PlaneShift

Gameplay => General Discussion => Topic started by: ThomPhoenix on February 18, 2008, 11:09:21 pm

Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: ThomPhoenix on February 18, 2008, 11:09:21 pm
How do the characters know about Blackflame? Nobody knows about blackflame.
Blackflame is only known to those it reveals itself to, and no Blackflame follower shall ever speak his name.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Waylander on February 18, 2008, 11:38:53 pm
Yeah... Speaking as somebody with a decent amount of knowledge on the topic.  There is no way a BlackFlame follower would mention the BlackFlame in public... or even in private.

And no way that a player would know the BF and not be a follower or dead.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Suno_Regin on February 18, 2008, 11:51:54 pm
I just read through it and saw nothing mentioned of BlackFlame. I was also -in- the RP, and I don't remember it mentioned. What are you two talking about? =/
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Kieve on February 19, 2008, 12:37:09 am
They're referring to the intro - which didn't technically happen in-game. :P

Pardon me if I come across as a bit defensive, but if NOBODY knows ANYTHING about it, then what's the point of even having the blasted 'religion' at all?

At any rate, your points have been made and for future reference I will keep it in mind. But that being the case, what name WOULD a guard or other official (in the capacity of enforcing said outlaw/death-sentence on BF'ers) know them as? I'm trying to bend Settings a bit, not break it entirely, but the whole mess is like trying to figure out where a Mobius strip starts.

Waylander - is this 'fair amount of knowledge' available to the rest of us? Or would that fall under the NDA of 'things yet to be released to the public'?*

*Disclaimer: No antagonistic tone present. All offenses or slights are purely imaginary.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Suno_Regin on February 19, 2008, 12:41:03 am
Oh, I thought they meant the Wraithbane story...heh.

(Yay, Kieve's back! \o/)
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Waylander on February 19, 2008, 02:14:40 am
NDA, though I'm sure there is a bit of info around pertaining to the secrecy of the BF.

[adds Kieve's disclaimer :P ]
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: ThomPhoenix on February 19, 2008, 07:16:49 pm
Pardon me if I come across as a bit defensive, but if NOBODY knows ANYTHING about it, then what's the point of even having the blasted 'religion' at all?

Waylander - is this 'fair amount of knowledge' available to the rest of us? Or would that fall under the NDA of 'things yet to be released to the public'?*
Black Flame is in the strong hands of Settings. Since nobody knows Black Flame you can *only* know about it in-game when Settings decides to RP that Black Flame reveals itself to you. And that's not going to happen (to anyone) ;)
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Lolitra, Celorrim Purrty Twins on February 19, 2008, 09:49:26 pm
hhmm this all 'defensiveness' over the Black Flame seems a little over the top to me.  I know about the Black Flame, have even spoken about them in game... can't recall how I know about them, or who told me... but word is out...

What I will say is that - I don't know what they are, I don't know what they stand for, I also do think that they are to be avoided...  such is the Rumour of them.   

Sadly, the more secret a thing is, the more likely it is to be known out side the secrecy of its group - it is a law... an unwritten law, like Murphys law *AKA Sod's law.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Dajoji on February 19, 2008, 10:01:05 pm
[Take it retroactively then. Characters are not supposed to know more about the black flame than npcs know or are willing to tell (and that includes the name "Black Flame" as well). If previous RP gave you knowledge of it, ignore it. As settings develops, there can be plot changes and players are expected to go along with them the same way as when other aspects of the game are tweaked.

If you don't, we will wipe you. Muahahaha. :devil:

No, seriously now. The settings team has put a lot of work into developing this religion. Be patient and not only will you enjoy the fruit of their work much more but you won't have to correct potential flaws in your RP later as new content is released.]
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: ThomPhoenix on February 19, 2008, 11:44:05 pm
Amen, Dajoji.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Kieve on February 20, 2008, 04:46:30 am
Hm... seems my last bit was glossed over so I'll repeat:
"The intro did not actually happen in-game."
It was written to set the stage for the events to come, and in that regard no 'characters' have knowledge of BF.

...may we please focus on the story now? :(
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Under the moon on February 20, 2008, 07:34:44 am
Dakkru followers are told to destroy the plague that is Blackflame.

"...charged with helping combat the influences of the Blackflame." -character creation. More Settings material will come eventually.

It is out in the open. People do know the name of Blackflame, even if they do not know its members and purpose. Some may even think it is a myth.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Zan on February 20, 2008, 10:48:40 am
Phew, thanks Moon .. I was worried that Grayne had to stop searching for something he couldn't know about for a moment there. :P
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Suno_Regin on February 20, 2008, 01:01:33 pm
Based on what UtM just said, it's perfectly reasonable that the name was used in the first post. It's been my belief that the sewer fanatics are all BlackFlame followers - wouldn't they know what they're worshiping? The first post was an introduction to what was about to happen, which took place in the sewers. A guard couldn't pop out of nowhere and arrest them for mentioning the name, and I wish people would stop acting like guards are -everywhere-, because they're not.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Waylander on February 20, 2008, 03:00:33 pm
The BlackFlame is more awesome than that.  You can be working for it without even knowing.

Moon does have a point, so those that play Dakkru followers would know, I suppose... They'd probably be looked up as crazy, though.

Keep in mind nobody knows the BlackFlame, nobody knows any of it's followers and nobody has heard of any of it's actions.  It's basically a myth, yes.  Hmm, personally, I'd just wait for Xil to pop in here and clear everything up :P
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Xillix Queen of Fools on February 20, 2008, 03:33:49 pm
Ok, this is a complex issue. The Blackflame is known to exist. It is considered anathema to talk about it generally. The Octarchy will view it as a dangerous cult. No information but disinformation will EVER come from someone who is a member of the religion. Blackflame followers specifically never speak of it. Lower members of the order do not even know they follow it. Many higher members think they worship some other deity. Those involved in the Blackflame will kill their own members for revealing its secrets.

More is to come about this religion soon(tm)

I have not specifically read Kieve's intro so I do not know if it goes too far.

For all you know Harnquist is a Blackflame priest, or your best friend is, or you mum.
Title: Re: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Phinehas on February 20, 2008, 05:57:56 pm
That was insightful, Xillix. I have a question, though... Would the Octarchy generally be letting everyone know that the Blackflame isn't to be spoken of, or would it be a secretive higher-up thing? I mean, would an average guard know that they were supposed to quench discussions about the Blackflame, or would someone just "disappear" if they were overheard talking about it by the wrong people?
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Xillix Queen of Fools on February 20, 2008, 06:26:38 pm
"speak of the wolf and the wolf she comes"

It can generally be considered bad mojo to speak of the blackflame.

Like "candyman candyman candy . . "

Some of this is being refined still on our end and we definitely have difficulties working out ways to code some of the things (powers, stats, abilities) that settings would like for all of the deities.

Notice even Dakkru does not mention Blackflame by name in her revelations.

More on this soon enough.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Prolix on February 20, 2008, 06:33:57 pm
My thinking on those questions (unsolicited, of course) is that what would likely happen is that anyone bandying the name about could expect to be interrogated by the guards at a minimum and also would likely suffer a run of mysterious bad luck due to persecution from the flamers. It would alos not surprise me to discover that there are secretive groups within the various other religions involved with squelching the Black Flame and they too would visit any foolish enough to speak of it.
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Under the moon on February 20, 2008, 07:11:59 pm
It would be a lot like the drug problems in the white picket fence suburbs. Everyone knows it is there. No one wants to admit it. Maybe if it is not talked about, it will go away.
Title: Re: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Kieve on February 20, 2008, 08:38:14 pm
Hm... after hearing all the discussion and asking for clarifications on certain points, I think I've managed to rewrite it in a way that's more lore-correct.
Wraithbane thread (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=31556.0)

I still welcome critique and commentary here, although the irony of openly discussing BlackFlame has not escaped me. ;)
Title: Re: [RP] WRAITHBANE
Post by: Xillix Queen of Fools on February 23, 2008, 05:28:06 am
I have always had an unrealistic expectation of clear distinction between ooc/ic discussions. It never worked in table-top rpgs, and probably will never work in ps. One can still hope . . .