Pantheon 2.0 - Rules and Comments Thread

[Bhakti]

The question is: Does the Allfather agree?

[I'm Murrin]

People continue to bring hostility against Maeror about the dead. This is only to be expected. I have said already that this issue is about to be changed. However, when playing in character I cannot make such a response to the other gods; you can understand that this would be frustrating. The only way I'll be able to go ahead is by ignoring my character's most recent interactions in the thread--hostility and arguments would only change the way my character acts during this turn, making him less likely to change his ways. So I'll ignore it, just to get this done and over with.
Also, Maeror has often been lax to respond to people's communications and has not always given knowledge or aid when requested. This is not because he's uncooperative, it's because the person playing him has trouble keeping track of everything, and with sharing out the power in a way that gets done everything he wants to do. I was going to aid Simjen, for example, but I couldn't spare the power, what with a rift about to open and all.

Until the turn is done, Maeror will not be responding to anything on the subjects mentioned, because I do not want to get into arguments in character at the same time as trying to put things right as a player.

[Simjen]

Two things:

One: Hedra is an NPC, and as such, will be played by Xar. I knew this when I set out to do what I did. I asked Xar to guide her. All Xar had to do was refuse my request. Hey, I'm a smith. Can you blame me for wanting to give Xar a new tool to work with? I don't want another Neph incident where a god decides to destroy the world and Xar has little choice but to go along with it. All I've tried to do is maintain balance, keep things the way they are while still allowing for progression. I don't think Xar is going to suddenly decide to make trees grow upside down, water flow uphill, or anything like that. If he was, he wouldn't need Hedra to do it.

Two: I followed the trail of crumbs laid down by Xar. I've done my best to a) play the part expected of me b) do what I can for the game itself c) *singing* do it my way.

And Murrin, don't think everything I'm saying is really personal. There's a reason I'm putting that in the game thread. There is a direction that I, too, want to go, and this is a catalyst.

[I'm Murrin]

I understand. I only wanted to put in the open the fact that I was going to stop the argument and would not have Maeror talk any more on the subject, and my reasons for doing so.
Unlike you, I guess, I did not know where I wanted to go with Maeror; at least, not until this turn, when I have finally made my decision and will stick to it.


(Completely btw, I had the perfect opportunity this turn, and almost took it, to turn Maeror into an evil god. But I decided I don't want to play the game that way.)

[Xar]

Two things:

One: Hedra is an NPC, and as such, will be played by Xar. I knew this when I set out to do what I did. I asked Xar to guide her. All Xar had to do was refuse my request. Hey, I'm a smith. Can you blame me for wanting to give Xar a new tool to work with? I don't want another Neph incident where a god decides to destroy the world and Xar has little choice but to go along with it. All I've tried to do is maintain balance, keep things the way they are while still allowing for progression. I don't think Xar is going to suddenly decide to make trees grow upside down, water flow uphill, or anything like that. If he was, he wouldn't need Hedra to do it.

Two: I followed the trail of crumbs laid down by Xar. I've done my best to a) play the part expected of me b) do what I can for the game itself c) *singing* do it my way.

In response to the concerns voiced by several players about Hedra's role and power... Simjen laid the foundations of Hedra's role in the pantheon through the forging of the book and the words he offered to Hedra when proposing to make her ascend. The book isn't an absolute: just writing on the book "forests don't grow" doesn't mean that all forests in the world immediately stop growing. Consider the book a focus, if you will, that magnifies Hedra's power when dealing with Law. But to effect a major change through the book, Hedra still needs power, and possibly the cooperation of a god whose area of influence is related to the change in Law Hedra wishes to make. And the law binds Hedra as much as it gives her power: after all, there were laws in existence since before she was even born, and these laws she cannot change, because they are fundamentals upon which existence is founded.
The book's primary function in Hedra's hand is to make sure that things flow smoothly. For example, two gods might call upon her to witness a pact they make, and inscribe it in the book, and then if either of the gods failed to uphold his part of the bargain, he would suffer dire consequences. Or she might write "Nephirthos is forever destroyed" in the book, empowered by DRPs, and thus make sure that (unless Nephirthos were already around again) he would never bother Eiran again. Consider Hedra as an historian, if you will: the book is the divine manifestation of the history of Eiran, and she is an impartial observer, with the power to affect history directly in small ways by writing her desires in the book. But in any case, the more important the Law Hedra wishes to change, the more power she needs and the more gods need to give her their cooperation; she might be able to alter the fundamental Laws, but it's likely she'd need the whole Pantheon cooperating with her power, for this to happen. Hedra is not a "uber-deity", but she is not to be trifled with either, especially once she grows to a respectable status. Then again, every god in the Pantheon has more power than he thinks of (and I'm persuaded that many gods of the Pantheon haven't even realized the full extent of their influence...).

[Menolly]

As someone who has never done role play, could I ask you to please type out what the acronym NPC means? I really don't understand how such a character is brought in or anything about it.

I comprehend the reason for it, and think it will make the game more interesting, but it's an aspect of role play I've never seen before.

[Bhakti]

Non Player Character. The character is not controlled by a player. Xar handles her.

[Menolly]

OK...

So, I should liken the 'All Father' to what little I know of the 'Dungeon Master' in D&D? How does having the All Father control a character guarantee that character still won't favor one player controlled deity over another?

But then, I don't really understand how the All Father determines what all happens each turn anyway...

[Xar]

OK...

So, I should liken the 'All Father' to what little I know of the 'Dungeon Master' in D&D? How does having the All Father control a character guarantee that character still won't favor one player controlled deity over another?

But then, I don't really understand how the All Father determines what all happens each turn anyway...

Well, a NPC - both in games like D&D and in this one - has his/her own goals, motivations, and so on. As time goes by, it is inevitable for a NPC to start favoring certain deities and not others - just like the player-controlled gods make alliances and enmities, after all. I think what you are asking, however, is how does that guarantee that the NPC won't act according to knowledge she shouldn't have... well, as to that, I can only say "because she won't"... I have some experience in that

As for how I determine all that happens each turn... that's a well-kept secret, involving the previous events and decisions of the player deities, the situation of the world, the interplay of these forces, a monkey and a hundred different bananas

[stonemaybe]

Can I doublecheck: we are still submitting moves this weekend aren't we?

[Xar]

Can I doublecheck: we are still submitting moves this weekend aren't we?

Indeed you should

[Nerdanel]

So, now it looks like the forgotten orcs are about to get a goddess of their own...

Am I in time for this turn? Should I post my first appearance now, or is that for the next turn?

[Simjen]

I think you still have until midnight to post your revelation. You should get your turn results when we do.

[Norn]

Welcome to the game Nerdanel.

[Mistress Cathy]

Welcome, indeed.

[Nerdanel]

Thank you for your kind words. I myself hope I can be reasonably kind in return. We'll see if my children can behave themselves. I, at least, want to give the ignored-in-this-game orcs a chance to be decent folks.

Besides, the map is so full that newcomers start thinking about nomadic worshippers...

[Loredoctor]

Non Player Character. The character is not controlled by a player. Xar handles her.

Really? All this time I thought it meant Nazi Police Chief.

[Vadhaka]

Sorry, I've been away a couple of days. Somebody tell me if I've missed the deadline? Can I submit moves today? (Sun, 17th Dec.)

[Norn]

You'd probably get away with it, but I wouldn't waste any time in getting them sent.

[Vadhaka]

My thanks. *bows*

I am sending them now.