This is NOT a poll regarding any actions by Glomdoring characters in how they chose to make use of the guilds/structure/rp provided to them by either the commune or the specialization race. I repeat, this has nothing to do with Glomdoring characters.

Regarding the changes themselves, do you believe they have been beneficial as a whole to the virtual world? So, for example, was Glomdoring the right organization to return first ahead of Gloriana, an untainted Glomdoring, Hallifax, Gaudigach, or Ackleberry? Do you believe that altering Faelings to make them fit as a specialization was a good decision?

Obviously, this poll is also NOT about changing any of these decisions, merely a way to gauge opinions now that the dust has had time to settle.

I like Glomdoring. Hence why I play a character in there.

However, I think that Glomdoring should have had an elfen specialization as well as Serenwilde, not a Faeling one. Faeling are supposed to be the cute little buggers that are held highly in forestal communes that are supposed to be led by elfen... or something along those lines. Can't say I know much about racial histories. But Rowena's an elfen, and Brennan's an elfen (although both're undead, but still...).

Faelings are a bastard race, I don't have any problem with them specializing in Glomdoring. And who said they're supposed to be cute little buggers? If it's just the stereotype you're talking about, I'm glad it was broken.

I'm sorry you thought I was implying a stereotype. I didn't necessarily mean cute little buggers as in... cheerful happy little people. Josun most certainly isn't one of those.

What I meant was that bit, since I didn't really feel like going in and finding the help file but went ahead and did it anyway.

*points at it*

Ok, let's look at that description. It doesn't imply they don't fit in Glomdoring in any way. Like you said, Rowena and Brennan are elfen leaders. They are given special status by Shadowdancers, aren't they? (considering almost all Shadowdancers are faelings). Physical description holds (unless specialized faelings' wings are not butterfly-like anymore. But it's a detail, they are normal faeling before specialization anyway).

EDIT: Having one race specialize in two communes would be dull.

I never said that they don't fit in in Glomdoring. I said that I felt as if elfen should have been the specialization race, not faeling.

And no, the wings aren't butterfly-like. They're forced to be more bat-like (though I cheated a little with Josun and made his moth-like). They also get red eyes and... yeah.

EDIT: In response to your edit, it would make sense for elfen to have been there, boring or not-boring. They obviously wouldn't be called high elfen if they had been Glomdoring's specialization.

Just to make it clear, I don't mind how things are right now. All the better for Josun to get a few stat boosts for his race. I'm just saying that in my mind, elfen would have made more sense.

It would make sense, of course, but in my opinion it's better to have another race specializing there, and Faelings fit just fine. Dark faeling is quite original compared to standard faerie-like. Looking at poll results, I'm in minority, though I have a feeling those are votes of jealous Serenwilde faelings who lost all hope for more upgrades and feel a bit out of place now.

And about Glomdoring itself. I think it was right decision. It's good it came out first ahead of other communities, and it's good it's Glomdoring and not Gloriana. There was that long discussion before it came out about what would be better, tainted or untainted commune. Many argued that dark forest of Gloriana should be created, but if it did, Magnagora would end up in conflict with everyone else. It doesn't matter how 'dark' would it be, at some point Celenwilde would ally with Gloriana, there's no doubt.

Dark faeling is pretty cool, I'll admit.

Been over this alot of times.. while I've admitted I kind would have liked to see Glomdoring be a more Ithaqua like dark forest instead of being tainted I also have to admit the only reason Glomdoring being tainted is such a bad thing is because people refuse to drop their prejudices. If Glom had come out in the beginning same as Mag and been able to define the taint in their own way it wouldn't be a big deal, especially because Glom doesn't embrace the taint, it is in no way reflecting in any of our guilds or skills and merely exist as mainly the device by which Glomdoring was formed. But instead since Mag has been the -cough- evil -cough- force in the Basin the taint is defined as evil corrupting force and whatever Glom does is basically ignored.. a shame..

That being said I think once an Ackleberry comes in and perhaps even Halli/Gaudi that things will improve alot.. I put more emphasis on Ackleberry however because they will likely be in a similar situation to Glomdoring, where the taint has irreversably helped shape their Commune and I likely figure they wont embrace it in the same fashion of a Magnagora, simply acknowledge its forever apart of things and love their forest for what it is, same as Glomdoring does. The only shame about Glomdoring is that people refuse to see that about Glom but instead just call it tainted and evil.

As for Faelings, I think they were perfectly reasonable race to give Glomdoring because it symbolizes all the struggle there was to get the fae into Glomdoring and how they were corrupted through Rowena's womb and deceitfulness. The Faeling being Gloms spec is just a symbol of everything about Glomdorings struggle to rise to where it is, as a social says, a rather defiant rising. Glomdorings history is short but quite interesting and full of strife in my opinion and Faelings are the epitome of the battle for the fae. Not to mention having Elfens in two organizations would be quite contrary to the philosiphy Estarra is pushing for and thats keeping a race mainly centered in each community


Edit: I think Shikari said it best when he described the taint in Glomdoring as being merely the foot print left by the passing Leopard. Its there and shows that the Leopard once passed there but it in no way shapes the land around it into what it is.

My own feelings are very much of bitterness and regret. I feel it is a shame that Faelings had to be altered to demonic imps just so that Glomdoring could have its 'own cool race'. It was completely imbecilic given the historical nature of what a Faeling is, how Glomdoring fits, and how the Fae react to Taint. I think it was a flippant sort of decision designed to appease the Glomdoring converts with shiny newness rather than really thinking about how the race fit into the conceptual world of Lusternia. I think it relegated the race to a boring stereotype (Oooo, you can play a Good Faerie or an Evil Imp!) without regard for the racial role implied by all prior knowledge.

So yes, I don't like it at all. Not that there are evil imps, if a new race emerged with similar characteristics but not part of the Faeling race then that would be a different story.

In regards to Glomdoring, I must admit to a certain satisfaction. Most of what was argued would happen when Glomdoring arrived, did in fact happen. I think all those who said Glomdoring would cause more problems than it was worth were proven correct, though of course that opinion will be shouted down by those who like having Magnagora-esqe skills in a new organization.

Its creation emphasised the common ground between serenwilde and celest, and of course they immediately bonded to magnagora with no reason to do otherwise. The conflict was reduced to those who aren't tainted vs those who are, commune vs city conflict becomes nonsensical, and the vastness of ideological differences to Serenwilde caused immense conflict. Various artificial forces attempt and perhaps still attempt to override intelligent interpretation of those ideologies, and perhaps one day they will be successful in dumbing down the two organizations enough to get them to cooperate and forget who they really are.

The Glomdoring players continue to prove that good things can be made of mistakes, but they aren't playing on a level field anymore. It is also unfair to expect them to choose their RP carefully enough so that the political landscape is rebalanced and restored to four distinct forces, and also so that their outlook can be taken seriously.

Yes, that is my rant.

My only question is why after all this time are you -still- pounding on this topic Elryn? You've made topics about this same thing more times than I can count anymore, you've ranted about it endlessly since it happened and yet at the same time you admit you know nothing will be done. This is my entire point about the forums that people sit here to much and go on and on and on about something they don't like instead of ever making any progress in the game itself. Personally I find people who keep shooting down Glomdoring's RP and considered it 'just a bunch of crazed morons who cant be taken seriously' an obvious example of what I said when alot of people don't seem to know how RP works..

Example here would be, for most people who prolly going to know what I mean, look at Whitewolf <> potrays the various Vampire clans. Malkavian are known as being completely psychotic and out of touch with reality, but no Vampires run around going Bleh they can't be taken seriously their outlook is simply not logical, instead their curse as it is in their lunacy orignates from how their clan was formed by the first bloodbonded Malkavian. In Gloms case the 'lunacy' as you see it is traced back to their spirits, Brother Crow and Mother Night and their creator Lady Viravain. If anything Malkaivan are feared but also listened to because even though their outlook seems entirely crazy they often say much that makes sense and is worth hearing if you chose to listen.


Now not saying we have to all adopt the Whitewolf methods of RP all I'm saying is disregarding Gloms RP and called it ridiculas is just a pure example of what I mean by to much OOCness coming into the game. Its a perfectly interesting way of RPing in my opinion and I would -think- people would be happy Glomdoring isn't trying to become Magnagora #2 by embracing the taint and declaring death to all none-tainted. A sort of convert or die commune.. instead they can only criticize the fact we dont do it.

Because it was -wrong- and it was flawed, and unless people in a position to change things start taking note of what causes problems, they are going to continue to make the same mistakes. Lusternia will continue to fall flat of what it advertises.

Also, I'm not shooting down Glomdoring character's RP. I said they were the saving grace of the situation. I said it was unfair to expect them to choose RP that would restore the balance between the 3 forces, and obviously they haven't yet.

If you're saying Glomdoring's view about taint being part of nature and all that is craziness, sure, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. But you continue to argue oocly that it is rational and reasonable to view it in that way. That it -isn't- insanity or lunacy caused by Viravain or what not, but that it is perfectly acceptable from an out of game standpoint.

No the only thing I argue is that the taint does not make Glomdoring, it is as I said merely the device by which Glomdoring was shaped. We choose not to embrace the taint for various reasons, some of which are Viravain and etc view that the Taint does not exist. But some who do know it exist but simply do not consider it the 'driving force' of the Commune like Magnagora considers it the source of their strength got their own opinions. But the overall point of the matter is no matter how somenoe runs their individual RP the Glomdoring as a whole is not embracing the taint and is instead just referring to it as that footprint left by the Leopard. Its left its mark but it doesnt define who we are.

You seem to ignore the fact that taint vs non-taint axis was created before Glomdoring came out. It is the main source of conflict in Lusternia, no matter if you like it or not. Almost everything revolves around taint. If you think that untainted Gloriana would help balancing the realm, you're wrong, it would only enforce anti-taint coalition sooner or later. Because everything not tainted is against Magnagora (and Magnagora is against everything not tainted). I wish it wasn't so clear, but it is.

And your dislike of Glomdoring faelings really seems like your personal grief more than the objective look. There are elfen in Glomdoring and there are fae in Glomdoring, so why do you think faelings shouldn't? The fact that faelings are revered in Serenwilde and that some of your npcs are faelings doesn't mean that they should be unique in there. Especially that they have never specialized in there, should be a hint for you.

I wouldn't argue with that.

That doesn't affect my opinion that tainted Glomdoring was detrimental to the realm as a whole one iota, however.

A lot of people seem to forget that Faelings -weren't- unique to Serenwilde. They were more prolific there because they had centuries of Elfen/Fae mingling and a culture deeply conducive to them, but they weren't unique. Like Orclach in Magnagora, I imagine.

A few Elfen wander in to barren Glomdoring, where there have been no Fae for those same number of centuries, Rowena pops out her two and suddenly there are hundreds of shadowfaelings running around and it turns out Faelings are more suited to Glomdoring's environs than anywhere else. What rubbish.

Is this personal to me? Duh. The fae thing was one of the big selling points for me of Lusternia, before it went belly-up.

It may be your opinion, but at the moment the poll does not agree with you. And the reason they are specialized is because Rowena had two, which the spirits of Glomdoring were able to improve upon. Once that was done, other faelings who followed the spirits were able to receive the same benefits.

It's not rubbish to me, but a larger number appear to say it is than would agree with your overall claim.

Elryn.. you're a great guy usually.. but please.. DROP THIS FRACKIN SUBJECT

Seriously, dude.. I thought you left? Did you -only- come back to complain aboout what you've made at least 20 other threads about? It just seems like you're really lowering yourself over this.

Faelings did NOT just suddenly return to Glomdring and find out they were more suited.. Mother Night took a role, and through Rowena, bound the Faeling who were connected to the Glomdoring in Shadow, essentially. Its that simple. Night/Viravain pretty much genetically engineered the Shadow faeling. Nothing wrong with that. Its an interesting twist. GET OVER IT ALREADY, please, because i'm seriously shocked at your seeming maturity, yet complete inability to drop this.

Elryn by your logic nothing would fit as A glomdoring spec because almost nothing 'lived' there most everything are undead abominations or spiders. But the same way assembling the Crown draws all dwarves to Southgard or Rockholm, the birth of the two Faeling sons of Rowena could easily have drawn more Faelings to Glomdoring. Please stop being so close minded because you think you should be the only Faeling in the world and feel cheapened. Your RP DOESNT HAVE TO END. You just need to get used to the fact your cousins are not your friend.

I don't play the game anymore, but I have still invested significant time and money in Lusternia, I remain interested in hearing how things are going from the forums, and hoping to point out what I think are problems.

Why haven't I 'gotten over it' yet? Because it marked the decline of the game for me, in my opinion sacrificing quality for cheap tricks and convenience. I still have not heard a suitable explanation for the conceptual shift (though Roark was exceptionally patient and helpful in explaining the change from a purely mechanics viewpoint). I'm sorry, but after investing a lot into the game, when I perceive that the elements that attracted me and kept me engaged get screwed over, I find it difficult to cut those exorbitant losses and move on. Is it annoying, frustrating and irrelevent for those who haven't had the same experience? Certainly, but if problems aren't acknowledged whatsoever then there is no hope that the community of players and administrators can work together to continue to create a world worthy of the website description. We're all only human.