Hey. I'm new. You probably know that without me telling you.

I've hopped around IRE games (and forums) before, and now I'm diving into Lusternia. I'm really impressed by the setup and the potential for dynamic play. It looks to be pretty fun. So I made a new character, Anu, a Blacktalon. Now that's he's created, and I've made my way through Newton, and I've been around for several hours of gameplay, I... wonder.

I wonder how to role-play him in the setting that he was created. I -love- the emphasis on Crow, and the history of the Glomdoring, and all that. The only problem is that it seems to cut commune citizens off from stuff that's going on in the rest of the world. Asserting such strong superiority without a goal of impressing that superiority on others means you just sit next to the Master Ravenwood and be smug and self-satisfied.

Well, I guess. I don't think it -has- to mean that. I'm just really trying to figure out how to take the characteristics I've injected in Anu and use them in the Glomdoring context. I don't know if you guys have any tips, but I'd love to hear 'em if you do.

In truth, Glomdoring DOES have a goal on impressing that superiority: expansion. The Glomdoring mentality on the world is "The world must become Glomdoring." Their dream is to have the forest expand until everything in the basin is the Glomdoring forest.

So mix an expansionistic ideal with a fanatical superiority complex Crow gives (They don't just believe they can rule the world. They believe they ALREADY rule it and that the rest of the world is in denial!) and you have the stereotypical* Glommy.

The Stereotypical Glommy wouldn't hear much of the outside world because they really don't care what's going on unless it affects Glomdoring. On the other hand, since Glomdoring wants to expand, that's almost a moot point. The villages, for example, need to follow their 'true' leader and those other nations, ESPECIALY the cities must be nullified for the sake of the commune.

* = I don't believe in hardlocked RP. Not all Glomdorings should have the mentality I just written, just like any group in RL would not have every single member acting the same way. Still, seeing the Stereotype of a group helps to show what mentality your character is being leaned towards.

Now, how does that relate to your character? Well, you tell me.

Take your Anu, who has the personality you injected, and then surround him with messages like "Nothing matters but Glomdoring", "Embrace your Sorrow.", "Everything else can rot!", and "You are whatever you wish to be" pushing, prodding, attempting to convert him.

Would he agree to those ideas? Would he rebel? Would the overall work but some of it conflicts?

Even if he followed those ideas, how would he feel is the best way to carry them out? Improving the culture? Assaulting Glomdoring's enemies? Blowing up all other nations with a FF7 style Meteor? Going political and becoming the commune's leader (Because everyone else is doing it wrong)? Sitting next to the Master Ravenwood and being smug and self-satisfied?

All of those are viable options, and which one works for you depends on those characteristics and what you find fun to do (If you just like to write poetry, don't make a cold-hearted killer. If you like PK, don't get into diplomacy).

What if you don't really like either?

Culture, Youth Training, Trade, Philosophy, Religion...

Take what you like, turn it into something useful to others.

Join me?

That's pretty much the route I took with Penelope since I dislike politics or fighting. I adore my novices, more than a guild Admin probably should, but I'm a firm believer of the philosophy of treating others how I would like to be treated. I also know that one of these new novices will replace me one day so I want to help make them the best that they can be, not surpress and hold them back out of the fear that they want to take my job. In the end it helps the commune, guild and myself by doing that.

I guess one of the things I get most hung up on is False Memory, or refusing to admit that you are (or were -ever-) weak or flawed. How does this leave any room for growth or change?

Or, maybe I just answered my own question. ^.^ Dynamics. Growth isn't always "omg 200 mor credits adn ill pown!" Damn, I should... stop worrying so much and just play the character. Hm.

Okay, so let me ask the other Glomdoring-ites (what is the proper term for that, anyway?) on the forums -- what are -you- doing in Glomdoring? How do you all fit in to the grand scheme?

False Memory uses the law of Self-Actualization (I THINK that's what the term is). Essentually, if you believe something is going to happen to you deeply, it WILL happen to you.

Example: You KNOW you are going to be late for class, you just KNOW it, so you rush out the door to hurry up and forget your backpack, have to run back to get it, rush back out, forget the keys, get the keys, drive too fast, get stopped by a cop, rush up the stairs, trip, give up, slowly moap the rest of the way.

You're now late for class, and mostly because you KNEW you would be.

It's usually used to refer to negative feelings, but can be used in the positive. False Memory (ab)uses that concept: You don't just think you may be a god of fighting, you KNOW you are. You don't let losses get in your way because..bah.. you never lost (even if you lost just 5 minutes ago...that never happened).. you can't fail at parrying, you ARE a kicking parryer, so go back and fight!

Thus you feel like a champ, act like a champ, and talk like a champ, never getting discouraged. In thory, you'll eventually be a champ.

Though Glommys won't think in THAT way, but just goes to show that Crow's laws CAN work, if not the way Glomdoring plans it.

And, of course, there's no reason why it HAS to leave room to change. There's no harm in playing a character that can't change well.

Damage control.

On a more serious note, Xavius handles combat training and some basic indoctrination for the guild. Before he had any guild authority (which, granted, was a very short time), he basically laid low and spent his time learning. There's a lot of potential for immersion in the Blacktalon. Pursue the immersion more than a role in the grand scheme. It's a much happier way to live your life, trust me.

False Memory is not refusing to admit you are weak. It is not letting the thing of the past tie you down.

Is Nyla gonna have to come back to the Blacktalon and teach you peoples.

Gaaah, the name. Sorry, but Anu was a certain someone else's Achaean character. Annoying when things like this happen, eh?

I just made a new Blacktalon, and reading through the ghelp files, I got really excited. The RP's awesome: it's dark, it's rich, it's just unintuitive enough to be really original and twisted, there's so much potential for a fighter, a ritualist, a philosopher... The different paths are so clearly laid out and based on useful things to learn. And of course, Glomdoring itself fairly drips with atmosphere.

So, uh... a big thumbs up from me!

I.....can't tell you what Shayle does! It's a secret!

Talk to me in game sometime!

Shayle bites and drives off novices with her piercing stares! Watch out!

Excuse me?

We know, Jasper. We know. We've also been hard at work pruning the last bits of Nyla out of the Blacktalon theology. We ignore him. You should, too!

You cant prune me out!.... *evil laugh* Everything is still there... muhahaha

I seem to remember a certain someone pruning out most of his own work when he left, without any assistance... How can everything still be there?

I deleted three things which they had copies of.. and I was asked by certain individuals about other things... though they did cut my anti-aquamancer/geomancer stuff out. Curse you!


My intent was not to be an ass..I had copies of everything I deleted just in case they didnt.... I just really really hate Bau

She annoyes the crap out of people, and talks down to others just because she doesn't know of them. Fun stuff!