Assassins and Assassinations...

[- carrion -]

 The one active SD I know of(armand is not currently active) is not really someone my char would associate with..

There's another one back in the fray who could teach the art of merging with the
darkness. Though her price may be a bit high.


On a sidenote .... why do we more need guidelines for writing apps ?
We got those allready.
Guidelines for the classes / subraces - sure enough.
But for writing an app ?
Back to school anyone ?


carrion

[Ravenous]

Yeah.. Not sure if Lucian would be to fond of neck-biting women.. Well, he would, I mean who wouldnt

[Iconoclast]

Carrion, the format to be used when writing the application and guidelines for the writing of are not the same.

It has become evident after reading through many applications, that some players, either due to language issues, or lack of experience do not know how to write an application. 

What the council is working on, is providing suggested guidelines for the writing of applications, as well as models of "approved" applications.  When in the process of approving or denying an applicant, we want to be certain that they had all the support needed. 

[Heretic]

On a sidenote .... why do we more need guidelines for writing apps ?
We got those allready.
Guidelines for the classes / subraces - sure enough.
But for writing an app ?
Back to school anyone ?


carrion

Not everyone posseses the same skills, knowledge of litterature, ect.

Not everyone knows how to synthetizise a story to get across the important points. Many have commited the same mistakes costing them a refusal of their Prestige Class requests. These will be general tips, collected by community council members based on our observations, the goal is to not have the same mistakes occuring.

For instance, many have:

- Justified the taking of a Prestige class stating they were "Assassin" prior being sucked by the mists, relying solely on background.

Guideline is: Rely on foreground, do not try to justify nor state "Assassin" as being part of your characters' background when he was only level 2 when mist snatched.

- Taken applications too lightly.

Guideline or Tip: Ask a Community friend to read your application, maybe he/she can fill you in with some tips. Stress the importance of the writen, because the community council is void of bias, thus the importance of getting across your character's motivations, development in game to base on our decision.

- Remade the same mistakes

Guideline and tips: Could be providing examples that have led to refusals:

"I was a Shadowdancer back in Amn, but when I go mist snatched, I lost my powers"!
"I am -reaaaaally evil- I am a Blackguard, I've been a blackguard all my life"
ect..

[Insert classical errors]

[- carrion -]

.. as well as models of "approved" applications.

Point taken. This would make sense indeed and give people additional support.
Or it might become the mother of a 'copy-paste' syndrome.

For instance, many have:

- Justified the taking of a Prestige class stating they were "Assassin" prior being sucked by the mists, relying solely on background

True enough. But it should be rather obvious that your character can't have powers, skills etc. which he / she / it simply
can't access due to level restrictions. This falls into the same category Blue mentioned in another thread when he made
people aware not to include 'cheesy' things into their backgrounds (e.g. being a demon in disguise, having lost their arcane lvl.
20 powers etc.).
A level 2 starting PC could very well be an assassin by name and reputation though, but without the PrC of course.

Guideline and tips: Could be providing examples that have led to refusals

I believe this would make the most sense actualy. People would have to think about their app's content and
could easily see what sort of things are anathema.


carrion

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

Guideline and tips: Could be providing examples that have led to refusals

I believe this would make the most sense actualy. People would have to think about their app's content and
could easily see what sort of things are anathema.
carrion

i suppose my thought would be then you'd get alot of "copy-cat" apps no?..just a thought

[jimkaf]

Erm, kinda a bit offtopic, but I guess those that review the applications ... can easily see if an app is copied I suppose.

The topic though is heavily derailed and don't really see it having anything to do with "Assassins and Assassinations" currently.

[Ravenous]

One more off-topic...

Delete the names of chars that got disapproved.. Confidentiality and all that Unless they are your own that is, or get approval..


Assassinations: Money or favors for offing someone.. Simple enough

[JironGhrad]

One more off-topic...

Delete the names of chars that got disapproved.. Confidentiality and all that Unless they are your own that is, or get approval..

I don't believe that would be beneficial.  The purpose for retaining denied apps is that players are allowed to reapply... it greatly increases the likelyhood of "spam" apps, especially when a new council takes over

[Heretic]

What the council is working on, is providing suggested guidelines for the writing of applications, as well as models of "approved" applications.  When in the process of approving or denying an applicant, we want to be certain that they had all the support needed.

What Iconoclast means, is that we'll do something more along the lines of this:

Guideline and tips: Could be providing examples that have led to refusals.

I believe this would make the most sense actualy. People would have to think about their app's content and
could easily see what sort of things are anathema.

We wont write an application for you, but we will tell you what has not worked. You take it from there with all the information on the lore threads, your imagination and these guidelines, you have all the tools to succeed.

[Ripkill]

Well, EO, thanks for responding to my queries for more information.  Your response actually hit the nail on the head, seeing as one of the characters in question that I was checking into this for is a dark elf and therefor not social enough to be part of a mob-type organization like the Red Vardo Traders and too physically abnormal to be part of the Verzi.  And, for the record EO, you originally said this quote:

Vardo have no interest in outcasts (they draw too much attention)

Anyhow, I suggest you quit complaining OOC and try to figure out how to get in there IC. Your character can start looking for a mentor or organizations that might hire him..he can start delving in anatomy, reading, talking to specialists, etc..you won't be spoonfed a prestige class simply because you are unhappy that your character does not fit in.

Well, EO, I made an honest inquiry.  There is a severe lack of information on these forums relating to these two factions; the same two factions that this thread tells people who want to be assassins to join so they can be trained.  If I didn't ask, I would not now know that my character can never join these groups or be trained by them.  You answered my questions, so I thank you, but this reaction of yours doesn't fit.  My query was logical, suited to the lack of information, and the little information I asked for about races in regards to the factions obviously makes a difference as to what I need to do and work on.  Without knowing such details, you leave me to wander aimlessly in hopes of running into a member of a faction I can never join to be trained in a class they wont train me in.  Accusing me of "complaining" and attempting to "be spoonfed a prestige class simply because you are unhappy that your character does not fit in" is a bit off the mark. 

I'm the one that pointed out that the Assassin prestige class can be self taught.  I never said anything about "oh, I kill people, so I am an assassin" or anything along those lines.   Sorry if you somehow got that impression from my inquiries, but I can re-read what I wrote up to this point and still not figure out where you're coming from directing such a thing at me.

[EO]

There is generally a lack of information on those factions in the setting (there's very very brief info on Verzi and about nothing on Vardo save for the fact they are based in Krezk, info on the leader), so most querries won't give out much information. That's why you're much better off asking around in-game (Vardo are a public organization so it is very easy to run into one). Especially since we redefined Vardo for this server, they are not exactly the salvagers they were in the setting....or rather we broadened their scope to make them closer to the Mob than simply salvagers while keeping the salvaging side.

We discussed drow before for Vardo..while some would fit the Vardo profile, the problem is that drow are so hated in Barovia and by most humans that no one wants to work with them..if you wouldn't work with a drow on Toril, you wouldn't here..and Barovian Vardo are even less likely to.

As for assassin, yeah, self-taught but as said, it would require heavy RP and proving it. We've actually had quite a few of those "oh, I kill people so I'm an assassin" applications and they were denied. We have one drow assassin on the server by the way I think.

[Ravenous]

I don't believe that would be beneficial.  The purpose for retaining denied apps is that players are allowed to reapply... it greatly increases the likelyhood of "spam" apps, especially when a new council takes over

Reason as to why I said it.. was if posting them for "public" perusal as examples of what did not get applied.. Of course the council still has them with names and all.. But the rest of the player base needs not know who wrote them..

[JipK]

Hm I posted something here, but I think it actually belongs to a whole new thread so I am creating one.

[Rex]

Maybe some of the denied Applications should be posted so people can get a better grasp of what is considered "bad" before adding to the pile, or having their ego's bruised by just being overtly rejected with a few brief words.  Names and faces could be changed to protect the innocent of course.

~Rex 

[Heretic]

The council is working on the guidelines, of course, what I perceive from Gyru is the same I perceived when I got denied after my first denial for Shadowdancer, it is only natural - what I can assure the player of Gyru at this moment, is that the reasons for his denial have not much to do with his background nor the 100 words.

He will be able to re-apply in a month with the Council's guidelines. He can also meet me in game, I will discuss with him if he wishes some clarifications, or he can contact any other Community council member, it will be a pleasure to support him throughout the process.

[Rex]

The council is working on the guidelines, of course, what I perceive from Gyru is the same I perceived when I got denied after my first denial for Shadowdancer, it is only natural - what I can assure the player of Gyru at this moment, is that the reasons for his denial have not much to do with his background nor the 100 words.

He will be able to re-apply in a month with the Council's guidelines. He can also meet me in game, I will discuss with him if he wishes some clarifications, or he can contact any other Community council member, it will be a pleasure to support him throughout the process.

Post the ones that are rejected.  Simple, clean, to the point. 

~Rex 

[Negnar]

Post the ones that are rejected.  Simple, clean, to the point. 

~Rex 

Surely that would be up to the person who posted it whether or not they wanted everyone to see it, in many cases the applications provided information that could be easily metagamed if everyone could see it. Perhaps though if the council wanted to do this they could post an "example" application of "what not to do" this way people could find it easier to write up their applications.

However we then run the risk of the applications simply being what they feel the council want to hear so that they get the PrC/Subrace then RP differently to what they said in their application (if a DM then brought it up they could simply say "well my character has now developed into this").

[Rex]

Post the ones that are rejected.  Simple, clean, to the point. 

~Rex 

Surely that would be up to the person who posted it whether or not they wanted everyone to see it, in many cases the applications provided information that could be easily metagamed if everyone could see it. Perhaps though if the council wanted to do this they could post an "example" application of "what not to do" this way people could find it easier to write up their applications.

However we then run the risk of the applications simply being what they feel the council want to hear so that they get the PrC/Subrace then RP differently to what they said in their application (if a DM then brought it up they could simply say "well my character has now developed into this").

Sucky PC's are easily handled.  Kill them.

~Rex 

[Ravenous]

Sucky PC's are easily handled.  Kill them.

And then they come back, again and again and again...

[Rex]

Sucky PC's are easily handled.  Kill them.

And then they come back, again and again and again...

So what, I enjoy taking lunch money from nerds.  Besides one thing many sucky PC's can't handle, is having their rejections aired in public.  Permadeath takes care of that annoying "I'm Back!!!!" crap anyway.  Still think the current system needs a respawn limit.
Another topic another thread out there all ready for it.

~Rex 

[Cor Reale]

I have the faint feeling I might have to fight an assassin.  That sounds like fun, but in the original D&D, assassins used poisons that could kill the target on contact.  I wonder how I can avoid the first hit, then counter so the death attack is not threatening.  This adds an interesting dynamic to the setting if I am always on my toes.  By the by, I like how when J*** **** attacks me, she likes to draw back somewhat, so I don't die, but I feel constantly threatened.  Wonder if she's trying to get sneak attack to work, but just can't surprise me.

[Helaman]

I have the faint feeling I might have to fight an assassin.  That sounds like fun, but in the original D&D, assassins used poisons that could kill the target on contact.  I wonder how I can avoid the first hit, then counter so the death attack is not threatening.  This adds an interesting dynamic to the setting if I am always on my toes.  By the by, I like how when J*** **** attacks me, she likes to draw back somewhat, so I don't die, but I feel constantly threatened.  Wonder if she's trying to get sneak attack to work, but just can't surprise me.

I warned you about borrowing money from a certain person... you are screwed.

You might as well get executed at that trial next week - It will be much cleaner and kinder than what that person will do to you.

[Ravenous]

I have the faint feeling I might have to fight an assassin. That sounds like fun, but in the original D&D, assassins used poisons that could kill the target on contact. I wonder how I can avoid the first hit, then counter so the death attack is not threatening. This adds an interesting dynamic to the setting if I am always on my toes. By the by, I like how when J*** **** attacks me, she likes to draw back somewhat, so I don't die, but I feel constantly threatened. Wonder if she's trying to get sneak attack to work, but just can't surprise me.

Oh trust me.. If she wants you dead.. You WILL die
Targetted by assassins on PotM is deadly, death attack rocks on a low-magic server. But enjoy the excitement fully, nothing more exciting than having to watch all the shadows for hidden persons(not that there are anyone capable of spotting that one anyway), and expecting every second to be ones last