Crisis of Faith

[binidj]

Maelfroth downtimes never fail to depress do they?

"Dear The Merchant,
The Fallen Eidolons are a bit of a problem down here, been doing my bit to try to keep the blighters' numbers down but could really use some better tools for the job as they seem to be eating a lot of souls and getting devotees.
Yrs &c,
Jagular"

"Dear Jagular,
Thanks for the prayers, they're really cool and stuff. Glad you're having fun fighting Fallen, here's a neat ability to let you make more if you ever start to run out.
Be excellent,
The Merchant"

*sigh*

It seems a bunch of chums have also had a less than rosy downtime, though I suspect that theirs may involve being attacked by forces they can't do anything about again.

Comments

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

I told Matt we should have given you a magic skill instead.

Mind you, I'm still not happy with the Priest Skill roster. I'll maybe hunt you down at the event if you have not gone to bed.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Fourth attempt at writing a response.

There are only so many times that even Matt (with his honest puppy eyes) can tell me to trust him and have me fall for it.

What we needed was Banishment.

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

I agree.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

See Ilithidbix's final comment below ... is that really the way the game should be?

[illithidbix.livejournal.com]

Thing is though, would a straight Banishment priestly skill negate part of the point of the Gaes Rite? (although whether that was ever expected to be used against a Fallen is a different matter... it seems to be more of a combanation to keep bad loyals in line, along with the Damnation rite.

Frankly, I'm not sure if I'd want something that just does straight Banishment in the system, it seems to take away part of the point of the whole War against the Fallen, which was that it couldn’t just be won by getting bigger and bigger guns.

Although if it did require the Fallen’s True Name (as I suspect it should), then maybe that would require enough guile.

In my opinion the main reason the Fallen (or at least Flail's gang) as still around (although they've taken a kicking last recently), is because they’ve worked a lot harder to survive than their enemies have been at properly dealing with them, most of the churches, even the DNF have gone for a “oh no, they come back!... well lets hit them a few times then ignore them until we have advanced far enough up the tech tree to do something”, rather than actively find out what you can do against them.

Anyway, the best tactic at the moment seems to just merely sit and wait as the Fallen players retire from frustration at not being able to play their characters.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

I don't think that Geas was intended to be used against Fallen, however no it wouldn't interfere. There being a difference between extortion and assault.

How would it take away the Fallen game? I mean, yes if they were to give out Banishment as a skill that didn't require a True Name, but honestly I can't see that happening for a while, if ever.

"Anyway, the best tactic at the moment seems to just merely sit and wait as the Fallen players retire from frustration at not being able to play their characters."

Yes, characters stopping playing because of frustration ... that would seem to be something of a trend for Maelstrom. I'm not convinced that it's a good marketing strategy though.

[illithidbix.livejournal.com]

Perhaps Banishment (with True Name) would be appropriate, however I think it should be more than just the use of a single skill to squish them (even if you have managed to get hold of their true name).

What I'm more thinking off is the way it seems you're meant to take out the Fallen is to cut them off from their Mortal support, "cleanse and purge" their mortal theurgists/thrall allies (admitidly very tricky if they're careful), find and destroy their cults etc.
This is what the Churches have really failed to do properly, which is why they're still a problem.

On that note, have you managed to chew through your way through the stupidly long "Book of Varas"?

And am I really the only person to have had a successful post foundantions downtime?

[binidj.livejournal.com]

You and I both know that Banishment isn't the end for a Fallen, it's just inconvenient.

[illithidbix.livejournal.com]

That's true, if they're a member of the GSF at least (if they're an independent fallen, then it probably will be).

However both IC and OC, I think we pretty much have the tools to do the job (there is a certain blessing that'd seal it, and I'm working on that), It's certainly at the point where IC, Varas no longer feels he can reasonably request more Aid from the Merchant, and it's his turn to perform his divine will, it's just a case of getting off our asses and smiting the bastards (and more importantly their mates).


And it's of course at that point in the Maelstrom Campaign, around the downtime period where everyone gets frustrated and is nit-picking the game on Pagga/Rule7, then they actually go to the Events and remember why they love it so much.