The World of Avlis

When I first imagined the possibility of making the change we're about to unveil, I didn't really think it was going to come to pass. The Team set for the campaign four pairs of outcomes for the three main war fronts, and decided to go forward only if all four fell out a certain way. Many things could have gone differently to lead us away from the IC events of the last day, but for a hundred reasons they did not. Now, I don't mean to say that a string of IC failures has led Elysia to this point in the world's history, only that certain conditionals had to be met and in the end they were. Those of you who feel that your actions don't change the world, I can only say that your PC's decisions, their actions and inactions, their many choices and their motivations both individually and groups, have changed both whether we took this step and how, from the broad events right down to the NPCs who made it out alive.



All of us on the Team felt the possibility had to be built into the story arc, because otherwise the Voivode's threat wouldn't feel credible. In fact, that was one of the largest conditions... that the Voivode's threat was largely seen as credible. As we read the threads discussing the war plot and the player suggestions for how to make it better, we couldn't help but laugh... one of the most outlandish steps was already long into development. After we began to frame the concrete reality of the change the other Team members and I became more and more convinced that it was a credible path to follow, and so here we are. I have always tried as a DM to shape the story around the characters involved, but sometimes events take on a life of their own within the wider arc of the story and the PCs must adapt to a changing environment. This goes for the shaahesk side as well, and I see great challenges ahead for all sides of this conflict in the months ahead.



I want to take a moment to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the secret development team that has kept our surprise under wraps when I never believed a secret of this magnitude could be kept for any length of time:



Hamlet, for the epic task of tackling merchants, as well as several area builds, conversation changes, and also for her particular attention to detail.

Gorgon, for setting the writ quest on fire and causing something new and infinitely better to rise like a phoenix from its ashes.

Jonezie, for some key areas, for another new multi-server quest, and also for tackling thorny problems (factions) no other member had the skill to manage. Also for DM-side organization, and other efforts... when I was flagging in the last couple of weeks you helped me drag together all the pieces and make it into something coherent for the Team. We lived and died by your branching timeline post, there's no way we could have completed the events without it.

Szabot, for knocking out a new lowbie dungeon and its denziens in record time.

MadKat, for the technical project management (three words that, for those who understand, obscure a massive job) and for a million tweaks and fixes the extent of which I may never discover, as well as setting up the bug tracker and keeping everyone on the same page. Also for the patience not to kill me when I started writing conversations. My toolset ban is lifted! At least temporarily...

Zonr, for the brilliant idea to throw up a Teamspeak server for the DMs duing the invasion... coordination like that has never been done on the Team, and it was simply awesome.

Belasco, for her constant willingness to listen to my wild ideas at all hours of the day or night, and her efforts to keep me focused on the player experience first and foremost.

All of them, as well as Zonr_0, Maxinion, Wolfwielder, and NH4, for finding and/or fixing a total of 37 bugs after we ended development on the 10th and started tracking them, and only God knows how many beforehand.

The DM staff in general, for their willingness to take on the vast task of rolling this out to the players and making it into something fun for everyone. The amazing turnout on the 16th/17th, the teamwork, the laughs, the chaos, the cheering, the groans, the teamwork! It was unbelievable to do that with you guys. I've rarely had that much fun DMing, and never seen such a smooth time of a big event like this.



Finally, the players who were involved in the events culminating in what you will see when you log back into Elysia. Without you, it's all pointless. I hope you'll open your minds to the new possibilities, and come along with us as we embark on a new chapter in the war campaign.



Let me assure you, there will be new possibilities. While it's true that a sort of perfect storm brought us to this point... if it hasn't convinced you that possibilities exist for radical change, nothing will! Going forward, all options are on the table, and all of us on the DM staff are excited to see what you come up with over the next few months. Within a couple of weeks each of the major war guilds will get new instructions as to their goals for the next campaign phase, and then we'll see what happens!



Thanks, and I hope you like what we've done with the place...



-spool32

Head DM