Canites

[Arkalezth]

A few of us were talking the other day about Canites and how we'd like to try playing one. However, most players (myself included) are reluctant to do so because the faction is pretty much dead at the moment.

So I was thinking that, if there are others who are really interested, several of us could create a character each, which would at least solve the problem of being the only player in the faction. Even then, it probably wouldn't be the most active faction due to their nature (many events are against them after all), it'd be sort of experimental and it might not work in the end (I saw a similar "resurrect briefly just to die again" example with the Lochwarians a couple of months ago), but it could be worth a try. Any thoughts?

[Domina]

I'm all for supporting the Canite players. Like any faction, relying on DMs for total story movement would be a weak foundation. The thing to do is finding events that Canites can maybe give trouble in. Good Vs. Evil is a tension will at some point lead to IC confrontation. (assuming tensions get to certain points which I figure dynamic RP would lead to)

In my humble opinion...don't be afraid to be the enemy/rival because of the OOC reasons. If you have fun playing the evil guy and have the heart for it (I sure cant play evil for very long or i feel bad xD ) then all the power to ya.

[Kell]

Don't be afraid to start something and play a faction. Even if you are the only one in that faction. The key is playing a character, loving that character and building stories with that character, and hope others latch on. If they don't, they don't, if they do, they do. People are attracted to fun and movement.

If you want it, do it.

Good Vs. Evil is a tension will at some point lead to IC confrontation. (assuming tensions get to certain points which I figure dynamic RP would lead to)

In my humble opinion...don't be afraid to be the enemy/rival because of the OOC reasons. If you have fun playing the evil guy and have the heart for it (I sure cant play evil for very long or i feel bad xD ) then all the power to ya.

This is a problem on (specifically) Dasaria 2. People will dislike you and people will avoid playing with you because you play evil. We have a divided playerbase with views on evil that can basicly be divided in 2 ways. The first group sees it as drama that has no place in the world, the other group sees it as just another thing to add to their own RP.

My advise; ignore the first group (like they will possibly ignore you because you make them feel uncomfortable) and find the players who love you for doing what you do. It can be frustrating and it can get nasty, but the way I'm dealing with it now is just ignoring the OOC ranting and playing whatever I like because really; people are going to moan anyways. And you can't please everyone.

Do not be afraid. Just have fun.

[Arkalezth]

Heh, I'm not afraid to do that and I think you're missing the point. I could just make an evil character with ties to the Canites, but there wouldn't be any faction interaction because there is no faction. It's viable, but IMO, not too appealing if you can never actually play with the group you're supposed to be involved with (DMs would be the only exception to this, but a DM and a single player is dull).

There are at least a few players who feel this way, and if several of us were to start a Canite, there could be something to do in the faction. Everyone has their favourite characters to play and perhaps this experiment wouldn't last for long (I probably wouldn't even carry on with it myself if others' time zones are too far away, a problem I had with Lochwarians), but the issue of the lack of players can be solved this way.

[Hvrankel]

If the faction is basicly dead just make something totaly new and evil. Could be a outbreaker Group that support Canas in other ways then the Unholy Trinity and the old way of the Canitefaction.

[Aglet Blacksoul]

We have had people in the past that have played canites very well. There will probably be some drama, but that is because you are opposing other character's story if they want to spread goodness over the world. The DMs have always been very receptive in helping to work both sides of the story in game, but not relying on DM intervention is what seemed to really make the interactions and conflict work.

The former Canites did so well they even had a Canite town built as well as playing major parts in the server-wide events. Now they got to play these part because they pushed their own stories, not because the DMs were looking to reward or coddle someone how played the bad guy.

Just my thought, The biggest obstacle is that the good guys and bad guys tend to drift way apart in the gaming world. The Canites (once found out) get banned from Cear, where so much of the RP happens and then they start hanging out in their own town. Their own town is currently on the other side of the OLM, so it just takes a long time to go there and come back.. The new oblesks can really help with that distance problem. But once the rift in playing happens and the evil players start having less and less to do with the good players, the smaller number of evil players tends to sap people's desires to play an evil character. There may be 10 people logged on, but if none of them want to talk to you you are essentially playing on a server of one person. Then you go log in with you good character so that you can actually play with others. At least that is my experience. I am thinking of trying to bring my evil character over to some position where she can play along side the goodies, eve if she is not a part of them, because it is just easier that way. (I know on a personal level that it is wussing out... but I find the idea appealing at the moment.)

I do not say that to dissuade you from going from it. I just want you to know some of the challenges of the past. But also know that some of the ground work is already there. You can start from scratch, but you do not HAVE to.

Aside from all that it it just important to know that you can play an evil character without being an actual jerk. A well played evil character brings A LOT to the game play and can be tons of fun... you just have to be cool about it. If you just hassle people all they time.... they will start to dislike you... in game and out.

I would like to give a special shout out to two former (just dormant, hopefully!) players who really lead the evil storyline in the past. They were by no means the only evil ones, but in my mind the were the most formative I know of. Thank you to Bart Ares and Father Marenet (sp?)! You should go read their stuff, they submitted a large amount to the forum!

[Crimson]

More Canites! We want more Canites! *Waves evil banner*

It would be really cool to see some Canite characters running around again. I think we need them.
Personally, I miss them a lot... even though my character is not exactly Canite...

I think Hvrankel has a good point. Instead of focusing on the existing(Dead-ish) Canite faction, why not create a new? It could be a group of enforcers or assassins or ragtags or whatever!

Go for it!

[Arkalezth]

Thanks for the replies, but again, this is mostly me asking who would be interested in playing a Canite, rather than asking for help playing evil in general. I understand how it works, but that's besides the point. (Also, if I was playing a Canite, I'd try not to carry an "I'M A CANITE" tattoo on my forehead).

If the faction is basicly dead just make something totaly new and evil. Could be a outbreaker Group that support Canas in other ways then the Unholy Trinity and the old way of the Canitefaction.

Something like this was suggested by another player the other day. It's an option, but if the point is having a faction, we'll still need players one way or another.

Edit: Another problem with Canites, at least the old faction, is that players would be fighting themselves for the most part, which is silly. So maybe what Hvran suggests is a way around that issue.

[Landrunner]

Count on Muriel.

[Domina]

I wouldnt say the canites are dead because well...they are the main enemy of the story!
They have a confrontation in the west going on. Then the Wasteland highway thing also. A serious canite-to-be would shake the DM nest for some materials to work with because there is a LOT to go on. I'm all for the Canite-To-Be getting some back up from NPCs more intently.

I think the best thing to do is just get the layout of the character/idea and send to the DM staff.

[StaffSgtSkunk]

I already have a Canite in the making so I'm up for it

[Minuvas]

Good luck playing the bad guys. Just remember, the goals of the bad guys directly conflict with the goals of the good guys - and someone said it. Good guys will be your biggest opposition not just IG, but OOC. Also consider that many of the bad guys will also have main characters who are "good guys".

Bottom Line Up Front: Part Time Baddies, makes only for a 'gimmick' set of bad guys who don't have the muscle to accomplish realistic goals. Take a realistic approach to your plots and secrets ---- they will never be as secret as you want them to be.

My recommendation going forward is that you screen potential "bad guys" especially the ones you wish to make up the 'core' of the faction, and ask a commitment to make a bad character not just a side character they play to feed a different persona - but become a major part of their play time. I recommend this because if you do not do this, your own 'playerbase' may be reluctant to engage in the evil plots - since they conflict with their 'good guys' aspirations. Without that buyout and commitment, they have no ownership in the faction and have little wish to see it succeed when it conflicts with other factions they are members of.

By the nature of the small player base, and the fact that there are DM's and players interwoven in so many factions the chances for metagaming are on a much grander scale. OOC secrets will be leaked, frequently, not only because of the issues above but because the DM's naturally will have to share information and this also causes certain things to bleed over when you may or do not want them to. Take a realistic approach, ultimate secrecy is not possible here. Also understand the 'impact' of those secrets will be much stronger because well, you are evil. Good guy 'secrets' generally don't come with a price that will cause the faction to get disowned by their fellow good guys, or cause a major revelation to its relations across the server. Bad Guy factions, when they lose secrets and information, it almost always has a stronger impact on your organization. Again my recommendation remains on screening potential players who wish to join the faction, in addition - you should try to lobby for a DM who is committed to your faction and perhaps other similar factions , but has no involvement in 'good guy factions'. Someone who will advocate for your own evil deeds behind the scenes when the other DM's don't want your stuff interfering with their own work.


Best of luck Ark.

[Jain Zar]

Well, I played a bit alongside the Canites in the past and do miss them.
Because I rather lack the lore for it, I never tried to reactivate/revive them myself, but if someone else does, nice... and I may support even with my own existing stuff, either evil... or good.


Cause for an evil faction, you actually need ooc support from the 'good guys' too I think...
As some know, I am trying (and we started past week with recruiting) to set up a rather evil group (guild) myself. Though there will be place for more alignments, either in this group I named 'The Circle', but also in the rp that I think we can organise around this guild and their operations.


Right now I've been ooc talking with a few of the 'good guys' (no dms involved) and asked for their help and support to get this Circle thing going. Mind you, I didn't ask the Fleet to close their eyes when a crime before their eyes takes place so they can put their thumb up and say "Keep the evil going guys!" No, but more like, help us give us a purpose and help us making things realistic. Help us to play evil and help us to generate some fine rp for our community. I think it also serves no one well when some uber character suddenly shows up and pulls the plug out by taking the heads of all my criminals, saying he is faster, smarter and stronger than them. It also serves no one well with leaking information or metagaming.


Now, we all know, no one likes to lose his/her face, either on one of his/her characters or his/her factions.
Respect is the word I chose here. We will do and cause evil, but we also will ooc talk some things through with the 'good guys' (if they 'apply' and join in the RPs).
I proposed taking this even a bit further,... we may test-run some scenes before they take place, or just try out a few things in some sort of simulations, meaning we can agree to do an rp that never actually happened in the Das history. It takes away some stress from players....

Just adding all this as idea for Canites, Ark.


As for myself, I WILL keep playing both good and evil, though my two main characters on each side will rather never have anything to do with each other. And when someone asks me if I want to support their evil rp with either a good or evil character, I sure will be interested, and I will show how I respect them.

[Sahji]

I proposed taking this even a bit further,... we may test-run some scenes before they take place, or just try out a few things in some sort of simulations, meaning we can agree to do an rp that never actually happened in the Das history. It takes away some stress from players....

Jain's on the right track. There will never be any progression at all if you don't start somewhere. To try and to fail is better than never having tried at all.

You have my support....

[Aglet Blacksoul]

Yes! Start something up! Das will be better for it. Go for it!