Posted by Arolin on October 08, 1999 at 18:49:48:
In Reply to: Cabal Balance and Imbalance 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.