Best Of

Re: QUOTES 8: THE QUOTING

Cheliyi has been crushed to death by falling rocks.

You see the death occur at crushed beneath fallen rocks. (?)

I just saw that and imagined @Cheliyi walking along exploring, seeing a room labelled 'Crushed between fallen rocks' and going 'OOH I wonder why it's called that?'

Arix

5

Re: QUOTES 8: THE QUOTING

Reason #462 of why i love Kailanna:

Veldrin D'Cente says to Kailanna, "Lawrence."

Veldrin nods her head sagely.

With a nod, Warlady Kailanna n'Kylbar, Matriarch of Jackals says to Veldrin, "And a Lawrence to you as well."

Sapphira

5

Re: The Basin's Newest Star

@Gurashi How do you start this quest?

Isser

1

Re: Artifact Ideas

Sapphira said:

Orventa said:

Pretty please release a bird gnomeweapon with laser eyes and stabby beak?

Ooooh. A swan.

picturing a large mechanical swan with glowing red eyes and and a beak hacking into astralbeasts.... or bashing them with its razor sharp wings. Interestingly interesting, even though not Aeldra's style.

Aeldra

3

Re: Tweets VIII: Knocks Me Off My Tweet

Can I just say that I really dislike how some people seem to consider reports as another battlefield? This is not about winning or losing or about what happened 50 years ago. Please keep your comments civil and your commentary focused on the present and ideally, maybe do some testing before commenting. And no, I haven't put out a single report, I've just been reading what people commented.

Aeldra

5

Re: Upcoming Economy Rework and Goals

Xenthos said:

I'm curious why your two viable paths exclude:
"Increase commodity availability and address tradeskill gating" - why don't you see that as viable? Sure, you could add things in where people can craft things and sell them off to gold to npcs as an alternative to hunting or whatever, but I'm not sure why you're only presenting two options that both require a lot of work when it feels like the simplest solution is just put it back to the way it worked for years, while potentially adding a few other outlets / reasons for trades along the way.

Because we've already been down that path and it still leaves a wide open gap that doesn't feel right. Tradeskills still can't make money, but are still 'required' until you spend enough goop and credits to opt out over time. It's not commodities or skill gating that's holding back tattoists, it's the fact that someone needs tattoos all of once and will likely only pay you a pittance for your time that you could have instead spent bashing to make more gold, xp, and DC. People don't go chef to sell any of their mechanically beneficial platters, kabobs, and treats, they do it to refine 34 pies for Gioia or so they can herofete for free, or just to sell a bowl of ice cream every few weeks for the arrpees. It's another can-kick to push the issue down the road for a few months until the cracks are exposed again. If tradeskills aren't meant to matter, then let's clear out the stuff that makes it look like they do. If they are meant to matter, let them.

Luce

3

Re: Upcoming Economy Rework and Goals

We could make a city's Nexus decay if you don't put 500 Wood/Silver/Platinum/Gold/Iron into it every week! /s

Luxurio

3

Veneration

Most skills in veneration feel like they are meant to be used in order versus order wars. While some are still quite handy without it, some feel very lacking, expensive, or useless without having many cultists around, which already is difficult to gain. The skill itself requires a large amount of cult essence, and then several require such expenditures it seems like they won't be used, given the relatively low benefits.

That isn't to say it's not cool. I love the very concept of cults. I like all the fluff with it. But it feels like an extremely old skill set. And the longer it goes without changes, the least likely it'll be used. And given how much effort goes into creating a cult for the Divine involved, it would be nice to see it used more often. More things outside of the realm, more visible to the Basin at large to see the union between god and demigod/dess.

Venerate Form a divine cult to venerate your patron.

Cost: 10,000,000 essence (Free if Ascendant)

Having fanned your divine spark beyond that of a mere mortal, and having

formed a bond with an Elder Divine, such a union can be furthered upon.

With the agreement of your patron, you can form a divine cult to

venerate an aspect of Their divinity.

- Nothing wrong with this, as it is literally the ability to like...become a cult. Makes sense.

Meditation 50% Inept Strengthen the bond between you and your patron.

MEDITATE UPON <patron>

Cost: 30,000 cult essence per meditation

As a divine cult is formed, it is weak. The bond, however, can be

expanded upon by meditating on it. By meditating at your altar, forged

in the instant that you and your patron formed your union, you can

increase the strength of your veneration.

- As with the first, it is needed in order to create the cult. Having to be at the shrine in order to strengthen the cult makes sense. That's fine.

Pilgrimage 0% Novice All pilgrimages begin with a prayer for deliverance.

VENERATE <patron> WITH PILGRIMAGE

Cost: 500 essence

By venerating your God with a rite of Pilgrimage, He may grant you

passage through the known planes to your cult's altar within His realm.

- This is a fine nice power. Anyone in the cult can use it, it doesn't cost a lot of power, a nice way to get to your God's realm.

Glory 50% Novice A ritual to seek the ineffable wisdom of your patron.

VENERATE <patron> WITH GLORY

Cost: 10,000 essence

Venerate your God with a rite of Glory, seeking divine wisdom for your

cult. All members present will be granted experience, the amount varying

on the number of members present.

- Unsure how this stacks up. It is unlikely that the 10,000 essence is worth it without at least 3 cult members, probably many more. It can be done alone though, and anyone in the cult can do it, so if the cult has a lot of essence, probably fine. Mostly forgotten, but not bad.

ReverentContemplatio 0% Apprentice A ritual of blessing for sheltered sleep.

VENERATE <patron> WITH REVERENTCONTEMPLATIONS

Cost: 5,000 essence

Venerate your patron with a private ritual, drawing your physical and

spiritual self closer to Him. For a time, sleeping within His/Her realm

will increase your base health regeneration by three times.

- Useless to the avatar, as they don't sleep. I don't think you can sleep after level 80 without an artifact that lets you deepsleep again. I like the flavour of it. It might be nice if you got unique dreams while using it? People in orders already get unique order related dreams.

Did you know that? Most people don't I think. It's really neat! I don't think they get seen often enough! This is still a....really weird one. So many people are, if not demigod/desses, then at the very least over level 80 by the time they'd find themselves in an order and in a cult.

Prospicience 50% Apprentice See the world through another's eyes.

VENERATE <patron> WITH PROSPICIENCE OF <cult member>

Cost: 500 essence

See through the eyes of a member of your cult, and know the world as

they know it. Only the Avatar may perform this rite, and it must be

performed at the cult's altar.

- Really nice flavour and it doesn't use a lot of essence! Having to be at the altar is a bit annoying. Perhaps anyone in the cult can cast it, but they must be at the altar, but the avatar, having the deeper connection, can cast it anywhere. Moving or doing stuff would interrupt it?

SupplicantsPrayer 0% Capable A ritual of devotion precedes all offerings.

VENERATE <patron> WITH SUPPLICANTSPRAYER

Cost: 100,000 essence

Increase the value of your cult's offerings with this rite of

supplication. The more cultists are present at the time of its casting,

the more potent the bonus. The benefit will last for one day, and then

fade.

- Nice! Extremely expensive for what it does. Useful if you plan on offering gobbing amounts of esteem. But still, extreeeemly expensive.

VindicatedVendetta 50% Capable A ritual to vindicate your actions.

VENERATE <patron> WITH VINDICATEDVENDETTA

Cost: 5,000

Damage Buff: 1/10 to all sources (against order enemies)

A personal promise to your Patron, you may beseech a vindication for

your prejudice against cultists of an enemy god - and so smite them with

a bolstered fury. Can only be cast at the cult's altar.

- Situational. Against order enemies? Must be cast at the cult altar. At least it can be cast by anyone in the cult and not just the avatar. I think.

Intervention 0% Adept Every flock requires a shepherd.

VENERATE <patron> WITH INTERVENTION OF <cult member>

Cost: 5,000

Intervene on behalf of a cult member and risk the trials that would rise

against them in their stead. Note only the Avatar of the cult can

perform this rite, and it can only be performed from the cult's altar.

- Avatar only and at the altar. If anyone could cast it, but keep it at the altar, it could be good? I understand it certainly can't be cast anywhere, as that would make an avatar...extremely strong.

BenevolentEmanations 50% Adept A ritual to manifest the benevolent will of your God.

VENERATE <patron> WITH BENEVOLENTEMANATIONS

Cost: 25,000 essence

Member Requirement: 2 (Avatar Can Cast Alone)

Summon the attention of your Patron, beseeching Him to manifest His

benevolent will throughout His realm. Healing emanations of these

benevolent blessings will rain down upon His devout, and of those who He

looks benevolently upon.

- One of the ones that feels like it's a leftover from cult wars. A blessing! For the realm! Almost no one attacks realms. It's been real life years since anyone has tried to kill a moth, and that includes when Mysrai was off snoozing/meeting the Best Tae'dae, and given how big the realm is, you'd think at least a few would hunt it. But no. So an expensive power, for use...only in the realm.

DevoutShield 0% Master A ritual of protection against the blasphemous.

VENERATE <patron> WITH DEVOUTSHIELD

Cost: 5,000 essence

Damage Resistance: 1/6 from all sources

Venerate your Patron with this rite, and He may bestow upon you a shield

worthy of His devout. Such a blessing will protect you against harm, no

matter the source. This rite can only be cast at a cult altar.

- Not bad? Again, weird to have to be cast at the altar. At least it's from every source, and anyone in the cult can cast it without needing multiple cult members.

Noetics 50% Master To know, to hear, to speak through that which is devout.

(Cult Leader Only)

VENERATE <patron> WITH NOETICS FOR <cult member>

Cost: 10,000 essence

CULT SPEAK <text>

Venerate your patron with this rite and be granted the privilege to not

only hear what your cult member hears, but to speak directly through

him. This can only be performed at the cult's altar, and will fade if

you move from it.

Note: To cancel an active noetics, the Avatar need only move or

re-perform the rite.

- Expensive for only the avatar? Perhaps this could have two forms. One by the cult leader that can use it anywhere, and one where another cult member can use it from only the altar, to be closer to the cult.

MalevolentEmanations 0% Gifted A ritual to manifest the malevolent will of your God.

VENERATE <patron> WITH MALEVOLENTEMANATIONS

Cost: 25,000 essence

Member Requirement: 4 (Avatar Can Cast Alone)

Summon the attention of your Patron, beseeching Him to manifest His

malevolent will throughout His realm. Angered emanations of these

violent curses will rain down upon those who would defile His realm.

- Expensive, altar only, realm only. Defile Their realm? You can't do that, so I'm assuming “being an enemy within Their realm” so again...this is incredibly niche. Even though the avatar can cast alone, it's expensive for something the affects only the realm. And only order enemies.

DeiparousSpeed 50% Gifted A ritual to seek god-given speed.

VENERATE <patron> WITH DEIPAROUSSPEED

Cost: 5,000 essence

Venerate your Patron with this rite before the cult's altar, and He may

bestow upon you the ability to move faster and farther than before. Move

swiftly across the land, and spread the word of your God.

- Perfectly adequate. At the cult altar though? But hey! Not toooo expensive, anyone can cast it and use it, go zoomies.

SolemnCall 0% Expert A single word is all that is needed.

VENERATE <patron> WITH SOLEMNCALL

Cost: 15,000 essence

Member Requirement: 2 (Avatar Can Cast Alone)

Perform this rite and place a solemn call to duty for all cultists to

answer. If they are on a known plane, they will immediately begin to

draw close, and little will stop them. Enemy territory, however, will

hinder, but not stop, their travels.

- Does this force them to come without being able to stop it? Does moving stop it? At least cult members can start the process without needing the avatar.

HymnicChoir 50% Expert All within your God's creation shall sing praise.

VENERATE <patron> WITH HYMNICCHOIR

Cost: 20,000 essence

Member Requirement: 2 (Avatar Can Cast Alone)

Send the inhabitants of your Patron's realm into songs of praise and

glory, bolstering your cult members health, mana and ego while within.

As well, others not of your cult but followers of your God - or members

of orders He looks benevolently upon - shall receive a lesser blessing

of the same nature.

- So only within the realm again. At least this time it effects orders They also look benevolently upon, if you have some sort of big shebang in the divine realm! Again, this feels like it's a leftover against order versus order wars.

PiousSacrifice 0% Virtuoso To gain something, something else must be lost.

VENERATE <patron> WITH PIOUSSACRIFICE

Cost: 10,000 essence

Offer up the essence of your cult to your God, sanctifying shrines and

lands in His name.

- Fine. A way to sanctify shrines without using essence? Wait. Wouldn't it be easier and probably cheaper to use...use essence?

Portal 50% Virtuoso Channel a gateway through the planes.

VENERATE <patron> WITH PORTAL TO <NEXUS|GODREALM|person>

Cost: 10,000+ essence

Member Requirement: 3 (Leader Can Cast Alone)

Beseech your God to provide a means of travel, piercing through the

planes themselves.

- 10000+? + what? How much? Nexus is the nexus of the person, or the nexus that the god is aligned to? Where in the Godrealm? The cults altar? Why not just use pilgrimage then? For way less cost?

FaithfulCongregation 0% Fabled All shall come at the call of the faithful.

Syntax: VENERATE <patron> WITH FAITHFULCONGREGATION

Essence: 5000

Member Requirement: (Avatar Only)

By beseeching your patron to mark you as the most faithful of His

congregations, those of the Cult will find their health, mana and ego

bolstered for every fellow of their Cult in their area.

- So only the avatar can do this, and only for their cultists. This is already an avatar power? They can exalt stuff. And it only helps cultist so it's even more limited than exalting, as exalting is at least for all order members.

DivineSupper 50% Fabled Sup at the table of your patron's benevolence.

Syntax: VENERATE <patron> WITH DIVINESUPPER

Essence: 5000

Member Requirement: 3

Call upon your Patron to bless your cult, and so sup as the Divine might

- the divine energies restoring your health, mana, ego, endurance,

willpower and protecting you against enemies.

NOTE: This can only be cast once a month.

- Love the flavour! Requires three members. Most cults aren't...super active from what I've heard. The most active cult in Mysrai's order, who has probably the most cults, is lucky if it has three members online at any one time. Can only be cast once a month. Well, you're probably only going to get 3 once a month? Probably.

Presence 0% Mythical Increase the reach of your God's influence.

Syntax: VENERATE <patron> WITH PRESENCE

Essence: 50000

Member Requirement: 4

Ego bonus: 1/5

Influence bonus: 1/5

Call your God's presence to walk amongst the Cult, bolstering your

influencing, and ego for a time.

- Oh! This requires even....one more person! Terrifying! For that much essence and members required for that much of a bonus is...not great.

Omniscience 50% Mythical Hear and speak freely on all planes.

Syntax: VENERATE <patron> WITH OMNISCIENCE <ACTIVE|INACTIVE>

Essence: 5000 (50 per minute upkeep)

Member Requirement: (Cult Leader Only)

Beseech your God to allow your perceptions to expand across the known

multiverse, allowing you to hear anything spoken on all known aethers.

- Cool, I like it. Very nice. Perhaps some way for a cultist to use it, but perhaps at a cost to themselves as well?

TrueSermon 0% Transcendent Let all hear the truest of sermons as it echoes across your God's domain.

Syntax: VENERATE <patron> WITH TRUESERMON

Essence: 35000

Member Requirement: 2 (Avatar can cast alone)

Expand your presence throughout the realm of your God, through your

Cult's Altar, and allow all loyal to Him to hear your inspiring words of

your God's glory. For a time after such a sermon, the inhabitants of the

realm shall be stronger, driven by purpose and devotion.

- The transcendent skill! Requires...a lot of essence. And uhm. Okay, so. Let's use the word “moths” here. It makes moths stronger. This doesn't make them worth more god essence (the essence you see in the logs when an order member influences them), I don't think it even makes them worth more personal essence or esteem generation. If it does, it's a very low amount. And that is from the perspective of the largest divine order with the most moths. For anyone else this is absolutely a waste of essence. It would likely have been great in order versus order wars, but again that's no longer a thing, so this, for a transcendent skill of a skill that is hard to get, is going to be woefully under utlized. And even in the wars, you can't direct the divine mobs to go anywhere, so they'd be stronger...by themselves. Smack. One dead moth. Smack. Another. They don't clump like they use to, so it would still be extremely easy to murder them.

I didn't do this as a report as it seemed like it needed a lot more detail, so I thought perhaps a forum report would be better.

Shulamit

4

Could lusternian lore benefit from being codified and made accessible to new players?

The allure of lusternia is that you get to write your story into the game. The problem is it's hard to do that when 95% of its player generated content is held in the hands of its long time players who were at those events and had the logs to prove it. If they stop playing, it all vanishes. Lusternia will loses and is essentially reset back to what ever is on the official forums, website and in the library system. - It's fragmented and lacking the context needed to understand it.

The only way to learn about it is to go ask an older player and hope that they are not busy or are in the mood. (they usually are) or to read the events post in the news system IG. The news posts state what happens, without any of the context needed to understand these events. It's not a pleasant experience to marathon a huge bout of reading, on a mudclient IG. Anyone who plays lusternia, is by default a bookworm.

I suggest that players would be rewarded on at the organization and character level for filing cleaned up admin approved, logs of player run events. Rewards could be dailycredits or a boost to daily credits, and credit bonuses across the org for players who wish to buy credits or credit rewards to the organization. By default, these logs can only be viewed by the members of that organization only; unless an admin + org leader agrees to make it public. Public logs are put on the small subsection of the official website, to give new players a taste of what the game is like now. (i.e motivate to play! My stuff made it into the game and will remain there for all time, until it is taken down).

Lusternian science makes no sense. I mean we can answer complex questions about god/commune/city motivations but we can't answer questions like "what does Hallifax run on?" or simple ones like "Do we have magnets?" or ones like "what kind of tech or gnomish weapons?"

Designers are going to have an easier time of figuring out what's permitted and what's not. Admins don't have to keep fielding questions of what's

permitted and what's not.

Then on a meta level - why can't we remove the taint IG?

Obviously, the producers don't have to reveal everything, but there should be internal consistancy.

(I don't want to have to do a massive research project just to come up with a nuanced character that does not default to the lusterian/IRE standard of "crazy brain dead snugglebunny with no parents, who humps offscreen" or 'Crazy blood thirsty combat warrior with no parents". or "I hate the opposing org because ...PATRIOTISM!" or if you get a new new player who is playing his/her/their first mud we're going to get a character that is "um...taint is bad" or "the light is good?" while asking basic questions like "How do I operate this game?" and then quitting because no one wants to engage, and it's no much to read. Figuring out possible philosophical angles for your character is going to be easier if you've got access to how lusternia works on a meta and physical level. )

Guys please discuss!

(@Iosai @Ianir @Orael take a look at this!)

Isser

2

Re: Upcoming Economy Rework and Goals

Also, just a modern struggle I'd like to point out - my number one reason for neglecting my shops these days is pricing. I have no idea what to price anything anymore. The majority of my commodities have come from me farming them up myself and using crucibles as applicable, and I don't really buy much off of the market. This leaves me seriously disconnected to the general cost of things, especially as they also vary org to org so even Seren's pricing isn't necessarily a perfect reflection of what is "reasonable" or "fair". Seriously, pricing in the modern age is the worst and it'd be nice if there was just like, a board at Trader Bob's that floated the average price of commodities across all organisation comm shops or something. That seems like something Bob would care about and keep tabs on.

Jolanthe

6