My GOODNESS this has been a fascinating thread. All. Nine. Pages. O_O
I would love to see a pair of noble houses play out intrigue and other social games in an RP setting, but more often than not it's simply used as an "easy" to form backstory for a character, in my experience. I don't think less of the player for using the trope in their background, or even for mentioning that they still retain some level of Lordship in their current interactions, as long as they're not trying to pound the fact over one's head.
Honestly, nobility in an MMO has been done about as frequently as any other RP archetypal trope, so the existence of them doesn't bother me one way or the other. Nobility in this game appears to be most heavily applied in Ishgard, but more implied in Ul'dah. The way I see it, Ul'dah citizenry assume their noble standing through money, or as a survival tactic--I am so TOTALLY a noblewoman because honestly, what sort of regular street rat would wear this chiffon silken gown so please take me seriously please? Ul'dah is a city of liars, refugees and the destitute all trying to not pile on top of each other while being piled on top of each other. It's a fascinating city in that regard.
As for Gridanian nobility, I always got the impression that those in the Gentry Ward still cling to the city-state's isolationist stance, and refuse to acknowledge the changing world around them...thus they barred the gates and kept "commoners" out. So, to that point, I think there still is a nobility there, but they're closed off, both literally and mentally, and the rest of Gridania simply rolls its eyes and carries on, ignoring the Ward's attitude.
It all can work out if planned properly, I agree, and I would love to see how some organized, thought-out and plotted nobility would play their little games of intrigue. Steel would never get involved, but would definitely love to watch. It could work, because, as was said earlier...
So who's to say we can't see some in-game nobility attempt some little power plays? :3
I would love to see a pair of noble houses play out intrigue and other social games in an RP setting, but more often than not it's simply used as an "easy" to form backstory for a character, in my experience. I don't think less of the player for using the trope in their background, or even for mentioning that they still retain some level of Lordship in their current interactions, as long as they're not trying to pound the fact over one's head.
Honestly, nobility in an MMO has been done about as frequently as any other RP archetypal trope, so the existence of them doesn't bother me one way or the other. Nobility in this game appears to be most heavily applied in Ishgard, but more implied in Ul'dah. The way I see it, Ul'dah citizenry assume their noble standing through money, or as a survival tactic--I am so TOTALLY a noblewoman because honestly, what sort of regular street rat would wear this chiffon silken gown so please take me seriously please? Ul'dah is a city of liars, refugees and the destitute all trying to not pile on top of each other while being piled on top of each other. It's a fascinating city in that regard.
As for Gridanian nobility, I always got the impression that those in the Gentry Ward still cling to the city-state's isolationist stance, and refuse to acknowledge the changing world around them...thus they barred the gates and kept "commoners" out. So, to that point, I think there still is a nobility there, but they're closed off, both literally and mentally, and the rest of Gridania simply rolls its eyes and carries on, ignoring the Ward's attitude.
It all can work out if planned properly, I agree, and I would love to see how some organized, thought-out and plotted nobility would play their little games of intrigue. Steel would never get involved, but would definitely love to watch. It could work, because, as was said earlier...
(10-12-2013, 10:06 PM)SessionZero Wrote: We're in a game where we ride giant chickens and shoot fireballs out of our asses.
So who's to say we can't see some in-game nobility attempt some little power plays? :3