Hello Bennu,
Item #3 above ... it reads as though only the Crux 'will be called into action....' Is this really not intended for the general population so much?
I highly recommend that you take a look at these two links:
UOEM: Atlantic, Knights of the Crux Ansata
UO Stratics EM Forum, Crux Ansata FAQ
While the long version can be viewed at those two links. The short version is this, the Crux Ansata is the Royal Guard. Open to anyone and everyone equally. Really if you play on Atlantic you ARE the Crux Ansata. Once you attend one 'Crux' event you start earning points for ranks and sashes etc.
Instead of just creating the standard generic "Royal Guard" on Atlantic I thought that Atlantic deserved something a bit more unique and individual to the server. I 'borrowed' a small bit of Ultima fiction using an almost unknown group in the Lore and expanded upon it.
EVERYONE is welcome at all of my events, always. We have a population of event attenders that include, RP Only/Non-Combat Players, Full Combat Only Players, PvPers, Rare Collectors and any other combination or unique flavors. When I say "This is a Crux Combat Event" What Im basically saying is, "Get Ready for a War and be ready to fight".
If I say "This is Primarily an RP event" it means there is a lot of background information, a lot of character interaction, a lot of dialog and very little if any combat or fighting.
On a server like Atlantic where player population at an EM event is anywhere from 50 to 200+ players at any given event. I HAVE to provide a bit of information on the 'style' of the particular event. What this basically does is let people pick and choose the types of events they are interested in.
There are players who absolutely HATE Role Playing (Even in a MMORPG), I would rather warn them that a particular event is going to be Highly RP, then have them show up and be disruptive because they are bored and it isn't what they were expecting.
We're thinking of attending Thursday's event but the 'EM events' (or maybe they are not formal EM events - I'm confused) of lately seem not so welcoming to the general population really.
I am VERY sorry you feel that way and in no way is that my intention. All players are welcome at any of my events or RPC interactions.
The last 'EM event of combat' in Magincia the general population was not granted the ability to obtain the lethal pies from Ricardo's pie stand during the onset of the scheduled event, but the Crux folk reportedly had the pies prior to - that was disheartening and left bad feelings wrt Atlantic EM events being for the Atlantic players not just RPer.
Ah, the pies. Something you will need to know, that is difficult to express properly is that the "Live Arc" events, which include characters such as Virtuebane, The Late Queen Dawn... etc. Are EA/Mythic written events and your EM team basically acts them out as directed.
Ricardo was giving out pies for almost a week prior to that event on every shard that I am aware of. General chat was full of people talking about it, as well as the stratics boards.
I also walked the attendees of an event over to him after an event about a week before the Magincia event happened.
As a non-RPer the 'EM events' are very limited and not very enticing to build a sense of community across the shard. I've about lost all interest & faith in EM events as my comrades have - Maybe make your own guild and do RP stuff there and allow opportunity for a different EM team that desires to invoke more community outreach and enticement across the entire community beyond the RP folk. There are proportionally much less heavy RP folk out there when you observe attendance for the highly RP events vs the general community. RP folk are kewl and all, we need them but not to distance the general population out of EM events.
My job is to provide a story line, a background layer of fiction for the server of Atlantic. EM Events by their very nature are Story driven, which means Role Playing.
Which makes more sense?
#1: Some random EM in a robe, spawning a bunch of bad guys for you to kill in a random dungeon once a week.
#2: An Evil Wizard who plots the take over of Britain from his lair in the Hedge Maze is sending scouts and invaders to test the defenses of the city.
Obviously #2 has more story, and a "Reason for being" instead of just randomness.
As far as "Making my own guild" I can only assume you mean the Crux Ansata... which is not what you are trying to portray in any stretch of the imagination. The Crux Ansata is nothing but a plot device to give an 'in character' fictional reason for players to gather/unite/fight under the same banner.
FOR CLARITY, FOCUS & BETTER UNDERSTANDING:
Is there a mission statement for the EM function?
i.e.:
What is the purpose?
How is the purpose achieved?
What are the core values?
Note: 17.5 % of your poll results desire RP only events *edit*
As an EM I provide fiction, background characters and events in the game world of Atlantic. The purpose is to entertain and give players something to do a bit more 'out of the norm', something special, unique and produce fond memories and loyalty to the server and the game as a whole.
The purpose is achieved by creating living, breathing characters within the game world that people enjoy interacting with and generally care for. Also by providing a story in which players can interact and change the outcome of through their actions.
As an EM I am Impartial, Honest and Fair... and I have a passion for providing fiction and enhancing your game play. Otherwise I wouldn't be here.
Just tossing observations to you. Actually, kinda sorry I care.
I care too
I love Atlantic, I enjoy every second I spend EMing on our server.
Oh, If the location to #3 was to be provided only to those who could stay awake through the graduation party (what time did it start?, What was the turn?) then you're secret as it seems is safe.
*mumbles something about staging of toons from additional player accounts to 'fill the room' in case turn out not so big*
What? The party was all one event... we had a party, we went and played bagball in luna, we went back to moonglow, and Addie moved to the inn in Magincia. There was a little combat, but nothing serious, the overwhelming bulk of the event was character interaction and storyline.
On a positive note from the general population perspective: Very very nice job on the Easter quest story line. Also, well chosen locations within the quest. The addition of
Tehom and blue mushroom ring =
Glad you like it, the easter event is unique to every server. We were given rewards to give out, everything else was unique to that servers EM team.
The general population can join the ranks of Crux Ansata by simply attending Crux events; Bennu details this in another thread. After one event, I believe it was after we fought different aspects of Bennu, he told everyone about the pie stand, even showing folks personally.
All of this is correct. Although I am not sure what event it was where we walked from the EM hall to the Castle afterwords, I would have to check dates.
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I hope this helps clear up your concerns. You, your friends, and ALL players are welcome to any and all EM events. I put little 'event type' notifications so that people have a general idea of what to expect from a particular event so people do not involve themselves in an event type they do not enjoy.
We have several players who have no combat ability at all on their characters, imagine their surprise at the "Massacre on the Beach" event about 6 months ago where we had between 200 and 250 players on the beach on fireisland fighting back an amazing hoard of creatures with no escape.
Imagine the same surprise, a player who's primary focus is combat and they show up to an RP "Party" with beer, ale and roast pig for 2 hours and a bagball game.
If I just said "Hey all, EM event this Thursday! Don't forget your towel!" then neither player would show up, because they would think it was 'just like that boring event I didnt like before".
The more information I can give about an event, without ruining the plot, the better for you and for other players who's playstyle may make them partial to a certain event type.
I run combat events (like the Massacre on the Beach), RPC interaction events (randomly announced in chat, just basic talking and character interaction), RP events (Like the one last night), One off crazy events (like the attack of the Bennu event in Britain) and quite a few other types... not every single player is going to enjoy every single event type... but that is the point. The more play styles I can represent and entertain the better a job I am doing.
In the large scale of things I am a young EM, I have only been around about 9 months I think. I am ALWAYS open to
constructive feedback, suggestions, event ideas, and anything else you would like to talk about as far as the events style on Atlantic
I get VERY few emails, despite our large server population. You and anyone else can always email me,
[email protected]