Not getting into a rant (after all, this isn't lack of rants) So I wont go into detail, but the situation really was a lose-lose situation.

That's not true at all. The least they can do is zap you... I think Lawliet already stated a small list of what can happen if you disagree with a divine.

Perhaps I'm just different, but I only see a list of potential threads for ongoing, interesting RP amongst a group of characters.

Your character doesn't have to enjoy something for you to enjoy it.

The only power a divine player has is the power the players give them. I've never had an issue with ignoring or disagreeing with a god.

Unless, of course, you're opposed to death, disfavouring, losing the ability to speak, being haunted by ghosts, being whisked off to some place you can't escape or a whole host of other things.

Edit: Losing guild or city placements, having members of its order hate you, city or order enemying (I'm looking at you, Fain, Typo my ass)

Until Big T zaps you.

I mouth off to her all the time anyways! Hence the 20 zaps in the row.

It's a lot easier for fighters to get away with things than it is for non-combatants. If there was someone to constantly speak against the war in Celest, I'm sure the divine wouldn't look to kindly on that. Which could lead to someone getting kicked out of Celest. In theory a divine could be the cause of this. Divine do have more influence than the average person. It's that influence that can make or break someone.

I agree with you, Damadreas, I usually enjoy it immensely when Fania has a hard time!

Everything in Lusternia runs those risks. You roll with them to try and get what you want.

No, it doesn't, and those things that DO have the same risks aren't nearly as risky, unless you want to RP someone who is a COMPLETE wuss and wont speak to a God then you run the risk of all those things with greater contact/concentration (if that makes sense) than any other thing

I've just skimmed this thread but I wanted to reiterate what I've said to admin who run gods and I believe I've said here before: the gods are meant to be advisers to guilds, cities and communes, they are never meant to lead or direct these player organizations. If you think a god doesn't follow these boundaries, you can email me directly.

If you choose to be in a god's order, on the other hand, you can certainly expect more direct interactions, including divine mandates, etc. If a divine makes him or herself known through a shout or a direct manifestation, I have always advised that it is best to get out of their way and be quiet--any cause of disrespect can be met harshly. One of my favorite scenes in Time Bandits is when a follower of a god of ultimate evil asks an impertinent question, the god immediately zaps him and then thoughtfully says, "Good point..."

In regards to god realms, I'm in agreement with Othero. They were put there so there could potentially be a source of conflict outside of org vs org. I think I've also heard various divine state, while their realms were under attack, that not everyone is obligated to defend. They are only mandatory if you make them.

Granted, I think there's also circumstances where a god would be validated to step in and question an org about totally ignoring a realm, but those are more exceptions than the rule, and dependent on the RP of that god.

I wasn't here for all of the 'old glom' hullabaloo regarding too-involved admin. Nocht and Viravain are actually extremely careful about even voicing their opinions, to the point where we sometimes need to pry pretty hard even for their endorsements for our chosen course of action. I'm assuming that this is in response to the past situation.. the players made it clear at some point that they did not want the admin dictating their gameplay. We actually wouldn't mind a bit more, I think, but it is a fine line, so I appreciate their erring on the far side of caution.

My impression has always been that the people who are in Fain's order just like the bootlicking. I've been on the fringe of some 'I choose Fain's will over my personal desires' rp...people seem to go in for it in a big way. (And they call gloms emo, hmph.) That whole situation is pretty upfront about what it is. You're basically playing for recognition from a god who is largely indifferent to you, who openly regards you as a pawn which exists to be used by him.... complaining on an ooc level when you find yourself in precisely the situation that was advertised seems a bit silly.

Ok, for Fain, the name for people in the outer circles of his order is literally maggot. If that doesn't tip you off than nothing will.
I personally think it's worth it to play a part of his mastermind plans and as you rise in ranks he does treat people nicely. I've actually never seen him push the evil overlord aspect of it too far, which is pretty impressive since that would be easy to do.
Also, he does hilarious things like randomly ordering us to go kill a merian player and make it look like an accident.

Yeah, hilarious.

Join Elostian's order. The only real fighter-type (Ashteru) couldn't get away with diddly, and it was amusing. <3 Elo. Make him login at the same time as me more, kthx.

If I ever leave Isune's order for any reason I will. Elostian kicks ass, and I miss seeing him around Celest.

I did? Cripes.

Alas! Where has all the roleplay gone!? Woe be the day a Celestian cannot be married to a Magnagoran!

What is this blasphemy?

Damn that Fain, why can't he just hug merians just like everyone else.

Damn that whoever damned Lawliet, why can't they just let tainted love bloom.