Now I've played Empire on both sides of the fence, so I can speak on it, but I got some gripes with certain things. For one... the Emperor and piercing gaze. Now, I understand the logic behind the Emperor having all the powers of his sects, but let's think for a moment. The Sect powers are given to the sect because they make sense for the sect. They play on what the sect already knows/studies and makes it better. I can see an assassin/thief who already has training and has spent his entire life using his eyes to pierce the shadows and see things normal people couldn't, now, possible learning to sense everything around him. But what I don't see, is a Blade, who has been quaffing potions and eating #### to see his entire life, now suddenly being able to sense all the people around him? Sounds like bull to me.

Also, I might be beating a dead horse, but Centurions. My god... I always pictured Centurions being put at random places, and the Empire basically saying "Hey, we're takin control of this area", with perhaps some RP behind it of how they came to take control, or maybe just some kinda of tyrannic gesture (Outside the Inn, saying they're taking over, or outside the exits to the village, to tell them live there or pay to roam freely). However, I don't see this. I see Centurions used as a cabal outer outer and a gang tool. They're like oversized nightwalker that come in twin packs and act like certain golems within the game. I mean, give me a break. Even with mercs, nightwalkers, and beast call, you have to BE THERE to get the person. But with Centurions, uh uh. They alert the entire cabal you're there, and since they're always "At an entrance to Balator", it aint like you gotta go too far.

I feel like Empire was brought back because of the overwhelming cry of the playerbase. But now that it's back, the other half of the playerbase hates it. It appears, at least to me, that people sought an easier alternative for an evil cabal, since they couldn't get into Scion and/or didn't understand it, and it shows in a lot of the ways people play Imperials. Before you fools start jappin off, of course I'm not talking about everyone. Urog made a pretty good use of Centurions in one of his schemes, though I don't think any of it ever went into fruition.

I'm not here complaining about ganging or any of that crap, because it happens. Empire ganks, followed by Fortress, followed by Tribunals, followed by Outlanders, and Orcs are all in there, along with the bulk of the playerbase who goes out ranking and sees some poor fool on their way to the area. No, that's not my complaint. But Blades just magically learning to see everything when they suffered over gathering enough money to buy roots, and Centurions just turning into a cabal outer and/or ambush tool (They're there to collect money ffor the Empire, not be your personal ambush buddy/diamond golem) is something I have a problem with.

The End

Who would win in a fight between the Empire at the Bloated Whale Ale House with summoner + Centurions or a bunch of chamoed Outlanders at the Copse of Trees with a shaman and insects?

I think I know what my next character is going to be.

Nivek

nt

"New payment options w/ Iron Realms"

In a fight like that, do you think you really need them?

You said "a summoner" for the Empire versus "a bunch" of Outlanders. That's not accurate. Empire has more people.

But we'll give the Empire a necromancer and a thief behind cents. We'll give the Outlanders a shaman and...a thief too? Whatever.

The Empires can't see the Outlanders, so the Outlanders will win - if the both of them are fighting.

But the Empire group is going to be 183198328213918239x more deathful to your average joe of any cabal walking down the road. Maledicter + thief is mean - maledicter + thief with a semi-entwine waiting to the south (cents) is worse.

Empire has three classes to summon with, outlander has one. Empire is going to have a lot more thieves than Outlander. And again - Empire is going to have the player resources to set up that trap a lot more often.

A person can run up to the copse and use an area spell/skill - someone who runs up to the centurions and attacks them in order to get to the imperials has a good chance of getting creamed when the group walks south, blinds, dirt kicks, piles on, whatever.

"... Blades just magically learning to see everything when they suffered over gathering enough money to buy roots, and Centurions just turning into a cabal outer and/or ambush tool (They're there to collect money ffor the Empire, not be your personal ambush buddy/diamond golem) is something I have a problem with."

There is only one emperor, and the emperor is beatable. They are played by humans who make mistakes. They can be tricked, trapped, ganked, and even killed directly.

Emperors also must earn the position. They followed orders from superiors, and did their time over a span of hundreds of hours. Despite their powers, they have limited individual freedom. The emperor oversees a sizeable number of characters that all reflect on him. With power comes responsibility.

Now, on to the dead horse... A similar argument was made that summoning is a ganking tool, since the spell is often used in conjunction with centurions. In truth, almost any skill can be used for ganking purposes. The common thread here involves the players using these abilities. Empire are simply an easy scapegoat due to their present size.

The complementary nature of CF classes and our encouragement of groups will always make ganging an attractive option for many players. I am confident that we are evolving in the right direction, however. Many players and the IMMs are doing their part through the use of honor-based roles, anti-gang code, and information transparency (PBF/Gank-O-Meter). As more players find individual success, it will inspire and help others to find their own. We are always looking for ways to reduce gangs without imposing harsh controls that ruin gameplay.

I certainly understand your frustration. However, as Valg suggested, it is better to offer some feasible solutions to whatever problem you have identified. We are in this together, and I think it is obvious that IMMs listen to what players have to say.

I never have any trouble with Imperials. Their power is waning. I don't see an overbalance or underbalance with the use of Centurions. People learn to manipulate the game in whatever way they will. There are plenty of side routes to take, you can pay to get past them, or you can fight them. There have been many arguments about them before and nothing really held up.

Also, the Emperor is the head guy. He SHOULD be the most powerful Imperial. He has the money and the resources to learn and do what he pleases, else he would not be the Emperor. The powers of all the sects are his because he has underlings to show him how to use them. Makes sense well enough.

There's been a recent rash of complaints about the unique powers given out to one person. Are the power boosts given to (Emperor/OrcChief/Provost/Etc.) significant? Yup. No apologies here for that. Leader weapons, sneaky Scion boosts, and the like are nice perks as well.

However, I think they're more than counterbalanced by the fact that these positions:

- Are generally filled by good roleplayers who spend a lot of time interviewing, directing traffic, etc. If you're Joe Uncaballed, you don't get these powers, but you also can also log in and spend all your time as you damn well please.
- Paint a huge bullseye on you. Everyone wants to be the one who took down the high-profile target.
- Are only on one person.

We like having these kind of rewards becasue we want to motivate people to aspire to the more rare and difficult positions. And this isn't some pay-for-perks MUD where people are dumping money to get these positions... there's nothing stopping you (or anyone) from getting any of them, once you have a little experience under your belt. (Or not. My first two heroes both led their respective cabals.)

Also, I might be beating a dead horse, but Centurions.

If you're going to beat a dead horse, the minimal courtesy is to suggest an alternate implementation, or at least present a viewpoint that hasn't been dragged out several times previously. Otherwise, people tend to round-file it promptly.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com

Don't listen to the nay sayers, haters, and biters. The playerbase wants more unique powers handed out not less. The Emperor of Thera should be badass.

That which does not kill us,
makes us stronger.

I don't know how Centurions work, but from the helpfile they seem to fill coffers or some crap. I was thinking maybe take away from someone's donations to call centurions, depending on the size of the area. Like every civilized rooms is worth this much, every wilderness double that, blah blah, and make there be a price to call Centurions. Something like that to make people put Centurions in a place they think might actually get money instead of using them to just guard the Palace and gank people down. No one wants to lose donations just to see their Centurions get killed. Alternately, the money made goes directly to their donations, so smart Imperials could make a lot more than the dumb ones. Imperial Lands are free of course. Now, the older and more richer of them will still use the Centurions how they please, I guess, so I don't know how to balance that. At that, I'm not even gonna really think about it, or worry about it any more. Just seems like a power the imms don't wanna take out/chage, so I'll leave it at that.
DEATH TO THE EMPIRE!
<~~~~~ done

At least as recent as last year when I was Drozhurrb, centurions do cost the citizen who calls them. It gets deducted from your donations as I recall.