Sounding out an idea ...

[Kamrin]

AKA 'I have a dream' :D

So I'm planning to play a dwarven anthropologist (someone who studies different cultures). One who has grown tired of travelling all the time (last employment was as an assistant to a travelling merchant), deciding to let the people come to him and see how they interact.

To do this, he plans to develop a neutral town, in as multi-racial an area as possible. All but the most notorious of each race will be allowed shelter within the walls, many will be encouraged to settle down and carve out a new life within the walls of the town/city.

The city will be run to promote RPing as much as possible, likely with a clan for city-dwellers. Although NPCs will probably be doing most of the guarding and trading, I'd like to see PCs becoming 'city guards' within the clan. Not to make them patrol the walls 24/7 with the NPCs (it can be assumed they do that as an npc while offline), but to add depth to the city. After all, just having player guards available means it is possible for troublemakers to get into arguments with the law, hostile groups can bribe/persuade guards into turning traitor during an invasion ... and lost travellers can sometimes find a friendly(-ish) face to talk to.

Ideally within the laws of the city it will very much be a sandbox for ambitious players ... want to run a shady gladitorial arena for kicks and profits? Get some cash together to pay for a building, there's your passing trade and protection sorted. Simply want to run the shadiest tavern going? Stock up on ale and forget to invite the guards, though dont expect sympathy if you dont make it out alive.

More detail will be coming, but this is getting a little long already. So then, what do you think? Workable? Interesting?

[Kheiron]

What you seem to be hoping for is an actual living town of RPers and not just some fortified base with NPC guards that will be the norm for most guilds.

I like the idea, but find it too small in scope. A lone town and lone guild will not have the power to repell your average PvP guild, and losing a siege ends your idea pretty quick.

What would be better is doing such in a vast coalition of RPers, where your town is just one in many of a Kingdom which RPs inside it's boundries but possess the strength to be a formidable force in the actual game mechanics like warfare.

Read Brando's thread.

Anywho, back in SWG I donned my Stormtrooper armour (which I bought with faction points pre CU, none of this player crafted stuff) and actually RPed a guard at the Dantooine cantina. Hassling people every now and then, going up to people with droids and saying "How long have you owned that droid?"
"This isn't the droid I'm looking for"
"Move along"
I kind of made a habit of it, and once guarded the place without my pants and RPed like I was drunk.

Is it wrong that this is one of my better memories from SWG?

[Kamrin]

Yes, defending it was always going to be a problem. Was hoping to maintain good relations with most nearby clans, so not only are less people likely to attack but others may come to the aid of the city. Failing that, there's plenty of mercenary guilds about it seems.

And aye, I've been keeping up with the RP coalition thread, easy to see what I think of it, have posted enough in there.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Jonkar]

You can always hire us roleplaying mercenaries to help you out! Roleplayers helping roleplayers!

[Kamrin]

Yep! Could do a deal with you if you are nearby actually, let you set up a garrison in the city, access to the armoury, that kind of thing. In return for protection ofc.

[Nehemia]

You can always hire us roleplaying mercenaries to help you out! Roleplayers helping roleplayers!

Us... Grrh Jonkar promoting Red Blades as always ; )

For this I suggest we take turns ala Mercenary Union, so you don't need to spend all your time guarding one town when you can do other contracts at the sametime. In addition, we -could- rent a house for Union's Headquarters.
You know, for loreplayish diplomacy discussions.

[Jonkar]

Yep! Could do a deal with you if you are nearby actually, let you set up a garrison in the city, access to the armoury, that kind of thing. In return for protection ofc.

Well, we can always discuss details when the time comes. However just so you know, we will never have any permanent effects from a contract, like owning a building in a town.

[Kamrin]

Oh ofc the city will have its own guards, would only need to bring in help for sieges/large amount of griefers or whatever.

Some of the ideas here will depend on what building options and permissions look like when the game comes out, but will certainly be welcoming contact with as many RP clans as possible.

Very little is planned yet, current thinking is I cant pass up the chance to RP gathering followers and founding/capturing a city in game. If anyone is interested in getting involved now, PM me/post here and we can sort out how we know each other etc.

[Foxodi]

Meh, I dont see why you can't do this in... any town.
Just encourage everyone else to RP abit (gambling/duel tournaments sound like fun)

[Kamrin]

Oh naturally, not trying to say my town will be the only one to RP in. Will hopefully be making a city open to as many as possible to visit and possibly live in, with the aim of producing a strong RP atmosphere where people can RP with people they wouldnt get to meet peacefully otherwise. Might turn out to be unfeasible, I dont know yet.

[Kheiron]

I doubt you'll get the numbers. You wont be able to capture or hold the town, or have the funds to pay for mercenaries without a clan of your own, and truth be told you're not offering anything beyond what any other RP clan is.

Neutrality is little defence in a game like Darkfall as well. People aren't going to wait for you to attack them before they attack you, especially with city spots being limited.

My advice is join an established RP clan, and try to run for mayor.

[Kamrin]

Oh, I plan to get a clan together. But yes, capturing and defending the city will be the biggest challenge. Certainly wouldnt be going for one of the unique spots. Could always build a village instead, but dont like the way I could log on to find someone rolled through with a siege weapon or two while I was out.

And indeed, someone preaching tolerance (at least until they do something nasty to us) is going to be in for a hard time, thats almost the point of the char. Will just RP it all along and see what happens. With the apparently fast start-up time of Darkfall, will be happy for my little dwarf to meet his perma-death if it makes a good ending to the tale.