Posted by Proud Blade on March 23, 2000 at 14:33:57:
In Reply to: I'll field both Chaldaie's and your thoughts at the same time posted by Polemachus on March 23, 2000 at 14:16:04:
I'd rate the cabals as follows, as far as admission:
Difficult: Troupe, Scarab, Entropy.
Medium: Masters, Battle, Sylvan, Arbiters.
Easy: Empire, Dawn.
Deathfull: Shadow.
I have no knowledge: Maran (which is cabal-esque), Ehren Honor Guard (?).
All of the above vary quite a bit depending on who does the interview, but I don't buy Chaldaie's assertion that Dawn is so difficult to get into. (They certainly have inducted a lot of newbies in their day, as has Empire.) Most of the 'medium' cases above are more rigorous interviews, but aren't so hard to get through if you accept an archetypal role. For those, you have to play a role well, but it can be a role that many before you have played. (The Studious Mage, the Raging Barbarian, etc.) as long as you can pull that off convincingly, and you put some effort into it, you are all set.
But Arbiters? My first character on CF became an Arbiter, and I played one (for not so long) somewhat recently. Astein is a tough interview, but I got through it, and it wasn't because I had the most well-planned character at the time. It was reasonably fun, and required a fair amount of game knowledge, but I'd still rank it around "medium". I've played six of the above, so I have some grasp about what I'm talking about, though I don't claim to be an expert of any sort.
And it is -far- easier to become Anathema than to become an ex-Arbie, especially over the last six months or so. Not that this is a bad thing. =)
> Chaldaie: People that need help can and will tell you where they are. They'll give you step by step instructions. Criminals generally don't say "Hey, I'm in the High Lord's Keep, you might want to come after me." If you're going to be a successful arbiter, you really need to know the lands like the back of your hand. It's easier to find somebody that can't move than it is to find somebody that keeps moving.
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> Victimboy: Empire is THE newbie cabal as far I'm concerned. You don't need to know dick to get in, and the strict rules make for better learning experiences. You'd like to think that it's easier to be anathema than it is to be booted from arbiters, but I'm telling you it's probably just as easy. I've been kicked out, so I know just how simple it is to make that necessary slip.
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> Arbiters might not be the elite roleplayers as a general rule, but they're generally better than some of the others. You need terrific working knowledge of the land, the laws, policies, techniques, and tactics to be an arbiter. All you need to be an Imperial is not to screw up. Arbiter is the thinking-man's cabal, because you're always thinking. Some of the others you spout a few brown-nose remarks, say a few key things and bang your in.