10-31-2011, 11:02 PM
It is a sickening feeling when the pin finally drops. Oh, yes, I’ve been told that gaining clarity is better than living in a fantasy world (Which totally none of us are doing at all right now) but realization is still a shock to any system.
And so it was a shock when I realized, tonight, that Argus Wake as it existed before the restart is not suitable for post-start revival.
But, you may say, “Haven’t we already created an Argus Wake guild?” And to that I say “Man…I know! Totally wishing realization came earlier.”
The argument against a revival of the pre-restart Argus Wake boils down to two points:
#1 – The evil culture of the server has shifted from obviously dark acts to more subtle forms of evil. Popular trends have changed.
#2 – Before the guild was run by a spry ego-maniacal demon WHO COULD FLY AND SHOOT FIRE. Now it’s run by a 47 year old housewife with a manchild and a female Rambo at her hip.
Before all the motives and means for spreading were clear. People respected a demonic Marianna and, because of her Fel addiction, her loyalty to the Legion was reasonable. The culture on the server was that evil shook up stagnant RP and that a good villain was one who could put his or her spurs to a storyling. But now? Now we are just left with questions and an ill-fitting skin.
Why would a 47 year old woman ally herself with a Legion? Why is she throwing her children into the middle of danger? Why is an organization dedicated towards global discord based around a radioactive bat and a graying hag? Why are we flying around with capes and monologues when everyone wants depth and storyline?
Argus Wake post restart, like my doodle of a pony when I was young, just doesn’t make sense.
So I have, after a discussion with Delta and Hiddengecko, decided to posit two suggestions. Argus Wake members, old and new, are welcome to weigh in. Non members are as well; after all, those who are outsiders today may just be mindless converts to the Glorious Cause tomorrow!
Action #1
Cut the Legion and Be a Family!
If trying to fit the skin of the old Argus Wake is proving too difficult, simply toss it out and make a new one.
The new focus of the guild would be on the inner workings of the Bisen family, a small-time noble house that, when their shady past is brought to light, is forced to expand its power or be swallowed up by the predators within their government. It is the fight of a family to secure safety for themselves and, in the process, lose themselves and their perspectives.
Marianna would take the roll as the group's patriarch, an unwilling leader who doubts her skills and abilities. In times of strife she relies on advisors and the mixed advice.
The Legion would remain in the family in the form of Sangreala, who would be an advisor and associate.
The group would, while never being as egotistical and obvious as it was in the past, retain the proactive approach of the old Argus Wake, preferring to create action instead of reacting to it.
Membership would be for the family and those loyal to it. Members will be from both factions.
Pros:
- Solves all our problems. Bam. It’s that easy. We create a guild that makes sense in relation to its leadership, is still fun and still evil.
- Keep up with trends. The key word is that we’ll be more subtle. People will appreciate that.
- Active. The guild will still be an active force and, instead of getting bogged down with intra-family fighting, will actually go out and stir up trouble in the world at large.
- Depths. The drama and fighting within such a close-knit group would create an increased depth and storyline that we didn’t enjoy in the last guild.
Cons:
- Un-original. This is the thing that pushes me away from the idea the most. Seriously, this has been done three times in the past, with a noble house already existing for good, evil and neutral.
Action #2
Re-tool and Re-fit
Argus Wake was good before. Why do something new when it wasn’t broken to begin with? Just trim things so that they’ll fit.
Make Marianna and her family deeply entrenched in Fel, with the idea of expanding their power base for security as only what they sell to others. Make them desire the Legion’s control in exchange for power, something the small family has yet to enjoy.
Push Marianna down the path of demon worship, morphing her eventually into a similar state as before restart.
Make their workings heavily entrenched in the Legion, with the organization creating an outer appearance of crime and debauchery to attract members/cover their intentions.
Pros:
- If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Argus Wake worked in the past and it can work in the future.
- Membership. A criminal organization that is recruiting people from both factions makes sense and will help drive recruitment.
- Events. Being a crime empire means that you won’t have to be subtle in how you run thing.
- True Evil. Ditch the shades of grey, you’ll be getting a ‘pure black’ organization that people can get behind hating.
Cons:
- Uncreative. We’ve done it before and, in the past, we learned from our mistakes. It’s lazy just to do something over again and not try to make it better.
- Egotism. The guild would once again be focused on the drives and motivations of one or two people, which some do not enjoy.
- Loss of depths. Pure evil may be fun, but we lose the moral ambiguity and sense of story that the other idea offered.
- Many Enemies. Saying that we’d be attracting a lot of enemies with this type of guild is a gross under-statement.