AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

Hallo Amia, I come to you with a question that requires some varied input from the community. As some of you know or are learning, I am a fan of player driven experiences that focus more on the little things: NPC and Setting interaction, ambience, and overall making the world feel more lived in or active. I am less likely than others to be playing the Big Maniacal Wizard, the City Builder, or the Agent of Mass Intrigue. Instead I prefer to be... villagers, the traveling merchant, thieves, guards, creatures, and just about everything else that you may not necessarily meet in a dungeon or out saving the world (Bravesword being an exception), but shares this world with you regardless! It is well because we have so many great DMs doing some fantastic work fleshing out the world on a scale more grand than I typically find myself in.

With that out of the way... I can't be everywhere at once! I would like you to add to this thread (or in PM if it's more under the radar) your thoughts on what locations or people might benefit from more small scale, immersive interactions. Take this time to tell me about those places you find special on the server, those NPCs you might have passed and wondered what they were like or what their story was.

Is there a cute lady in a tavern your character has had their eye on? Would a village benefit from and logically attract more traffic and daily goings-on? I am extremely interested in making people think about, connect, and interact with their settings in a more intimate way. I know so many of you already do this and many DMs support it, but here I am gathering data and lending my proverbial hand.

I'd throw up a poll, but ... I'm curious what you think and why.

I've always wanted Cordor's people to be less of a homogenous blob and more filled with distinct personalities and NPC factions. Though the division between the districts (especially South and West) does add character to different parts of the city, it still feels like the people in Cordor tend to be a faceless and unthinking herd. At best they react to events/PC's, but they don't activelly challenge what they're doing, or take initiative. To illustrate, Nivo (I think it was Nivo) set up a rising anti-adventurer faction in Cordor, but nothing more was done with it. Not only does that make the great majority NPC's entirely dismissable as being of consequence, it also prevents PC's from politically involving itself more deeply in the city.

Honestly, I'd love to see this fleshed out more. Not only in ways that would support a greater plot, but also in small ways. What if a tavern girl arrives with a baby and claims a PC to be the father - truthfully or not? What if, after an appropriately spectacular fight, people demand compensation from the PC's for damaging their houses and livelihoods? What if PC's are sent to resolve a clear case of evilness the way they usually do and are then confronted by outraged neighbours, family members, friends, etc. who demand the PC's hang for murder? Or what about PC's randomly entering people's houses during events? When Marcus was a guard they did this all the time - and he's thrown people out (and effectively out of the event) for it several times. After all, how would you feel if a bunch of heavily armed people suddenly waltzed into your home and started rummaging around under some pretty vague pretense.

All these things bring the city to life, show that these are "actual" people and not just animated furniture to be prodded for answers or rewards, but also add consequence to PC actions. Because seriously, even polite PC's tend to display some damn inconsiderate behavior sometime.

Maybe this was a bit more general than you intended, but I'd love to see this improved.

Thanks for pushing this option to us, Mercedes.

If you're keen on playing Kampo, I think this NPC can play a critical role for Amia.
While I don't have a PC which interacts with the place much, I think its location, its (relative) neutrality and the number of IC ways of access make it a good candidate place for your 'Breathing Life' suggestion.

this NPC could organize / incentivize low-level PCs to organize:
- wrestling tournaments
- hairdresser day (people come there to test head change with their friends)
- merchanting or job system RP (need to add a PC market stall?) with all the job trainers around...
- inn RP, and develop this RP hub.

If Mr Kampo is too "tainted", he could decide to leave the isle, the place would be bought out by another NPC (one of these retired PCs who left with millions of GPs?).

If it helps steer the topic, this is exactly the feedback I'm looking for. From the general area awareness down to singular NPCs. From some of the suggestions I am already playing along similar lines (a favorite being consequences to actions and organically evolving stories) and with the help I hope to gain here I may yet do this job far more effectively.

If I do not respond directly to a particular post, never fear! It will be read and notes will be taken.

linlan wrote:

Thanks for pushing this option to us, Mercedes.

If you're keen on playing Kampo, I think this NPC can play a critical role for Amia.
While I don't have a PC which interacts with the place much, I think its location, its (relative) neutrality and the number of IC ways of access make it a good candidate place for your 'Breathing Life' suggestion.

this NPC could organize / incentivize low-level PCs to organize:
- wrestling tournaments
- hairdresser day (people come there to test head change with their friends)
- merchanting or job system RP (need to add a PC market stall?) with all the job trainers around...
- inn RP, and develop this RP hub.

If Mr Kampo is too "tainted", he could decide to leave the isle, the place would be bought out by another NPC (one of these retired PCs who left with millions of GPs?).

Bareknuckle Brawl anyone?

I always liked Crounching Lemur location, and always found it horribly overlooked and empty.

I know there's very few monkish characters around, but still - I'd like to see more life in there one day. It's literally dead ever since CoA and Letum stopped playing.

Would be great to see some life in the churches of the isles. Cordor, Kohlingen especially were there are large temples. They always seem void to me and the religious life of Amia lacking. Seeing some prayer gatherings, preachers out in the streets, temple goers praying or giving offerings, mourners/funerals, priests greeting visitors and discussing faith, that type of thing would be great.

Also random interactions in inns are always interesting, a bar brawl breaking out, a drunken sailor telling sea shanties, a street urchin picking pockets etc. So many great adventures start in a tavern.

Laura tries to get into theological debates all the time. Usually ends in people turning up their noses to Laura and leaving out of disgust. :lol:

Guardian wrote:

I always liked Crounching Lemur location, and always found it horribly overlooked and empty.

I know there's very few monkish characters around, but still - I'd like to see more life in there one day. It's literally dead ever since CoA and Letum stopped playing.

I concur with this. Its one of those locations that a lot of my characters end up visiting for supplies but in the end I have idea about the characters or story there.

I always find it fun when a NPC pipes in some comment, when PC's are talking near them, especially if the subject is private, lol. Once when Crow casted True Seeing on a Bendir guard, he said "Thanks Crow!", I almost shit myself haha, Hudson was good for that stuff!

Screw Cordor, it gets enough attention as it is.

I would like to see what you suggest Mercedes, spread away from the hubs.

Since my main spends a LOT of time in the Amia Forest regions, and there is increased Grove activity recently, my biased suggestion would breathe some life in that direction. When Hudson introduced a (new) plant species into the forest, he didn't have to do much, and it generated a significant amount of RP. It was short and sweet, but fun, and created a bit more traffic for a time. I know not much really happens in a forest, but this isn't real, and our characters live in a magical place. A lot of PC's stand and live in the forest, come visit!

Guardian wrote:

I always liked Crounching Lemur location, and always found it horribly overlooked and empty.

I don't want to tromp all through Mercedes' topic, but I did want to say that I do have something planned for the Crouching Lemur! I actually have since before I joined the team, it's just been a lack of time thing. But it'll happen. /derail

No worries Letum. This is for everyone so we can communicate our thoughts and interests. I'm getting a lot of good stuff from what's been said coupled with the additional thought provided by folk who sought me out in game.

There's a lot to learn about all these people and places, but luckily there are a lot of little gaps to fill in as well. Coordinating with past and present plotlines, as well as other DMs, is perhaps the hardest part.

LetumLux wrote:

Guardian wrote:

I always liked Crounching Lemur location, and always found it horribly overlooked and empty.

I don't want to tromp all through Mercedes' topic, but I did want to say that I do have something planned for the Crouching Lemur! I actually have since before I joined the team, it's just been a lack of time thing. But it'll happen. /derail

<3

I've been hearing from some people in game that they like the idea of NPCs being more than just glorified furniture that can conveniently help you solve a mystery or advance a plotline. While I'm hard at work analyzing people and places where this can happen in such a way that is both imersive and consistent with the who where and why, I have something to give to you from another viewpoint:

It goes two ways! Consider the NPCs, the inhabitants and culture inherent in a region even I'd you can't always talk to or see them. The beings that make up our setting will only be as meaningful as you let them be, as far as they go in your considerations.

Remember that ... being evil or otherwise hateful in an Elven community is rare, and that the elves living there will notice and react when you are. Remember your bizarre dragon/angel/frog heritages or special defining features that make you special, and that people may react to you differently where you are.

Most importantly, remember that commoners, animals, and travelers are usually just that even when in motion. Treat the setting appropriately and I feel everyone will find some of the responses they're looking for. To the people following and suspecting a sweet old man: shame on you ;P

The world will react to your choices, sometimes frustratingly so! This is a primary goal of mine (and others) moving forward. That said, I suppose it's an active time IC for people playing jerks.

If it's not too late to hop on this, I would love to see some everyday happenings in the Greengarden and Feylake districts of Kohlingen. The workings of the city proper are well established, but the commonfolk areas are still pretty fresh as far as I've seen. Drunk Dogan has some stories to tell, I'm sure. Maybe the kids that perpetually hang by the lake are like the Little Rascals or the Hide-and-Seek kids from Majora's Mask.

Some of my favorite rp ever was when a bunch of players congregated around an area with NPCs that are always there already, and a DM takes over one of the regular NPCs and all of a sudden the world comes alive. Good times.

Feylake has gotten some attention, but it can always use more! It is one of those rare places where the world of the mystical is so easily correlated to the idea of a functioning population right next to it. A powerful fey and a city of the righteous. I do think what I've seen from Rigela there has been amazing, though.

Not to toot that horn too much!

I have a request to make in this thread...

Can the DMs (or Devs, or a player-driven initiative) make a comprehensive scope of the history of places that would be easily accessible- meaning not the history of the island, but the history of the very public NPCs. How long the Commonwealth has been in order, under what Ministers, etc. When exactly did the last Justicar die. About how old is the Jarl in Wiltun. What is the ruling government in Ostland called. There is a whole thread in the Lore system for Factions, and Yossarin did an amazing job with populations and such a few years ago (even going into information that wouldn't be accessible.. because he's so detailed and amazing)... but no one has kept it up to date and the now the DM Team is not making this information available. There are so many facts that I feel would be (and should be) ICly easily accessible to players and PCs and everyone that are just NOT. For example, my character visited a house about three times- and voiced this to multiple DMs, in multiple IC fashions- and never once was it made clear ICly that someone was living in and cleaning said area. Which would be... obvious. Is that something you can do along these lines, Mercedes, as you flesh out NPCs and places that need more attention?

I imagine someone like Aiseth would be good for this sort of thing... if they were allowed to do so, or vetted it through the Team... and if I recall last time it was indeed a group effort... but, I thought this a pertinent place to put that request.

Something like this for Kohlingen is coming thanks primarily to Pony. Just waiting on some answers and details from the DMs involved with it.

Ostland is a tricky thing, while small parts of its history could be found easily, such as the how Wiltun came to rule it, could be known in wider area. The exact history could easily remain unknown. First of all, not many have access to Ostlands record, if there even is any. Secondly, the history before that is not recorded into documented form largely. So, instead of trying to find out via forums, your character would need to find those individuals in game who actually have done most of the research work to find out the history of Ostland. While some information you feel that might be accessible, might inaccessible for obvious reason, while the reasons remaining unknown to you.

And trust me, I understand your pain of not getting specific information on incidents and events. Even obvious information. Been there myself :/

EDIT: Mercedes, they have said in old times that nixies live in the streams of the Nexus. That would be interesting experience!

Fair enough, Mags, but there is a ship that does travel there for people to get on without restriction! Unlike the one that travels to Nec'perya, for example. I think there is some information that is missing in terms of what that looks like, etc. It was only something that came to mind...

As far as I've understood Ostland is under a blockade...? Anyhow, I published some IC fashion information on Cordor if such interests anyone. Is in library books. It ain't much, but thought it be best provided for everyone than just hoarded by me. Thank Yossarin for the content. <3

I think I wrote a whole timeline for Ostland!

But I also think it was intended mostly for DM use and wasn't really good for public use. It was during the creation of the whole area.

And some of us research that timeline through IG efforts. And I think much remains undiscovered!

Magiros wrote:

As far as I've understood Ostland is under a blockade...?

It is and it's just one of those things that can't be adequately reflected in game because of mechanics, quests and junk.

... That is silly. At least place an OOC notice up. Some of us assumed that ships were sneaking by to different parts of the place, or something, as it's... WYSIWYG in game, right? Ah, Amia.

As it were, I'm working on a Ruathym timeline. Wiltun is almost done, then Caraigh and Ostland will be done--a personal timeline for each place and how they compare to each other.

One of the many reasons I'm going to have your babies one day, BoB.

I have a really odd question for Yoss on this -- was that the island I wrote the story for? It's been eating at me for a year now because I can't remember and I don't want to share specifics in case it actually got used and is in game. It had to do with very special trees.

Thanks to the kind soul who gave me the information. This warms my heart that it's in use.

Stand In The Place That You Live

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