I'm thinking about creating an alt, maybe a fighter type since my main is more of a merchant-y/scholarly type. Also, I'm looking for a city that that has some intrigue, drama and such that I might be able to get into. I can't really decide between Celest and Magnagora.

What about a Marian Paladin who falls for an Geomancer chick and eventually reincarnates into a Viscanti and tries to join the Ur'Guards? Eh, I don't know...

If you really want intrigue make a Guadi or Halifax alt, and attempt to raise yourself a cult following. You will definitly need combat to stay alive with that char...

Bad idea. Bad. Idea. No new Guidos. No new Visaeris. One was enough for us all.

It really depends on what type of experience you're looking for.

With New Celest you have the conflict of the crumbling kingdom that is the remnant of a fallen empire of great glory and influence in the old eras, where internal strife is high and apathy and corruption tends to rule the day among a disheartened citizenry. They are the heirs to a great legacy, but even that hasn't managed to help them stem the new ideas that have risen to challenge them. There is a zealous theocratic government in power, arguably repressive (freedom v. security conflict), where the Avatar of the God's voice is given undue influence and the God imposes his will strictly. A key internal struggle is perhaps whether or not static and ancient ideas can maintain their relevance and importance as the world changes around them.

With Magnagora you have the new empire, an heir not in name but in influence and power to the Old Celestine Empire. There's a thriving and decadent aristocracy which is seeing increasing competition and muted hostility between the more prominent noble Houses, and a somewhat contradictory set of racist beliefs that lends credence to the image of a race (the Viscanti) trying to find their place in the world. There is an "enlightened despotism" in control of the empire, and so you've got the undercurrents of conflict between the military and scholarly castes (the Ur'Guard are disproportionately influential to their numbers), and it is one that tends towards the more secular in beliefs (perhaps because their Gods may or may not be insane, and might abandon the city at any point), where rationalism and evenhanded rule contrast with the inherently evil elements of the society. The struggle of if a society that strives to be fair and just while encouraging a "free" society can be "good" when it is engaged in fundamentally evil acts (torture, manipulation, extreme hedonism, etc.) is a very valid one.

This is all obviously a bit dramaticized for the forums, but there's plenty to work with in both cities.

Hey, Nokraenom that was nice explanation - even if it was over dramaticized. Thanks.

A Guido-like character wouldn't work for Gaudi or Halli. Neither offer enough opportunities to adopt extremist viewpoints.

Forgot a few more too:

Celest:
Racism of a different color: the "established" class (Merian) holds a xenophobic sort of racism that fits well with their refusal to accept new belief systems. In a society which is based in large part around remaining static, how can this ancient custom of xenophobia interact with an increasingly diverse population?

Magnagora:
Change v. Order, how do you maintain the ethic of embracing change which allowed Magnagora to be the only city to survive the Taint Wars, while at the same time maintaining a society that is ordered and disciplined, where the leaders try to espouse the importance of respect? The two are seemingly very contradictory at times. In a society based on change, how do you justify order (or laws, for that matter) and prevent chaos and rebellion (extremist forms of change) from destroying the city?

If you can narrow it down to a specific race or guild, you've also got several guild- or race-based options to work from.

There's no active racism in Celest ATM. it might be a good thing to RP, but players seem to be against racism-actions. Hm!

Please tell me that was an IC propaganda post..

Also, just my little OOC opinion, I think that Celest is a lot less strict or less restrictive than Magnagora.

Nonsense!

If my subtle digging is correct, Guadiaugh is a very fervant religious society where one would preach freedom while having a very restrictive lifestyle in all areas but entertainment which is used to control the masses.

On the other hand Halifax is perfectly open to the over logical, overly structured dictatorship where people may be killed left and right, but the trains run on time.

You can take the other extreme also, but its hard to become a cult figure in the opposite extreme, although still possible, just harder. (you tend to need a good network of like minded people for that)

Eh, I certainly didn't write it as an "IC propaganda post", being that this is an OOC forum. They are all legitimate sources of conflict and intrigue within the city for a character to roleplay with. As I said, the post was dramaticized on both sides (Mag and Celest) to point out the potential for development.

It's not really objective though. I quite disagree with what you said about Celest as well as Magnagora. I think you rather stated your opinion on them than trying to give a general overview.

If you play a Celestian you -will- see Magnagora different, even OOC, and visa versa. I suggest you try to play one for a bit (and really play one not just out of Novicehood etc..) and take a look. The part about me and Hajamin.. if it was as you described it, Celest wouldn't have any internal struggles (because everything would be sorted by a strict Divine and His cruel Avatar).

The problem I've had for quite some time now is that most organisations have quite a bit of propaganda IG - and there's nothing wrong with that - but when people start mixing it up with OOC (and it always happens, mostly accidently and not intended..), that's when it gets confusing.

People who only play a Magnagoran char can only truly say what Magnagora is like, to day Celest is like this and that because of hear-say.. that would still be how Magnagora views Celest but not who it really is living in Celest.

Celest and Magnagora sark. Serenwilde kicks. Come to us, and play a racist, anti-city, anti-Taint fanatic faeling obsessed with honeycakes.

sure.. just don't eat those honeycakes Viravain hands out.. trust me.. don't eat them! I know from experience.

You should be doing that then

I was actually saying it this way to emphasis that it is -not- that way as we do have some internal struggels.. every organisation has.

I know, I'm just saying I want you to be that way. Kill those evil people that oppose you and embrace unity. Bring glory to the empire!

Although it would mean i need to be nicer to you ingame

I lived in Celest, Aesyra, and Nok hit the nail right on the head There's not much you can really say to refute his points. I'd like to see Celest get better, but alas, it's quite impossible, unless a miracle happens.

Hmm, it sounded right, and kind of neat actualy.

If the picture given on Celest was wrong from an objective OOC viewpoint, mind giving one for us? I've always wondered what Celest is realy like (and going in as a novice realy doesn't tell anything: you have to get deep into the city to realy get a feel of it).

The only thing I disagree with is the theocratic government. You obviously don't know Vesar.