Have any of you played on ALFA?

Kogun · Post by **Kogun** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:05 pm

I'm not a turncoat here, but I'm curious as to whether ALFA stands up to the mighty avlis. The way they have their set up, I'm sure that quality control can vary, but I must admit, ever since starting out in DnD with Baldur's gate (puh! the born and bred role players say.. a newbie!

) I love the forgotten realms setting. In fact, before NWN came out, I think I submitted an application to the world but I believe it was rejected..

There are two things that have discouraged me from joining..

1) Avlis. Currently my first and only player world. A second might complicate things..

2)The draconic application form. If you aren't good at writing a bio, then don't expect to ever be accepted. I think even one guy went so far as to hack one of the servers in his frustration. I'm still learning how to be a good RP'er as far as i'm concerned. I'd love to be able to emulate the greatness of a truly epic character.

I'll put a third in for good measure though. I love the avlis crowd :

Diamond · Post by **Diamond** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:09 pm

ALFA who?

Kogun · Post by **Kogun** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:16 pm

hmm should I post the link. I haven't read any small print round here about linking or advertising.

ALFA is short for A land far away. Essentially it's the whole of Faerun online over as many servers as they have. Certain areas haven't been done yet as they don't have the servers, but that being said, they still have over 100 areas including Baldurs gate, neverwinter, the underdark etc... Pretty much anywhere in faerun, including icewind dale

P.S. This post isn't intended to annoy anyone so if it does, tell me and I'll delete it.

Strangg · Post by **Strangg** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:30 pm

It is rather hard to compare us to ALFA. We are two different worlds, we use compltely different rulesets, and our general attitude is slightly different. For example: They use permadeath, we don't. We allow just about everyone who applies play on avlis, regardless of roleplay experience. We feel everyone deserves a chance to become a RP'er. While ALFA tends to look for those that have a strong RP background. There are many more differences, some of them major, some of them minor.

It all depends on your preference and what you personally enjoy. None of the above is right or wrong either way, it's just how each respective world runs things.

~S

Kogun · Post by **Kogun** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:34 pm

http://www.alandfaraway.net

Post by **tindertwiggy** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:37 pm

*looks around for the eggshells everyone is apparently walking on*

Post a link if you want. Jeebus.

Diamond · Post by **Diamond** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:50 pm

Umm.. the "ALFA who?" bit was supposed to be a joke. From what I recall way back when about a year ago or so, ALFA was supposed to be some sort of elitist group that Orleron wasn't good enough to be in (app rejected). Sort of sours my opinion of a group when they're so "l337" that they don't accept those folks who Do have that RP background.

Ergo, why do I need to know about them?

yes, I am cursed with a long memory, so sue me ....

Kogun · Post by **Kogun** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:53 pm

Elephants never forget. Yeah the same group . Was just asking if anyone had experience of them because they do appear to be a bunch of sour gits... but that's just my viewpoint..

FunkOdyssey · Post by **FunkOdyssey** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:56 pm

They rejected Orl? lol... interesting how things pan out. I'm sure we will leave them in our collective CoPaP dust.

Diamond · Post by **Diamond** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 5:06 pm

Kogun wrote:Elephants never forget.

*rolls her eyes* Ok, so I'll forgive you for the "elephant" bit this time, but Don't do it again

Kogun · Post by **Kogun** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 5:23 pm

Laters peeps! time for a run.

Emprod · Post by **Emprod** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 5:25 pm

I look at the gamespy list now and then. Peak times...they have a dozen people on one server and less than a handful on others, if they're not empty.

Peak times, Avlis has 20+ on 3 servers and a handful on others.

Not to mention the other 2 current Copap worlds almost always have someone around.

It's nice to be on top.

Strangg · Post by **Strangg** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:11 pm

Kogun wrote:Elephants never forget. Yeah the same group . Was just asking if anyone had experience of them because they do appear to be a bunch of sour gits... but that's just my viewpoint..

I know quite a few of the HDM's, AMD's, and some of the former Admin who have moved on to start their own projects (TORIL and Legends of Greyhawk), as well as quite a few of the players. I can tell you the majority in all the above categories are decent folks, and good roleplayers. Some think they are too hard core in their RP views and dub them RP Nazi's, heck some call folks around here RP Nazi's. They do so out of ignorance and a lack of understanding for the most part. It's not that they are RP Nazi's, it is that they have a higher expectation and a different outlook on how their version of a RP world should work. Some think we are too harsh here in Avlis. ALFA has some players that make us look like powergamers, and i've played on worlds that make ALFA look like powergamers. It is all a mater of taste and perspective.

I hope everyone who wishes to play on a RP world gives ALFA, TORIL, HAZE, Legends of Greyhawk and Avlis/CoPaP a try. They are all decent places and each are different in how they run things. People need to see what is out there. They need to find a world that fits their views and style of play. I also think it makes one appreciate the world they finally do pick more, as they have seen what is out there and know they are in the right place.

I also hope all of the above worlds/projects i mentioned stay around for a long time with a healthy player base. I think it will be the persistant worlds that keep NWN alive. Past history has shown us that those who operate and participate in PW's have given us the best custom content available, and i for one would like to see such high quality custom stuff in the future.

~S

Samin Swift · Post by **Samin Swift** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:19 pm

I played there for quite a while.

The permadeath thing really changes the way you play, and you get much more attached to your characters if they survive. I played about 15 characters and got about two past level one.

It tends to be more along the lines of simulation except they haven't gone as far as making you take damage for not eating or sleeping (those are out there too).

Each server on ALFA is run differently. Some are DM lead campaign only and there is nobody on and nothing to do if it's not campaign time. Others are really well run.

I played on Daggerdale which was, at the time, the busiest server. About max 20 people on at peak times, which was good. Never ran into lag. The Daggerdale staff took up a philosphy of trying to give every player just a little DM time. DM's would run around and do short little interactions using NPCs when they weren't running campaigns. I think Avlis would benefit from this. I've never had a DM encounter here and I've been on for a couple of months.

They say apply more than once. Often people get in on their third or so application. It's worth a try, but Avlis is a more relaxed environment. ALFA forums tended to have a little bit of bitching about what was allowed and what was not , and who did something that wasn't allowed. And you're constantly paranoid about being labeled a powergamer. Everything is ...ohh you're a power gamer if you don't want to play a level one character for the rest of your life. If you even think about what spell you will choose at level two you're a power gamer just seeking the next level. I can't handle that. The next level is the reward for playing. I like leveling. There I said it. Mind you I would rather RP a quest with a DM than craft or hunt.

All in all it had the same fatal flaw that almost every PW I've ever played on had. Not enough campaigns or DM run events for casual palyers. You have to be on 24/7 to get well known and attract attention. Some of us have jobs (which we can take the odd moment from to post on a forum, but not play)

Diamond · Post by **Diamond** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:44 pm

I'm going to wax philosophic here for a moment *gasp* and say something that I've been wanting to say for quite some time.

To those worlds who strive for an absolutely strict IC environment, with strict PnP standards, permanent death, and who accept only those players who have that knowledge base and years of experience to draw upon, I say, more power to you. Build your world, and play it. Huzzah! Find those who fit your niche.

However.. for those of us who take the time to Build New Players, to add to the playerbase, to add to the ranks of those who wish to learn more about the realms, the planes, the history.. buy the books, buy the games, learn the techniques, learn the genre of D&D itself.. well.. we are the foundation. Avlis is a foundation realm, I believe. Avlis accepts anyone who wishes to play and learn.

No one, I think, moves on to other things, before one learns the foundation, the basics, the passion, to roleplay. We teach that here.

And that's why we grow.

Titanium Dragon · Post by **Titanium Dragon** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 10:42 pm

Brick plays on ALFA. He's a really good RPer and got in the first time he applied. He left Avlis for ALFA, due to a number of factors. One of the main ones was he couldn't deal with the PGers on Avlis (and yes, there are are some) and he was getting frustrated by that.

Avlis is elitist, but not so much as ALFA. However, you must consider the purpose and also the implementation. Brick likes ALFA a lot... but ALFA is not Avlis, and Avlis is not ALFA. They are very different.

One interesting thing about ALFA is the level distribution. Unlike Avlis, they do not have a lot of epic-level characters; most characters are low level, and mid-level characters are a big deal.

Avlis gets some really good RPers, gets newbies to RP who end up being good at RPing... and also gets people who powergame and push other people around after levelling quickly. ALFA misses out on a lot of great people, while we end up with a number of shitheads. Its a hard trade-off, and both worlds have to deal with the consequences of their decision on the matter. Avlis gets good people ALFA misses, but we also have to deal with more idiots.

Its all a matter of choice. I'm probably one of the more RP-nazish players on Avlis, but I'd like to keep the quality up. I may be a bit of a jerk at times, but I try to be an honest one. I'd probably be better off in ALFA than on Avlis, but I deal because I like a number of players here. People like Sveg, Actually, Wrath, Verg, Kombatant, AUman... people like Jad, Strangg, Twigs... people like Garius... people like Brick... people like Nightface... there are many people here who I enjoy the company of, many more than I have named here. They are why I stay here and don't migrate to ALFA.

Vroshgrak · Post by **Vroshgrak** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:41 am

I'd play on ALFA more, except I have a habit of causinng their Admins to leave. Theres a story behind it if you really want to hear it. Interestining as it may be i dont feel like tellinng it.

Havinng more than 1 world you play on doesnt complicate thinings to much. Easier to seperate knowledge from one world to the next, than from 1 character to the next.

As they said apples and oranges. I prefer oranges, but both can be satisfying if juicy enough.

Application isnt to scary once you get down to it. Just write a 2-3 paragraph bio. And throw in the occasional long word and your in.

I can tell you more about it if you want, specifics and the like. Or brick can if he gets his computer working again.

Vrosh/alex

Themicles · Post by **Themicles** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 1:00 am

No offense meant to this thread, or anyone participating in it, but shouldn't this be in NWN General, not Avlis General?

DONE

-Themicles

Brick · Post by **Brick** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 1:31 am

*stumbles back to avlis*
ALFA's pretty cool, and I like the ruleset and RP environment that they try to get more than Avlis'. They just aren't well developed enough, and don't have enough of a community. That, and I'm too goddamned attached to my Avlis characters.

Vroshgrak · Post by **Vroshgrak** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 1:57 am

them this is the NWN general forum. or at least i think it is.+

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 2:54 am

Vroshgrak wrote:them this is the NWN general forum. or at least i think it is.+

thread was moved since he posted that remark.

Draegloth · Post by **Draegloth** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:33 am

A copule of guys I work with used to be dms on alfa. Seems they both went on there seperate ways because of a lot of high up internet drama. One went to start the Legends of Greyhawk PW and the other is just to busy and left because of the RP nazi ideas. The app was a sinch for me (work with HDM = favors

) Although I got accepted and all I never actually played because the split is a discouraging detterent. Makes me wonder just how stable there world really is. That and they got so many different servers and not a big enough playerbase to inhabit them all to make it interesting enough to want to go play there. I'm not saying not to play there I'm just saying that Avlis works for me!

sinn · Post by **sinn** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:41 am

Alfa has been a place I always wanted to check out. But I decided to try Avlis first... and the rest is history.

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:47 am

yes, I'm quite happy with my avlis experience. I think I did once look over the ALFA website, at a time when some discussion on the AVlis boards concerning it, er Orl making a comment or two on it. After looking it over, it was fairly clear to me that it was not the type of place I would enjoy/want to be at. And what else can I say? I meet a friends at Avlis, get into a good rhythm here and now I couldn't imagine leaving for another PW. If RL takes me away from avlis, that is possible, but not another PW, not another game.

choraldances · Post by **choraldances** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 6:05 am

Vergilius wrote:I think I did once look over the ALFA website, at a time when some discussion on the AVlis boards concerning it, er Orl making a comment or two on it.

Shhhhhhh..... Don't wake the sleeping giant. Let him rest... let him have peace.... shhhhh........