Skia

[Grosek_]

I am finished with Skia. It was a fun run remembering what a ninja could be. In general, I enjoy the game, but the same old stuff helps me decide that it isn't worth investing time for me as a player and I doubt I will ever be more than that.

In my time playing Skia, I've enjoyed being ganged, watching players abuse powers... and that is fine.... but I also watched every individual player I draft (six in total) leave for similar things as well as one being called a very offensive slur by a veteran player.

I've been abused verbally by half of the people I've killed, and sworn at twice.

I had thought it was the administration making people quit, but it isn't. In all honestly, if I want to be abused or frustrated, it certainly won't be in my leisure time.

You know, I really do not like creating a pattern of disappearing for myself, but I really feel helpless in what I can do for this mud.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Nethanar!

Nethanar is DEAD!!

[NEXUS]: 'Skia has triumphed over Nethanar!'

You have gained 90 souls in service of NEXUS.

You hear Nethanar's death cry.

Nethanar's Demon Hunter slowly disappears.

Some ectoplasm vapor slowly disappears.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Daviaus!

Daviaus is DEAD!!

[PANDEMONIUM]: 'Skia has triumphed over Daviaus!'

You have gained 120 souls in service of PANDEMONIUM.

Daviaus spills his guts all over the floor.

The Vanguard spills some items on the ground.

The Vanguard slowly disappears.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Rlorven!

Rlorven is mortally wounded!!

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Palwen!

Palwen is DEAD!!

[PANDEMONIUM]: 'Skia has triumphed over Palwen!'

You have gained 90 souls in service of PANDEMONIUM.

Palwen splatters blood on your armor.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Laviek!

Laviek is DEAD!!

[PANDEMONIUM]: 'Skia has triumphed over Laviek!'

You have gained 120 souls in service of PANDEMONIUM.

Laviek splatters blood on your armor.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Jarl!

Jarl is DEAD!!

[PANDEMONIUM]: 'Skia has triumphed over Jarl!'

You have gained 60 souls in service of PANDEMONIUM.

You hear Jarl's death cry.

A green dragon slowly disappears.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Solec!

Solec is DEAD!!

[PANDEMONIUM]: 'Skia has triumphed over Solec!'

You have gained 120 souls in service of PANDEMONIUM.

Solec's head is shattered, and his brains splash all over you.

The Vanguard spills some items on the ground.

The Vanguard slowly disappears.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Malagas!

Malagas is DEAD!!

[PANDEMONIUM]: 'Skia has triumphed over Malagas!'

You have gained 60 souls in service of PANDEMONIUM.

You hear Malagas's death cry.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Dirmin!

Dirmin is DEAD!!

[PANDEMONIUM]: 'Skia has triumphed over Dirmin!'

You have gained 60 souls in service of PANDEMONIUM.

Dirmin's head is shattered, and his brains splash all over you.

The Blood Guard slowly disappears.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Grizmaw!

Grizmaw is mortally wounded!!

A large mammoth slowly disappears.

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Vhulstod!

Vhulstod is mortally wounded!!

With lethal speed, you strike from the shadows and +++ ASSASSINATE +++ Ankhazlat!

Ankhazlat is DEAD!!

Ankhazlat's heart is torn from his chest.

[lucky_strike]

I am pretty new here, but I can relate to where your coming from...okay, not really, however; this is the advice I offer...since...no one else has seemed to respond.

if I want to be abused or frustrated, it certainly won't be in my leisure time.

Sine Qua Non - Without Which Not - It's just a game.

You know, I really do not like creating a pattern of disappearing for myself,

Sounds like your doubting your current actions here.

but I really feel helpless in what I can do for this mud.

That is understandable.

I've been abused verbally by half of the people I've killed, and sworn at twice.

Killing people usually resolves this effect. All games, this happens. The only difference is you can talk to the people you kill here.

but I also watched every individual player I draft (six in total) leave for similar things

7th times a charm.

[f0xx]

You know, when you play a character that is able to kill with a single command, you should be expecting this. No matter how grown up our playerbase is, people DO get affacted by such things and forget this is only a game.

I also think that the assassinate skill needs to be changed to a skill which functions similarly to the powerword kill spell.

[Grosek_]

I wish you the best, lucky.

Foxx, if I made it look easy, it is because I've had practice. It isn't. Try it yourself.

[Twinblades713]

I was looking and many of those were hella quality names to assassinate. I played an assassinate ninja a little while back and you will never get the recognition you might deserve for it. I think assassination is an art seperate from pk, that happens to affect it. Fun character. I interacted with you over a couple of my own, and I enjoyed it.

Secondly, while I'm not saying what you say is untrue, lots of chars rp is to trashtalk after a death (if not only to make oneself feel better about a death that they had no part in defending, other than getting studied). Now I know nobody likes to hear that, and maybe things get out of line, but as I've pointed out, it's every individual's choice to make the game better. I'm sorry for you, since you seem to have had a poor experience, but believe me, I know who's out there, and who is playing classy. Everyone knows it. I'd be pleased to hear you came back (I had assumed you lost interest due to these reactions, and were intending on leaving. Pardon if that's incorrect) to enrich the game more. I personally never saw anything cheap, classless, or negative about Skia.

Good Job.

[English lad]

Frustrating as hell to fight - but not a bad word to say about you.

The kill on Daviaus was the only death i've taken in quite some time - and came as a shock - nicely done. having played an assassination ninja myself - i agree that its not as easy as some people make it seem, yourself included..but I think the skill does need balancing. Personally i think all it would take to fix it is make it near impossible to assassinate someone who is awake. My only complaint about my death was there was nothing i could do (short of logging off) to avoid it. As is..its far to easy to land that assassinate when someone is awake...but thats a different thread.

Strong PKer - well played, didn't get much RP interaction.

[EyeSeeU]

I wish you the best, lucky.

Foxx, if I made it look easy, it is because I've had practice. It isn't. Try it yourself.

Sorry Grosek I played Tazikode whom I probably will never play again and my friend it is very easy to assassinate people, in fact it really isn't hard at all. I will even go out on a limb and say it takes very little skill. I know you don't want to hear that, but it is the truth.

[Grosek_]

Perhaps we both have different ways of playing successful ninjas. Mine is being caballed, and fighting open cabal war as much as possible, and achieving studies fighting those who could regularly see me using their cabal skills.

Yours were quite different, if memory permits.

[Celerity]

I thought we couldn't post the deaths of other people's chars..

my only interaction with skia was a failed no-rp assassinate...and some very very dastardly IG tactics to try to score another assassinate right after taking the death

that is the problem with playing lying, scheming, sociopathic assassinate ninja...you just can't get any respect...

I do agree that trash talking is a problem...how to solve it?

I also think that assassinating is one of the easiest ways to get a PK...it doesn't really matter if they know you are there and understand ninja tactics...you will die unless you log off or can lag them (tassin proved that I think through his ninja)

[Guest emp_newb]

Im not gonna say much pro or con. i will say this. If you are a pinned thief, or ninja, expect to be CONSTANTLY assaulted. Skia impressed me a great deal, and Im very sorry to hear that your quitting so quickly. As sad as it is, and frustrating as well, ganging is a part of FL. Im just sad to see you go after you take a loot is all. Thats not showing much heart champ. You have the potential to go far, but only as far as you are willing to go.

[Grosek_]

You are missing the overall point of the post. This isn't a, "I got looted and am out" thread. I've died and was looted before. The point is that, as a playerbase, I've watched the few veterans that are left force six new mudders out the door with both vulgarity and immaturity, and I am having a hard time reconciling why exactly I am here. The gangbangs, and the skill abuse is just a catalyst for actually making a decision, along with another rejection I won't bring to this forum leaving me feel overall helpless to even hope to make things better.

[mya]

IGNORE:

This commands will allow you to control whether or not you will hear

public channels or tells from others. Ignore is more flexible, you

can choose a keyword and anyone with their name fitting the keyword

will be ignore by you. The keyword can be anything, even if the no one

matching the keyword is currently on. Typing ignore with the existing

keyword will remove it from your ignore list. Typing 'ignore clear'

to clear your list. The list does not save when you quit, so you will

have to set it again if you wish to continue ignoring someone.

QUIET:

Same as ignore except you ignore everyone. Type quiet by itself will

turn the option on, type quiet again will turn the option off.

If their tells are ruining the game for you, i advice the use of Ignore command,

before you actually kill them.

Because once you use your one hit kill skill, the only thing most players will be seeing is blood red rage. They will normally not see the studding work of a ninja, because Ninjas typically stay hidden. They only, suddenly, die.

Few players will even congratulate you, they will insult you for what they perceive to be a cheep way to get a Kill. They react the same way they would if they where 4 rounded by a bashing fire giant.

Also another thing. The skill they use to notice you is not like others.

It is not detect hidden. They just know you are there, but they do not possess the advantage that a thief or ninja have at engaging a hidden opponent.

[Grosek_]

Mya, I know how the skill works. And I won't accept the fact that the solution to a vulgar and childish playerbase is the ignore option. Furthermore, the fact that it has pushed several people I've brought in who are not ninjas, out.... well it is sad and sickening... especially looking at the age thread and comparing what I am hearing has been said to them.

The solution to a problem isn't acceptance of it. That is called apathy, and that is just another problem.

And if you don't want to look condescending, Mya, don't post help files of things for no reason other than engage in asshatery.

[mya]

You are missing the overall point of the post. This isn't a' date=' "I got looted and am out" thread. I've died and was looted before. The point is that, as a playerbase, I've watched the few veterans that are left force six new mudders out the door with both vulgarity and immaturity, and I am having a hard time reconciling why exactly I am here. The gangbangs, and the skill abuse is just a catalyst for actually making a decision, along with another rejection I won't bring to this forum leaving me feel overall helpless to even hope to make things better.[/quote']

Another thing, if you see any Behavior undignifying of a Cabal Character, log it and post it on prayers forums. The same for any "Skill abuse".

And how can someone abuse a Skill ?

If the skill is there, it is for use.

Unless i am not seeing something.

[Grosek_]

It's not something that can be talked about on the forum, unfortunately.

You know, I've just got to throw my hands up at this point.

Good luck, folks.

[mya]

Good Luck then Grosek.

Try a Mmorpg, i hear LotrO is great fun if you have friends to play with. I wish my PC could run it.

Also, the Help files are not directed 100% at you. I am sure you as a old player know about Ignore and Quiet. But for a "newbie" it is great to have the help file just next to what is being discussed.

Also all this gave me an idea for the IMMs.

What if the 10 next tells a character send and receives after death become logged, for imm screening.

Not a perfect solution but a strong deterrent. As most OOC foul things happen short after a death and over tells.

[HouselessRogue]

This place is very clique based. There are to many OOC relations and they make for a disastrous RP experience. There are some exceptions.

Secondly, no one is friendly to a newbie. Life sucks for a long, long time on this mud. It takes a good couple of years to really not be a newb anymore. That is a pretty wicked learning curve. I have been playing here off and on for about 7 years still things I don't know. I post things. I rarely receive any attention for anything that I say. Mostly the people that go back and forth are part of the the same clique. I know that the IMMS discourage OOC relations so this is in no way shape or form a knock at them. More and more we see people leaving. The pbase is shrinking. New people will not thrive in this environment as is. We need to change our attitude and approach. There is far to much negativity and OOC BS. A new website, voting, sure that will draw them in but we need to start thinking about retention. This is a game. A ROLEPLAYING ENFORCED game. There is absolutely no reason for cussing or disparaging remarks because you die, etc. Until this ceases, expect to see more and more of these posts. Personally these posts are wearying for me. I enjoy this place a great deal but I have brought people in that did not stay long at all. So... instead of the negativity.. let's think of positive solutions.

[Nightmare_from_hell]

Skia,

That kill on me was 100% righteous. I was sitting at my computer going, "Damn fine job!" As far as everything else goes, eh *shrugs*. It was fun playing against you and really hope you come back and give me another run for my money.

--- Nethanar

[Telufial]

yeah.. assassin ninjas are super cheap. i'd vote for some kind of balancing. I've never seen an assassin ninja fight in melee... Most of their days are spent studying people in cabal warfare. Getting cheap assassinates off of challenge kills, or people trying to flee in a CW fight. I think that assassinating a wakeful player should be MUCH harder than assassinating a sleeping opponent. Also, I like the idea of making assassinate like powerword kill. Seems a bit more fair.

[a-guitarist]

In all my time here at FL, I've never once been assassinated. Why? I'm not lazy, I always figured... Even Calandra never got me, and she assassinated Jesus himself. In my mind, the only class that has any damn right being a "silent killer" is a ninja, and I don't believe that to be the whole case with Skia... because I never interacted with him. But, "It's easy to assassinate." Sure, it is. It's also easy to spam "fireshield;flame arrow;!;!", and "di;bash;!;!" and "black;gag;plant;back" and "charge;flee;scan;w;chrage;flee;scane;e;chrage" oh, and it's also pretty easy to ranged attack someone from rooms away, etc. Know what, it takes absolutely no skill to type "Murder" when someone's in the room... past the whole being able to type and turn on your keyboard... damn. And here I thought I was special.

As to the cliques in the games, anyone not willing to kill there friends is a bad player. I'll go straight out and say that sometimes I've known who Deykari is playing, Twinblades, or Mali. And I always know who WC plays (my top four favorite people here, and I honestly consider them friends- so of course we talk outside of the forums)... and every damn time they've straight up sexually ambushed me I wasn't too pissed. Yeah, I took deaths, but every time they had good RP for it. And every time I attacked them, they knew it wasn't because I was trying to ruin their day, it was because it was something my character had to do.

Go ahead and "respect" the other players, and most diffidently "respect" your friends, but you also have to respect the MUD. Sprouting this negativity towards another player who is frustrated, and rightfully so, is what I would expect at a Magic:TG game in a middle school cafeteria.

In the end, whether you think it takes no skill or not to Assassinate someone... I can tell you it takes no class to tell someone that put their heart into a charter that their job was "easy", what they did was "failed-no rp" or whatever else was said, but most importantly I can guarantee it takes absolutely no skill.

If getting assassinated by him was such a problem, why'd you let it happen? His in a cabal, "ring" his "Dinner bell" (as it's been called) and don't stand anywhere in studying range without being able to see him. Are you in Val Miran? Go stand in the forests to the west, are you in Rheydin? Goto the Elvin Valley, Miruvhor? I dunno, man, the forests are so far awa- nope, right out the south gate.

If you're gonna complain because "This skill makes it so I can't RP where I want to!" (as I used to), let me remind you (as someone did for me) that no one bitches about a Fire Zerk running into the room and knocking heads to "ruin" RP, no one cries injustice about an Invoker dropping a fireball on your party when you're eating tea and drinking crumpets.

In the end it comes down to: Put up, or shut up. Everyone's heard of Skia, when was the last time you were talked to by a level 50 to a level 13? I knew about Skia within days of rolling my latest character... I still can't say I've heard of any of yours yet.

a-g

[BigPapa]

This place is very clique based. There are to many OOC relations and they make for a disastrous RP experience. There are some exceptions.

Secondly, no one is friendly to a newbie. Life sucks for a long, long time on this mud. It takes a good couple of years to really not be a newb anymore. That is a pretty wicked learning curve. I have been playing here off and on for about 7 years still things I don't know. I post things. I rarely receive any attention for anything that I say. Mostly the people that go back and forth are part of the the same clique. I know that the IMMS discourage OOC relations so this is in no way shape or form a knock at them. More and more we see people leaving. The pbase is shrinking. New people will not thrive in this environment as is. We need to change our attitude and approach. There is far to much negativity and OOC BS. A new website, voting, sure that will draw them in but we need to start thinking about retention. This is a game. A ROLEPLAYING ENFORCED game. There is absolutely no reason for cussing or disparaging remarks because you die, etc. Until this ceases, expect to see more and more of these posts. Personally these posts are wearying for me. I enjoy this place a great deal but I have brought people in that did not stay long at all. So... instead of the negativity.. let's think of positive solutions.

I happen to be the Director of a Medical Staffing Firm, We recruit PT OT ans SLP therapists and put them to work at our client sites.

We have all sorts of ways to recruit a therapist, we have many clients to put them at... but they are at a premium right now, they get asked by 10 different sources every day if they would please come to work for the Hospital, Nursing Home, Home Health company, School, Outpatient Clinic.. there just are not enough of them.

THe one thing that I tell my folks they must do well, is RETENTION. If we get one new one,,which on avg costs $14,000.00 in recruiting costs.. it is much cheaper to retain and keep them happy than to find a new one.

THis game is much the same way... Retain those few precious lads and lasses that come knocking...

[Iusedtobesomebody]

To people complaining about assassinate:

Hrmmm, I've been playing here a long time, and have been assassinated once. Yep, once. I've played a straight assassinate ninja, and it's really not that easy. I took a great race/cabal/perk choice and had no problems popping people. Most never knew I was on. Did I consider it too easy? Let me be brutally honest here: It was only as easy as my target made it for me. If he/she was playing smart and not doing dumbass things, it was incredibly difficult. If they weren't, it was like taking candy from a baby. If people are going to bitch and moan about assassinate, let me say "Don't be a dumbass and give the ninja the advantage". Even in CW it is possible to diminish the chances of an assassinate. Crap, I've had a ton of caballed characters and not one was assassinated. Only a 1.0 cleric of mine (Dienne, uncaballed) got assassinated by a very good ninja (Weimeri, Hunter), because I got careless and he played it perfectly.

People always say us "vets" advocate the "harden up princess" approach to learning and getting better. This is a case where I feel I can play this card.

To the people complaining about mouthing off after death:

It's been there, and it always will. Get a thicker skin. It's not always about you. They mouth off, kill them again. *shrug* They'll get the picture, or con-death. It's up to them.

To people talking about "respect":

This is a game. I respect every PLAYER here, in some way, shape or form. But I DO NOT have to respect your CHARACTER. Doing so may break my RP.

To people complaining about OOC contacts:

OOC friends will happen. You cannot stop it. What you can watch for and react to, is when these 'friends' contually make characters that interact, and trust me as a former IMM, the current IMMs have ways to do such a thing.

[Evangelion]

I agree with A-G wholeheartedly.

I enjoyed my one interaction with Skia. That interaction was you cheating me out of an item by tricking me into giving it to you without even thinking of considering, with the promise of receiving another item. And once I gave you my little magic multi-plated girdle, you essentially said screw off little kid.

I sat there staring at my computer screen for about a minute... and then I just started to laugh.

Props to you bro, and I hope you reconsider your decision to leave, because the only way this place is going to get any better is if the real players stay. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

[Mindflayer]

I loved Skia. When she assassinated me, I seriously was in awe. I honestly almost enjoyed it! Not that I like dying, but getting out gunned like that? My hat was off.

[Twinblades713]

Seriously Grosek, here's your list of people you need to stay for. Do you hear that? I'm not gonna go back and figure it out, but what, 3 or 4 of the people you assassinated just came out and said it was awesome. I really hope you aren't just busting on out of here. You just gotta ignore the bad, absorb the good and enjoy your time. Because you're right, you shouldn't come here to be offended, but you don't have to be offended. Roll up a zerk or something and go balls to the wall.