Shattered Kingdoms

Back in the 'Positive Changes' thread, I stated a theory that said that the number one thing that hurts the game is the universal expectation that you have to be Master before you can even "start playing the game". Even though pre-Master characters can roleplay just as well, they are given no respect because it is assumed they have no value to anyone who matters.


Although I never got any ideas along this line from the forums, some immortals and I were brainstorming the topic the other day, and Achernar came up with a great idea to make this philosophy fit naturally into the game. Essentially, you can make low-level characters more valued to their high level allies by allowing them to become a Cohort. What's a Cohort? It's one or more low-level characters that are followers of a single high-level character, who is known as an Exemplar.


Unlike the mentor student/teacher relationship, cohorts and their exemplars have an exclusive bond that is more like a little brother who looks up to his helpful elder brother. A cohort can only have one exemplar, which cannot be changed once chosen. An exemplar may have from one to a small group of cohorts with a maximum determined by his level and natural charisma. A cohort/exemplar relationship can only be formed when both participants meet in person and agree to it. Once formed, it is permanent until the cohort becomes eligible to become an exemplar himself, which happens at Mentor status. Both participants in the bond receive special bonuses whenever the other member is also present in the realms. There is no requirement for the other member to be in the same room or even be alive, their mere activity is enough.

Bonuses provided to the cohort would be of the type that would make the game less difficult without making them tougher in PK or much faster at levelling. Examples would be hp/mana/move boosts and faster regen.

Bonuses provided to the exemplar would be of the type that DO make them tougher in PK. Examples would be hit, damage, and saving throw boosts and/or effective level-increases for casting purposes. Each cohort in the realms would multiply the bonuses provided.

An exemplar is expected to behave as a friend and contact to the cohort. They should back them up when they run into problems with other players, but they are not required to spend time together. There is no need to provide them with gear or power-level them. In fact, doing so would be counter-productive to the exemplar, because then he would be looking for a new cohort sooner.

Choose your cohort wisely. The identity of your cohort would be publicly known so that he can benefit from your reputation and in turn his actions will affect your reputation. This effect of this is to make low-level characters less faceless and a more valuable part of the game. Would you really want to piss-off Emperor Slayne's cohort? Even if the answer is yes, it's a question that you'd never ask about a faceless newb and I think that's a good thing for the game.

Not every detail for this system is set in stone. So this is the part where I solicit feedback from you, the players. What do you like about this plan? What don't you like about it? Do you have some ideas that would make the system better? Don't forget to remember the goal that I posted at the start: We want low-level players to be able to get involved with the upper-tier roleplaying. While your impact may not be huge, you should be able to get noticed and make minor contributions to RP without power-levelling to Master.

Awesome. The possibilities are countless. Yes, please!
I cannot think of something to propose about it, so far it seems perfect.

Hmmmmm....

That sounds like an interesting idea for a player like myself who cannot foresee reaching mentor with any character anytime in the near future....

I like it.

Genius. Make it so, please?

this is actually one of the best suggestions I've heard.

I think my mouth just watered. This opens up many avenues of potential fun roleplay, and I really can imagine getting excited about playing new characters with this system. Achernar hits a home run on this one.

So you'd just walk up to Slayne one day and beg him to be your Exemplar? What if he was having a bad day, or was busy? Or just didn't want another little peon running around abusing his name?

I'm happy to be hearing positive feedback about the idea!

I wrote above that identify of your Exemplar should be public knowledge. The big question is, how do we display this knowledge in a way that does not make it impossible to hide your identity when you want to do so?

Should it be a command you use on someone else? Part of your title (where space is tight)? Both? What way makes the most sense and also promotes the system in the way that we want it to go?

I guess particularly ballsy characters COULD walk up to Slayne and beg him to be their Exemplar. Assuming they could find him. Of course, there isn't anything that would stop Slayne from telling them to buggar off.

Exemplars do need to also choose their cohorts with care, because their actions would rub off on him. They also want to choose people who they know are likely to be online at the same times that they are, not just pick the first random stranger that comes begging.