We are actually signing in and processing +jobs almost every day. The game is in a slow place, but there is still work being done. If you are interested in the theme, yeah, there is another game out there. Otherwise, once a lot of the rules systems get finalized, we'll be moving out of Beta and getting back into the swing of plot content.
Past:
Kushiel's Debut - Bastien, Isaiah, Yvain, Bertran (2.0), Alexandre, Ciaran
S&S - Steel (Staff), Cenn, Fenris, Dante
Current:
Game of Bones - Lorn, Bryce, Rhaeyn
City of Hope - Isaiah, Valentin, Cenn
Elua's Precept - Mandrake (Staff), Valentin, Cenn, Yvain
Also for @Insomniac who is having a struggle with confirmation emails.
Oh hi, Jibber. This is my name being put down like you asked. (And my sister's, cause she doesn't have a Soapbox account and doesn't want one.)
As a previous player, and someone who was helping run the Longest Night stuff, thank you for this. It takes a lot for this kind of apology.
@Kanye-Qwest It was a joke. Do I figure people will have things to say about Staff playing FCs? Yes. I do. But that was meant incredibly light hearted. The game, though, wasn't designed for that. I see much more plot on my OC than I do on Fenris, to be perfectly honest with you.
@Thenomain Right now, Fenris basically just is hiding out. Now, the canon timeline does not dictate the timeline of S&S, so he, theoretically, could meet Hawke earlier than that. Thus far, Hawke is yet to hit grid, so he hasn't, but he /could./ Right now, he's mostly just about being a merc, and in grid rooms to stir rp. And for late night rp when I have time to kill. (I don't sleep. I have a lot of downtime. I basically always have at least one scene going in the background.)
So, for the most part, I'm taking a step back from this thread, because I feel the game will speak for itself or it will not. I know people are wary, and have concerns. All we can do is show those concerns to be things that do not occur on the game, over time. Only time will show the game's value and integrity, not my words here on this thread.
That said, I will answer how many FCs are played by Staff. With a caveat: One of those was auditioned for, applied, and approved before that member of Staff was on Staff. And all but, I think, a day after joining the game and meeting the Staffers for the first time. Three of the FCs are currently played by Staff. I am not keen to out whose alts are whose, because I don't feel like that's my place, but I will say that I, myself, play Fenris.
You may all proceed to tear me to pieces as you like.
However, every other FC that has been applied for, is not a member of Staff, nor necessarily someone Staff knew before they showed interest.
All of that said, certain FCs are being maintained as NPCs, because of the massive impact of the leadership role that they possess. Like Viscount Dumar, Knight Commander Meredith, and First Enchanter Orsino.
@Thenomain As an also extensive WoD player, I can understand that feeling, and appreciate your benefit of the doubt greatly. We are really trying to make this a place that has an active Staff that keeps things from getting out of hand, and that can really work with everyone to give them a place and something to do. It's a very serious goal.
@Sunny Well, because they're fun, to be frank with you. I totally get it's not your bag, but the 'but what if' scenarios that people write with FCs can be very rewarding. Further, there are some events in the plot that are facilitated by the presence of some of the FCs. There will be events facilitated by the presence of OCs, as well, but the FCs are a known variable that we can plan for, as it were. I hope you find what you are looking for in other games though, and I don't begrudge you the opinion. Until recently, I likely would have shared it.
@Kanye-Qwest This is why we audition, so we can get the feel of someone's voice for the character. We would not approve a Varric who was unfunny or terse. That... Is not going to happen. As for if Players focus on the FCs, well, again, this is sorted of weeded out in us talking to those who are interested in them. Walk into a scene and there is something going on already? /Join/ the scene, don't walk all over it. We expect some common courtesy from people, but even more so from people who are playing FCs.
@Thenomain What changed my mind was a couple of things. The first, and most important, to me, was a Staff who seemed genuinely excited for crafting plot, and fitting into their existing plot, the OC that I first joined the game with. It was the collaborative effort that came from Dragon here, who never, ever made me feel as though the character I was crafting was a backdrop piece. Who, when suggestions they made about things with the character seemed to not fit my understanding of canon, was willing to listen and work with me. What I think softened me up to the idea, however, was having run an alternate-canon LARP for the past few years.
This is where this response will turn to be directed to the thread at large. There seems to still be this concern that this story is 'about' FCs, but the fact is that the story isn't something people know. There, as I said, will be some events that are from DA2, but likely not all of them will occur. We are not playing DA2, we are playing in the era of DA2. Does that mean that "Hawke's story" may be drastically, irrevocably different? Yes. It completely does.
@DnvnQuinn This is a point that is valid concern. However, as FCs are something that need to be auditioned for, Staff feels they are able to select people who will mesh well with the environment the FC they are taking currently finds themselves in. And, as someone who has, up until recently, spent much of his MU time on a game where influential people in important rolls often come and go, playerbases are absolutely capable of adjusting to such fluxs.
We do understand there will be some people for which the use of FCs will be a turn off. I, myself, am even typically one of them. That said, I gave the place a shot, and was pleasantly surprised. Pleasantly enough that I ended up joining Staff.
So anyone on the fence, I do encourage you to come give us a look. You may like what you find.
As to the timeline, it is just about the end of Hawke's first year in Kirkwall, so many of the characters are already arriving.
And once game began, the story of the game diverted from the Dragon Age canon, if you will. There will be some points that are kept, perhaps in a different timeline than one might expect. In part for freedom of play, and in part to make it so that those who are familiar with the series don't just know the whole plot of the game.
To further answer some questions Dragon didn't get to directly:
The system is not fully implemented at this time, due to the game being in very early beta. Those of you who went have a look see can see the framework for a FS3 system. That would be because that is the code that Dragon is currently working to beat into submission to make work for a Dragon Age system.
To address some further concerns regarding FCs, for anyone still worrying after Dragon's post above, I like to look at it like this. DA2 is the basis for the beginning of our game. Once game-on happened, things can change. The plot is not on rails. There is a Hawke in chargen now, he has worked extensively with the Staff, and will not be the focal point for the whole game. None of the FCs will. OCs are just as capable of impacting and changing the world. Think AU, if you will, though I am wary of that term.
Mages and Apostates: There are a number of Apostate characters on grid. It is a viable and valid option, as long as you don't walk into the Gallows, call out Meredith, and start swinging magic around while laughing maniacally. Be reasonable, be realistic, we're trying to write good stories, not play fun police, as it were. And Circle Mages will have plot for them as well, as well as reasonable ability to make excuses for having escorted trips out. (Gathering supplies, approved research, what have you.)
Welcome to Thedas!
We are Dragon Age: Smoke & Shadows, an in-depth, story-driven MUSH that allows players to explore the world so many have come to love. Set in Kirkwall just after the close of the Fifth Blight, S&S is open to FC and OC alike and will explore new plots and places as well as visiting some fan favorites. Using our unique Fate system, we hope to bring to life a game that is fun for all different kinds of RP styles.
DA:S&S is currently in BETA. Some of our code is still being tweaked, some of it is still being tested, but the foundation is there and we are ready to start accepting players through chargen.
Game: smokeandshadows.dune.net port 1313
Wiki: smokeandshadows.wikidot.com