Hello Mergulla,

After reading some of the stuff that was on the boards, and seeing that you were asking for help, I thought that I would come on down and see if I might be able to at least give some helpful advice.

Long time ago I actually played another game by the name of The Lighthouse. Alternity sci-fi setting, etc. But, the reason why this is relevant to CF is that it had cabals. I was a leader of one of those cabals and for a time an admin of that particular cabal before the game closed up shop and disappeared into cyberspace. ((IE I think the guy who owned the MUD didn't back up his stuff and a virus pwned his server.))

Anyways, because of this I've got a bit of experience helping out and bringing back some life into dead cabals. Here's some of the things that I found that worked for me, which I will put into CF terms so that it is more relevant.


*******************************************************************************************************************************

-My opinion, the fundamentals of the cabal do not need to change. The scions are a great cabal in what they do and who they are. You've probably seen a lot on the boards recently about asking for a full on change. While this is a good idea, and can be done, alot of the time people are asking for it just because they aren't seeing anything new with the current system. So, then what do you do to improve that?

Well you already took an awesome step with that scavaneger hunt that you did. Though from what I understand it wasn't such a great turn out right? Try another idea like that, though this time make it more centered around the ideas and philosophy behind the cabal. Maybe some sort of mass RP session in which you discuss the Scions as a whole? How about set in a secluded location away from the chasm with all sorts of evil and cabalistic symbals and arcane things on the walls? An avatar of yours ((maybe the right hand man of the Archmage in the chasm)) can ask a series of questions, open ended or closed, about different things? Just a thought but you get the idea. That way people will be rping, like they are supposed to anyways, but you get interest again from the people that have pledged.

They know they are being watched, they know they are being noticed, they also know that there are only a few spots left open. ((something your avatar can say at the meeting?)) and all sorts of lunacy can unleash itself as people step it up to try and be the most noticed.

As a side, this is exactly something that I did with Lighthouse and it worked great.


-If the current leader isn't hacking it; then he is not the most awesome evil mage/priest/AP/whatever out there. Demote his ass on the spot and kick him in the junk for allowing the Scions to fall into such disrepute.

-Promote someone who is actively working towards the goals of the Scions, or even someone who is just rocking it out in the cabal in general. Yes, I know that you are taking a risk with this because you are possibly promoting someone who might not be as bad ass as their role says they are ,but, that's why IMM's can snoop people right? Find someone and push them into the position! Ever been given extra responsibilities at work because your boss thought you were kicking ass? I know I have and it made me just work that much harder cause I know that they are watching and happy with my performance.

-Your scions not responding to raids? Not trying to get scepter back from the Fortress when they take it? Smack them down a bit and tell them that their souls, or something, are forfeit if they don't at least give it a try. (( as long as it's not crazy odds or something.))

There is so much you can do, apart from rehashing the Scions completely, that will keep the idea of them in tact and just rejuvenate the dark evilness that should be there to begin with.

Also, if these folks in Scion are supposed to be such bad ass elite rpers, then none of these 'changes' or kicks in the ass will really hinder them in any way and will only help to get them back into the whole idea of the cabal.

If not, then there is nothing to worry about, you have a crap load of people who have pledged to the cabal that you can pick through. Boot one of the players who is not doing what they are supposed to, bring a new one in, and watch as suddenly the old player will really care what is going on and will either RP his way back to the spotlight or move on; giving you a healthier situation to be in.

Apart from that, from what I understand the Mergulla God character itself is supposed to be a bit on the lazy side right? Why not create an avatar or something that people can be afraid of? When I was in Lighthouse I had a guy that was essentially nothing more than a suit of armor and a pair of eyes; but what was important was the role that he played. I could take him and come down and out of the heavens whenever the hell I wanted. Scare the s##t out of people, encourage them, etc. Why not give something like that a try? He can be like your own little Mergulla minion of applicants.


Otherwise, I think that it is awesome that you are really trying to get a handle on this and make it good. I know that you will do well, and don't mind the people who are giving you crap. When you show off the finished product and they all just go...."awesome..." you can totally smirk your ass off right in their faces.

I hope that this helped.

Feel free to disregard any of this if you don't like it, don't care, or are already going forward with your own ideas.

GOOD LUCK!

News flash, everybody on this ####ing MUD wants to be Rambo. We should have called it RamboMUD. ~Daevryn~

Er, so because you liked it in the past, it should be ignored that lots of others don't like it now?

Note that I've never played a Scion and don't have a particular say in this, aside from the fact that I wish Scion was stronger because it's more fun for other cabals then. Even Mergulla has solicited advice on the matter, which is great.

I just find your logic about as flawed as it gets.

Aarn

I think his point is more that power and fun ebbs and flows on this mud. It always has and it always will. You can only take the haters so seriously because someone always has to bitch about something. I really appreciate the bit of positive posting after the rough week.

That is true, you can certainly only take the haters so seriously! But there's a danger in classifying people with legitimate complaints as haters, and therefore worthy of disregarding. Which is certainly what I took his post as saying. I think you've more than acknowledged this by soliciting opinions on the matter, however, so my post was really aimed at him, not you.

Good luck!

Aarn

If people want imterraction, they should play forties....just kidding. What I am mostly getting from what I've read is that people are merely complaining because they didn't get what they wanted out of their characters, whether that be immterraction, titles, tatts, or what have you. You know as well as I do that characters will get recognized, and get what they deserve....but someone shouldn't be uber pissed because they didn't get that sweet imm reward for fending off a hoard of twenty. Personally my vision of scion is probably different then alot of peoples, but, that's the freeplay of carrion....rp how you want, you'll usually get recognized by your actions.

On another note, Iggy went through like 300 to 350 hours of his life with little to no immterraction....so someone that puts in lets say 90 hours, and deletes because he/she hasn't got what they wanted doesn't mean that the entire system of scion has to be demolished.....right?

D