Not going to bother quoting other peoples junk - just tossing my two cents in.

OOC

Being a long time member of Imperian.. hell since its birth, I can tell you that as of now - Rings are automatically considered OOC unless otherwise stated by the creator or person who invited you. In 80 maybe 90 percent of the webs I've had in Aetolia, this is also the case. Bringing something like this in, is asking for more OOC in the realm - whether you intend it to be or not. And yes, after having rings this long in Imperian and them being 99% OOC this long - many people have let their OOC/IC barrier fall and VERY OFTEN slip when they are in IC environments.

I know everyone is sold on this idea - but just keep that little tidbit in mind when considering it.

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EXPERIENCE

I'm pretty sure the XP split has changed in Imperian over the years to try and downplay any abuse. But how I'd love for it to work is the following: Equal split. If you're dragging me along - you're intending for me to get XP and whether you're doing more work or not, I don't give a .. you know. Plus I know this is easiest way for the admin to do it - take the mob XP number, divide by current number in the group. Tada, done.

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STRUCTURE & SKILLS
(adding in other suggestions that I liked which were previously mentioned)

Initial Cap: 10 group members - FORCED FOLLOW. If you join the group you immediately follow the groupleader - groups must be formed in the same room (youre all going to meet up to go out and bash anyway). Losing the leader will kick you from the group. Leaving the group will force lose.


GROUP FORM - Forms the group, done by the group leader.
GROUP MEMBERS - View who's in your group.
GROUP INVITE - Invite a new member - This will echo to the leader the currently member count.
GROUP EJECT - Kick out a member - Also echo the new member count to the leader.
GROUP APPOINT - Will appoint an "heir" of sorts to a variable so if the leader leaves, that person will immediately get the groupleader role.
GROUP LEAVE - Leave the group
GROUP DISBAND - dissolves the group
GROUP NAME - Because flavour is always good
GROUP CAREFUL (on/off) - Monitoring the status of your groupmates
GROUP EVENGOLD (on/off) - If turned on this will give messages that the group leader is picking up the gold but mechanically will only add that gold value to a variable assigned to the group - sending the actual gold to limbo (and yes admin, it sounds like work hehe) If off it will work the old fashion way - you pick it up, you hold it, you do math at the end of the trip.
GROUP SPLIT GOLD - If evengold is on, this will then split that gold amount between the number of group members and add it to their inventory.

Definitely agree with the leader not being able to move until his/her entire party is able to. You wouldn't leave someone behind - and this will help enfore the auto follow mentioned above. Also eliminates the need for a GROUP CALL type skill.

LEADERSHIP - Influence skill which will increase the amount of people you can command from 10 to 15.

I put it in influence because Leadership is a Charisma type skill. I'd love to see this type of thing added into Influence rather than combat. Some of us, like myself, will only use this for BASHING - not PK and it makes no sense to force me to learn combat skills I will never ever ever use just because I want grouping. Whereas, I already use influencing on a daily basis. That could just be me but *shrug* RP wise I still think it should matched with a charisma skill not a brute one

Benefits for org only groups would be very appealing. Simple check for the group, IF the group is all Nihilists for instance, a bonus will be added - added int? added mana regen? who knows, but something useful. For city/commune it would be nice to see a simple xp gain or something. Obviously nothing too overpowered please. This is supposed to be something simple.

And I think that's enough for right this second... blame work for cutting me short...

Yeah, as I've mentioned before, this was one reason why I haven't been completely "sold" on the idea as I've heard a lot about the OOC degradation from grouping. Even so, does the benefits outweigh the downside? Maybe Lusternia would be different or is that wishful thinking?



Nice idea! I've been thinking that grouping should be in combat (thus the military theme) because it is, after all, for bashing--but I like the idea of a leadership skill being in influence.

For some reason I really can't see this happening in Lusternia, nor would I expect it to like I would in the other IRE games.

You may not expect it to happen, but I assure you at least on some level - it will. I didn't expect it in Imperian but it happened. The only questions are what extent and how long will it take.

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BUFFS

Mixed group - gets standard bonuses of being a group
Org group - gets bonuses based on archetype/city or commune/order affiliation.

Archetype gets a bonus that will increase their effectiveness (ie +1 to a useful stat and/or a regen)
City/commune get an extra kick to xp (small) and something like a con bonus or health regen
Order buff would be at the discretion of the god (because we like giving gods something else to give us)

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I figure I'll just post these as I have time (like everyone else) rather than waiting to make a cohesive long post.

Do you not remember the amount of OOC in Aetherspace chats?

That being said, I think its possible to keep the ooc low, if you put enough IC flavor into the squad/knot without it feeling forced.

Also, if you give xp bonuses to groups of all the same city/commune/guild then it will keep it IC. (or rather, give less xp if the group is mixed)

Hmm, interesting...

I like the idea of benefiting from being in a group based on city, guild or order, but I'm not sure stat bonuses are what we want. Maybe xp bonus though...

Going to need you to go ahead and officially merge Celenwilde then...

Yes, please. Must bash with Desitrus and Nydekion. Do not grief my potential XP gain! Thank you!

I was thinking of it as a very temporary thing, hence the stat OR regen. I like the thought of have a bonus to your effectiveness against a foe rather than how much its worth - that way you're still having to work for those levels

Create a system for making two orgs allies.

then that can be applied to squads.

That would be good, but you'd also want a system to officially make two orgs enemies - and might as well develop a proper War System.

Alternatively, you could have honorary members. I always found it odd how we used CITY BRAND person ALLY yet all that does is unenemy.

I'd like to see something which means that if someone in the group can't move, then the group can't leave without them cause that always gets annoying when someone breaks a leg or is off balance and you get a tell after having run far away saying that you left them behind.

or something like that..

EDIT: woops, I realise now that I posted this after only reading the first page of this thread

That would be nifty! You could kinda use that to make Ambassadors actually do what their job title suggests (be representatives of their nation in foreign nations).

But back on topic, I like the idea of being able to group with anyone you like, but if you group with your own org you get a benefit.

Scratch that. Investigation has shown it's a +3% bonus per telepath. The telepath getting the bonus in question counts for this.

So with Celina and myself, I got a 6% bonus. Adding Vashner, I had a total of a 9% bonus.

As far as I know, mindlinks don't do anything beyond that and the channel. No damage buffs or such.


EDIT: They do, however, permitting communicating across aetherspace.
From prior experience (not tested yet), dying makes you lose the mindlink, although I seem to remember retaining it if I was the focus.

If groups are added and Estarra does want Mindlink to remain special and useful, it will need a significant buff. That much is clear, the problem is what.

Perhaps, while in a mindlink, the effects of psiarmour and biofeedback are stacked by each person in the group for greater DMP. The scaling system for DMP is already in place. They require locked channels.

A buff to mindblast damage?

Can mindblast/afflict +1 room away for each person in the mindlink after 2?

Change mindblast formula to be affected by max ego (not base charisma)?

If you move mindlink down to psionics so all psionics can be a part of it, lower hivemind to where mindlink is, and replace hivemind with a new attack. Telepaths in the mindlink could attack through eacother (or the mindlink focal point only). Not mindblast or psyvamp, but a new attack that would use Super only and do less damage than mindblast and nothing to ego/mana. Something like...

Syntax: PSI Mindproject
Channels: Superstratus
Damage Type: 100% Psychic
Damage Source: Magical
While in a mindlink, you are able to project your ill thoughts to a target standing in the focal points room.

oooor....

Replace it with something like (I like this idea):

TELEPATHY - CONSCIOUSNESS

If 3 telepaths are joined within, they may unite their collective minds to either wreck havoc upon the minds of their enemies or soothe the bodies and minds of their allies.


Syntax: PSI WRATHFUL CONSCIOUSNESS
PSI SOOTHING CONSCIOUSNESS
Power: 5 (any)
Channels: Superstratus
Damage Type: 100% Psychic (if wrathful)
Damage Source: Magical
Only the focal point can activate this ability. Should the minds of the telepaths be joined in anger, all enemies within the room of the focal point will suffer splitting headaches as they are bombarded with psionic energy. Should the minds of the telepaths be joined in joy, all allies within the room of the focal point will find their bodies and minds soothed and regeneration at an increased rate. Should the focal point die or the mindlink ever drop below 3, the consciousness will break apart. All members of the mindlink will notice a steady drain on ego while this is active.

I'm thinking 500 every 10 seconds for both, or something like that. Perhaps scale with more telepaths.

edit: edited

I personally, love that idea, but I dunno. Just what I came up with.

You'd want the latter to scale with telepaths, certainly, and be useful enough (or have other bonuses or requirements - only one at a time may affect someone?) that people won't split off into 3-person mindlinks and stack it.

Also make sure it's area-only.

Could we have a seperate thread split off for the discussion of mindlinks? Seems like it'd be easier that way.

Either way, honestly, I see no point in mindlinks right now. The increase in Ego is minimal- at most there are 5 people in a mindlink at a time. The AOE attacks are nice- they could provide a way for non-combatants to help in raids and defense, you could replace Psychicpush in Psionics with Mindlink. After all, it's a rather useless skill- monks can just grappel, and Gust takes less Equi to use.