Evil in Mossflower (Redux)

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Fri, 06/12/2015 - 05:23

Alright guys, I've finally got a stable schedule at my new desk job, which means I'm at a computer with an internet connection 8 hours a day.

That being said, I would like to get things on the Muck rolling again. I've seen some stirrings on the FB group and would like to see some veterans return, but there needs to be activity for people to play. The way things are going right now, there's a lot of nothing going on, so people poke their heads in, see very little happening, and forget about the Muck for another month or two.

Now, regarding the activity that HAS been going on more recently, there have been many many TPs. More TPs than what I can ever remember happening back when I was active on the Muck. Back in my day (what an old fogey), TPs were rare and RP was not. Now it seems like that's almost reversed, and people can't RP without a TP. The vast majority of these TPs are based on a disposable villain who comes in, does something bad and gets everyone's attention, and then is either defeated or runs away never to be seen again. This plot repeats and repeats ad infinitum (or at least ad nauseam). In between the TPs, not much is going on and activity peters off until the next TP.

To break this vicious cycle and bring back constant activity requires two things: more players and more conflict. Conflict is what drives any plot. Peace is boring. Small conflicts and inner conflicts and the conflict between man and nature are certainly tenable plot forces, but they require a skilled hand to master, and for the bulk of players there is little involvement when these conflicts are the vehicle of the plot. Your character's battle with depression, for example, is a difficult plot for other people to actively participate in. The conflict in the Redwall series, nine times out of ten, is the conflict between good and evil. This is a universal struggle, which is what makes it so appealing to so many people. The Redwall series uses (again, nine times out of ten) the woodlanders to represent good and vermin to represent evil. What I believe the Muck is missing right now is an adequate force for evil.

"But the wicked dormouse king from the underground island to the west is evil!" Well yeah, but he's also not sticking around after whatever TP he's being spoofed for. So instead of a new disposable villain or a new TP idea, my idea to bring more activity to the Muck is a band of baddies, a corps of corruption, if you will. There is nothing like this on the Muck right now.

What makes this group special?

• They are dedicated characters who have all the development and backstory of any woodlander character. These are not one-off villains. These are deep, complex characters that have personalities, goals, desires, dreams, fears, and interests. These characters could easily be someone's main character.
• They are mobile. They are not tied to a city or settlement. Cities are hard to find, easily isolated, and easily ignored. Besides that, building code can be intimidating for some players, and a mobile group will never have to build. This also gives the group flexibility to interact with any of the 'good guy' settlements.
• They are actually evil. The last time someone talked about a "new kind" of vermin RP, Ferravale was founded, and Ferravale is a nice place, but it is a peaceful place. As discussed above, peace is boring. This group will not be peaceful. Every member of this group will view violence as an acceptable, even preferable, means of achieving his goals.
• They are not stupid. Just because someone is wicked and violent doesn't mean that they are self-destructive to a high degree. These characters will not unnecessarily endanger themselves just for the sake of being evil. Violence is always a risk, but it is a calculated risk, and if the odds are poor, these characters are smart enough to see that and choose a different course of action.
• They will not always win/always lose, and they will not always die/never die. Everyone has been in those TPs with the disposable villain that dies at the end, and you knew it would happen the whole time, or you at least knew who would eventually win the whole time. Everyone has also had the frustration of fighting those invincible villains who are such great fighters that no one can ever touch them until the exact right time. This group will not be that way. We could lose at any time, characters could die at any time, we could win at any time, and we could escape unscathed at any time. Just like the real world, there is an element of luck and randomness in the way we will play. We will not be so attached to our darling characters that they can never be injured, never be killed, but at the same time we are not disposable. We will not throw ourselves on your sword just for the sake of a plot.
• They are always out there. Unlike the disposable TP villain who is gone until another is created, these characters will always be on the edge of woodlander society, waiting for a chance to take what isn't theirs. This constant tension will drive roleplay.

If any of this sounds interesting to you, or like something you would like to be a part of, please comment below or page Jaksor on the Muck. Our group page is here. I will be adding guidance to the page later today regarding how to join. My only requirements right now are that you only make one character for the group if you want to be a part of it, and that you provide some sort of backstory to me so that I know you put some thought into it. Keep the light.

Magramba

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