Posted by Former Cabal Leader on October 08, 1999 at 16:02:45:
There's a lot of talk from time to time about Perhaps, but I at least do not feel that this is I will admit now that my motives here in this Perhaps this is idealistic, but I see it as a far
how given cabals are unbalanced, overpowered,
or so on. Let me therefore point something
out about the nature of CF's cabals. They
are not, nor have they ever been, truly
"balanced". A true balance between the cabals
would imply stasis, something which the Imms
don't really want, even if they may use the
terms of that. Rather, in order to keep things
fresh and new, the distribution in power
between the cabals is always in flux, creating
instead a revolving imbalance. This applies
too in some sense with classes as well, as
new classes are introduced, and old ones are
overhauled, while some skills of previously
overhauled classes are fine tuned behind the
scenes to tweak them towards the desired
result.
Of course, as far as cabals go, this produces
the inevitable ranting and raving on the Forum,
as whichever cabals are now the underdogs feel
unfairly put-upon. Therefore, the current hue
and cry about ragers by the masters, for example,
is perfectly normal and no cause for undue
concern on the part of the Imms.. right?
the ideal state of affairs. I would much prefer
to see almost all of the cabal powers eliminated
from general use, and reserved for only the most
elite of the roleplayers of that cabal's members
Allow the swings in cabal balance to be determined
by the skill of the players in that cabal, not who
has the better set of powers at the moment. Yes,
this may in some ways worsen the situation, as no
cabal imbalance can be tilted back by adding new
powers and watching new applicants roll into the
previously disadvantaged cabal, but this is easily
replaced by a far simpler Immortal Action: Induction
freezes for cabals which are overly strong, coupled
with active induction on the part of the weaker
cabals.
suggestion are ulterior; I believe this weakening
of the general issue cabal powers (coupled with
the modification of Empire or its replacement by
a cabal that actually requires a roleplayed interview
for induction) will see a rise in the percentage
of cabal members who actually join simply because
that cabal fits their roleplay, not because they
desire the powers to aid them in killing. Those
who join just for the powers would no longer find
it worth the effort, as the amount of effort it
would take them to achieve any real powers in a
cabal would far outweigh the benefits.. only those
who roleplay simply for roleplaying's sake and
the enjoyment they derive from that (ie, the True
Roleplayers, as opposed to the kill happy
power-gamers) would find that their efforts were
rewarded.
better world where someone joins a cabal primarily
to roleplay that role, rather than to go playerkilling
with eyes of intrigue/deathblow/black shroud/scourge/
wall of thorns/etc, etc.