system, and 'back door' entrances for Dakkruists could be included, even.  (Or perhaps you could go in the out door?!)

Obviously, these portals would have duration limits, and presumably a limit on how much stuff can be pushed through them as well.  Monsters would be present, of course, with types varying depending on the terrain (caves would have Grendols and Wrathrats, while Carkarasses would be more common in mazelike sections, and greenfields could be home to brand new monster types).

While this'd be quite a bit of art and code (we currently have the material for 3 chunks of DR, and one or two others could be added simply to demonstrate caverns and greenfields, but anything more would require lots of art assets), it'd have the advantage of being truly dynamic without disturbing the shared nature of the world in PS, and would also be expandable as PS grows, without the challenges involved in grafting maps together.

Thoughts? Questions? Ridicule?

I am posting here because I am sick and tired of other RPers giving up on me and my characters (and making their characters do the same.)  The higher-level (character design/development) aspects of RP have never came particularly naturally to me, and I've had lots of conversations with lots of people that have helped me to get where I am now in that regard.  But I've started to notice a trend...even if I'm trying to step outside the box as it will and RP something different, I have to pull teeth to get others to participate, or simply won't get any interest whatsoever.  Worse yet, I feel like other players simply make their characters fold up on me in combat RP much of the time, and its to the point now where some players refuse to speak with me at all!

Where is the investment and effort from others into their character's behavior (especially in combat)? Why are people giving up on me?  Throwing in the towel doesn't help me do anything better!

One thing with the CavernBelly event: Kaerli has been known to feed people whole Ulbers before (besides: the main character you describe exists, he's called Celrau and is a little Consumer in a fur coat!)

A masked Dermorian uses a rusty old dagger to pin a neatly penned note to a bookcase in a hidden temple beneath Hydlaa.

It reads:

I am seeking an assistant for a takedown-and-capture operation against a difficult and high-value target.

Requirements for this job include:
* Being able to recruit strong, skilled fighters to our cause, as we will need their aid to bring our target down.
* Great physical strength, or a trusted friend with the same.
* Knowledge of the caravans that travel between Hydlaa and Ojaveda.  If you know a wagon driver, that is a major asset.
* A willingness to be the 'fall guy' if caught.  The target cannot know about my involvement if this plan fails!
* The ability to obtain supplies from the surface, as needed during later phases of the operation.  This includes enchanted artifacts and other specialized supplies.  Knowing a strong Dark or Azure mage who does not have compunctions against the use of his artifacts for our purposes is helpful in this cause, as well.
* A knowledge of torture techniques is a plus.

If you can aid me in this matter, please leave a note here, below this one.

and is signed in an illegible scrawl.   He then walks off, smirking to himself beneath his mask. "Soon, the true powers of Yliakum will be revealed..."

((OOC: This won't be for the faint of heart, or for those who can't read the note ingame, although creating an alt for the purposes of this plot is acceptable.  A posting here will be accepted if followed up with an ingame note left as per the IC instructions.  Also, a familiarity with RPing shady figures will be expected; I would not consider this plot suitable for someone's very first try at a baddie of any flavor.))