I've been in the same boat a couple times. I don't think you're going to like the answer, though.

Charisma. You need a charismatic, unreproachable, glorious figurehead, and it needs to be someone other than Charune. Someone who can say, "Do this," and it gets done, completely independent of any IC or OOC reasoning for the action. Narsrim had it. His fighting skills aside, his eerily justifiable bravado did a lot to create interest. The bad news is that you can't teach it, and if you've been in a leadership position for a fair amount of time, no one is going to take your attempts to become one seriously.

I really need to code a system. I'm going to jump to defend one of these days and get owned by some newb.

I think Xavius has hit the nail on the head.

The Serenwilde is missing strong, charismatic leadership, and no, this isn't a criticism of any one person...it's not a criticism at all. BUT...people are sheep, and they do follow the leader. If your leaders aren't showing that enthusiasm and modelling the kind of behavior/attitude they want to see from their people, forget expecting it from the masses. Apathy is easy, and even easier when everyone around you doesn't care too. Try being apathetic around a group of movers and shakers! Or in the face of a leader who is all about getting things done and doesn't take no for an answer!

I'm not convinced the Serenwilde's current leadership won't be able to do it. Strong, charismatic leadership doesn't have to look like Daevos or like Shayle --it can be something entirely Serenwilde's own. But I feel pretty strongly that they would have to WANT to, because a half-assed attempt is only going to make things worse.

Old Way? Simple. Here's a set of rules that those of the Old lived by:

-rever the spirits of Serenwilde and do as they want. The White Hart and the Avatars. No arguing about them being "close minded".
-do good things for the spirits mentioned above. This includes making sure the Wilde is growing (in power, novices etc) and that it's safe.
-honor your elders. If someone has a position higher than yours, it means they earned it and their wishes should be listened to, and at worst declined politely (unless the mentioned elder acts like a prick or makes unreasonable demands).
-act with decorum, like a proud forest dweller, and not a retarded 6-year old or a damn hippy. Also includes talking in full sentences, no abbrevations and with correct capitalisation.
-put the well being of the Commune above yours.

EDIT: Yes, I made it all up. About 30 seconds ago, actually.

Insert Mother Night and Brother Crow....Sounds like Glomdoring!

Except that Crow and Night want different things than Moon and Stag. But let's leave it at that.

Another good idea:
-be self reliable. Creatures of the realm take care of themselves, and so should you when possible. Expand your knowledge, grow in strength and try to grasp at least basics of combat. Don't be afraid to ask if you don't know something, but don't rely on others to make everything for you.

Well one thing Serenwilde can do is to not discourage skilled combatants/influencers in joining, especially when they are highly motivated leaders as well.

Hey, Ixion has Shorlen's support, if that means anything

I perfer what Shorlen teaches:

Mother Moon's way is to learn to stand together, for together we are greater than we are apart.
White Hart's way is to learn to stand on your own, to find your own path, and to find your own understanding.

Together, they teach that we must stand strong alone, so that we can stand strong together. We are made weaker by the weak among us, but we are made strong by the strength within each other.

Too pass comment in general - much as I enjoyed (IC) some aspects of the Super-Serenwilde that was I disapproved of it OOC.

I also never really approved of the whole Celeste/Serenwilde vs Glomdoring/Magnagora Good vs Evil split.

I know from experience that to build something new and different - at some point you have to dismantle the existing structures for spare parts and building space. It really feels to me like we are only part way through a rebalancing of the Political aspects of lusternia.

I would like to see a more active Commune vs City slant on politics - backed up by quests that *require* co-operation between people from different guilds, and even different communes/cities to complete - that are impossible for a single person or a single org to complete without assisstance.

To change the direction of an organisation as large as CelenWilde was is non-trivial.

I agree with those who have advocated conscription, and also with the need for charismatic leadership.
However - I would also like to see training in group fighting - with more experienced people co-ordinating (beyond the basic rage-coven).

BTW Shorlen - I do still care - even if I seem to have escaped your notice for now.....

EDIT: bad spelling.

Celenwilde hasn't been a big deal since about the time Malicia left, I'd say, and Narsrim isn't sucking down huge amounts of power to defend the Supernals anymore.

Sooo... who's "new" in Serenwilde that has any sort of say in things?

Or is it all still all people who joined Serenwilde in the year 100?

Who are you again? ^^; I can't match a character name to your forum name




There are a few young ones who care: Sarin, Yini, I think Flacarealah is relatively young, Derian is rather young, Kalodan isn't that old, though he doesn't really have a say in things (not that that has EVER stopped him from speaking anyway).




And yeah, Celest is where we get our enchantments from, and.... that's about it. The Celenwilde hasn't been in existance in a LONG time.

Aerenna joined in year 103!

I definitely understand how you're feeling Shorlen, I think I made a similiar post about Magnagora a while ago when it's population was pretty low and we depended far too much on old players and in turn kind of neglected the younger ones. However I believe Magnagora turned it around by paying more attention to the new members, doing fun little games inspiring knowledge of the Great Houses and Magnagora's history, bringing some of them along on raids so that they feel more helpful, creating festivals that allow them to see the greatness of their home, even spending a little time with them and making them feel more welcome really makes a huge difference. So I think similiar things would help a lot

EDIT: And I agree with Xavius and Shayle about needing a very admired leader in an org...EX: During times like peaced revolts that drag on forever and ever you just feel like logging out and leaving but I know that to me seeing things like Daevos' determination and stubbornness keeps me going because I think wow..if he's willing to keep trying so should I even though this sucks. In essence it's all about nationalism if you can get people to truly care about your city/commune they will fight for it

Pump them up.

Also, people could try to be a bit nicer. Yeah, I know, I'm a wimp, but that's how it goes. No one needs your sarcasm, we believe you- you're smart and witty. Young people don't want that. Lusternia started being fun for me after I met my IC family, and that was a while after I had begun playing. Initially, I resisted because I didn't want to back down.
Honestly, I don't find Serenwilde an extremely friendly environment.

I actually don't subscribe to the idea that Serenwilde has no "unifying concept" to stand behind, but I know I'm unique in that view. Sure, we have to explain the concept in a short phrase or so rather than a single word, but it's still there. That's not the problem.

The problem is too many diverging views and arguments within the commune. We have a concept, but we don't have the unity behind the concept. Whatever reasons we have for various things, there's always argument about it. Case in point, we should protect the Fae by doing what our Great Spirits, Moon and Hart, have told us and bring them to Moon's Avatars (pre-agreement)? "Oh noes, but you're enslaving them, you !" Seriously, there were times I, as guildmistress of the Moondancers, didn't dare ask on CT if someone could find a honeycake for a Fae in Faethorn because it would just start the argument up again (and yes, that sounds incredibly weak ... that's just the environment. Should I deliberately spark discord in an already-fragile situation, or try to maintain the temporary illusion of stability until what needs to get done gets done and hope for a rational discussion later when something's not on the line?). Moondancers can offer a purification ritual for anyone joining from elsewhere and/or as viscanti? Responses for such a mention can be, "but why don't we accept them as they are, they're individuals and not bad!" instead of taking the opportunity of a little, short RP event to draw closer together. We shouldn't help, even indirectly, our enemies by trading with their associates? "Omgwtf, you're so mean! So-and-so is perfectly nice and wonderful, you should judge people as individuals regardless of their affiliation." Part of that is probably because we attract the stereotypical "forestal" character. As Viravain mentioned in another thread, the hippies. Incidentally, I'm concerned already for Ackleberry's player population and those who'll be drawn to it if or when it ever comes out ... as a commune of furry folk sounds, on a superficial level, even more stereotypically fluffy.

What I haven't understood, and haven't figured out how to do anything about ... is if you have (in this case) Serenwilders who don't like the Serenwilde or people in it or what the Serenwilde stands for and tries to do and want to be more friendly with Magnagorans/Glomdorings/Celestians ... why the can't they playing a Magnagoran/Glomdoring/Celestian? Oh, but they don't like 's RP and they like ours (or what they think of as ours)? That's not nationalism, that's complacency and self-absorption ... both of which have largely resisted efforts to be dealt with.

It might help if we cracked down more on the diverging views, or it might exacerbate the problem ("Waaaah, I can have a different opinion! You're not letting me, omgwtfbbq! You're horrible and our commune is horrible ... but I still love it and will just stay and spout propaganda for my friends in "). Again, it is - or has been, at least - a different sort of social environment from the other areas.

Serenwilde has no sense of direction.

It needs to figure out what it wants and then go for it.

I think it is more of an image problem, I mean I played for a long time and I still have no clue what Serenwilde is about other then they like Fae. You have no 'loud' players so to speak who make their presence known thoughout the whole realm like Magnagora does. You need a few strong fighters to get the ball rolling, apparently you rejected Ixion though..that really doesn't help.