Non-Caballed

[gaga_blue]

For a combination of personal reasons and RP reasons, I'm considering not joining any cabal-- moreover making an oath to remain unaffiliated.

"This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. "

I hoping (A) this doesn't isolate me in terms of roleplaying and ( doesn't give me an insurmountable disadvantage in PK.

Am I being naive? Is the game "meant" to be played at level 50 in a cabal?

[ledgerbay]

Since joining the cabal i am in i have learned Immensely, but I understand not wanting the obligations of cabal politics i would say it is not "meant" to be played as a cabal'd 50. Just my opinion.

[Deykari]

Cabals are often considered as a normal extension to a character, and characters are often built around joining cabals because of particular skills and the like.

Consider the alternative though. If you join a cabal, as much as you can have your own spin on a cabal's goals (within reason) and your own individual roleplay, you are still writing your character's story in a way that fits into the cabal you've chosen. By not joining a cabal, you have 100% freedom to do whatever you want. I can't speak for the current state of the game in terms of playerbase as it's been a while for me, but you will NOT isolate yourself at all in terms of roleplaying by remaining a lone ranger. I played an Avatar and initially the character would not have fit into a cabal at that time. By remaining out of a cabal, I had the freedom to do exactly what I wanted to do (try to take over a city, declare myself above Tribunal law as I'm doing the work of Purity, generally be an arrogant ***** that was concerned with only destroying evil) and it was FUN to do this, to make a name as an individual and not in a cabal - especially when cabals headhunt you to try recruit you and you turn them down.

If you actively interact with everyone you come across with then it doesn't matter if you're in a cabal or not - people might naturally be drawn to a character with a cabal tag and think "HEY WHO'S THIS GUY?!" but in no way is it a substitute for consistent RP. Just make a lot of noise.

As for the PK arena, you can miss out on some valuable skills that can sway fights but the advantage is not insurmountable. You also have the advantage of being able to fight when you want, how you want - completely on your terms. Someone caught you off-guard? Flee, escape, rest, come back prepared. If you're in a cabal they'll have taken your standard by now and you'll have to fight to get it back but you for? You've lost no advantage. You die and get full-looted? Take your time to re-equip, you've no responsibility to anyone to do any other. With my Avatar, I had a perfect PK record for a long time without any deaths, though the deaths began to pile up once I eventually joined Knight. Pre-Knight I rode about, fighting who I wanted, capitalising on surprise and similar advantages and being cautious. If I didn't feel I had an advantage I'd leave the fight and bide my time, and only fight when it was suitable for me. It irritated people but so what? Nobody could make me fight if I didn't want to. Soon as you have a cabal banner, you have a responsibility to defend your base, retrieve your standard and assault the enemy base and it forces you into often fighting against odds that aren't in your favour.

If you have an idea that involves being away from cabals, do it. It's a ton of fun. Sorry for the long post.

EDIT:

"This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. "

I don't like that. It's an extremely narrow mindset in a game that promotes roleplay to assume that you have to box yourself into one of the cabals idealogies.

Dey

[Croyvern]

Be you, that's all that matters.

I can not count the number of times I have joined a cabal only to quickly lose my RP to the goals of my commanders.

Be you, and you will enjoy the character.

Be you, and join only the cabal that your character becomes fond of.

Just, be you.

[Kyzarius]

I personally try to invest in the RP of anyone who joins my cabals when I am E/L. I read your description and try to think of tasks that fit your rp.

That being said, going non-cabaled is not a bad idea. There is something to be said in FL about being beneath the radar. You don't have to worry about enemies being hard coded as much. You also are not subject to that war's started by that powerhouse character that get everyone killed.

[tassinvegeta]

Due to the powers and thus, huge advantage cabals gives characters, I'd say its actually mandatory to join a cabal (which at times limits your rp). If the journeyman change (or something similar) was enabled only for non-caballed characters I'd say it would make being non-caballed an attractive choice. (hint hint)

[Mister E]

There was a time when few people rolled a combo with the expectation to get caballed. When I first played you often had to wait a LONG time in the feeder clan and maybe hope someone from the Cabal got booted from inactivity. It is a less populous world now and as such there are always a few cabals that are so empty they will take anyone.

That being said, you do not NEED to be in a cabal. Deykari put it best, sure you get extra power but the responsibility may not be worth it.

[mya]

No, you can compete fine uncabaled. But being cabaled makes some things more easy, and others harder.