Arelith

So, I normally do not kudo anyone for anything, but I have to congratulate GrumpyCat on his most recent plotline.

Most of the time I see large-scale DM events, they involve an existential threat to the island that can only be solved if every faction on the island bands together against an external threat, and succeed on their "roll for teamwork" checks. They tend frequently to feel like races to see who can discard their IC principles the fastest in an undignified scramble for the spotlight, in order to feed the players-versus-npc baddies dynamic.

Grumpy's most recent quest has done something different and refreshing. It has plotted two competing, compelling, but ultimately non-apocalyptic interests against one another, with player factions pursuing their own inscrutable interests by backing one side or another, and coming into inevitable conflict because of it. It has been excellent to see an event where not everyone bands together, and where factions come into direct competition over the course of the narrative.

More of this please. I'm allergic to Harmony.

sounds great. i'll add a kudos to the grumpy one as well, as he's been the dm to help me out of various situations or things my char has needed, and in good time and in good humour. thx for all your work!

looking forward to DM events involving either of my characters someday!

Scurvy Cur wrote: Most of the time I see large-scale DM events, they involve an existential threat to the island that can only be solved if every faction on the island bands together against an external threat, and succeed on their "roll for teamwork" checks. They tend frequently to feel like races to see who can discard their IC principles the fastest in an undignified scramble for the spotlight, in order to feed the players-versus-npc baddies dynamic.

damn aint that the truth

I admittedly commented on his prior quest for this reason. While it was not as polarizing as the latest, it had the hints of Conflict in there that made it actually a series of DM events I was interested in.

I will confess... I actually Avoid DM quests when I can. If they find me? Alright my character will react accordingly. If I hear one is going on? I most likely will not log in on a character who would care if at all.

Call me jaded at this point. But over the many years I have played I would often come out of 4-6 hours and feel like I wasted my Entire Day on DM events and the RP flip flopping many would engage in to try and keep a spotlight.

Grumpycat has managed to create conflict, intrigue, reasons and rationale, and a sense of Organic Events and Change in his DM events.

He isn't actively threatening to destroy the WORLD. He isn't threatening to even destroy the island really. He's threatening, coaxing, weedling, and presenting issues that Could Actually Happen in the setting, with the resources on hand, with the people who are Part of that.

He isn't making things happen and forcing people onto the railroad of his predetermined set pieces. He is giving PCs resources and events to both use and react to. And to disagree on.

A++

all this just makes me curious as to what the event actually was

Have to say thanks and Kudos to his Grumpiness. Thanks so much for getting involved with no warning and helping our little story along. I have to think you probably laughed as much as cried

Always there to answer a question and going out of his/her ? way to help. A mighty fine DM despite the fleas and hairballs

He may drive Storm to drink (more) but he's the best. This whole thing. What Scurvy said. And more.

a1b2 wrote:all this just makes me curious as to what the event actually was

Pay attention to Guldorand

I think the event is nearing the finale today.

Phew. It's -over.- At last. -Over!- A bit of mopping up to do here and there, a few loose ends to tie up, and the event is essentialy over!
This event is probably going to result in a few (small!) perminent server changes. Please be patient for these to happen, it's a little out of my hands.

I want to give a big shout out to everyone who took place. Though special mention goes to: Memmeroth, Clara, Labriales, Estar, Kaylessa, Storm, Janek (That damn dog!) And Ember. I know I'm probably missing out a few other truly amazing folks too, but these names stand out automaticaly to me as folks who really lept into this and made the event fun for everyone.

Biggest Thanks goes to DM Innis thogh, who helped me out with the event a whole tonne! It wouldnt have been nearly as good if he hadnt' been there to lend a hand.



Now if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to slump into a corner and be catatonic for a bit.

DM GrumpyCat wrote:I'm going to slump into a corner and be catatonic for a bit.

I feel like this was intentional.

Thanks grumpy, I missed the biggest majority of the finale but I had a great time leading up to it. But really loved how you built the conflict up. Can't wait to log in and hear about how it ended.

I'm fairly certain this event left me emotionally damaged. As well, Estar will never be the same, nor will ever see druids as anything but scum.

DM GrumpyCat wrote:Phew. It's -over.- At last. -Over!- A bit of mopping up to do here and there, a few loose ends to tie up, and the event is essentialy over!
This event is probably going to result in a few (small!) perminent server changes. Please be patient for these to happen, it's a little out of my hands.

I want to give a big shout out to everyone who took place. Though special mention goes to: Memmorath, Clara, Labriales, Estar, Kaylessa, Storm, Janick(That damn wolf!) And Ember. I know I'm probably missing out a few other truly amazing folks too, but these names stand out automaticaly to me as folks who really lept into this and made the event fun for everyone.

Biggest Thanks goes to DM Innis thogh, who helped me out with the event a whole tonne! It wouldnt have been nearly as good if he hadnt' been there to lend a hand.



Now if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to slump into a corner and be catatonic for a bit.

I'm just going to be that person and make a few corrections to the names!

But in all seriousness, thank you Grumpy! Thank you a lot! I know I certainly enjoyed this storyline and loved how it evolved. Tons of RP and really made Memm feel the pressure of leadership!

Also my thanks and gratitude goes out to everyone involved during the whole chain of events and now to this explosive finale. A lot of people were there, and my heartfelt thanks for the support Guldorand received!

Thank you all involved, and a big thanks to the dwarves (Glanak, Grimly, Broind, "The lonely dwarf") and Cordor (Storm! Syrian, Adalbrandt, Raynor, and everyone else) especially. The dwarves for sitting out in Guldorand even though not that much seemed to happen there, and Cordor for the awesome support.

And of course a big, big thank you for everyone of Guldorand, especially Janick, whose now lost his faithful wolf. Thank you to Ember, Estar, Alejandro, Warryn, Andrew, Wills, Ix, and all the others.

And the Heartwood Grove as well. Thanks for letting Memm hang people and being generally good sport! <3

Now... I think it's time to go raise a drink for the victorious dead and enjoy a day of peace and rest.

https://youtu.be/aJkukRJUPsY?t=8

Storm is sadder about that wolf....honest to god.

Grumpy, you are awesome. Good and bad guys, you rock. I feel privileged to have had Storm involved! <3

All the effort put in by DM GrumpyCat and the players that became involved is amazing. Thank you to all those that made this fun. As several have said, the events weren't tedious, or just another DM throwing something at us, it was well thought out and will have lasting effects in a positive manner. It will not be forgotten.

Thunder unfortunately had to be the casualty on our side and brought things slamming home that no one really won in a fight like this. As one who interacted with this particular 'pc' he will be missed greatly. His antics were always fun and brought a smile, a good job on his 'handler' for making him stand out from other companions.

DM GrumpyCat. I think it would be a disservice to your efforts to call it an event or a quest. It was a seamless story told over the course of probably just under an IG year which saw a huge cast of characters (played by us) interact with each .. there was no black and white, it was all various shades of grey and no decision went simultaneously unpunished and unrewarded.

Our decisions mattered and because of that our losses had ten times the impact. It helps also that the cast of characters cared so much, it was a fun introduction for Janick to meet more people in the space of an IG year than he did in over a IG decade before then.

I'm sure I'm missing a LOT out from this cast of characters, but ..

Guldorand - Memmorath Mer'sham, Ember, Thunder, Estar, Alejandro, Andrew (the Harvester), Ix, Serenity, Wills and Warryn
Cordor - STORM, Syrian, Etana, Rosalie, Adalbrandt
Brogendenstien - Grimly, Broind, Glanak, Trockard
Heartwood Grove - Clara, Labriales, Lomir
Amn - Juliette DeSilver, Edmund del Fuago, priscilla
Mountain Grove - The Cheiftan, the Elder, that whole frickin' army.
Others - Daijin, Alicia, Lillika,
Cameo appearances - Jack of Frost, the three Amnish soldiers debating about gardens, angry townsfolk, druid eldarly/children.

It's been emotional.

This was so much fun. It was unusual to see the island divided in the way that it was (I was honestly expecting less of the 'good' guys in the opposition) and it was an interesting crusade for my aspiring peace-enforcer to drag her people into.

It brought out the elf in my elf which I really didn't think was ever going to happen in her storyline.

Super kudos to everyone that participated and maintained the gravity of the situation at every turn. All the <3 and hugs to Grumpycat for being amazing and creating a wonderful character molding conflict.

Thank you,
-S

As someone playing a good guy in this event, I actually found the selection of sides to be super easy, and am not at all surprised that there was such broad support for Team Civilization.

What surprised and pleased me most was that there were also groups that either stuck to their IC principles and supported Team Nature, or used the murderous blue savages as a way to stick it to their political enemies. So kudos to you guys, especially, for doing what made IC sense and picking a side based on it, regardless of the overall popularity of your cause. I'm proud of you bloodthirsty, ruthless misfits.

Emotionaloverload wrote:It was unusual to see the island divided in the way that it was (I was honestly expecting less of the 'good' guys in the opposition)

I have to wonder at the definition of opposition really, unless you were siding with the druids. In which case, I have to wonder what sort of good person would ever back the terrible villains they were made out to be!

I would like to second Scurvy's comment that it was good to see people stick to their guns and kicking and screaming to the last! You guys are great.

Dinosaur Space Program wrote:

Emotionaloverload wrote:It was unusual to see the island divided in the way that it was (I was honestly expecting less of the 'good' guys in the opposition)

I have to wonder at the definition of opposition really, unless you were siding with the druids. In which case, I have to wonder what sort of good person would ever back the terrible villains they were made out to be!

I think this shows how well put this event was. Characters on opposing sides had very different views on what was right and wrong. While for one side the villains were the druids, for the other it was Guldorand and Amn.

I think this is great, I felt there was really no villain and hero side, they were both a bit of both. As someone mentioned before, there was no black and white, only different shades of grey.

High five, Shadowy. Your character stuck it out even when it sounds like it got Really rough on him.

I actually agree that things definitely had shades of grey.

But child murdering, human sacrificing, supposed rapists, using their elderly and children as meatshields usually don't win a lot of points in the Good Aligned club. Does that make Guldorand and its associated allies Right? I would say no. No one was right. But there were lines crossed along the way that neither side could forgive.

Honestly though, there was a lot of STUFF going on all the time that called events into question, and left a decided sour taste in many mouths. So many mistakes, all over the place, but that is what made it Great.

And in the end, the lines were drawn Very Clearly and people saw it through. I am sort of proud of our server. It's been awhile since people in a Large community sense stuck to what their characters would do so thoroughly in a big event and took the consequences.

GreatGospel wrote:Others - Daijin, Alicia, Lillika,

That would be Elves and the Tower, there. Juuuust sayin'! (There were two others from the Tower too.)
Couldn't resist pointing that out, sorry!

triaddraykin wrote:

GreatGospel wrote:Others - Daijin, Alicia, Lillika,

That would be Elves and the Tower, there. Juuuust sayin'! (There were two others from the Tower too.)
Couldn't resist pointing that out, sorry!

I dont doubt!

It was a large story, I couldnt have possibly interacted with everyone

Just gonna hi-jack this thread, and give Grumpycat kudos.. An awesome DM, Whom is always willing to help out!