The Dragon's Neck Dev Update
We're back with monthly updates! We've made a ton of progress on TDN11 implementation and testing. To this point, we are about 50% of the way through the process and I'll outline the remaining code pieces that are still on the to-do list below. We also have a number of visual updates courtesy of Goldberry and a Rules simplification to remove some of the ambiguity and excessive wordiness of our current iteration. Lastly there are some rules & guidelines updates to bring to everyone's attention, we've tried to simplify some of the previous iterations and shift examples into an Appendix in some cases to remove some of the ambiguity.
Topics Below:
- Code Progress Report
- Guards!
- Rules Clarification/Simplification
- Transparency, Suspension & Ban process
- PvP & Conflict Wiki Page Update
- Death & Dying Wiki Page Update
- Thar' Be Dwarves!
Code Progress Report
TDN11 Implementation:
Implemented (either tested or pending testing)
- Artificer
- Bard
- Barbarian
- Cleric
- Druid
- Favored Soul
- Fighter
- Hexblade
- Monk
- Paladin
- Ranger
Beyond TDN11 implementation, what is planned for code?
- Professions with minor updates, shift to NUI instead of Dialog windows.
- Full Faction implementation & test.
- Custom DM Tools suite.
- Custom Player Tools suite (stretch goal).
Guards!
In a continued effort to establish the kind of RP culture we want and help strengthen the setting from launch, the TDN team has decided to open up the potential for 4-6 applications for players to begin the game from launch as guards in Murann (the primary city and hub for the server). You may apply individually, however applying as a pair may be looked upon even more favorably for reasons that will be explained in this communication.
Please be sure to read everything closely before you make a decision whether to apply or not.
Overview
Guards play a unique and integral role on any server, but not all servers have player character guards. On TDN, there are many parts of the setting and story that we believe will support the inclusion of player guards and in turn will benefit from having them. As we’re steadily preparing for the launch of the server, we’ve identified that having a handful of player guards ready for the launch of the server would greatly help support the DM & QM team in accurately portraying and enforcing the setting.
To that end, we’ve put together this post to detail what would be expected from a guard player, the benefits to this unique pre-launch application process, and how to apply.
Please bear in mind that we can’t and won’t force you to remain in your role, however there will be some slight drawbacks to quitting the guard early if you do decide to sign up which will be explained in the Benefits section of the post.
Keep in mind also that this is a good opportunity as an initial formative experience for your character and will help to cement your character within the setting more firmly as someone recognised by the city and its residents, even after you quit (should you choose to quit).
Duties
As a guard, your primary role will be patrolling the streets of Murann and Trademeet, as well as the space inbetween. You will always be paired with another guard in this task so that you have another person to roleplay with, and assigned a specific route or post by the guard captain (which will initially be a DM). This will consist primarily of a few things:
- Checking licenses
- Keeping the peace*
- Defending others on the roads
- Investigating any reports made by players
Furthermore, at the end of each day you would be expected to write a short report using the parchment items that will be provided by editing its description, which you’ll hand off to your superior (initially a DM, but later a promoted player guard).
More specific details on how all these duties will function will be provided for successful applicants to understand better how they will perform their role.
Please be aware that as a guard, your experience and wages will only be from playing as a guard. Your experience from dungeons will be halted and you should by no means be entering dungeons as a guard unless expressly given permission by a DM due to an event.
*Footnote: For any situations where you may need to arrest another player or defend yourself from an attacker, the DMs will give priority attention to guards asking for assistance where possible. However please note that PvP should never be initiated by guards and there will be severe IC consequences if guards are caught attacking others or abusing their position.
Benefits
Given that on this occasion we’re looking for the help, these roles will come with some modest benefits.
- Firstly, we’d like players to stick to these roles for at least 3 months. For that reason we’re offering guard players to start at level 6 (please note that this will be the same whether you’re an old player or a new player, so this would be of lesser benefit to an old player who would be starting at level 5).
Example: If you start at level 2 and you’re boosted to level 6 as a guard, this requires 44,200 experience. Of that 44,200 xp, each month you get to keep 14,733 xp (33%) permanently. If you quit after a month, we would take the other two thirds (29,466 xp) away from you. You would, however, get to keep any and all RP XP you gain in this role.
- Secondly, player guards will gain bonus RP XP as long as they remain a guard - this will always be the case for guard players as they won’t be able to gain experience from dungeons and thus it is considered a trade-off.
- Lastly, player guards will get a weekly wage to offset the lack of dungeoneering. This likely won’t seem as much in comparison to dungeon-goers, however it is relatively safe and won’t suffer the natural taxes associated with dungeoneering such as loot sharing and the purchase of healing kits etc.
Guard Application
The classes we’ll be looking for in the guard are primarily Fighter, Warden, Scout, Rogue, Ranger, Swashbuckler. For the forseeable future we won’t be considering any other classes than these for guards.
To apply, we’d like you to fill out a short application answering the following questions and send it to Khaine:
Rules Update
In an effort to trim down and streamline our approach to rules prior to launch so that it’s a little bit more digestible for players to read, we are going to break up rules into two categories.
The first category will be more of a case-by-case basis where we look at the individual player, whether it’s a repeat offense, if we can see that the player has made some reasonable adjustments, the circumstances around the offense and have some discourse with the player.
Anything that isn’t covered in the first category will be covered by the second category. Whatever falls into this category will result in an immediate and permanent ban if there is sufficient evidence to find the player guilty of these rule breaks.
For specific details on some general examples of what qualify for first/second category, please review the updated General Rules & Conduct Wiki page.
Transparency & Suspension / Ban Process
(This information is similarly covered in our General Rules & Conduct Wiki page).
When a player is identified for misconduct, they will be subject to a suspension. When this suspension is decided upon, it cannot be repealed except by the admin of the server (Aschent), as the 30 day suspension will not be given in the first place without careful consideration of evidence. Once the suspension is issued, players will be notified that the player was suspended for misconduct. No one will be able to see the reasons for the suspension unless given express permission by the person who was suspended.
Following this, the player who was suspended will not be able to make an appeal for the suspension until this period ends. At any time post-suspension but pre-appeal, those associated with the suspension - whether given permission to see the reasons or not - will be able to submit their own case or evidence supporting the persons future appeal. This information will be stored and taken into consideration if and when the suspended player appeals the decision, which can take place any time after the 30 day period ends.
If the suspended player makes an appeal and it is rejected, they will be considered permanently banned from the server, as they will have not provided enough of a compelling case to be re-established into the community.
In some circumstances, if the evidence is overwhelming and the situation is severe enough to warrant it, a permanent ban may be issued with no option to appeal. Such permanent bans will only be issued by the admin of the server. Any bans that are enacted this way will be brought to the attention of the server, but again, no explicit details will be shared except for those given permission to view them.
Thar' be Dwarves!
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