Posted by Just a Thought on September 29, 1999 at 07:33:01:
In Reply to: What would happen if... posted by The Angel Gabriel on September 29, 1999 at 07:25:18:
> There were no cabals tomorrow.
> If all cabals were removed, completely, and everyone was just their race and class.
> What I am thinking is that individuals would seek tattoos as usual, so that would give some people some edge, but that already exists, so not a big deal, and no tattoo is as powerful as a set of cabal powers.
> What are cabals? They are groups of people who are supposed to believe in the same things to a sufficent degree that they band together and make certain sacrifices, and live their lives in pursuit of similar goals.
> Why couldn't people do this without a cabal? People could roleplay as a magic hater without having to be a battlerager. A mage could devote himself to studying magic and not looking to pk, without a master tower to join. A ranger could spend hours watching forests and killing defilers, without needed an organization to be part of or support him.
> But, of course, cabals add a bit of variety to the mix of powers and pk'ing and the like, so what about that you ask?
> I am thinking perhaps that the Immortals -- and this places alot of faith in them -- can spend the time they were doing cabal work in just watching mortals, and rewarding the better roleplayers with individual powers from what used to be cabals. And isn't that what cabal powers and support are supposed to be, rewards for roleplaying?
> There are scores of powers/abilities/spells that are not part of any particular class, that are classified as cabal powers, or quest powers. Instead of joining a cabal, a person could simply roleplay a role they create, and if they do it well enough, above the norm for most players, they can be rewarded with one power. So for example a few separate Imms have noticed that bob the warrior really does hate magic, really does show courage by leaping into the fray against a group of three all by himself, really has never used a potion or pill. So, after making those notes in the players history, and his being watched for fifty or a hundred hours, they decide to reward his good roleplay by giving him truesight. Or fireblood. Or deathblow. Or wall of thorns. Or whatever. But just one special thing.
> That way individuals will earn what they get, people can band together if they wish -- and with no pre-existing cabals to compete against, things like the Order of the Blue Robes (shudder) would actually grow to work.
> I am not sure I like all this better than the existing system, but I have found that inertia is the greatest force in the universe. Things tend to continue along their merry way unless someone stands up and starts pushing around changes.
> Just something to think about. Cf, and everything else in life for that matter, doesn't have to be as it is. You can change things. Just try to change for the better.