I actually called this one. I knew the second I heard about the DLs plans that there would be a backlash and the "we want a city/commune war, we want independent tradeskills" would make a 180.

At any rate, I don't see any identity being lost. Martial superiority shifts as it always does. The only org that might be losing it's identity is Celest, and they really only have other Celestians to blame for that.

Or now, lack thereof. *corny/cocky self-laugh*

People have been blatantly ignoring roleplay guidelines since day one, it's nothing new. I'd like to see it hardcoded that Kephera and Illithoid cannot be in the same squad, at least.

Taint/light/etc. can align however they like and still be within their bounds, as far as I'm concerned. Is the wyrd really inherently more horrible than the light? You can argue it any which way in-game.

I don't want ANYTHING hardcoded. You have to preserve free will. I just wish people would learn about their racial/organizational RP then most do.

For instance, I see Celestians all the time just traipsing through Magnagora's streets, sightseeing. It's half the reason I said "screw this, I'm tired of this treaty that doesn't do anything for us" and killed a few angels to make sure I was re-enemied to Celest. It's just not worth it.

What better way to learn about your race than to get a message from the game that you absolutely cannot do something because it is asinine and makes zero in-game sense? Oh, are you the one kephera in the world who has opened up his heart and absolutely loooves everyone, illithoid included? Fat chance. Absolute freedom in roleplaying is a bad idea, because everyone gets it in their head that they can bring all of their real-world sensibilities into the game. Hell, I'd love to see it made that no one could marry or group with anyone outside their org, but it's never going to happen.

So, you're saying that if a Glom Kephera and let's say Sidd could not be in a squad together because their hatred of each other's race would override their loyalty to Glomdoring?

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You mean to tell me people don't know what they want and often want what's not best for them? Cuhrazy.

Lusternia has always been unique, but it also offers the least flexibility in both rogue and city-type org choices. Thus, characters are more "invested" in their orgs, and their interest will both rise and fall based on that. It's also the only IRE that admits the dirty little secret of not being based on 1v1.

This is obviously going to not be received well but I think it's probably time to lower the cost of entry all across IRE. The same cow is being milked and it's starting to dry up. MUDs may grow, but they certainly aren't doing so in any large fashion and are slowly dying to attrition. Making it easier for people to get into the muds on a competitive tier would be a wise decision, I'd say.

This is delightfully insightful

Really? I thought it was common sense.

Hrm... Is it really losing its identity? So far as racial things, that's always been a hard thing to grasp, seeing as there is very little information to go on. As for the city/commune conflict, hasn't it been said that the forests have always hated the cities a wee bit?

As for the cities joining up when both attacked by a common, more dangerous enemy? I don't see a lot wrong with that, fairly sure something like that might happen in real life, even if two forced have been fighting for ages, if they've got common sense they'll join up when faced with glom zerg.


Nerf Estarra.

Contrary to popular rumor, Lusternia is not dead! There has been a summer lull but that can be seen across all MUDs. While we have experienced a lull, I don't think you can read anything ominous into it. We've certainly survived worse!

Desitrus or anyone else is welcome to contact IRE to suggest alternate business plans (and they may be well received, who knows!) but alas those decisions are not made by me. However, what I can do is address what's goes on in Lusternia and if you have ideas for bolstering our identity, I'm all ears!

No worries, we still love you guys.

I could be mistaken, but I thought it was the players as individuals that were losing their identities, not the game as a whole. We all know Lusternia, but we're all too shaken up lately to know who we are. Even at my character's age, and he's like a rock in terms of skills and organizations, he's beginning to have his doubts about purpose, meaning, and where we draw the lines.

Welcome to the Wyrd?

F'ai Glomdoring!

Did I say it right?

He's mine!!! Back, back demon!!

You know, Lusternia has played a major factor in squeezing creative brain juice out of me and I'm really happy for the stimulation my mind gets out of the entire game.

You forgot the birdcalls one usually hears along with any good GBTG

"Squawk! Glory Be! Glory Be! F'ai Glomdoring! Squawk!"

Yeah, sure. One is an oath they've sworn, one is a hatred thousands of years in the making.

For definition's sake, it kind of isn't. When the Undervault was released was when Illith splintered and the illithoid were born. The kephera marched to the surface to wage war upon the illithoid, hunting down whatever was thrown out of the prison when she splintered. Technicalities, though.

Race is greater than the individual, hrm? Some people have nothing to do with their race. They can hate each other, but I'm sure their duty would override everything else.