Roleplaying in Mhaldor

Keres

Firstly, I apologize for the necro!

I just made my first character on Achaea. During the city selection process, I read about the city Mhaldor and decided that it sounds like a place I might enjoy role-playing in. Anyway, my character name is Keres and I just wanted to introduce myself to the other players in Mhaldor and put it out there that I am pretty much a newbie to Achaea. I do have some experience playing MUDs but this one seems quite a bit different than the other ones I have played.

I have not picked a class or House yet because I don't really know what fits with the city. I am going to read up about the classes a bit more before making that choice, and probably the Houses as well. It sounds like a good idea to join a House. I would really appreciate any discussion or feedback from other members of the city before I make my choice. If you think a particular House or class would be a better place to start, I would love to hear why.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to playing with you all!

Shirszae

Keres said:

Firstly, I apologize for the necro!

I just made my first character on Achaea. During the city selection process, I read about the city Mhaldor and decided that it sounds like a place I might enjoy role-playing in. Anyway, my character name is Keres and I just wanted to introduce myself to the other players in Mhaldor and put it out there that I am pretty much a newbie to Achaea. I do have some experience playing MUDs but this one seems quite a bit different than the other ones I have played.

I have not picked a class or House yet because I don't really know what fits with the city. I am going to read up about the classes a bit more before making that choice, and probably the Houses as well. It sounds like a good idea to join a House. I would really appreciate any discussion or feedback from other members of the city before I make my choice. If you think a particular House or class would be a better place to start, I would love to hear why.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to playing with you all!

Welcome to the Naga~ *hint, hint*

But yeah, you are right, joining a House in Mhaldor is a specially good idea!~ 

:P

Seriously thought, any of the accepted classess fit very well with the city, so what you need to ask yourself is what fits with your character. Is Keres an honorable evil knight? Or a dishonorable evil bastard? That sort of thing. I personally don't think one class is better to start than any other. 

Hataru

Keres said:

Firstly, I apologize for the necro!

I just made my first character on Achaea. During the city selection process, I read about the city Mhaldor and decided that it sounds like a place I might enjoy role-playing in. Anyway, my character name is Keres and I just wanted to introduce myself to the other players in Mhaldor and put it out there that I am pretty much a newbie to Achaea. I do have some experience playing MUDs but this one seems quite a bit different than the other ones I have played.

I have not picked a class or House yet because I don't really know what fits with the city. I am going to read up about the classes a bit more before making that choice, and probably the Houses as well. It sounds like a good idea to join a House. I would really appreciate any discussion or feedback from other members of the city before I make my choice. If you think a particular House or class would be a better place to start, I would love to hear why.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to playing with you all!

Clergy - Be prepared for lots of writing and having to do the normal basic combat stuff, if you don't want to write don't join. Magi is pretty basic for any combat style and you only (need) two trans class skills instead of three. Apostate is a bit more advanced as far as combat goes and will take more effort to get minimal results. Shaman has lots of pluses and minuses but I'd honestly never recommend it for combat (personal opinion there's plenty who would disagree with me) and its not great for bashing - but its a great class if you like menial time taking stuff (like totem work) and want to write rituals and pick class for RP purposes. I usually don't recommend true newbies go Jester, while its becoming a much better class its so rarely pulled off right in Mhaldor that I just don't recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a strong footing RP wise within the city.

Maldaathi - If you think that the knight house of the city is just about learning combat, you'll probably either go dormant at Sentry, get kicked out, or be miserable. Too many people don't realize that history, RP, and religion are so very central to the ideals of the Maldaathi and are shocked when its not just about swinging swords around. Runewarden is a combat by damage class, Infernal is a combat by damage or set up class so the choice between those is more... person style. Maldaathi can be really intimidating with all its titles and standards of decorum to a true newbie and usually this ends up with the Grunt (our novice title) feeling like they can't actually ask questions and assuming things about the house that end up having to be corrected (many take a 'blindly follow' stance instead of actually asking questions and exploring and blindly following is the last thing you want to do in regards to enjoying a game). Its a lot more newbie friendly that it seems at the outset if you have the mindset to be patient, use titles, speak politely, and actually ask questions instead of just assuming things.

Naga - I was Naga for a very short time on an alt so most of my knowledge of the house is through interaction and third-person knowledge. I love serpent as a class, its really fun and because of having bows/shooting as a class skill you'll always have a use in raids even if you're not good at 1v1 combat. There are a lot of super friendly people in the house that while scary on the outside will always be available to answer your questions (like @Jurixe and @Cahin and @Tael), don't let the stoic nature of a lot of Mhaldorians outwardly make you shy from ever approaching someone with a question - however unreasonable you may find it, find the right wording and either you'll get constructive help answer wise or constructive help towards why not to ask that question again.

Ebon Fist - I know nothing about this house. Nothing. Sometimes I forget its exists (I'm just joking no one hate me please, its just the only house I've not been a member of in the city). I won't pretend I know a lot about the intricacies of the house internally except that they have shores which are paths and its a cool concept and the RP behind the house definitely got better under Ruth from what I saw at least. I can give a bit of a recommendation toward the classes though. Blademaster is a fun class and super deadly combat wise if you spend any time learning how to play it, Monk is great for raids and defense because of the ranged abilities you get later on (kai choke mmmm), some people might tell you artifacts are required to play this class but I wouldn't necessarily listen to that. Ebon Fist is really made up of some powerhouse bashing classes - two of the best in the game. Alchemist isn't for everyone, unless you have the patience and really want to spend time making minerals and collecting reagents I don't recommend it - granted you can earn some money from it to help finance credits and learning which is always good and we definitely need more Alchemists around.

Summary:

Classes:

If you want to bash? Knight classes, Magi, Monk, Blademaster

Want to go straight combat? Apostate, (any of the bashing classes)

Looking to be sneaky, raid useful, and spy on people? Go serpent.

Looking to be a ritualist? Go Shaman.

Like digging around in the dirt and spending hours in a lab? Be an Archaeologist.... I mean Alchemist.

Houses:

Maldaathi - A bit intimidating because of the strictness of knight code but as long as you aren't egotistical and don't have a problem listening you'll be fine as long as you take it all in strides.

Clergy - Writer friendly! If you're looking to really get into Achaea to RP and write, this is my recommendation.

Ebon Fist - Kinda has it all, combat, writing, but by far the best group of bashing classes in my opinion.

Naga - It takes a certain person to be a serpent and if you're looking to go the sneaky, espionage, or infiltration route this is for you.

Beyond what I've said here its sort of just figuring out, like @Shirzsae said, what you want to be because once you kinda figure out your vague direction it makes selection a lot easier.

At the end of it all too if you're still confused I suggest talking ICly to a few members who are on at the time and on the HELP HOUSE <NAME> files as aides or can induct to try and get an even better feel of what you're dealing with.

Sherazad

Ebon Fist is a monastery. We aim for well-roundedness and we're big on being a brotherhood of warriors in Evil. 

Keres

Thanks for all the info! I am excited to meet you all in-game, when I figure out why this client won't connect.

Kresslack

My first day in Mhaldor, @Xenomorph found me and gave me a hug. Then he said, "If you need anything, I got you bro."

Really though, you'd be surprised at the atmosphere from within Mhaldor. It's very supporting and people are usually always willing to help you, so long as you're also willing to help yourself. You're not alone, but you're not there to mooch off of other either. People will help you if you need it and have the voice to ask for it.

In my experience, and from seeing a lot of novices crash and burn recently in Mhaldor because of this one thing, a lot of it is about respect. There's few things more annoying and that will quickly stall your progression in Mhaldor than when someone is trying to help you and you make it difficult because you think you know it all already. Even if you do, shut up and nod and smile and then do what you think is best. 

I've found nothing but support, and encouragement to advance through Mhaldor. It's not a place where you can piss around and do nothing, because citizens who do that aren't usually contributing anything to the actual City, and no one really benefits from that. In Mhaldor, you're given the opportunity and tools you need to succeed, and you're challenged to do so, simply put. 

In regards to RP, there is a ton of RP in Mhaldor, even if it's something as small as a Maldaathi immediately snapping a salute when they encounter a Maldaathi Knight, or using the appropriate titles for someone in your response to them. 

Nizaris

@Keres:

Necromancy is a gift to be celebrated in Mhaldor, not discouraged. Do not apologize for the abilities that the Lord and Master of all Sapience has given to you in your earnest here. Command the sacred powers of undeath with pride, for our God has chosen you amongst His elect. You need only earn, or lose, this great blessing; no matter the outcome of these your trials, Mhaldor, and Sapience at large, shall be stronger for it. </forumrp>

It is a really good time to be a member of Mhaldor, so welcome! Mhaldor recently experienced a large defection for RP reasons, and with the absence of previous leaders, has many new ones that are generating fresh ideas and RP. This makes for a very vibrant atmosphere, RP-wise. One might term it a "renaissance".

To my knowledge, everyone in Mhaldor is extremely helpful on an OOC basis. I personally take great enjoyment out of helping people to acclimate, and teaching them about their role in Mhaldor. It is so much fun playing the villain, and providing a majority of the games ideologies with their literary "foils". The history, lore, and theology in Mhaldor is also some of the best thought-out in the game; basically, we play social darwinists. Extrapolate from there, and you have a pretty good idea of what we're about.

Pick a class whose ethos speaks to you, then pick the house that supports it. WARNING: You will be accosted (even by my character) for not having chosen a class. This is OK. We're just doing our jobs, but we understand a true-newbie on an OOC level, no matter what our characters say IC. If you ever feel offended, good -- our characters are having the requisite effect on you. Just stop, and ask yourself what a reasonable person (the player) is actually thinking. Understand that the player is not the character. Roll with it. Have fun.

I'm just returning from a dormancy myself, but shoot me a tell some time if you want to chat. I'll assume in-character conversation until you ask otherwise.

Keres

@Daeir - good advice! I know because that's exactly what I have done and I am loving it already. Everyone has been super helpful and encouraging and the RP around it all is fun and stimulating

shhhh tho don't tell everyone or they'll all want in

Vansittart

Mhaldor just does what every city should do.  It doesn't tolerate deviations from its IC philosophy.  If you deviate, you will die (a lot) or be ousted.  It really isn't some special, amazing, hard mode that only experienced players should join.

It doesn't demand uniformity in RP, provided you live by the very simple rules: Don't be disobedient, follow Evil, don't be an asshat.

The people who find this "hard" confuse me.  It's like they would expect to turn up to a job wearing nothing but frilly underwear, and tackle their boss to the ground and cover their face in kisses, pounce incessantly on their co-workers while giggling and getting their boobs out and not expect to be fired.  I wish every city enforced its ideology and standards of behaviour as rigorously.

I find it confusing why behaving like a sex-crazed 7 year old with a glitter fetish is acceptable in any city, but hey ho.  If you fancy roleplaying an evil character, give it a whirl.  If you don't, then don't.  Don't be intimidated, don't be scared, just get stuck in .

Keres

i'm stuck (in)

Boosteya

I wish I were truly GOOD at playing a Mhaldorian. If only I weren't a coward, and utterly stupid where combat is concerned.

Edit: added the purple words

Shirszae

Boosteya said:

I wish I were truly GOOD at playing a Mhaldorian. If only I weren't a coward, and utterly stupid where combat is concerned.

Edit: added the purple words

I am nowhere near good at combat either, and that has not deterred me. You just need to find a way to be useful, thats all.

Hataru

@Boosteya I'm rubbish at combat and I've still done plenty even in the Maldaathi - if you have a talent and you push for that talent to be used, it will get used.

Herenicus

Apologies for the necromancy, but I am curious as to whether current Mhaldorian players perceive raids and raiding as crowding out other IC initiatives?  Mhaldor's small playerbase relative to other cities naturally mitigates in favor of an all-hands-on-deck approach to combat.   In my experience, combat was very often happening or being contemplated during the prime hours of player activity.  How is the current leadership accomodating a variety of gaming styles within the strictures of established Mhaldorian roleplay?        

Mishgul

It's slow. The segregation is appearing, which can be good, but there are still fights where everyone gets dragged into it. 

Herenicus

Just wanted to send a shout out to the bros and shos roleplaying on the other side of the monitor. You is who you is. 

Warsson

As a newbie, I have found striking up polite conversation with the higher officials of the city to be rather easy. A bow in greeting, and a polite "Hello" are really all it takes. At least, from my experience.

And about the mentor, I actually had a mentor find me, and take me in. It was actually weird, because I had thought I had to go looking about for a mentor.

But, I simply said hi, my (almost) mentor was telling me what I needed to do, and then *poof* I was a disciple!!

But in all honesty, there is a fine line between being buddy-buddy and speaking to a superior or inferior.

Show respect to get respect, is how I go about it. And it's pretty easy, and people open up too.

Atalkez

I just kill the superiors and say Hail Sartan afterwards.

Works so far