OOC Thread and Chatroom

[Tiberius Claudius Marcellus]

Bean, it absolutely is NOT your fault for being either a higher rank nor for being so much higher than anyone else. The game system is unbalanced, and like any good video game it requires a patch to nerf certain aspects or make other things stronger/better.

Why can't I say the game is boring because either you or anyone else is a higher ranking player? I can say whatever I want; but what I said was that the game was becoming less fun because only one person was so much higher than all the others. Again, it is an balancing issue.

It is very true that you have broken no rules whatsoever, and I'm not angry with you for your success in the game. My issue is with the balancing of the game. You are the only Praetor, even your closest IC allies are only Duxi or Legati. Your opposition is the same and it makes for lopsided gameplay since you can form a house and start a civil war and attack your IC enemies, whereas they can only respond to your attacks - you get the unfair advantage of a "pre-emptive" first strike; which I believe goes against the spirit of the game. Now, that's not to say that you would necessarily take such action; but it is a realistic threat.

Regarding the Punic War Event, it is circumstantial evidence at best; but when you look at it from the outside, it was proposed by a group of IC friends, voted in-favor by IC friends, and it is currently benefiting only those IC friends - Legio I is getting experience fighting in Gaul, Legio II is getting experience fighting in Illyria, and the Legio III was actually only assigned - by edict - the role to go guard the northern passes to the Alps. We were voted to do absolutely nothing except guard against an AI incursion while all the other armies were assigned active fighting. We took it upon ourselves to fight the rebels in Italy when TCV's computer went down. In Game, Legio I and II are best of buds and so the events, while they may truly not be a 'plot' are skewed to benefit a limited number of people. Your character has benefited from it personally by having been assinged the role of the only fighting force near a hostile enemy (either by the 'event' itself or by an edict). You have gained rank, personal body guards, the role of provincial governor, and now a Triumphus *(which you do deserve).

I wasn't in charge of moving the Third Legion anywhere until just this week when Potocello couldn't take the save because of RL goings on. And again, our assigned mission per the Edict was to go north and sit - NOT to go to Sicily or Rhegion. We defied that senate order purposely in order to bring some balance and hopefully get in a fight with some Carthaginians. The Legio IV Roma was supposed to fight the rebels in Italy and guard the southern tip of the penninsula. In the end, we didn't miss out on any action because - by the design of others - we weren't supposed to get any.

And everyone, Asina - may he rest in peace - would most definitely be Praetor by now, which would be absolutely peachy keen if there were others to be even close to balancing the power he would have. Again, I do not seek to punish success or impede just and fair progression. I only want to balance the game mechanics to keep it fun and near-neck and neck between rivals.