i don't understand what the problem is?

What kind of cliques do you talk about? Factions? They always welcome new members. I want to play with the Banite clique. I make a Banite PC, join their group, watch them play and find out how I can contribute. Then I start crawling up whatever ladder of hierarchry they have established. Eternal order? I make a Kelemvorite that actually doesn't like undead. Elfs? I make an elf who worships the Seldarine and doesn't like drow.

Or you want to play a separate PC and want to interact with these groups. Easiet way, PK one of their members. Always gets you involved.

The German way of making friends: kill all other options.

I should also clarify that I am not trying to detract or undermine the value of the work the DM and Design team put in. I think the scope of effort made is one of the things that keeps people playing Amia.

What am am citing is a prevailing attitude regarding the perceived value of one players contribution over another. Frankly, many of those examples you listed back up what I've said about some established players displaying an often unconscious or unintended disdain for what they perceive to be 'lesser' RPers.

I would say that the vast majority of people who have posted here (and I thank you all for your well wishes) are not 'that' kind of player, at least not intentionally. But the core factor remains; if you are a part of the setting as well as a character in it then you have a responsibility to interact with the wider server community. If you do not then you and your character should be removed from any position of authority in the 'story', which is what Amia is.

It is here that the ugly face of Amia's cliques come to the fore. If you've been around long enough and are well known then it is highly unlikely that 'divine intervention' will step in, mainly because the problem I believe is there isn't seen as a problem by many people, as has been demonstrated by some of the replies in this thread.

Yes, it may be the safe way to handle things from the perspective of keeping organizations considered important to the setting stable is concerned, but it is also a great way to cause stagnation and foster arrogance and exclusivity.

Again, this is not intended as an attack on any one person or group, specifically I am not making a veiled attack on DMs and this post should not be read as such. It is an issue of wider 'server-culture' and this is why I have decided to retire from NwN instead of sending a simple PM asking why a specific interest group is being so cliquey.

So, lathandier, you are right in a sense. Cliques do exist through the perception of others and I believe you have surmised the attitude I have been speaking of; "If newbies or whoever are too timid to just RP with someone and get involved, then it's their problem". Now, if the clique doesn't actually see them self as being exclusive and are passively or unknowingly excluding people then the problem cannot be solved, it is hence inherit in the setting. Now we see the violence inherit in the system...

No, you are having arguments with everybody, I suspect you even have arguments with yourself if no suitable victim comes along.

Just before I fall asleep, I like to pretend it's just a public feat so Pigeon can succeed in politics and save the world from poverty... with his unicorn and shining armour and Excalibur.

Everyone needs the occasional challenge!

Ley lines, y'all. Just let me go wrangle up my cowboy boots and lasso us up some magic.

Yee-haw!

And no one's as challenged...

Dammit, that's so bad I can't even finish it.

<3