Pantheon: The Third Age - Rules and Comments Thread

[Zephyr]

I can't imagine Bhakti bickering with Nor Yekith via pm! The only pming they did was making sure the other knew it was game-only, and not meant personally.

Anyway, I don't see a way around the fact that some will be annoyed. If I don't carry on like I do, I won't have nearly as much fun playing. And if I do carry on, at least a few of you will be annoyed. As some were annoyed last game by Bhakti and Nor Yekith. But really, if it was not for those two, the game thread would have been much smaller. Honestly, I've said it many times, but some might not know I'm entirely serious - I'm really into Pantheon!! If there's not much going on with the game thread, caam, Pam, and I txt about how upset we are. LOL! But maybe with so many of us this time, it will be better. There might be more game stuff going on to keep me happy.

I've also been figuring out how to play from work on my cell phone for #5/month. It's not easy, but it works, and it helps me feed my addiction.

[Menolly]

Honestly, I've said it many times, but some might not know I'm entirely serious - I'm really into Pantheon!! If there's not much going on with the game thread, caam, Pam, and I txt about how upset we are. LOL!

*nodding*

Although you really should have joined in on Borderlands, Fist. It's a lot slower, but I definitely now have a second addiction...

Absolutely and completely different. And that's a good thing for me.

[Loredoctor]

I just don't see this working out. The Comments thread often has stuff that should be in the Game thread, and we're sometimes told to move it there. How much worse would that be with a third thread that did allow IC conversations?

I am following the game thread because I am keen on seeing how Dorian and Montressor play the game, as I know they will deliver some great story telling. And I'm also keen on reading the stories of the other gods. When gods start saying things like "the picture you just posted" or flirting like people on heat, it makes it hard to take some of the gods seriously; they seem more like powerful beings who have discovered a chat forum.

When I played Nor Yekith, I was 99% serious - sometimes too serious (the Bhakti/Nor Yekith disputes) - and I can say without sounding immodest that part of what him great was that I gave him a unique character. Had I acted like my god was on a forum it would have destroyed the atmosphere and concept. I therefore think it's hard to reconcile the difference between the player and the character and maintain an interesting storyline.

[Menolly]

Lore...if I may interject.
The flirtation on the part of Keev is 99% serious, as from what I understand of the deity she is largely into sensation, sexuality, and of course her domain, Pain. Think dominatrix for the deity. From what I understand, all of her posts in the Game thread have been in her unique character's voice.
(I am sorry if I am speaking out of turn, Jenn)

[Montresor]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the banter that doesn't advance the story line (I'm pretty much with Murrin). I think it would be a good idea to have three threads: the comment thread, the roleplaying thread, and a character conversation thread.

Excellent suggestion. I'm in 100% agreement with this idea.

Though I do accept that if someone is playing the God of Jesters or whatever they will have a fair amount of flippant banter, it seems that about a half-dozen gods are playing the same god at the moment (i.e. the style of the posts is reading the same). The emoticons also go a loooong way for me in dispelling the fantasy atmosphere. As Lore said, it does seem like there's a bunch of powerful beings who discovered a chat-forum.

[Zephyr]

What mythology do you guys read that doesn't have gods and goddesses sleeping around with everybody, some having children with several partners, mortal or other deities; playing jokes on each other; etc? There may be individual deities within any culture's mythology that are lofty and stoic, but, in general, they are like our pantheon, ranging from very serious to jesters.

By and large, most of us are playing our characters pretty much the way we've always interacted in all the other forums at the Watch. Which of us is stepping outside of ourselves? Think of which players: are quick to speak their mind; flirt a lot; get involved in the prOn threads; take a firm stance on pretty much every issue; worry about things; etc. And which deities act in those ways?

[Loredoctor]

Then tell me why things seem so different from pantheon 2? In that age there was some fantastic roleplaying. And people didn't need to act like themselves, at least I didn't, in order to convey the image of godhood. But it's not just about being jesters, etc. It's about using modern terms like 'posted image' or 'mommy'.

It's up to you how to play your god the way you want, and please don't think I'm being the usual snob that I am. All I am saying is that I'm not seeing gods interact. I'm seeing, as you have just said, players interact. If that's how you want to play the game, fine.

[stonemaybe]

As someone earlier said, once the game gets going, there may be a change....

[Brid]

Brid needs a two-fingered emoticon - for everyone!

[Dorian]

I am in full agreement with lore. It really doesnt feel like gods are talking amongst themselves at all

and menolly, yes I can understand keev flirting, as it fits her god, but the way people reply isnt that of an all powerfull being

I have been fighting the urge to post as the void in response to the game thread to be completely honest, to try and get something more like what bel has been doing

[Dorian]

god you guys post fast, 2 more posts in the minute or so it took me to write one??? Jeez

[stonemaybe]

they'd both be me oops

(right hand doesn't know what the left's doing)

[Zephyr]

Really, we can't even guess about how P3 will feel. There's no roleplaying to be done. I haven't been invaded, so I can't give anyone a hard time for that. There's no legitimate gripes yet. We're just killing time waiting for it to start.

Still, I'll be joking around when things are slow. One way or another, I gotta post Pantheon.

[Madadeva]

A related tangent - does anyone have a problem with Aarklar's quotes? Not in the fact that they're semi-cryptic or whatever, but that they're quotes from our world? If it takes away from the... verisimilitude for anyone, I could try to make up a reasonable approximation from a fictitious person of Eiran (Eiranian?).

I certainly have no problem. Part of the difference in 'feel' might be the fantasy novels one likes. My tastes run from the serious (most of SRD) to the amusing (Eddings Belgariad). Of course P3 is just my second RPG - so I am new at this. I would like to explore the character development and writing side more. I am kinda warming to a Pantheon discussion thread ala mount Olympus dialog of the gods ... and a 'story' development thread where we can exercise our writing skills (I'm new at that too!)

Of course, hopefully Xar will review all of these comments and suggestions and come up with something brilliant!

[Madadeva]

Apologies for the double post - catching up!

What mythology do you guys read that doesn't have gods and goddesses sleeping around with everybody, some having children with several partners, mortal or other deities; playing jokes on each other; etc? There may be individual deities within any culture's mythology that are lofty and stoic, but, in general, they are like our pantheon, ranging from very serious to jesters.

I agree completely.

Also, I am not bothered by those suggesting their preferences. I am bothered by those who suggest theirs is the right way to play.

[Edit: inappropriate reference to non-player in Rules and Comments Thread] Comment Deleted

[Damelon]

What mythology do you guys read that doesn't have gods and goddesses sleeping around with everybody, some having children with several partners, mortal or other deities; playing jokes on each other; etc? There may be individual deities within any culture's mythology that are lofty and stoic, but, in general, they are like our pantheon, ranging from very serious to jesters.

By and large, most of us are playing our characters pretty much the way we've always interacted in all the other forums at the Watch. Which of us is stepping outside of ourselves? Think of which players: are quick to speak their mind; flirt a lot; get involved in the prOn threads; take a firm stance on pretty much every issue; worry about things; etc. And which deities act in those ways?

By in large, I agree with the first paragraph, and wish people would try to stretch their personalities a little more with regards to the second.

The premise of a game of gods is a little different than a game where a team is clearing out a dungeon or a player is guiding an empire. There certain styles of dialogue or humor won't work and are out of place. No more than one or two clowns on a team, and humor is totally out of character for an empire game unless it's sinister. Mythology though offers quite a range of personalities across different cultures for deities of similar attributes. There are clowns, pompous asses, blowhards, the clever but sinister, the stupid but noble, skirt chasers, in short just about every human personality is represented and can be gotten away with in game play if done right.

This game won't work if everyone is a clown, but I see differences in the banter leading up to the start of the game that lead me to believe that this won't be the case when it really gets going. It's you deities that aren't joining in that have me thinking. Not in a bad way mind you, the mystery is good, it will be interesting learning your angles.

Yeah, some of the back and forth gets in the way, but the GM has subtle ways of getting things back on course. For instance, a GM couldn't make up a better excuse to get players back on track than to start a game dispute like the real life example this week of the silly fight between Armenian and Orthodox priests in the Church of the Nativity.

All right, I've spent more time on this than I wanted to. Lets all just go out and have a good game and have fun.

[Loredoctor]

...But it's not just about being jesters, etc. It's about using modern terms like 'posted image' or 'mommy'...

So does that mean you object to Syl's use of 'modern' quotes? How old should his quotes be to be of the proper age?

Because the last time I checked, the gods don't have access to internet forums. Using internet terminology dispels the image of gods, and brings to mind mere mortals playing gods on the internet.

Look, it's my opinion - shared by others, by the way. Deal with it.

[Madadeva]

Deal with it.

Lessons from the Loremaster on how to deal with things!! Let me run and get my pen (quill pen that is!)

[Loredoctor]

Deal with it.

Lessons from the Loremaster on how to deal with things!! Let me run and get my pen (quill pen that is!)

[Dorian]

The way im looking at the game thread is that this is meant to be a bunch of mostly new gods, who have literally just been born into existence, who are discovering one another for the first time and finding out where they stand.

So far, the majority of the gods seem to have fallen into a trance of old times, as if they are old friends having a reunion, all talking of how couple B has now had kids and how Aunt Betties had a boob job.

Now, Im not saying that Im right in all of this, all I am saying is this is how it comes across to me, as an outsider to pantheon and a long time roleplayer/wargamer/reader/fantasy geek etc


Now to be completely honest, I dont mind it, as it gives me a pretty good reason to explain why disbelief was popping up everywhere and why the void is suddenly a known thing.

I mean, would you be in a hurry to not only believe, but worship a god who doesnt really act godly?

Now, your argument that all cultures and beliefs etc have gods like this is legit, i fully agree.

However, the gods that have come out on top in common and popular belief today, the ones that have lasted out above and beyond the rest, are the ones that actually acted godlike and less like horny teenagers in a chatroom. Im just waiting for something like this;

"ZOMG NE1 wanna CyBa mE? Pm Me now KKKKKK?????!!!!11111oneoneone"


ok I admit thats taking it too far and im just being a prick now, but I couldnt help myself


Now, Im not saying im an expert on gods, im an existentialist so I view religion as a manmade thing for people in need of a crutch, so I am by no means the leading expert on how they should interact. Im just pointing out how they are coming across to me