YesGood

How much do we think it'll cost for housing?

I have to agree with Zarek. I mean, I'm thinking of people with stuffed predators in their houses and I could see why it would bring them some sense of pride or something... but a Primal isn't a lion or a tiger or a bear (oh my!). You're also desecrating what's virtually a god to the beastmen, terrible as they may be. There might be some people who'd appreciate such a thing but it seems you wouldn't want to remind all of your FC or LS members who they might've lost or what they might've sacrificed in defeating a Primal. Another thing- I'm not sure about the summoned Primals, but if it were summoned and it wasn't -THE- Ifrit, wouldn't it... dissolve or something? I'm assuming there's like one Ifrit and when they summon it, it's merely an aspect of the same Ifrit, but then, I guess there must be numerous Carbuncles and such. I'm really just not sure about that so I'd like some clarification if anyone has it.

I wrote up a Linkshell directory post. It may take me a few more days to put it up and until the trial is over, it may or may not become official. To answer the Jove's question and just to sate any curiosity, here are the outline of rules: Rules: Out of Character- 1. Be Civil - ICly this is a neutral training coalition of people who want to improve their skills, not put others down. Everyone, as roleplayers, will be expected to be civil to one another OOCly, regardless of how abrasive your character may be. If you have some issue with someone else out of character, we don't want to know about it, we don't want to see it, and we CERTAINLY do not want to be involved in it. If you instigate issues you will be removed from the Linkshell. 2. No Killing - ICly precautions will be taken to make sure no one will die. There are rules about it in character, but you should never fear that your character will die due to the outcome of any match. Not going to let it happen. Don't try to do it. 3. Heed the Overseers - In the case of the LS and not for any attached FC (where officers should be respected by all members and -will- be expected to -earn- that respect from other members) the Overseers will play the role of bouncers, arbiters, and referees. Any Overseers will exist to keep an eye on trainers and trainees, nipping any animosity in the bud, and keeping the peace. If you're asked to keep the OOC debates to a minimum, please heed these people. We don't want IC issues or OOC issues having a negative impact on each other. If you can't respect this small form of authority, it's probably best not to be involved. Note: Trainers don't have to be Overseers-- anyone is free to train anyone else so long as the individual is willing to learn. Likewise, Overseers of the Grindstone will not take precedence over the officers of any LS or FC groups involved in the Grindstone. They are only there to be fair and keep the peace. 4. Be Patient - Not everyone who wants to do combat RP is a skilled veteran. Keep that in mind in this linkshell and be as patient and helpful as possible. Criticism should be constructive, but more importantly TACTFUL. Don't ruin anyone's self-esteem. In Character - 1. The Grindstone is a neutral coalition and thus, is not necessarily affiliated with any other organization as a whole. While a Free Company may emerge in time for those looking for permanent housing, training, allies, and work, those involved only in this coalition will not be expected to rally on behalf of any group outside their own personal alliances. 2. Blunted or wooden weapons (arrows included) are required for any event or official sparring match for the safety of those involved. While individuals may mutually agree to spar in full weapons and armor, the Grindstone will not be held accountable for any permanent damage that results from such a bout. 3. Magic users be warned: while you're free to use any of our facilities (assuming we have any) and you're welcome to invite other members of the Grindstone to test your skills against, the use of magic will not be allowed in events in order to preserve the nature and intent of developing physical combat skills. 4. Outside rivalries or dislike will be left outside the training circle. Any individuals who instigate issues with others based on personal grudges will be required to leave in order to preserve the sanctity of the Grindstone. 5. In order to participate in an event, individuals must hold the rank of 'Journeyman' or higher. 6. Official bets -may- be allowed in the future; unofficial bets are always allowed. 7. Absolutely NO death-strikes are allowed for any reason within the training area of the Grindstone at any time. Healers will be a necessity to assure no accidental deaths. An attacker who attempts such a strike will be forcibly removed and dealt with accordingly. 8. If the rules are broken, culprits will be asked to leave. Refusing to leave may result in the use of force.

Thank you very much for that.

Ouchies! I snort-laughed soda!

I'm just going to bring up multiple things in this post- -In regards to 'romance' being an excuse to ERP, yanno, it's true in some cases. Many cases. I know this because I've had boyfriends irl who play MMOs and they have heard about ERPing... and suddenly they want to become roleplayers. It frustrates me too, to no end, to see such a blatant misconception of what roleplay is there for, and I know there are people who get in the game with that as their primary agenda. I don't think any of the people who bother to come to the RPC and join it are looking for that-- I think those types just lurk around in game, waiting to see RPers and pounce on them. On the matter of ERP guilds or guilds 'existing purely for the sake of ERP'-- I have only ever heard of one. Maybe I don't understand what you're talking about but the guild in question was fairly famous back in the day in WoW; there were a lot of articles written about it. A girl, who was making gold off ERP, started a guild dedicated to that end. She had like-minded individuals 'working with her' and their sole purpose was to ERP for profit. There's no rules about it, it's allowed as far as Blizzard is concerned so long as they make it clear that anyone who does it should be 18 or older (which you need to be to subscribe -anyhow- but we know that rule is broken) but it does seem sort of depressing in a way if that incident happens to be the first time anyone's heard of anything regarding roleplay and they judge all of roleplay based on that. At the same time, it's like a guy I knew who claimed he didn't know anything about anime and he hated all of it because of a bad experience with an ex who was an otaku. Doesn't -seem- reasonable to -me- but then, I'm a bit biased. Anyway, maybe there are guilds built under some pretense that actually exist to sort of support a relationship between two characters. I could see that. I just haven't really seen two or three, much less enough to consider even a percentage of RP guilds that exist for that reason. If anything, every single freaking guild or community I see has a looooooooooooooooong rule about ERPing and it not happening in relation to the guild. No idea. I'd think that would be common sense but if there are barely veiled ERP guilds out there that I haven't noticed, maybe not. - Ignoring people when your ERP partner is around? Yes, it happens. I've had experiences with both men and women just in the throes of a blossoming romance (not past the blushy hand-holdy stage) where I start getting tells like 'Why aren't you here?!' as I said before. But yanno what else happens -a lot-? People getting into small cliques or LSs or FCs who never make time to RP walk ups. They're just leveling and running around, doing their thing until someone, and only someone in their group signs on. How is that any different? Those cliques that form that ignore anyone walking past that make new RPers shy or skittish about doing walk up for fear they'll be ignored aren't always, or even often, ERP partners who want to ignore everyone else. It's all about comfort. They find a comfortable place with people they're comfortable with and they just forego worrying about anyone else. If one kind person decides to bring someone new in, great, shiny, but chances are they won't really bother. Not everyone is like this, nor is every group or guild, but many of them do their in-guild events and don't even worry about asking their members to go out and RP around and spread their good or nefarious name through RP with non-guildies. - And on the last point... I'm personally of the mindset that I don't care if anyone grows a thicker skin. I just don't think they need to berate others based on their own preconceived notions or past experiences. I don't think being overly reactive and outspoken about what other people do in their own time can be excused by 'being thin-skinned' so much as being intolerant. If someone says they can't stand people who want to have romantic involvements or whatever comes of them, I'm going to say 'Well, there are people who can, so don't speak for all of us.' S'it.

For me, for some reason, I am drawn to the tragic romance more than the lovey-dovey sort of thing. Lucinne's theme if I was to pull a song about her love life and perhaps life as a whole, would be R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion: Living the life of a Duskwight all by herself in an awkward place (She's in Ul'dah), dedicating herself to her country and losing more of herself as time passes on. Filling her emptiness with duty, so tragic. Perhaps someone will be brave enough to pull her away from this hollow shell of a life and make her feel alive. Oh my. *fans self* :3 *gathers River and her Elezen up and strides away~ To consider maybe making fanart.* Thank you for linking the other helping RP sections, Sini. I would like to look into dem.

I'm glad to know there are other mature and worldly RPers in the world... I knew they were there but it just reinforces my confidence and pride to be part of this community. *deep sigh* ....On a side note, let's get married, River.

IS IT POSSIBRU?!!!1 *clasps Lost River by the shoulders* DON'T LIE TO ME, WOMAN! Also, that second link, I didn't mention, is super nice also. It reminds me of one of my biggest issues: time. I've been spending so much time in the past couple days trying to draw and level and set up an LS I haven't really had the chance to look for RP. On the other hand, I'll always be a little busy with the baby so I'm afraid of issues with any other RPer, romance-related to my toon ICly or LS-mates, etc. being like "WHERE ARE YOU?! Get online nao! Why you neglect me/us?!" Both are a bit complicated and there needs to be communication. It's one of the cornerstones for any RP. It's also one of the things I hate to do at length because I tend to get really in depth and too much OOC discussion breaks immersion for me.

I hate myself for rolling Siobhain. I cannot play more than one character, I just don't have the time or the attention span. But I've always wanted a character like Inara from Firefly. She's like the ONLY character I've ever wanted to have an RP character have ANYTHING in common with. And I don't even like her. Is that so wrong? Having a fancy bordello with fancy 'companions' where people can go talk and not ostracize everyone involved for being creepers and perverts? I know you're only kidding but... I tried to start a sort of 'French host club' in the WoD RP I was doing and everyone just didn't want to socialize that way. I know there's Ambrosia but it's over on Gilgamesh and I know Siobhain will....not....EVER... be the type to sit in a place like that and serve anyone anything even flirtatious conversation. Or maybe someday she will. I don't even think it's possible to turn such a strict character into someone who can be sociable or, Twelve help us, -seductive-. When I think of Siobhain, I find myself writing her as being masculine despite my intentions, but I just can't help it. No romance for dis Roe.

Awww... I'm on Balmung. Not that I see my beefy Roe in a wedding ensemble. Thank you soooo much for posting that link. I feel fairly comfortable with my romantic RP, in fact I always feel a little empty when I play characters who aren't at all open to love in any of its forms. Still, I know I make mistakes and this writer does help me recognize them. It's far too easy to fall into bad habits. Either because one-liners become the standard and my multi-paragraph posting doesn't seem like it could be appreciated sometimes or because a relationship that's gone on a while sort of plateaus and little /em kisses him's become common and easy in an established situation. I love deep romances that blossom unexpectedly and go on to mold my character's personality in different ways. I understand the fear of the stigma that goes along with 'ERPer', that many very skilled RPers don't want to be labeled as one because it sort of denotes that all they're interested in is cyber sex, especially to non-RPers. I would never push it on anyone, and I also bear in mind that a lot of OOC drama can crop up over it, just like in combat RP. But if you're open to it under mature terms, or even if you will go as far as romantic and black out the rest, why not keep your romance up to snuff with the rest of your fantastic RP? Sometimes really great combat RPers or diplomats and such become a little shy OOCly when it comes to affection and suddenly deep, winding posts chock-ful of creativity and beauty become stunted for fear someone will walk by and take a kiss on the mouth or a brush of the cheek the wrong way. It's saddening. So, in my usual tangent, I hope anyone else who reads this great link Erosskye posted and the subsequent replies will not only glean some good tips and things to keep in mind but feel a little bit more confident. Don't be afraid of being labeled as an ERPer just because your legitimate IC relationship has some physical contact. It's not any different from breaking someone's nose in detail, or cracking their ribs. Well... It is... but just worry about you and the people involved with you, not with OOC bystanders. *Disclaimer: I, as nearly all others, still don't consider it wise to ERP in public chats. So, dun think I'm telling you all to have a raging orgy in /yell.

I saw both of you! Well, I heard both of you. I wanted to see Abai but I couldn't quite locate her. LeCard, what helped me with the spam text was to create a chat box for RP only that filters everything but whispers, emotes, custom emotes, and say. To prevent all that horrendous screaming.

Ahhh... Brother Klar helped Sio get a swimsuit. It... It's terrifying. Torn Sky, I dunno what I did differently than you but your character looks amazing and mine looks like a man.

I'm sooooo happy you like it! I don't compare to your skill with her, I don't think, but I was pretty proud.

Okay. I wrote up... an entire Linkshell directory entry. Let me get it looked over. Might be a little early buuut... Better to be prepared! Also, thank you Penniless for that pretty picture. Do you think Google would be mad if I used it as a temporary placeholder until I could design something?

Oh, I know about bar brawls and people not wanting to be in them. Oh... how I know... *far-off stare* Welp, if there's enough interest generated of people who think they could get behind (or, more specifically, in) a FC that's probably doable. I'd definitely need help. Like... Officers-type help. The LS would still exist with the same purpose and probably the same name, but for those who find this kind of group something they'd prefer to stick with 'full-time', by all means. No idea what the overall purpose would be besides comparing tales of fighting, training, teaching, learning, and general bond-growing. They wouldn't necessarily get jobs through the Company but they'd be free to pursue their own careers alongside. Otherwise, donations would be good from those individuals who happen to be crafters or otherwise well off and maybe Siobhain can be convinced to let someone start an unofficial arena to generate some profits for weapons and housing. Fighters need homes too.

As I showed you in Skype, I think I might do something along the lines of Ignore that kid in the shorts. Basically a half circle with a straight plane beneath it. I was going to do a full grindstone on its stand but I then realized it looks waaaay too much like the symbol for Nymeia. Zarek said it's nice and simple, and I agree. It's just an icon for the LS page anyway so I imagine it doesn't have to be gawgeous. (I'll still try to make it gawgeous, mind you.)

The first rule must always be broken! Mostly because... how else will we get others to join in...? Like I said, it'll be as much for spectators as anyone. I've gotten a couple PMs from people who aren't sure how to go about combat RP who have voiced that they would like to get a feel for it by watching. I mean, you can definitely cluster together and make commentary and the like; it's usually what I do when I'm watching a fight (ICly. IRL, I go find some authoritative figure to put a stop to it unless the fighters are smaller than me). This might also be a way to find bodyguards as well as teachers and students. Oh my how this idea might flourish. As I've said, I think this will be call The Grindstone and I'll...need to figure out some kind of icon because I kind of suck at making icons. Maybe someone out there will help me out. Something like a simple symbol. I could probably draw it up by hand but I'm terrible at making perfect circles and geometric shapes. If any of you would like to discuss this further, you can friend me in game on Siobhain Surtstahlwyn and/or add me in Skype as jilalde. Just gimme a little comment or something about the RPC or Grindstone so I know you're not a bot.

I, too, secretly hope that profit and renown might be gleaned from such a venture-- But Siobhain will never -call- it a business. No one's kneecaps will be broken, no one is going to be poisoned before a fight, no one is going to take any steroids and if they do, they'll deal with the wrath. Yanno, I like to look at those things too, like racial qualities-- but I don't want this to get overly complicated. I mean, I could say *Add 10% damage to a winning roll for strikes by a blah blah blah* but that means people'll probably have to spend half their time checking back on the side-skills and such and arguing over who gets to do what. I'm already afraid the roll system above is going to come out unbalanced and I mean, what happens when an archer gets into the mix? It's not really supposed to come to blows with a guy carrying a bow. On the other hand if his opponent is a slow-mover and not much of a dodger he could easily get seven 'hits' on him from range and it would become infinitely more difficult to get close enough to hit him back. Might have to leave archers out too and just allow them to train against other classes and the like but not to fight -as archers- during any sort of event. Maybe they'll be Archer-Pugilists or somefin. I love Ul'dah but I think if we can find a place in Limsa with enough room, that'll do.

Although I guess Whetstone works better by definition, Grindstone is just simpler. I don't have to define 'whet'. ^.^; Grindstone it shall be. Now I just need to make a picture somehow (*horrible at symbols*) and throw something up on the LS directory. Still open to comments, suggestions, and questions.

Zarek makes a good point. Chances are since it's not a Free Company and probably will never be (unless we find a high level of camaraderie) giving it a name like 'Advance by Conflict' or 'Trial by Fire' seems like it'd be hard to describe to people who don't know of it. Naming it after a place or something symbolic would be realistic. The problem is the place. The intent isn't to start a gambling circuit where people are honed for the purpose of fighting in the ring for profit. It's to train in over to overcome larger adversity. Though, whatever you end up doing with your training in your spare time is largely up to the character, Siobhain likely would not be on board with taking anything to an official arena just because she wouldn't want anyone under the impression that she's trying to start some type of business. I'm open to suggestions and even having a list of places where these little get-togethers could take place-- could be really anywhere that there's a training area or in the middle of nowhere. I haven't been to a ton of places in game so if you know any, throw them on up here for future use. I like, and it seems kind of vague but it's symbolic of the purpose, either 'The Whetstone' or 'The Grindstone'. Similar to sharpening physical weapons, the point is to hone skills. It's more or less an unofficial coven of fighters or would-be fighters, so I think something that doesn't sound like a company or business would be good. Officially I guess it could be the Grindstone Coven or something, but 'Grindstone' for short would be simple for people to remember and pass around.

This is actually an event and you can get swimsuits but I'm not sure how or what level you have to be.

LeCard made my nose bleed everywhere...

Maybe there's another word for 'improvement' that could be used. Reminds me of trial by fire.

Wonderful! That's at least four interested people and one spectator. Now to think of a name. I'm thinking "Blood Forge". Edit: Ah, wait, I forgot. There's a 'Celestial Forge' already. *thinks more* I need words. Why am I terrible at words?