The discussion is always open, Anchor. I was using the thread as an idea on how to guide my development a bit beyond, "Hmm, having a location like this would be cool for Zinrah!" and then crossing my fingers hoping someone will use it. I like that you mention the idea of particularity – and this ties into V's input too – that even though Zinrah is probably associated with constrictor Dhani, say a "racial capital" what was there as a foundation was really the cultural model of how they act, and I've been furthering that. I've not yet thought of specifics as to what perks a Dhani might have sticking around in Zinrah though, so ideas will be storming.
Sorry to hear about the gnosis bit, V. Regarding the rest, Limey is on board and Anchor and Cascade are bringing some life to Black Rock…  so hopefully we can expect some great improvements region wide. The foundations definitely give Falyndar a unique flare, something Limey and I agree is best kept, and so now we get to spin it in a new fashion. Expect cool things.  I still don't see it necessary to cater to the other races. Myrians, man, they won the place and still have a rough time, but that's life in the jungle. Opening the region up in a reasonable fashion is definitely something to look at. The Dhani and Myrians definitely aren't ready to yield to each other. I mean, technically they are at a truce, haha!
And back to Anchor, your edit note is especially powerful. The question I'm asking, and have been asking in this thread is, "All right, what sorts of roles do you – player base – want to see?" And then if it's something we can do – which most ideas will be possible, it's a matter of placement in the design of Falyndar – then we want to gladly accommodate.
Like, okay, so Falyndar comes off as this impossibly dangerous place more than anywhere else for whatever the reason – cannibals! – and we like that, it's cool (or at least I do, I think Limey smiles at the thought of screams and blood…anyway, I digress). But now we want to, hmm, not transition into a new phase of Falyndar's existence in the world, but paint the details of its image. Where is that mental smith who arms the Myrian army really from and how does he feel about everything? You give a whole new perspective to the Myrian world as a tradesman on the inside making a fine living, for one example (one very good example if anyone is into the smithing skills…  ).
Lastly,
- The goal of this thread is to identify development opportunities and understand the outside perspective of Falyndar. True, Falyndar is not developed to its fullest, hence a thread questioning what people would like to see developed.
- There's nothing friendly about cannibals or snakes, and these peoples by their nature don't intend on being friendly without good reason. There's actually nothing more realistic than Falyndar, the wide spread embodiment of Caiyha's domain as a goddess.
- This thread, once again, is not about the past, but rather how to move forward. Falyndar and Cyphrus are two vastly different regions and have few points of criteria in which they can be fairly compared.
- Zinrah's placement on the map is incorrect, and should be further north near the top of the F on the cities map. Myrians are required to serve in the army for three years. Part of this is jungle patrols, hunting, and keeping he Dhani pinned in Zinrah. There's a truce, the jungle is still dangerous and needs to be managed, and the Myrians make a quick buck as it is (or lose their lives as quickly if they go on unsuspecting).
- The blockade is alive. Myrian "fangs" – composed of some 40+ Myrians, their mounts, and items – patrol the perimeter of Zinrah and outward from its radius to the ruins. There are traps, basic snares to death traps, all placed for the Dhani. Its purpose is a) a taunt to the Dhani who are not safe outside their hole, more so than they would be in the wilds as it is, and b) a preventative measure to keep the Dhani from growing to the point where they could challenge the Myrians, even in a position where they could damage the Myrian hold over the region and welcome other invaders – whoever they might be.
- Giant tigers can carry a lot around. Temporary camps and thin trails through the Falyndar wilderness guide the patrols and make settling for the night simple. The Myrian Tigers are most likely the apex predator of Falyndar…which the Myrians ride.
- Caiyha made a deal with Myri. Myrians don't enter Zinrah; Dhani do not enter Taloba. Violation of this contract entails…bad things, namely for the Dhani. Caiyha wouldn't watch her daughter's children perish undefended, and Myri isn't going to tolerate Dhani filth on her turf. Senseless hate is divine politics, and mortals are but tools – as they always have been.
- From the Myrian perspective, they basically don't want these snakes slithering around their bathhouses like packs of roaches. Dhani can breed that fast, and that's where this tension arises from. It's a complex dynamic worthy of a separate discussion in its own right.
- As for Dhani, life in the jungle is tough, and now people are purposely out to kill them on top of it. Things just got that much harder to do, small things too.
- It's a hostile region. Mizahar as a whole is supposed to be. The overarching theme is post-apocalypse, no? This is how people are surviving after the Valterrian, even 500 years later, and if it works, why not?
- The blockade was destroyed in the djed storm, absolutely annihilated. Roughly 40 days later, the blockade was restored to its full strength, the tigers reined in, and the traps set up more than previously. The Myrians are efficient, highly efficient, at what they do. If they can't wipe the Dhani out as per contract, then they'll make the Dhani suffer all they can short of starving or killing them. It goes back to Caiyha and Myri. It's how things have been for centuries. It's a norm to maintain.
- Syka is a testament of what the Myrians are capable of. Any settlement not approved by them (namely Myri) will be treated thusly: inspect, retreat, come back armed to the teeth and purge. Seeing there is no need for people settling in their home (which would mean they are only draining the Myrian resources and getting too comfortable in a land that's not theirs), it really doesn't make sense under that Myrian mentality.
- Suppose people settle around some rare mineral vein. As a Myrian, that vein belongs to you, and you don't need to trade for it. People claiming it for themselves is theft.
- Regarding other settlements and locations like "ruins," an excerpt from Taloba's history: "The Valterrian devastated the outlying villages, and destroyed a portion of Taloba. Once the cataclysm was over, Taloba's inhabitants emerged and began again, rebuilding and searching for survivors. Some ruins still remain as a testament and a reminder of the power of the pantheon, although the buildings have been rebuilt." One word: Cataclysm.
- Cayenne purposely developed Falyndar's foundations for a reason, regardless as how unplayable as some see it (a judgment, I must note, that is far from the truth, and is a sign of people only taking Falyndar for its face value, its IN CHARACTER representation). Limey and I are here to make sure you're not overplaying the region or getting mauled in an instant. This idea that Falyndar is so closed and impossible is just so…wrong. As far as changing a Founder's purposeful and well-reasoned region is concerned, I would suggest against it. Falyndar is unique to the game, and just needs to bloom into its full image, rather than be remade entirely thus altering the past and everything said about it. The Dhani and Myrians, by example, are not going to forgive each other overnight.
- Regarding human settlements in the jungle: How many times has it been noted that establishing a village elsewhere in the world, even in Sylira, is near impossible? The proposed suggestion is to now build a settlement, out of the blue, with mere lumber as local and accessible resource, in the deadliest, thickest, most thriving wilderness terrain in the entire world of Mizahar, a region guarded and constantly observed by cannibalistic masters of war Myrians, and the Goddess-Queen Myri, who dedicated her life to uniting her people and securing Falyndar solely for them and no other, is unlikely. The previous statement doesn't even acknowledge the details of the wilderness, that which is more difficult to traverse or settle than any of the other climates, a land where the ground is a swamp and you have no support to build large objects on (unless one were to dare deeper into the Myrian territory, guaranteed slaughter), or the carnivorous flora and fauna, where plants are armed to paralyze and melt, or massive cats that stalk the jungles, quick to make prey of the unaware traveler. The statement ignores the idea of another race well settled in the region who have their own idealistic dream of overcoming this impossible Myrian force and claiming Falyndar for Siku. I must digress. I know, I tried asking Cayenne for a settlement like this long ago, and was lectured similarly. It's just not what Falyndar is about. There are other places in the world like that. This thread is asking how to further what is here as a foundation, not to make it as accessible as any other domain. It's not "how do I get more players here?" It's, "How do I enhance this region for those who want the rawness of the world before them" in a manner that is sensible and true to its image, the idea Cayenne conceived to Mizahar and stood by. Sure, she might not be around, but there was a reason in making Falyndar the way it is, and if we won't ever know for sure, we had best try to found out. The framework of the region is here, now it needs some utility and a face.
Red, Razkar, Imass, Naeya, Siiri, Anchor, V, and Goss's notes are far from miracles. They're actually pretty tangible, for the practical purpose of reading them and gathering some data, and all inputs are appreciated. It's good practice I say this too, remember that we're always available for insights on Falyndar (that would be Limey, Anchor, Cascade and I). if there are any doubts, ask us, we know what's up and are glad to pass on that information.
So we're gathering the ideas, big pictures, of what a lot of Falyndar's development should be directed at, and it's not at all a surprise. I guess this is my fault somehow, but I was curious about specifics, such as specific locations or thread opportunities? I'm not as concerned with the big region wide stuff because that's easy to come by. A lot of the local color is going to come from smaller events, like PCs Pelham and Salar are currently exploring the nest's mentality towards its denizens in Saving Your own Skins. Falyndar oriented PC prospects especially, do tune in, please and thank you. For instance, things on Zinrah's link map are going to need to be developed, but what additions would you the player like to see or think could be altered? Does this keep true to the domain image, and how? Finally, how to execute it in detail? But yes, feel free to come back to this thread as a drawing board if you get any ideas! |
by Anchor on January 26th, 2013, 2:27 am 
