So, where are we at? (( OOC ))

[Krishnitt]

I wish I had more time to post, but real quick-like....

I've been thinking of Krishnitt's role lately...ok, for about a month now.     I want his time in Liberty to mean something, other than a place to call home for the time being.  He has been doing alot of city raids and seeing quite a bit of action (well, for him, anyway).  When he was with Assembly, he was the "behind the scenes" type.  Not on the front line, but rather back in the city lab making stuff to support the war.  Needless to say, there wasn't much he could do for most of the org, since you were all much higher level than he was.  But occasionally, he was able to help the newcomer out.  I think this time around, he comes back a little more battle hardened from his time spent fighting the greenies.  He still welcomes the oportunity to help out our newcomers, but the difference is he won't shy away from a fight, like he would in the past.

As I said..not much time to post, but so far, I haven't seen anything I disagree with in anyone's posts.  Working on a modifying a story I wrote awhile back.  Need to tweak it a bit, and also change names, since I used actual names of my alts.

[Zatchibana]

Heh, never thought I'd be given a chance to write on these forums again through time, fate or so such.

This seems to a great opportunity to provide a very dark-side version of our characters and corruptive internal influences. Now, would this be a decision we've made to go..dark, or would this be a decision that was made for us? Like say for example the clan discovering a Xan/shadowlands device that can shift morality in a person.

Or are we talking an irreparable decision made by us to walk this path? Now would it be something chillingly sinister such as that of extremism (Not NLF style) or we talking people willing to do what must be done in order to protect what they hold dear? the anti-hero as it were?

What about a few maybe...planted plot devices of our own. Generated characters within other guilds, slightly shady but nonetheless seem relatively good and then have Assembly bring them to justice via a very brutal means, like a bio-weapon or Tussa's balloon pets (it's been too long for me to remember their names unfortunately), or something. Course, have them die or be severely mangled, just to show maybe we're not good and our influence can be far reaching if need be.

I would say this is more sinister neutrality or would people be inclined to disagree?

I'm going to work on Zatchibana and how he'd respond in a situation like this, I *want* him in on this. Just a shame a certain someone of my characters couldn't be here today to act in this because truth be told, I think Jux'd of loved this.

[Kotts]

I think what Jen was aiming for is people that have no objection to being in the same league as a psycho, like BP, or an extreme state Omega. Or others that have thick enough skin that rough characters like Gherrit won't bug them.

Keep in mind it might be wise to steer away from the perma kill plots too. They've been pushed really really hard over the last few years. Not a bad plot don't get me wrong but more then one way to skin a leet. 

[Xeenah]

But, I feel I should point out something.

I didn't mean that we should all turn into Chaotic Evil v.1.0 on the first day of our new beginning. Nor did I intend to say that I'd like a guild full of sick fucks. So I figured I should specify something to explain a little more what I meant .

I would like Assembly to be a home for hardasses as well as halo-swinging angel feathers. If one of the two have a problem with each other, they would simply have to leave and find new pastures. I feel that Assembly was a little too moral and ethical and that worked against us both in terms of contradicting our affiliation, and also because I believe we were perceived as too much of the 'good guys'.

This is not to say that we won't still be the good guys, but in a guerilla war, no one serves you lunch on lace table cloth and porcelain plates. It's dirty, ugly and painful.

No, I'm not saying we should all turn into sex offenders or child murderers, nor that that's the kind of people I want. But I want Assembly to be a home for the Mirkle, Jazst and Mack types, and that there will be no pointy fingers of morality if someone goes out and ends up in a bar brawl. So what if they do? So what if they kill a neut or an omni? So what if their characters are regulars at the 'massage' parlors around Rubi-Ka? So what if they're the class bully, as long as they don't bully their own. Who are we to sit on a high horse and say it's un-clanly of them?

I'd like people to contact us to do good and nice things, like be their body guard or transfer something from A to B or diplomatic and political expertise.  But I'd also like people to contact us for dirty jobs. Be that smuggling, spying, assassination, stealing or framing someone. It shouldn't matter, as long as what we do is for the good of the clans and keeps us loyal to each other.

Hope that clears something up .

Good to hear that

[Tussa]

This seems to a great opportunity to provide a very dark-side version of our characters and corruptive internal influences. Now, would this be a decision we've made to go..dark, or would this be a decision that was made for us? Like say for example the clan discovering a Xan/shadowlands device that can shift morality in a person.

Or are we talking an irreparable decision made by us to walk this path? Now would it be something chillingly sinister such as that of extremism (Not NLF style) or we talking people willing to do what must be done in order to protect what they hold dear? the anti-hero as it were?

No, this isn't a decision to go dark/evil. Nothing is decided yet, nothing is set in stone. But, I don't want us to become death-worshiping evils 'tards, and I believe that would create far more far-fetched, dramalama, 'permadeath to all!' type of play, which isn't a goal. I don't want to force people to make their characters evil or sinister. That isn't mine or anyone else's place to do.

I'm not looking for us to become radical extremists. It's radical enough in AO to staunchly oppose all the flippin' neutral loving that goes around, but I don't want Assembly to become a harbour for people who take it too far. Think of it as a gang of rough and tough guys and girls instead. Able to take and give a beating. Few scruples and no nose-wrinkling at choices that are less ethical and moral.

This is not to say that all members MUST be like that, but rather that there is more room for that than the holier than thou good guys who just want to bless your path with butterflies and rescue children. It also means that no one within the clan waves the moral finger at the people who choose the anti-hero role.

I also believe it's easier for other people to relate to characters and roleplay that has some basis in the real world, such as physical torture rather than emotional/mental torture, conscious choices rather than 'the voices in my head told me to do it', actions sprung from how the world of Rubi-Ka is, not necessarily the meta-physical world of Shadowlands. I find it hard to swallow when someone pulls up a "I'm in league with the Xan and I am their tool, ruh roh!" because the Xan are undefinable, it's an entity that isn't tangible, and some people will shy away from that kind of play rather than join it because it's so far-fetched. It's easier for more people to understand smuggling, money laundering, debt collection, spying, framing, fraud and kicking people's butt. Sounds weird coming someone who coined mindshifting and whose character leads an intricate meta-physical life, I know .

It's a very fine line that is difficult to define. You're on the right track when you say doing what must be done, and being the anti-hero. An anti-hero is a protagonist with anti-ethical character traits and standards, who lacks the traditional goody two-shoes heroic qualities and who often uses criminal means, cowardly actions, mercenary goals or what have you to get his/her way. An anti-hero is still the 'good guy', and we must believe that we are.

[Xeenah]

So, we're no angels, but we're not soul-less serial-killers, basically   Bye bye extremes, welcome credibility!

I like that a lot more, because when I play extremes, I cut myself out from a lot of things that I can't allow my characters to do or say.  When I play middle ground, I have a lot more margin to have my characters possibly swing one side then the other, depending on circumstances or mood.  I love flexibility

[Kotts]

bump for more feedback plx. I see new-old people signing up.

[Tussa]

I see them too, but not all of them have access to here, because I don't know if they're genuinely interested in rekindling this old thing called Assembly. Can you guys tell me who are and who aren't, so I can set access?

[Kotts]

I know Sovi is, I contacted him over Youtube (he asked me to long time ago.) Jay is Vari. Krish has been poking him to sign up for a while.

Ivan and Siirine are both shockers to me. I don't know if they are interested or not.

[Tussa]

Well, everyone has general access to post now, at least, but Ivan and Siirine haven't access to this sub-forum, since we don't know if they're interested yet.

[Xeenah]

After 8 months without being able to sign up for the forums, there's a chance people are not checking the forum on a daily basis now.  But I think word of mouth is starting to go around, good!

The "Secret Stuff" thread is not accessible to people aside us four (I think).  That's pretty much the only place where people could notice there's something going on.  Aside from that, there's only a very ambiguous clue in the "Storybook", with Krish and Xeenah's stories...

If we want to gather interested people, they shouldn't be left thinking that we're not up to anything.  They need to know that they can manifest themselves now, and that Assembly will only rekindle if there's enough people interested in playing.

I think we need to be honest about this, so they know what to expect and what we expect. From there, they'll decide if they're in or not




I think we are ready for people jumping in the bandwagon  We now have enough experience to face what lies ahead.  Besides, we already made clear that we want things to be more light hearted, less stiff-ruled.  From an RP point of view, we're starting a new line of business, and this cuts us a lot of slack  We also didn't want to put up with mess and to that extent, with the direction we're taking, we can afford this, from both an RP and an OOC approach.

So, instead of the long and thorough interview, I think we can let them know what they need to know along the way.  After a while, if something needs to be done about them, we can do what needs to be done: either talk to them (the tone can depend on the character or, if OOC is involved, can depend on the situation) or whatever else we see fit  Not sure?  There's the forum, PMs... name it



We should let people know of a specific time where we tend to be available, so that they don't log in randomly to find an empty channel or an empty Assembly online list.  People can't be around 24/7 in case one of us logs in, and I can tell that it's not motivating to check in hoping to find people and not finding them.  If they know when they have a chance of getting a hold of us, then we can create bonds and get the ball rolling

I can manage my schedule to get my stuff done when people are less likely to be online.  On Saturdays and Sundays, my son is usually with his dad, so I can be available.  I have other possibilities for availability as well, I just need some heads up to plan my schedule.

A minimum of planning can help gather people together.  We know that we can't have everyone around at the same time, but we also know which time windows are the most likely to accomodate most.




So, now that I'm done babbling, how do you feel about the above?  

[Krishnitt]

So as far as Jay (Vari) goes....I can now say with a great degree of certainty that he will not be involved in Assembly for about a year.  RL strikes again, but unfortunately, I would be out of line if I discussed it with you all.  It really should come from Jay.  The only reason I mention it is out of fairness for all involved to at least know the scant bit of info I just gave.

I have been emailing Pris6 every now and again over the past 9 months.  I let him know that there are whispers of Assembly rising again.  I invited him to join the forums.  WoW has it's meat hooks sunk in him right now, though....so no promises.

Other than Jay and Pris....I don't know any other former Assembly members.

I totally agree with being transparent about when to expect people to be online.  I don't want to revisit the dead horse on this one, but suffice to say, I think it would be very beneficial to know when members are going to be offline for extended times.  And I think everyone should be privy to this info, not just the upper levels.  It is something I have pushed hard for in Liberty, and I will do so in Assembly if we kick new life into the org.

Other than that...I really have only one thing left to say...for now.  It is great that we are having some of Assembly's former members showing interest, and I understand the reasons for wanting to wait to gauge that interest level.  But recruiting is going quite well for the other orgs....I am not saying that we are in a dire situation and need to make a decision now...far from it.   However, I would caution against waiting too long of a time.

[Tussa]

I have no objection to telling people that we're considering working towards waking up Assembly again, but I don't want a feather to become five chicken overnight. Telling people that we might land on our feet again and gauging their interest is a far cry away from saying "We're back in business, come join us!"

I've taken this merrygoround a few times too many and I'm still skeptical whether there's enough people with enough interest to make this work. It's heartbreaking every time it happens, not to mention exhausting, but the doors aren't shut and locked. They weren't, ever. Just closed.

There are shining examples of people who *want* it and are willing to work for it, but then there are also lots of people who want it but would rather not be bothered with pulling their weight.

Yes, if this were to happen, it would be with less seriousness and less rules, but no, it's not gonna happen with only a handful of people. It'll have to be worth it, we'd have to be visible, we'd have to look and be the part of an active org. Those are the 'terms', really.

So please, feel free to tell people with experience in Assembly or roleplaying orgs that there is light in the end of the tunnel and that they're welcome to sign up on these forums and show their interest, but no, I don't think we're in the recruitment and public announcment of activity phase. Not yet.

[Kotts]

In my own oppinion we need two types of people, with similar traits in order to really be serious about doing this again.
Core, and Members

The most important trait we need is people who *like* to play AO. Not just leveling, or pvp, or RP but all of the above, with RP are the top of the list. If we just have people who what to RP, and RP only then they won't log in unless there is something going on like and event or friends to RP with. It seems harmless, however if everyone is checking AUNO, Sembly, or their friends list to see who is on (offline or from and alt) then eventually no one is logging in to their Assembly toon.  Point is we need people willing to log in and solo, PVP, PVM, or what have you because they *want* to, and while being in character while we do. Activly playing, and being in character while doing so is the best way to advertise, and keep a healthy pulse.

Members... we can do with out for now, we need our core back. That's what needs to be focused on, and also the desiding factor.

[Xeenah]

So please, feel free to tell people with experience in Assembly or roleplaying orgs that there is light in the end of the tunnel and that they're welcome to sign up on these forums and show their interest, but no, I don't think we're in the recruitment and public announcment of activity phase. Not yet.

...Done!  Click me!