[OOC] Deep Ground Online (Hiatus)

[TheWendil]

I'm confused as to how this is a good thing, aside from letting you set up your high stakes scenarios that will be hard to solve at best.

@Flamelord

This is me trying to get @McFazzer to post.

[Flamelord]

Don't tell me the way to win this war is to guilt trip the fuck out of Chiyo.

@Mega Birb

It basically is. If the opposition can't make some serious reversals in the next couple of days, Chiyo wins.

[MarshiestMallow]

I don't know know hat to do...

[Mega Birb]

@Caits

Celebrate that you keep your bank access.

[Mega Birb]

Wait I just remembered something that'll link Chiyo's family to bank account freezing.

[KoL]

I mean, the stakes weren't high enough for most people, since there was a generalized apathy for the plot going around this RP because "DGO is just a game" or people that thought that they could endure the crisis and then begin again from zero since they were young and had "time to catch up later".

What to do when the stakes are too low? You raise them, by hitting were it hurts. And, ever since men has been men, there's nothing that hurts more than hitting one's coffers.

It's a psychological game and physical violence is the worst tool to use when you want an emotional reply.

Like I said, there's more than just blocking people's money to come. Certain characters will learn that DGO is not just another game, want they or not.

[Flamelord]

The problem is that the characters have no way to respond or otherwise cointeract this escalation, because the only people who could are GM characters and Lucius' characters. Nobody else playing has the resources, status or connections. This escalation is a knock out blow because in a day or two everyone who isn't a die hard to the cause will defect so they have access to any money at all and the rest can be rolled over with ease.

I appreciate wanting to raise the stakes amd make things more serious, but you've done it in a way that only the GMPCs can fix, short of the opposing alliance having some kind of miracle comeback and winning within a day or two. We certainly don't have any real world solutions, so whatever else you plan will just add humiliation atop the inevitable win now that our agency is basically gone.

[KoL]

Wait I just remembered something that'll link Chiyo's family to bank account freezing.

@Mega Birb

PS: Just mind one thing. Because this has to do with the World Interface itself, the authorities won't do a thing since, for them the system is normal.

The only thing the authorities would see is that your account balance is at zero. Tons of bureaucracy would also be in the way of them doing anything since the legal system itself depends upon the Interface to work.

To sum it up, if you don't solve your problems, don't expect the NPCs to do it for you. And, just wait for the next set of actions to come by...

[TheWendil]

The problem is that the characters have no way to respond or otherwise cointeract this escalation, because the only people who could are GM characters and Lucius' characters. Nobody else playing has the resources, status or connections. This escalation is a knock out blow because in a day or two everyone who isn't a die hard to the cause will defect so they have access to any money at all and the rest can be rolled over with ease.

I appreciate wanting to raise the stakes amd make things more serious, but you've done it in a way that only the GMPCs can fix, short of the opposing alliance having some kind of miracle comeback and winning within a day or two. We certainly don't have any real world solutions, so whatever else you plan will just add humiliation atop the inevitable win now that our agency is basically gone.

@Flamelord

Eh. I mean, it's not like the GMs aren't making this exclusive as we are interacting with everyone else. It's not our fault if people continue to be apathetic and end up with no money; that's on them for not doing anything.

[KoL]

The problem is that the characters have no way to respond or otherwise cointeract this escalation, because the only people who could are GM characters and Lucius' characters. Nobody else playing has the resources, status or connections. This escalation is a knock out blow because in a day or two everyone who isn't a die hard to the cause will defect so they have access to any money at all and the rest can be rolled over with ease.

I appreciate wanting to raise the stakes amd make things more serious, but you've done it in a way that only the GMPCs can fix, short of the opposing alliance having some kind of miracle comeback and winning within a day or two. We certainly don't have any real world solutions, so whatever else you plan will just add humiliation atop the inevitable win now that our agency is basically gone.

@Flamelord

Well, taking action is a very, very good way to start to solve things. This war was born in the digital world, so it must end in the digital world. I guess this was made obvious up to now, I think?

After all, only Eris and Chiyo can admit new members on the White Guild and only Kenji can do it for the Greens. Defecting isn't going to be so easy and painless as you think.

[TheWendil]

I appreciate wanting to raise the stakes amd make things more serious, but you've done it in a way that only the GMPCs can fix, short of the opposing alliance having some kind of miracle comeback and winning within a day or two. We certainly don't have any real world solutions, so whatever else you plan will just add humiliation atop the inevitable win now that our agency is basically gone.

@Flamelord

I see what you mean. Worry not; it will hopefully become more clear in my next post. Whenever I decide to write it.

[Flamelord]

You're right, it will end. It will end when everyone decides to stop fighting and let Chiyo win so they don't have to suffer anymore. Because they have no guarantee that winning will change anything, when Chiyo still has all her connections, all her resources, and Mommy dearest with her exclusive access and private military to divert any consequences that might befall her and to continue making the lives of all her enemies hell.

This war may be settled in the digital world, but it is driven by real life concerns. And right now nobody currently active who is not a GMPC has any way to compensate or retaliate for this in a way that actually means anything. Like I said, if they don't stage a miracle then the war is over.

Basically, at this point it looks to me like you are further setting up your own characters as the focus of this story, saying 'follow us and do what we say if you want to get your victory. We are your cannon fodder, marching forward to the sound of the drums so you can claim your victory. That's what it looks like to me, and in the end this is a negative incentive, not a positive one. It says 'don't fight me and your suffering will end.' Unless Chiyo is planning to commit mass genocide of course, which I wouldn't put past you at this point.

Still, I don't expect this to make much of a difference, since we've done this song and dance before.

[KoL]

You're right, it will end. It will end when everyone decides to stop fighting and let Chiyo win so they don't have to suffer anymore. Because they have no guarantee that winning will change anything, when Chiyo still has all her connections, all her resources, and Mommy dearest with her exclusive access and private military to divert any consequences that might befall her and to continue making the lives of all her enemies hell.

This war may be settled in the digital world, but it is driven by real life concerns. And right now nobody currently active who is not a GMPC has any way to compensate or retaliate for this in a way that actually means anything. Like I said, if they don't stage a miracle then the war is over.

Basically, at this point it looks to me like you are further setting up your own characters as the focus of this story, saying 'follow us and do what we say if you want to get your victory. We are your cannon fodder, marching forward to the sound of the drums so you can claim your victory. That's what it looks like to me, and in the end this is a negative incentive, not a positive one. It says 'don't fight me and your suffering will end.' Unless Chiyo is planning to commit mass genocide of course, which I wouldn't put past you at this point.

Still, I don't expect this to make much of a difference, since we've done this song and dance before.

@Flamelord

I won't confirm or deny this, since this discussion has no end in sight based on these arguments.

Just answer me, how many times have we basically implored for people to do something with the plot we've set up? It's not like we railroaded anyone, you just chose to drift, despite our many appeals and calls to action.

It isn't unfair that you get to some just desserts now, I think.

[TheWendil]

You're right, it will end. It will end when everyone decides to stop fighting and let Chiyo win so they don't have to suffer anymore. Because they have no guarantee that winning will change anything, when Chiyo still has all her connections, all her resources, and Mommy dearest with her exclusive access and private military to divert any consequences that might befall her and to continue making the lives of all her enemies hell.

This war may be settled in the digital world, but it is driven by real life concerns. And right now nobody currently active who is not a GMPC has any way to compensate or retaliate for this in a way that actually means anything. Like I said, if they don't stage a miracle then the war is over.

Basically, at this point it looks to me like you are further setting up your own characters as the focus of this story, saying 'follow us and do what we say if you want to get your victory. We are your cannon fodder, marching forward to the sound of the drums so you can claim your victory. That's what it looks like to me, and in the end this is a negative incentive, not a positive one. It says 'don't fight me and your suffering will end.' Unless Chiyo is planning to commit mass genocide of course, which I wouldn't put past you at this point.

Still, I don't expect this to make much of a difference, since we've done this song and dance before.

@Flamelord

Are you sure you're not assuming again? Reading too much into the GMs attempting to move things along and giving people a reason to care about the events happening around them? Chiyo and Eris' parents are a moot point to consider; both because their RPers don't want to use them and because, as you said, adults are useless in this world. Are we putting Chiyo on a platform? Probably, but then again she's the antagonist at the moment. That's a bit of the point.

As I said, I will attempt to provide options in my next post. Until then, perhaps you should be focusing more on developing Masae considering she's hardly done anything.

[Mega Birb]

@KoL

Back to the money thing, you know how I specifically stated in Aderyn's CS that she's a tech wizard, right? Well if she puts her life on the line and goes data mining into Black Fox activities and digs up the order to deplete non-Mask accounts, which I'm assuming is REALLY illegal on both ends, then the authorities have no choice but to crack down on them.

Media coverage would be insane on something like this, a reputable private security group caught in a web like that would leave no breathing room. And I fully accept that, if I do this, Aderyn's life gets put in mortal danger.

[Flamelord]

<Snipped quote by Flamelord>

Are you sure you're not assuming again? Reading too much into the GMs attempting to move things along and giving people a reason to care about the events happening around them? Chiyo and Eris' parents are a moot point to consider; both because their RPers don't want to use them and because, as you said, adults are useless in this world. Are we putting Chiyo on a platform? Probably, but then again she's the antagonist at the moment. That's a bit of the point.

As I said, I will attempt to provide options in my next post. Until then, perhaps you should be focusing more on developing Masae considering she's hardly done anything.

@TheWindel

You know, I would love to develop Masae. If I had any time to develop Masae because the people I've been in scenes with have been so slow in posting when we don't hammer out a collab that I have basically not been able to do anything with her in the first place. Which might, possibly, be why it looks like I haven't done anything when I do in fact have a plan to get her into the main plot. Not that you ever asked about that of course, because why communicate when you can just work things your own way.

And again, I'm not saying I don't appreciate your efforts, but your solution was to basically skip any kind of moderation and go straight to what is essentially the nuclear option of 'fine, if you won't care about our plot then fuck you we'll just force you to care with a hammer by making your very life legitimately depend on this war'.

I assume because I don't have any other facts, and as presented thus far every indication has been that in the future Chiyo will be safe from consequences because she has her mother, who is the one person thus far who has been demonstrated to not be useless by virtue of the fact that Chiyo's scheme depends on the very system that she runs and controls and must therefor tacitly allow.

But you're right, this argument won't end any time soon. We're all used to this song and dance, so why prolong it.

[TheWendil]

You know, I would love to develop Masae. If I had any time to develop Masae because the people I've been in scenes with have been so slow in posting when we don't hammer out a collab that I have basically not been able to do anything with her in the first place. Which might, possibly, be why it looks like I haven't done anything when I do in fact have a plan to get her into the main plot. Not that you ever asked about that of course, because why communicate when you can just work things your own way.

@Flamelord

I remember you saying you had a plan with Masae. But I'm also wondering why you don't just get her out of the stagnant scenes with her walking away or something.

And again, I'm not saying I don't appreciate your efforts, but your solution was to basically skip any kind of moderation and go straight to what is essentially the nuclear option of 'fine, if you won't care about our plot then fuck you we'll just force you to care with a hammer by making your very life legitimately depend on this war'.

@Flamelord

I don't see how we're skipping; all that happened was that people's bank accounts were frozen and even that was planned out and executed. Direct me to the part in IC where it seems like we're forcing people to react to this event immediately and to stop what they're doing right now.

I assume because I don't have any other facts, and as presented thus far every indication has been that in the future Chiyo will be safe from consequences because she has her mother, who is the one person thus far who has been demonstrated to not be useless by virtue of the fact that Chiyo's scheme depends on the very system that she runs and controls and must therefor tacitly allow.

@Flamelord

Assumptions are quite bad. Just ask KoL.

[Mega Birb]

@TheWindel

Theoretically, how long would it take for someone to non-stop grind to Lv9? Given the role he fell into, I'm planning on Nyx forcing through to the cap as soon as physically possible once Aaron sees the damage Chiyo's causing. Reason: Without a bank account he can't buy food, and he's too dedicated to the Harleys to swap colors.

[Flamelord]

<Snipped quote by Flamelord>

I remember you saying you had a plan with Masae. But I'm also wondering why you don't just get her out of the stagnant scenes with her walking away or something.

<Snipped quote by Flamelord>

I don't see how we're skipping; all that happened was that people's bank accounts were frozen and even that was planned out and executed. Direct me to the part in IC where it seems like we're forcing people to react to this event immediately and to stop what they're doing right now.

<Snipped quote by Flamelord>

Assumptions are quite bad. Just ask KoL.

@TheWindel

Because I am an exceptionally patient person as you may well know, given how long I was waiting on you for posts at the end of Shattering. I didn't want to deprive Rofls and Birb of the opportunity for interactions, and I figured this could be useful fr that plan that I had.

But of course, your wishes are paramount. I shall endeavor to disengage myself and go fight as quickly as possible.

You have stated your intent to have it happen, and have not provided any indication that it will not be happening. Just because there has not been any forcing now does not mean there won't be in the immediate future. Because this is an event in which there is no choice but to react, because everyone in those guilds is now reduced to only the pocket change they have on hand. None of us aside from the GMPCs have real world assets to use against this, meaning the only choice is to either do nothing or fight. And you command the fighting. You are forcing the players into a situation where the only way to win is to rely upon your characters in the hope that they can fix the damage that Chiyo has done

Too bad KoL is a GM so that somehow makes his assumptions more valid than mine. But I'll stop for now, since by now I know that I'm just saying words that don't have any effect on you or your decision making process.

[KoL]

@KoL

Back to the money thing, you know how I specifically stated in Aderyn's CS that she's a tech wizard, right? Well if she puts her life on the line and goes data mining into Black Fox activities and digs up the order to deplete non-Mask accounts, which I'm assuming is REALLY illegal on both ends, then the authorities have no choice but to crack down on them.

Media coverage would be insane on something like this, a reputable private security group caught in a web like that would leave no breathing room. And I fully accept that, if I do this, Aderyn's life gets put in mortal danger.

@Mega Birb

You are not forbidden from trying to do this, IC. Just be mindful to not severely overstep her level of skill. Up to this moment she has never been made to look like she can crack high security systems (which is pretty much inhuman, even with today's cryptography methods, but we can gloss over it because of fictionland logic).

In the end, if you are going to do it, do it IC and in a way that we see what you are doing. We'd love to see action since there's reactions prepared for most possible scenarios, which can be used to actually fuster the plot. However, you know that we are none too fond of convenient ass pulls.