[Gossamer's Scrapbook] The Ethereal Canyon I

[Indigo]

Definitely agreeing here. Maybe we could do a piece for each place in City Pride along the lines of 'found only in Riverfall, Zeltiva, Anhatep.' Make, announce and celebrate what is different about each place, not the same. Putting 'exclusively in (city name) only!' is a great advertiser and encouragement for original development. Instead of trying to fit in, Miza is about imagination so let's work on how unique each location can be.

[Gossamer]

. Response More importantly, Goss, your post. This is your scrap =p I think through all your ranting you forgot to make your statements clear. I know it's an emotion and thus hard to specify. And trust me this wasn't lost on me, I respect the emotions as much as I would specific words. That said, I'm sure you are ok with some ideas being shared between domains. What sort of ideas bother you, and what sort of ideas don't? If there are any. I only ask because I think you are onto something that had been bothering me too, and I'm hoping watching you explore the topic out loud a little more may give me some insight into my own thoughts. Is that selfish? XD The overwhelming thing that really bothers me is that cities are growing more and more alike. Moderators find something that works and then they repeat and rinse and repeat etc. Mizahar is truly loosing its uniqueness. It needs to hold onto that fiercely because that's what stands us out from other sites. Sure we do things differently but most of our coolness is OOC at this point. I love our theme. I want us to hold true to it. That's why I'm going to keep tearing things down repeatedly, even if it means tearing down things my own PC's have built as well. It's a rough world and its growing SAFE. I don't like that. I don't like that at all. Now, what's bothering you? .

[Verilian]

Well Jen, if it makes you feel better, things are about to get the shit beat out of them in Ravok. And one of your PCs gets to be a part of it. ^^

[Siiri]

@Citizen: "Incredibly". Also, YOUR means it belongs to you, YOU'RE means "you are". Learn the difference. Now go report me for educating you and being a jerk-faced meanie.

@Jen: What are you talking about, I'm still waiting for each city to sprout their own version of the UFC Octagon and their own cutthroat army so I can bring my PC there and she can say, "Hey, I feel right at home!" That way, I can RP in every city now! Awesome!

Okay, I apologize, I'm being sarcastic. Woke up on the wrong side of the bed and all that. Truth is, your point... your point is what actually made my interest in RPing start to flag, because every place is starting to look the same. I thought it's just me being overly nitpicky, but some cities have certain elements that seem... out of place. It's really none of my business how STs develop their own city/domain/region and hey, people who are offended by this post are free to tell me to stfu and I won't even be offended. But some locations' themes have begun to blur and start to look like some place else. Perhaps this is why I'm selective about which cities I RP in. The desert region had been a haven when I was there because its identity is solid. Ravok is beautiful in that its locations, NPCs, heck even events, totally fit its theme. I urge the STs to use these places as shining examples on how to brand their own domains. Just because one city has something you find interesting doesn't mean your city has to have it too, especially if it doesn't fit your city's theme. I challenge everyone, show off the identities of your cities. Don't make a location just because your players clamored for it. Consider first if it fits the picture of what your domain is. Mold it into what it should be, make it your own.

Now let me start ranting about the proliferation and wide acceptance of magic across Mizahar here in Jen's scrapbook...

*rambles on*

[Echelon]

I think what bothers me, after reading what you said and thinking it over a bit, is not just what the mods are doing, but the players as well. Myself included, mind you.

There is so much lore in Mizahar, as we all know. So much that most players can't immerse themselves in enough of it to come out with any clear social identities for their characters. And, then you stack the unique qualities and beliefs of each character ontop of these vague social dynamics and it all comes crumbling down to nothing. I'm really big on trying to create sociological identities for my character, and my world (when I make them outside of Mizahar.) So, naturally the idea that so often I see people missing the whole point of social structures, or ethnic backgrounds it just rubs me the wrong way. This topic, though not identical to my own annoyances, did strike a bit of a nerve.

Still, all this leads to is how to fix it, how to educate all the people in what is relevant to their characters, and sift through to separate what is unique about a character and what is simply a ignorance of their social stimuli. The answer is: I have no f**kin' clue. But, mark my words, I'm going to go think upon it.

Any thoughts? o.O

[Phoenix]

I'm a little slow in responding and I'm always told that everyone opinions counts, so I'm throwing in my two cents.

It's hard to step up to the plate and create something new. It is. Trust me, I know I struggle with it. Even when I was just an AS in Wind Reach, it was already super developed. Now I have to build on that, still keep new and exciting things coming when I already have a very extravagant foundation to work off of. It's daunting.

The hardest part is finding the inspiration that will set off the spark in your head and get you going. I think what ends up happening is a lot of Storytellers meander through other Domains and peek at what is going on there in hopes of finding inspiration. They see something they like, it sets off the spark and they run with it. While some might intentionally borrow ideas copy/paste, it's fair to say that's not what happens 100% of the time.... I don't really have any advice. I don't know if anyone is really even looking for any, those are just my musings.

Echelon has a good point, also. I see it a lot, players picking aspects of their race that they like and running with it, forgetting all the others because it doesn't quite fit in. I think one of the main reasons is because they assume it's automatically cliche to be exactly like their races written description in the wiki. It amazes me just how many Inarta are shy and withdrawn, when the lore say stuff like

The Inarta are outspoken, blunt, forward thinkers. They do not engage in social niceties very well - meaning there is a noted lack of formality or ritual within Wind Reach.

and

They tend to be bold, adventuresome and can easily fall into the category of stupidly brave.

I think one of the things that cities can work on in general, or at least places like Wind Reach that houses 90% one race, is helping players not only see that the city is individual, but to also encourage them to stay true to their race while finding ways to be unique.

[Seven Xu]

Woah, we're on the same page. I suppose it's bound to happen sometimes.

I see things-that-should-not-be more often than I'd like. The city I put my PC in nearly a year ago is not what it should be. At all. I don't have a great IC reason to leave or hate it so much that I want to pack up and head out immediately--maybe I'm waiting for change, or something. I don't know.

Creation should be encouraged, but rules and themes should be considered. If you cross a line here or there, who's to say where it's going to end?

Is this fault placed directly on the shoulders of the storytellers? No. Players contribute as well, and things get wholly out of hand.

I hate being ripped off, so I feel your pain. We're artists. We create. When what we create is taken from us and duplicated without permission, it's infuriating. You've stood up for me in the past regarding these matters and I thank you for it. Fortunately, you have the power to take what you've made back. You can undo things that have been done, because you're in the position to do so. So, I mean, at least you've got that going for you, right?

[Gossamer]

. My Betters And Scrapbooks I recently read someone's scrap where they came off in a way that offended probably 99% of the game (yea I heard about it from about 99% of the game so I know this is true) by saying they weren't reading scraps anymore other than their 'betters'. People, you need to relax. Everyone's entitled to their opinion and if that is what they want to do, then that's fine by me. It should be fine by you. And yes, I know that saying 'no offense' doesn't negate the offense you're about to feel when someone says something that they know will be offensive, but in the big cosmic bang of the universe some people feel that's a get out of being an offender free card. Its not. But it makes them feel better. So lets just keep letting them use it in that regard okay? Are the two matters related? Maybe. But if not, it doesn't make them any less true. No offense. Really. *snickers* And in the end, what does it hurt? I know they won't read this scrap because after all I'm not on their list of betters, so that frees me up to be as offensive as I want to be, right? Sure. So at the risk of offending the rest of you, let me throw up a collage of my betters. Its ever so much more fun than simply listing them. Then I get to see if any of you even know who these people are or how influential they are to me and to the world in general. I love our fellow players. I love our fellow staffers. But I don't consider them my betters. I consider them my equals. Hell, even the douche I threw off the game yesterday for advertising another site is probably my equal. We're all human, after all... or at least most of us are. So without further ado.... "My Betters..." And they are, just for clarification, my betters because they helped the world, humanity, or animals a whole lot more than I have. Extra credit goes to folks that can name one or two of these folks... or even all of them. If you can name all of them we totally should be BFFs. And just for the record, I read everyone's scrapbook and love them. I don't mind when folks speak their minds. Its entertaining, amusing, occasionally enlightening, and often thought provoking. I do admit getting bored with retarded gifs. When people post them, I suspect its because they are too cowardly to speak their real mind or too uninspired to write a real 'love you, miss you, thinking of you' blurb for someone. You know, that's okay to do right? Reading a scrap gives me and everyone else a glimpse into the real you. Just like reading my scrap you tend to see the real me. And for the record, I'm pretty sure everyone reads everyone else' scrap regardless of what they say. If they say they don't, I'm fairly sure they are lying. It's like those people that rage quit the site saying they don't need us, like us, or want to be part of us and are back five minutes later. We know the real truth. .

[Harper]

Ooh, I believe I recognize Margaret Mead and Stephen Hawking, and several others look really familiar, but I am sad to say that I can't name anymore lol. Goss, your scrapbook is one of my absolute favorites because of how much you speak your mind. I guess I just find it refreshing? *shrugs*

[Gossamer]

Harper got two points! Ill post a second pic with everyone's name in a few days by request. Thank you for the kind words Harper. I kinda love you now for recognizing Margaret Mead because she's such an unsung hero out there in the world.