R/A Changes - IMPORTANT

[re_alignedmods]

With the loss of one of our modstaff and with IRL duties picking up for the other mods, we have decided to implement a number of changes to the way R/A is run.

As many of you have noticed, it has been difficult for us to keep up with the way we currently have NPC interactions as well as some other maintenance duties. After talking over the direction we wanted to head with the game and considering how to proceed without removing Firstforged interactions entirely, we've decided to give the following system a try...

Major R/A Changes

Rules

• You may now app a maximum of 2 characters from any canon, living or dead. This will go into effect this app period (Sept 15th-30th). Please note that we still require any two characters played by one person to not have interacted within their source material.

NPC metaplot

Very shortly in game, there will be a large event involving the Firstforged. We will not disclose the entire details of this event now (so that we can leave most of it for IC interaction), but after the chaos has ended the Firstforged will be ‘leaving’ the Haven.

For a bit.

Before they go there will be a chance to talk to them and get some CR, and they will also be selecting a number of new Initiates to watch their temples and help with Tasks while they are gone.

Then, every two months (following the Alignment Adjustment), we will bring the NPCs back in for a post so they can talk to newcomers, those with brighter glyphs, and those they'd like to sway towards their own causes from other Firstforged (or ask to be an Initiate.)


What else this affects

• Characters will be able to build their own society within the Haven without needing Firstforged approval. This should make it easier to play villains, and should allow for a larger number of player-driven plots as residents work together to overcome problems. Killing will no longer be 'outlawed' (by the Firstforged, since they'll be busy), though it will still require mod permission OOC.
  
  
• The mods will be able to focus NPC playing to a much shorter time, and guarantee an active period for players to speak with them. This will also allow better one-on-one interactions, as the Firstforged will have news to report and quests (and sometimes gifts!) to give to their aligned.
  
  
• The mods will also be able to drop small 'mini-events' to players who have been tasked with doing certain jobs by the Firstforged. (IE: The fire-pits at Megatronus's Arena have gone out! They'll need some intense heat to be re-lit before he returns home and finds them cold.) Sometimes these mini-events may even require a character to venture into another Firstforged's domain to commit a nefarious act. (IE: Liege is annoyed that Megatronus's fire-pits keep melting the snow on his mountains. He would like you to make sure they stay out!) This should help generate new CR and provide plot threads in-between major events, and will also allow ways for characters to gain/lose alignment when the FF aren't around.
  
  
• With some strain of duties eliminated, it will be easier for the mods to work on keeping pages updated--from apps to approvals to the setting.
  
  
• The setting pages WILL be changing. With the shifting of forces in the Haven, some things will become available...like space flight. Many things will also become more dangerous without the Firstforged around to intervene...like space flight. Character-created locations will be added to the World pages at the opening of the Firstforged Event, and the rest will be added at the close of the event when the Haven has finished changing.
  
  
• The temples of the Firstforged will become the possessions of their aligned while they are away. Some areas will be inaccessible (or won’t become accessible until revealed through mini-events), but it will be much easier to wander in and out and pick up items that are needed (which can be requested through the item drop page for anything major). The Acolytes will continue to perform their mysterious duties, mostly unaware of the denizens around them...except when the Firstforged grant them as gifts. Then, they will behave utterly in accordance with whomever they belong to. More information on this will be added to the settings page.

Activity Check/Alignment Adjustment

• Since we’re still working out some changes and will need some time to solidify everything, we will be delaying the upcoming Activity check to be from September 15th-21st. This gives everyone some extra time to get last minute threads in! After this AC, it will be going back to its previous spot at the beginning of the month.
  
  
• AA will be tallied the same and will be on the same schedule. However, there will be a much heavier weight on what your characters are doing in game and how their actions relate to the purviews of the Firstforged (since the FF themselves won't be around as much to talk to).

We are also looking into getting some additional help, and will report more on that when we have come to a decision. Since this is a new system and we’re trying new things, it may be rocky for a bit until things are settled, but our goal is to move forward and make R/A more fun for everyone involved! We’ll be evaluating again in two months to see if it works, and even if it does we’ll still be evaluating to see what we can improve.

Thank you for your patience!