Random thoughts on Cabals..

[Mudder]

Alright I couldn't read this whole thing because im lazy and have limited time to MUD I don't want to waste on reading all this crap...

Yes, the Cabals are Imm run. But they do such a damn good job. I would LOVE to see Elders/Leaders have more power. I think Leader powers should (somewhat) equal that of an Immortal. They should be able to allow players to send an application to cabal and get voted. They should allow instant promotions/demotions. But should require a vote to induct or expel members. Elders should be able to do all except induct and instantly promote/demote.

I remember on Sirican I couldn't even promote or demote some people as Elder.

I see tons of newbie players in cabals these days. Does that mean quality has declined? NO! It means Imms are giving new people a chance to prove themselves.

Though it is true, you have to be able to dedicate a lot of hours to get into a cabal... But is that such a bad thing? If you don't have the time for a cabal, don't join. You can still play the MUD but you aren't going to be an "Elite" part of it unless you are awesome.

Cabals should remain an "Elite" part of FL, thats how they have always been, how they should be. It gives newer people something to strive for. A reason to get better at RP/PK. The system could use tweaking, but nothing like what Celerity first mentioned.

[tassinvegeta]

I agree with Fest, the way its run now is fine, and time should be devoted to other things.

[Psycho Child]

Alright, heres my 2c.

Let me start by stating that I have not been in a cabal since Oct of 2001. I have not applied to a cabal since Nov of 2001. Why? Whats the point? You give everyone else in the game a button that says "Summon members of Cabal x". I've joined a few clans, done some quests, never actually applied though. Personally I find the game alot more fun in the 30-40 range than I ever have at 50. At fifty you have three things to do:

1. Go wander around aimlessly looking for someone to kill.

2. Hide in a corner and hope someone wandering aimlessly doesn't find you.

3. Teaparties. (No I am not knocking rp in anyway, and am totally pro-rp.)

But thats it. Nothing to train, no ranks go gain, no equipment to get, nothing permanant to accomplish. Now all this might just be me, but I usually find the quality of my rp fading at about rank 45, because at that point its the mad rush to 50 before being raped, and then...nothing. Maybe I inject too much of myself into my characters, but I just can't bring myself to swear obedience to any absolute authority. I can't even begin to detail the ammount of trouble I got myself into in the Marines for not obeying stupid orders. In FL though, you will just be cast out of the cabal, and then you have not only the enemies you were already fighting, but your former cabal after you as well. I don't know, mabye there is some grand gem of wisdom that I am missing here. Also my severe ADHD might be a factor, but I hate using that as an excuse.

Now, secondly...

The problem with the current clan/cabal system is timezones. Either you happen to play at the same times as the E/L/IMM of the cabal you want to join, or your probably won't get in. Not because of some grand conspiracy, or an active decision on the part of those involved, its just the way that it works with the current setup. At least, that has been my observation, based on my schedule constantly changing and allowing me to play in all time zones. At least, I hope this is the reason, otherwise it reeks of OOCness to me as to who gets in and who doesn't. As a disclaimer, this is merely my observations and opinion, not being touted as definite fact.

Now, possible solutions?

I think the idea of having character hours into a clan/cabal being a factor, as well as the number of quests helping shape the decision. I also think that if someone is not going to get into a cabal because of shoddy rp, or whatever, then they should be told straight up, and removed from the clan. They can then fix their rp, or whathaveyou, and then rejoin the clan, and start out again with 0 hours and 0 quests, and work thier way back up.

Just some random thoughts on the subject. If I can ever stay interested in a character at 50 for more than 10 hours, maybe I'll see about getting into a cabal again and seeing if the warfare thing can keep my interest. Until then, I'll keep making characters in the 30-40 range.

[Mister E]

Dude...Being in a Cabal sounds like the cure for your lvl 50 blues. You say there is nothing productive to do at 50, well if you join a Cabal you always have something to do. Army warfare, standard warfare, raids, etc etc etc.

[corpsestomp]

I found that once my cabal had taken all the land it could, and WM stopped logging on because there were so many of us, it was exactly the same as being uncaballed.

Also, I think it should be time/quest based, rather than completely Imm dependent on whether you even go from I to M.

[Iyorvin]

I found that once my cabal had taken all the land it could, and WM stopped logging on because there were so many of us, it was exactly the same as being uncaballed.

Also, I think it should be time/quest based, rather than completely Imm dependent on whether you even go from I to M.

So you should of played a WM. 1 vs 7 and you'll always have something to do.

[Tantangel]

Usually doesn't play like that. It's 5 WM and 1 Savant and then it totally swings around to 5 Savants and 1 WM. It would be great if it could be totally even for once on all acounts as Knight seems to be completely dead and Syndicate has two active members whilst Tribunal has 3 active members and then you have Watchers who seem dead at least when I'm on. Herald has two members that come about sporadically though it seems they're active. Start filling up those Cabals and maybe an all out Cabal brawl can insue.

[corpsestomp]

So you should of played a WM. 1 vs 7 and you'll always have something to do.

This was during Rompkei's time, and when I was inducted, I think there was 2 active Savants compared to the 5-6 active WMs. Then Ivyziou and I started logging quite a few hours, and the WMs disappeared.

Well, other than Rompkei, who beat my face in several times.

[Tantangel]

I think what usually happens though is people run out of things to do. Like PC said, once you get to a certain point it becomes pointless. You hit 50, all the essentials are mastered, you're Trusted or higher in a Cabal that already the opposing Cabal has no one who logs in anymore, everyone else in your Cabal stopped logging on because of lack of opposing Cabals, you own just about everything in the lands (except random places due to influence) so you move on to what's left. Mastering non-essentials, sitting in CC/CS and having tea parties. And if you're lucky enough someone will decide to join the opposing Cabal again and you'll have some more fun. It usually sucks though for a while. At least as a Tribunal or Syndicate the bounties keep coming and Outlaws are an abundant. Only thing I hate about them is it's strictly PK for the most part where as at least the others (excluding Heralds), you at least have armies. Never played with raids though so I don't know how those really work.

[goldbond]

in theory, if a greater number of cabals were filled simultaneously like the old days, being caballed at 50 would be more attractive for a longer period of time for the average player.. does this sound like reasonable logic?

[Tantangel]

Deductable reasoning at least. I still say up the amount allowed so that way you can have more people in at the same time you'll still have those floaters who log in 50 hours one month then 10 hours the next and be booted. Wouldn't harm the system any at all, don't recall having a cap in 1.0, though I could be wrong.

[Kyzarius]

Once I hit 50, and T or E in a cabal the game begins. All training should be long done, equipping is really not to much of a problem for any of my characters and now its time to RP, make a name for myself and see what history I can be a part of.

[Mudder]

If your in a Cabal and you have no enemies... What do you do? Be bored? Hell no! Declare war on another strong cabal!

Nexus bored? Declare war on Tribunal.

Savant bored? Attack Knight.

Knight bored? Kill Watchers again. Simple and Easy. + it helps balance

[kahlos]

Well said Mudder.

Once you get bored playing FL, it's time to look for a different game.

Only time you should get bored is if you're uberly decked, completely trained, Leader of a cabal, and have 0 in your PK range.

But then you can just go around collecting gold. You can never have enough gold.

[Evangelion]

So you should of played a WM. 1 vs 7 and you'll always have something to do.

Hells yeah. Kick the Savant's asses, and revive the cabal.

*highfive Wvorg*

[Tantangel]

If your in a Cabal and you have no enemies... What do you do? Be bored? Hell no! Declare war on another strong cabal!

Nexus bored? Declare war on Tribunal.

Savant bored? Attack Knight.

Knight bored? Kill Watchers again. Simple and Easy. + it helps balance

First one only doable if Elder or above.

Second one, see first one.

Third one, check and did though I absolutely hated Clerics and it was fun to finally kill the Healer gone Avatar.

Fourth one, not doable I haven't joined Knights ever.

And WM blow Balinor. I hate playing melees.