"Disciples Of Rain" Monday Orien static group reincarnating & looking for two more

[Twilightsong]

Hi. Our static group is planning to reincarnate to start on our 3rd life and we need 2 more players. Our group has been going steadily since 2014. We meet weekly Mondays at 8 PM Eastern time on the Orien server and play for 2 hours a session. We are easy-going in our approach to the game but do try to run all quests on elite when possible. All experience levels with the game are welcome as well as first-lifers [a couple of us will only be going into 2nd life]. Any class is also welcome as we have not yet decided what classes we will be playing in our next lives. In the past, we have done some light RP and, generally, limit our use of the AH and gear from alt-toons to desperately needed items preferring to use found gear (or gear traded within the group) for a more true RPG experience. We also mainly use voice chat to communicate so the ability to at least listen to that is a definite asset. We are a week or two away from reincarnating so should be starting at lvl 1 on the 19th or perhaps 26th of November (if you have a spare lvl 18-21 character though you are more than welcome to join us next Monday the 12th at 8PM).

If you would like to join or have questions please preferably msg me on here or contact Cyrilath in game on Monday evenings.

[Twilightsong]

Just to update we could still use one more player in our group. We reincarnated tonight and ran through Korthos getting to level 2. If you want to join us drop me a note on here or come on to Orien server Monday at 8pm eastern with a level 1-3 character and whisper Cyrilath or Tirana. All classes welcome.

thanks...

Hi. Our static group is planning to reincarnate to start on our 3rd life and we need 2 more players. Our group has been going steadily since 2014. We meet weekly Mondays at 8 PM Eastern time on the Orien server and play for 2 hours a session. We are easy-going in our approach to the game but do try to run all quests on elite when possible. All experience levels with the game are welcome as well as first-lifers [a couple of us will only be going into 2nd life]. Any class is also welcome as we have not yet decided what classes we will be playing in our next lives. In the past, we have done some light RP and, generally, limit our use of the AH and gear from alt-toons to desperately needed items preferring to use found gear (or gear traded within the group) for a more true RPG experience. We also mainly use voice chat to communicate so the ability to at least listen to that is a definite asset. We are a week or two away from reincarnating so should be starting at lvl 1 on the 19th or perhaps 26th of November (if you have a spare lvl 18-21 character though you are more than welcome to join us next Monday the 12th at 8PM).

If you would like to join or have questions please preferably msg me on here or contact Cyrilath in game on Monday evenings.

[halestone48]

Hey, I'd be interested if you still need one more. I've played the game on and off since it went f2p and have quite a few builds I'd be interested in trying out, so I could fill pretty much any role the party needs and be quite happy with it. I have access to voice chat, could run a level 1 character through the quests you've already done pretty easily to catch up (mostly for the favor) or create a vet (or iconic) and stay at the groups level till it all equalizes properly.

(I've never played on Orien, but I see that not being able to gear from alts won't be a problem, so I suppose that doesn't matter too much.)

[Arianrhod]

Hi all

OK, first the obligatory apology, and welcome to new members -

I'm not the "recruiting" type, so a big thank you to Cyrilath for taking over that job, because I'm loving our new members and really glad he brought them on board

Second, got some administrative business to deal with -

1) Got the airship upgraded, and looking for input with regard to new hold rooms/stateroom. We have room for one new stateroom and 3 new hold rooms, and I would like (even prefer) to add whatever the rest of you would like. For Staterooms, our current choices seem to be Bath House, Collegium, or Proving Ground. In the absence of any other input I'm likely to pick the Proving Ground, as that seems to provide the most benefit to our current group makeup. If anyone prefers something else, post here, or just buy the stateroom you want. Otherwise, I'll probably buy the Proving Ground by Monday.

As for Hold Rooms, my (totally selfish) preferences are for Old Sully, Paradoxical Puzzle Box & Arcane Sanctum. Again, if anyone has different preferences, either post here or buy the upgrade you want and place it. I would prefer to place whatever the most people want, but would rather put my own thing in than leave a slot empty So, speak up by Monday, or be prepared to donate after

2) What quests/chains/sagas to to/skip: Believe it or not, this is the first time I've ever played a third-life character, so I have no idea how much we can skip and still have enough XP to level. My personal preference is to play every quest in order of level, but I realize a) we might not need them all, and b) not all our members may have them all. So count this as your (first) chance to sound off on what you would like to do, and what you'd prefer to skip. For myself, I have vague notions that I'd like to complete some sagas this life, and also that I'd like to save some of the chains that give tokens for epic levels so we can run those for tokens to reincarnate without feeling like we're farming (hate farming), but not really sure how practical that sort of idea will turn out to be. Basically, let me know which chains you would like to run, which ones you would prefer to skip, and which ones you don't have and might not want to buy if they don't happen to be on sale (BTW, I think I have them all now, so not a concern for me). Also, I recognize some factions of favor are more valuable than others, so skipping both VON & Red Fens may just be not in the cards


3) I know this isn't a priority for everyone, but when I joined this group it was billed as "light RP" and I do enjoy indulging in a little story here and there when it doesn't interfere to much with the gaming. so, here's a brief bit of background behind our guild name, and, following, a modest continuation of Tirana's backstory (btw: do, PLEASE, feel free to include any stories you may have for your own characters - I love reading this stuff ) As to the guild name: Way back in the depths of time, when we were beginning our first lives, we cast about for a name that would evoke an essence of working against the powers of evil, without displaying excessive pretentiousness ourselves. We noted that one of the groups most set against the way of life we wished to preserve were the Lord of Dust, and, as our guildleader at the time was a monk, Disciples of Rain seemed a suitable name to array ourselves against those forces of evil. That is where the name was born, and it still seems a reasonable reminder, even as some of us embark on our third lives as heroes of Stormreach, that a little humility may not be out of the question

As for Tirana, while humility may not really be her strongest point, she does at least make an effort to do what's best for the group. Here's the latest chapter in her personal saga:

Tirana woke slowly, feeling the autumn breeze stirring the fallen leaves in the grove. There was something...something she was supposed to remember? About a metal dog, and orcs setting a farm ablaze? Or was it a wolf, cold nose nudging her awake, work yet to be done? No, that was definitely no wolf. She opened her eyes and pushed, annoyed, at the skeletal fingers shaking her awake. "Who are you? And what is this place?" The skeleton paused. "Ah, good, you're awake. Took you long enough. Enjoyed your side trips in the human realms, I trust?"

Tirana blinked, and sat up, slowly. "Side trips? What are you talking about? And, again, who are you?"

The skeleton made an expression that could almost be called a smirk, except for the lack of any flesh to give it shape. "Nice to see you again, too, Tirana. Of course, reverence for your elders was never one of your strong points." It sighed (if something like wind through dead branches could really be described as a "sigh"), and continued "Allow me to (re)introduce myself. I am Tirkano, your...it paused - Great-uncle? The relationships get hard to define after a few generations. At any rate, I have been" ...it paused again, and Tirana got an eerie sense it was biting back distaste at the words - "I have been tasked with watching over you in this life, aiding you, as it were, to guide our family back from" it made a curious noise Tirana could only interpret as a discreet cough "dark times."

Tirana gave a smirk of her own "Dark times? Family? Do tell. I'm afraid my memory is... sketchy"

The skeleton, Tirkano, sighed again, a mournful sound well-suited to the autumn grove swirling with faded leaves. "I see a great deal of your memory has degraded over time. You have returned to us, O Scion of the House of Lithuin (sufficiently minor branch of the House of Vol to avoid the purges following the unfortunate actions of the leadership some 2-3 milennia ago), at a time of great significance. I have been chosen to help you to wend the narrow path back from our family's current regrettable political obscurity to regain some of the splendor of the past. It is true, our family was never part of the 'inner circle' of House Vol, but one could argue that that alone was what saved us, and opened the way to future possibilities when House Vol suffered its spectacular fall. True, few of our scions ever manifested the Mark of Death, but we all knew our way around the graveyard, so to speak. We bided our time, tending the resting places of more politically blessed contemporaries, waiting for our time to come. Now, at last, times have become sufficiently unsettled in Aerenal that those who once gave their allegiance to House Vol might at last find the way open to regain some measure of power. The opening is small, but those with sufficient skill and daring might find it adequate. This is why I have been awakened. It seems, unlikely as it may be, that one of our crypt-sweepers has managed to be reborn in the person of one with the potential for ...surprises. Somehow (don't ask me how, I'm a soldier, not a prognosticator), the essence of a scion of Lithuin has been mingled with the essence of... a hero? an adventurer? Hard to say. Nonetheless, someone with greater ambitions and talents than maintaining the City of the Dead, and the family has recognized an opportunity. Therefore, I have been designated to watch over and advise you as you begin this new existence in the service of... what, 'the Disciples of Rain"? Sounds a bit underwhelming to me, but I'll do what I can."

Tirana paused, unhurried, for a long moment to give all of this some time to sink in. "So...I'm an elf now? with a skeleton sidekick? Cool. I doubt you'll be any more usful than the wolf or the metal dog were, but maybe you'll at least have the sense to stay the heck out of it when all **** breaks loose? Do try to keep up, uncle"

[Twilightsong]

I am fine doing whatever quests. I own almoost everything now aside from the very newest stuff [and I can buy those if you want to do them] . I don't know which sagas we need to do to farm the tokens but feel free to point them out when we're at the right level. One thing, I really prefer that the first lifers in our group are able to level up when they are xp capped even if that results in slightly less xp for the group as a whole on some quests. Just my opinion, everyone should always get some xp for questing with us and as we have a mixture of people with first lifers with reincarnated people it seems this will be a bit more of an issue that it was before. I'm not sure how Tirana and other group members feel about it.

By the way I added the Dex and Int puzzle box buff Tirana wanted to the ship last night. I wasn't sure how to put the platinum in the guild bank so I just added the buff. Hope that is ok. Also, thank you for writing your RP background Tirana. It was well done and I enjoyed reading it

It's nice to have a couple of new people in the group...I always enjoy playing with you guys.


-Cyrilath

[halestone48]

As one of the new players, I don't at all mind just sitting at xp cap and waiting for everyone to be capable of leveling. Realistically speaking if we don't do that, eventually us first lifers are going to significantly outstrip the rest of the group just by virtue of only needing half as much experience. Better to keep everyone at the same level, honestly I feel like a group of the same level sticking together is one of the main appeals of a static anyway.

[DrowsworD]

Sorry I missed last night - work work work work...work.

What was accomplished?

[DrowsworD]

Thanks for letting me join you last Monday. We did 4 quests, Proof in Poison and 3 of the Heart crypts in Necropolis. Although I can't say it was a zerg it certainly was quicker than my regular group. Of course, we talk and joke and argue about stuff as we play.

I plan to be there on Monday. See you then.

[Arianrhod]

Hi all.

I have a few comments I'd like to make. First, and foremost - I love this group, and all the players in it. I'm in several static groups, and can honestly say this is the one I most look forward to each week. You guys are the best.


Second - in case anyone didn't already know, I'm only the "guild leader" by default. When our original leader (Meta/Fishcatch) left, he promoted me to leader - I can only assume because I was the one who showed up most often, therefore, presumably, the one most likely to keep the group going after he was gone. I don't take the position as any sort of endorsement of my playstyle or preferences, only a wish to keep things going, because we have a rare and wonderful thing - a static group that's managed to survive more than a year.


All that said, I've noticed since Meta left, we've kind of kept going on momentum alone - we like playing together (at least, I like you guys, can't speak for anyone else), rather than any kind of overall theme for what kind of group we're in. We started out as "light RP", and I like that, but it's kind of faded over time (also ok, since I enjoy the company), but other than having a reliable time to play together, we don't seem to have either developed a new focus or confirmed the original. I'd like to get some input from the rest (and, yes, that includes the newer members, not just the 2nd- and 3rd-lifers) as to what (if any) direction you'd all like to pursue for the future. All I can really say is we've got a cool group of players, and if we can find a focus that suits all of us, we could have many fun sessions in our future.


As for me, I like the "light rp" angle, but have trouble initiating it - I'm much better at building on what others put forward than inventing a whole storyline from scratch (though I could make an effort at doing that too, if that's what the rest would like). I'm also ok with just running quests in order and trying to string them together with whatever storyline occurs along the way (ultralite RP? lol) If nothing else, that provides plenty of opportunity for improvisation


There is one thing I've always wanted to try, but been hesitant to suggest, as I've always felt it wouldn't appeal to most, but I'll throw it out there anyway, just in case. That's a playstyle I can only call "let the new guy lead". Basically, it involves refraining from spoilers as much as possible, and letting whoever has the least experience with any given quest call all the shots (with allowances made for other players fulfilling their roles, like the rogue searching for traps, the tank blocking doorways, etc.) I don't know if the rest of you would go for it, but if you want to give it a try, I would be happy to. Sure, things would go slower, and we might occasionally fail and have to try again, but, to me, it's an intriguing way to keep things fresh, new, and unpredictable.


Anyway, please chime in with your own preferences - we're early yet in this life, and have the opportunity to set things up however we like.


Tirana

[hablab]

First of all an apology. My phone ran out of juice and didnt wake me for our last playing session this monday.

Secondly im off to vacation in a few hours so i wont be able to join you for the next 2 weeks.

Goals. Hmm. I originaly joined this and a few other static groups because i missed having some1 to play with with and 2. to play some character idears that were ill suited for solo play and needed a group to shine. My current goal with Ahcarn is to develop him over a couple of pastlives both from a game mechanical point and hopefully from a roleplaying point aswell.

Im all for some light roleplaying but sadly im better at writing backstorys than ingame roleplaying but i will do my best to play along And i still need to finish Ahcarns backstory.

Basicly im just happy i have found some fellow souls who loves DDO as much as i do.

Hablab

The dwarfs are coming. The dwarfs have axes!!

[Twilightsong]

Amazing that our group has been going over 4 years now. As far as goals, I don't know, I just enjoy being a little more social and actual RPG-like than a normal solo MMO experience and like really playing with you guys. also nice to be able to try out some builds that would be hard to solo with but are fun in a group. I'm open to participating in some RP, but like Tirana am not big on initiating it. We could try the "let the new guy lead" idea if you want. Maybe that could be a catalyst for some amusing RP? I don't know if any of us are actually new though, I pretty much only play in the group so I tend to forget a lot of stuff about the dungeons even though I have played most of them before, maybe that would work?

Another suggestion would be to schedule a seperate and optional RP time some other time during the week and meet in game in a tavern or somewhere. I think it would be easier to work on our character concepts in that setting than when we were struggling to kill things and get through a dungeon, I'd be down to do that but am not sure how many people are interested.

Cyrilath

Hi all.

I have a few comments I'd like to make. First, and foremost - I love this group, and all the players in it. I'm in several static groups, and can honestly say this is the one I most look forward to each week. You guys are the best.

[DrowsworD]

I have to work tonight so I will not make it. I will most likely have to work on Monday nights until after Thanksgiving.

This would be a good chance for everyone to run Sharn, which I do not intend to purchase for awhile.

Post what you run and I will try to participate if I can. I am banking level 18 and almost to 19 so you should not get to far ahead.

Have great night and I will keep in touch here.

[Arianrhod]

I have to work tonight so I will not make it. I will most likely have to work on Monday nights until after Thanksgiving.

This would be a good chance for everyone to run Sharn, which I do not intend to purchase for awhile.

Post what you run and I will try to participate if I can. I am banking level 18 and almost to 19 so you should not get to far ahead.

Have great night and I will keep in touch here.

Aw, we'll miss you

We ended up not running Sharn, as not everyone had it yet, went with Lords of Dust instead, to open up access to Eveningstar

[Arianrhod]

Update - continuing in Eveningstar, working on the Heroic sagas there. Did a couple of the Wheloon quests last night. Shartyrr & Cyrilath are ready to level to 18 (and then some), so going to try to get Tirana ready to level by next week.

[DrowsworD]

I am stuck at work tonight so will not make it.

Have a great time and let me know what you run. I will try to keep up.