To help shake up the domoth system, we have been considering ways to make it easier for more organizations to take control of domoths. (At one point, domoths appeared to change hands a bit more frequently, so there’s an underlying question of whether this is even needed.) Anyway, the one idea we’ve been circling around is simply to have all domoths free themselves once every two game years (i.e., about once a RL month), either all together or individually or in pairs. What are your thoughts on this idea? Do you have other alternate ideas? Do you think something is even needed?

I’d rather this thread focus narrowly on whether or not the domoth system should be changed to make it easier for orgs to claim domoths. I know some of you think domoths shouldn’t generate power or should give more individual rewards for the domoth masters, but as you may know, I’m rather strongly opposed to both those sentiments. Let’s try to be productive and focus on the question at hand!

Well, from what I've experienced, domoths should probably free themselves every now and then. At current, unless someone who holds a domoth goes inactive or inactive enough to not upkeep their throne, it's near impossible for them to change hands. That's essentially what happened when I lost both Harmony and Life. I couldn't log in for a long enough time to take care of the domoth and so I just let them go inactive.

Them resetting in pairs would probably work, but it'd probably have to be on a random schedule, else it'll just end up with people making sure they're around for the reset so they can retake control. All at once seems a bit much, but could be interesting and probably would be more rewarding. It'd give more chance for people to take control, especially since it'd take a long time to reclaim all of them.

Well, I don't have a problem with how it works, per se. I've helped claim them here and there.

THOUGH, if your idea is to have them suddenly "shake loose" to where the non Serenwilde/Celest groups have a chance to grab one or two, while the usual group grabs some, sure, I think that's a very good idea.

Maybe have one domoth for each player community open up?

So for now, 4 would become open, and in the future when other orgs come in, that many will open up. (every 2 ig years sounds good, but I think you should instead tie it to some astrological event, which happens to happen every 2 IG years)

Well, we were thinking it would be foreseeable when domoths free themselves (maybe astrologers would know like they do weakenings), so my question is what's wrong with people preparing and planning to take control if they know when they go free beforehand?

Because then people camp out. And nothing has changed.

More like the time investment from rod->crown is just a total pain in the rear section. If you make them 'shake free every so often' I really hope you lessen the time for claiming, otherwise my guess is that the whole system goes dormant.

The reason most people don't do it right now is that if you actually succeed in usurping a crown, you will be absolved as soon as your dormancy timer is up. If you took absolve out, people might fight harder for them.

Them shaking up will also give other demigods and ascendants a chance to claim so it's not the same people who always have a domoth. The amount of time it takes is fine. They're powerful boons being fought over, it shouldn't take a short amount of time.

What do others think? If we have domoths periodically go free, should we take out absolve?

Anything that relaxes the Serenwilde chokehold on Domoths is fine by me

If absolve is there to help balance how long someone holds a domoth for, then definnitly.

You don't want two mechanics in place for the same thing.

If I'm understanding this correctly then, would domoths shaking free become like village revolts then? I absolutely village revolts, and the work in claiming a village in exchange for the perks they give balances out, I think. Also, this would address the issue of demigods not bothering to claim anymore since, currently, we take longer to claim AND hold it shorter than Ascendants do, so all the demigods just let the Ascendants of their organization claim for the bigger benefit then.

Though, this raises the question, if demigods will hold domoths as long as Ascendants do, will this mean that the only perk to Ascendants claiming now would be that they'd claim faster?

Sounds fine by me, so long as Ascendants/Medallion holders get something else as a bonus if their time holding a throne becomes the same as everyone else's. Like say more essence at crown level or just a more buffed up claim time.

I agree that absolve would seem to have no point any longer under this system, however.

How about making Domoths kind of like village revolts? Would need to change the entire system, but I think it would be pretty neat.

If they made them like revolts, the only thing that'd change would prolly be the removal of the absolving mechanic and a change to Ascendant/Medallion-holder buffs, no? Oh, and a game-wide announcement or something, unless I'm missing something.

Maybe the time until they become free depends on whether one is an Ascendant and how far they got in claiming the domoth (sceptre/orb/crown). Maybe we could keep absolve and have absolve lessen the time before they go free.

Thinking this through:

Domoth Control:
For Claiming a Sceptre: 5 Lusternian months + 5 Lusternian months if Ascendant
For Claiming an Orb: 10 Lusternian months + 5 Lusternian months if Ascendant
For Claiming a Crown: 15 Lusternian months + 5 Lusternian months if Ascendant

Thus an Ascendant who holds all items would control the domoth for 45 game months and Demigods for 30 game months. Domoths would no longer devolve to a lesser state, they'd just free themselves at the end of the countdown. If you steal a domoth at any point, this wouldn't impact how long a domoth is controlled.

Absolving:
Each domoth can absolve once per Lusternian year per item controlled. Thus, if you hold the Sceptre, Orb and Crown, you can absolve the opposing domoth 3x in one Lusternian year. Each successful absolve will shorten the claimed period by 2 Lusternian months. Thus, if you control all 3 items, you could shorten the control of the opposing domoth by 12 months in a 2 year period.

You also need to limit the number of Thrones Ascendants can hold, to help encourage the things to be spread out more. While there's RP reason for it, 8 of the 9 Domoths can be held by 3 people (which makes it easier for holding them, with the present system, as it's easier to co-ordinate between a smaller group of necessary individuals). All 9 can be held by 4 individuals (Sojiro at 3, Nejii at 2, Ilyarin at 3, Desitrus at 2)

By increasing the number of folks it takes to hold the Domoths, it will (at least slightly) decrease the ability to lock it down as well. It'll require a bit more planning to decide who should take the Domoth, not just for the time it will last, but also to try and keep someone free for a later Domoth when it shakes loose (or is challenged and raised up a step).

I'm skeptical because 45 months is a longass time to have to wait for another chance, unless you're saying you still have to upkeep it the normal way in the meantime. Maybe I'm misunderstanding though.

Anyway, I also suggest halving (NOT removing) the power gain.

I feel like I almost don't have a point posting in here since I'm not a Demi / Ascendant, but...

Why not have there be some sort of comet or something like that which, when it goes through certain astrological signs, triggers the domoths to go free?

Or, maybe, some sort of wild event where there's a giant comet heading at the Basin, and everyone has to work together to try to stop it / send it back into Aetherspace, causing it to break into smaller comets/meteoroids, which fall into orbit of certain planets, setting all the domoths free? Then after that, the domoths would fall under a timer of some sort.

Maybe you could make aetherspace more viable, and shooting at the meteoroids wouldn't destroy it, but make it speed up its revolutions. Or maybe they become aetherbubbles with quests to speed up the revolutions, and counterquests to slow it down.

Is this for the RP rationale. Cause if not, then