Merry Xiosiamas

[Prolix]

I thought the gods were supposed to be heard of but never seen. This game keeps getting screwier.
I guess it is good that the only thing that really interests me is making an ass of myself on the forums and reporting the odd bug I find.
I do kind of wonder how all these white western celebrations fit in to the settings.

I almost think some GM got drunk and started to abuse their powers, if this ever happened in the first place. I saw nothing of it, but I tend to avoid crowds.

guess it was just the flipside of the auction if houses were getting given away.

BTW if you plan on introducing a new god of utter indifference, bilbous might be its perfect messiah. I promise to do as little as possible to promote it as long as it showers me with dubious benefits.

[ThomPhoenix]

I thought this thread's title was a PlaneShift pun on Christmas. But I read now it was an actual event carried out.
I have no more to say

[Prolix]

To be a little more constructive, it might have been a better plan to wander around in disguise and talking to random people, build up a list of who you talked to and the nature of the conversation. When you had talked to enough people you could then spend some time before logging off giving out goodies from a unreachable location without any notice to those so favored. This would help with the problem of too many people crowding the GM and would go toward rewarding the role players.

I'm just sorry I spent all my time mining and smelting.

[Lokter Tarvitz]

Im sorry... but how is this showing any sort of fairness?...


What about people who live in completely different Timezones and missed the event?

They still have to grind for levels whereas a few lucky people have maxed their favourite stat becuase they asked. What of the guilds such as the reaver Pack and The Outlaws? They saved millions of tria for the auctions only to have their hoped dashed by the ridiculous reserve prices? Now some other guilds have gotten their hands on Houses, when some guilds were willing to pay millions?

Now tell me if that is fair? See it from my view...

[GarethEvers]

Life is unfair, that is all.

[Skrein]

Everything is going to be wiped eventually. If you're a powerleveler who's upset over this because you spent all your days mining platinum to get the levels: too bad, you're just going to be wiped anyway, and if you were given maxed skills right away you'd quit playing for lack of things to do. If you're a roleplayer who needs the levels to support roleplay: good for you, that's what they should be for. If you're a roleplayer who didn't get the levels: I'm sorry, but everything will be wiped anyway, so it won't be unfair forever.

Now quit complaining.

[Oomi]

This wasn't intended to be an event where every single player and guild were evaluated and given goodies based on perceived merit. That would be impossible. It also wasn't intended to be some sort of charity drive to help certain players and guilds "get a leg up" based on perceived need or energy expended. That would be a mess.* So... what was this event?

It was a gift. Just a gift.. it's really that simple. Some team members were inspired by the season and decided to give out some unexpected treats. Some players were grateful, some were resentful, some were supportive, and some were critical. That sort of varied response just is part and parcel of being a member of the human race. It doesn't surprise me or make me sad. I am happy for those who enjoyed the gesture. I hope that those who did not will find future events more to their liking, but just because they did not like this particular one doesn't mean I'm going to condemn it when it was so clearly designed to be a fun holiday present. It also doesn't mean that I'm going to give up trying to think of more ways to bring joy to our community. I'm gonna bring the fun no matter what, darnit!

* Although... wouldn't a guild modelled after a charitable society be a GREAT RP opportunity? Think about it...

[dragnoor]

Now to date ive posted nothing but derisory comments and rightly so, concerning this whole issue. Yes in Rp its wrong and indded OOC its also wrong...but she came none the less. And made profound changes to those that were present. And for this again nothing but derisory comments. But then I took a step back.
And I thought long and hard about it.
I concluded that maybe the team were thinking that things needed a helping hand. That not enough maxed crafters existed in PS. Nor were noobs encouraged enough to stay on at PS and make a go of it. Well now we know of least 20 or so players that will. Plus others that gained skills.

Ok its not fair. Unjust. And wholly wrong from the gamers point of view. But this isnt our baby is it. We only play it. We dont create it. We dont perfect it. We dont sit hours on end making it better. Xiosia does. as do others & they only have limited time. Wharever they do. They have my blessing. Dont bite the hand that feeds you.

[Oomi]

Dragnoor,

I thank you VERY VERY much for giving a nod to those who try so hard to make this game a fun place to hang out. However, I think you might be assigning deeper motives to this event than actually existed. It really was just a celebratory thing. We used the element of surprise to give out some groovy gifts for the sole purpose of making some smiles and sharing the spirit of giving. As far as the OOC thing goes... it's not really OOC to me personally; it's the beauty of having a world inhabited by deities.  Sometimes they make life harder and occasionally they grant boons in unexpected ways. They give us a chance to turn Yliakum on its ear and echo the way that real life can throw you kicks & kisses that you can't predict.

[Orgonwukh]

* Although... wouldn't a guild modelled after a charitable society be a GREAT RP opportunity? Think about it...

My char asked for a guild house (of course for his poor shelterless friends ), but the wish was not granted. But Xiosia made him a master in two magic ways.
Orgonwukh was always an atheist (like almost all Diabolis), now he sold his soul to Xiosia. I am curious how this will develop. I expect that the number of Xiosia's followers increases dramatically.
I think/hope/wish that the next time Talad, Laanx or Dakkru grant an wishes if you ever feel like this
Although I still think it's a bit unfair OOCly and the powers of Xiosia are a bit too high and inadequate (Increasing skill levels by a factor of 1.5 while not going over the max would have been a better solution in my opinon. By this you would not have made complete skill laymen to masters), I also thank you.

[Arerano]

But Xiosia made him a master in two magic ways.

Orgonwukh, now I am puzzled. So you got some candy and suddenly kinda agree with that whole thing?

[Lokter Tarvitz]

I still dont.. becuase i sat there at christmas, and i sat there yesterday. And i got nothing, i sat there while others were yelling OOC comments about "I got max DW" while Others got nothing.

Once again it has been a massive disaster

[Arerano]

I still dont.. becuase i sat there at christmas, and i sat there yesterday. And i got nothing...

So the complaining of most really is about "they got something and I didn't get anything", ok, not too much to wonder about but not my point at all.
and this

yelling OOC comments about "I got max DW"

is something way more worth to worry about compared to

while Others got nothing.

However, I can well imagine that this is part of the reason why some* "official planeshift people" response in a childish insulting* way.. as if they are talking to little wheepy children.. rather than realizing that someone is making a serious statement.

And latter is possibly the reason why some leave rather silently instead of making a "why I left" thread (or turn into something like PSTruth).

*) may sound like more than there were. However, there's something like "representing the team", I think.
*) tried to come up with a better expression, but this really seems to fit best.

[Orgonwukh]

But Xiosia made him a master in two magic ways.

Orgonwukh, now I am puzzled. So you got some candy and suddenly kinda agree with that whole thing?

Arerano, I still do not like the whole idea (the link to a RL holiday, the manifestation of a god, unrealistic gifts like houses or supernaturally fast increase in levels).
However, it has happened, that Xiosia granted wishes (more than once). Ignoring these events would be in principle the same as ignoring the existence of guards. And that is why I asked for the IC background above. I cannot ignore this fact in game, too many people are affected by this.
My questions were not answered here on forums, but more or less in game. Here is what happened:

- My char met many people who praised the divinity of Xiosia for granting wishes (houses, increase in levels).
- Since Orgonwukh is an atheist in game, he denied Xiosia's divinity, offended Xiosia and did what any atheist in RL does: Challenging the goddess to proof her existence.
- The last usually works quite well in RL for atheists, because there seldom is a response that can be interpreted as such a proof. It was different in game:

[Orgonwukh arrives at the Xiosia tree where a dwarf is talking to a voice coming from the tree]
Xiosia says: then state your wish
Orgonwukh looks at the tree and frowns
Orgonwukh walks around the tree, observing it
Dwarf says: I would like to become a Master in repairing skills
Orgonwukh looks strangely at Dwarf, then at Xiosia
>Dwarf thanks Xiosia!
Orgonwukh says: Who is speaking there?
Dwarf says: did you heard Goddess Xiosia too?
Orgonwukh says: I heard a voice, but who is that? If it really is a god and granting wishes...
Orgonwukh looks the tree over "Or just a kinky weird trick..."
Dwarf says: try to Pray her maybe she will heard your wish
Orgonwukh glances at Dwarf "You got a wish granted?"
Dwarf nods
Orgonwukh's eyes widen "Pray? How?"
Orgonwukh frowns "I really hope this is not stupid trick..."
>Orgonwukh concentrates in a prayer for Dwarf.
Orgonwukh looks at Dwarf "Like this?"
Dwarf says: yes
Orgonwukh shrugs
>Orgonwukh concentrates in a prayer for Xiosia.
Orgonwukh looks expectingly at Xiosia
>Dwarf greets Orgonwukh.
Orgonwukh mumbles to himself "Can't believe I am doing this..." then he raises his voice "Xiosia?"
>Orgonwukh concentrates in a prayer for Xiosia.
Orgonwukh casually nods to an arriving elf and continues to pray (or at least pretends to)
Orgonwukh stops praying and looks up at the tree "Thought so... a scam."
Xiosia says: Are you seeking a bless from me? What bless are you seeking for?
Orgonwukh's jaw drops
Orgonwukh says: Uhm, eh... Hi... I am Org. And indeed, I have a lot of wishes.
Orgonwukh says: Of course not for myself!
Orgonwukh says: Just to help the poor and homeless.
Orgonwukh says: So many people and poor friends of mine seek shelter these days... And the weather is so bad. Snow and rain. You see?
Orgonwukh looks at Cilige and quickly makes a solemn face while looking at Xiosia "I would like to give my friends shelter, you see? Maybe just a small cottage in Hydlaa, but a big house would be even better."
Xiosia says: Sorry but i can't give houses anymore you may have another wish?
Orgonwukh sighs "Well then..."
Orgonwukh says: To make me able to protect my poor friends from any harm... I'd like to become a brown and dark way master... uhm... and some very good heavy helmet would be good, too. Just to protect them, of course.
Orgonwukh looks expectingly and curiously at Xiosia
[Here dark way was set to 100, brown way to 150]
Orgonwukh shivers "What the..."
Orgonwukh glares at the tree and falls to his knees, trembling
>Orgonwukh takes a seat.
Orgonwukh stumbles to his feet and fumbles with some glyphs
>Orgonwukh stands up.
Orgonwukh says: By the...
Xiosia says: now go my child and remember to always please me in your life
Orgonwukh nods "Yeah yeah, sure, will do..."
Orgonwukh bows and walks of looking rather confused

I have no idea how this roleplay will continue, but it at least offers some unexpected possibilities. I doubt that Orgonwukh will become a true Xiosia follower, he will just continue to do whatever suits him to gain more power, even if he has to pretend to be faithful and lie to a god. I tried to continue roleplaying my char according to his background without being affected by my personal dislike of the recent events. Feel free to lay into me.

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

There was nothing OOC about this.

This happened, for real.

People complaining about it happening on Christmas day are the ones bringing ooc into this. The game time moves differently than our time and a deity could do something like this any day. I just thought it would be a nice gesture on the holiday.

Myself and two gms stayed in the same location through several time zones.

The gods are supposed to have a more palpable presence in the character's lives.

This is one of the reason I am so opposed to atheism in game.

For those of you who are upset by this and telling the leader of the settings team that this action was damaging to the game I ask you: are you really in a position to determine for me how the settings work?

What is the real crux of your argument?

What is it that you find so bad about a god showing up?

Did xiosia tread on your idea of the world?

This was solely my responsibility.

Do not blame gms or other devs, blame xillix.