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Originally written by Zeviz:

In that case would Thahd Shade make better defender than any other battle creation? (If nobody can hit it, you don't even have to heal it.) Or does it cost so much essence to max out dexterity that you might as well make 2 Battle Betas instead?

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Originally written by Bobby Pendragon:

She probably leads a life as an exotic merchant and often gets "opportunities" to get rare items and has to leave for awhile often.

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Originally written by Bobby Pendragon:

The larger population of Agents probably stay hidden from most people. If people knew who killed their Uncle, don't you think someone would do something?

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Originally written by John Paul v. Jean-Paul:

[b]

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Originally written by Delicious Vlish:

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Originally written by John Paul v. Jean-Paul:

The point is that when you have absolute power, as the Shapers previously did, it's easy to enforce "any contrary opinion will be met with death."

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And that is where the delicious roleplaying factor comes in. A hardcore loyalist will kill all those who cross shaper law, while a sympathetic loyalist will look past minor infractions. (Like when you have to report the servile being contacted by hostiles) The game gives you options to do both.

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No, not like when you can report a servile. My point is that a true hardcore loyalist -- as you describe her -- would be stubborn to the point of suicide. If I were a hardcore loyalist, I would want to be sure of my survival and my eventual ability to deal with the most egregious violations of Shaper rule -- like Litalia and Akhari Blaze -- rather than throwing hissy fits and possibly getting killed over a couple of reclusive, paranoid humans. Diwaniya might require punishment, but he can be dealt with after the more immediate problems. There is no risk involving in killing or reporting traitorous serviles, on the other hand.

[quote]Failure is met with termination, probably in the form of an Agent coming for you in the night. The Shapers are a results oriented society... Not uncommon in total totalitarian rule.

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Originally written by John Paul v. Jean-Paul:

The point is that when you have absolute power, as the Shapers previously did, it's easy to enforce "any contrary opinion will be met with death." When your factional power base is fragmented, injured, and mostly inaccessible to you, and when you personally are just a lone apprentice, it's not the same story. Litalia forcibly demonstrates that you can't enforce those kinds of absolute rules, when the game begins. The absurd but unavoidable power escalation your PC experiences aside, Lord Rahul, the most powerful Shaper in the area, is also unable to enforce such rules, even when he has a decent number of other Shapers, and armies of warriors and of creations to back him up.

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Originally written by John Paul v. Jean-Paul:

I have to imagine that many hardline loyalist Shapers, after witnessing firsthand the destruction of their school, after being easily incapacitated by a foe (Litalia), and after hearing rumours about the other islands -- not to mention Terrestria -- being overwhelmed by rogues, would decide that the times called for a less unilateral path.

IIRC, Alwan doesn't even comment on the Sea Caves people, and he's pretty much the Geneforge equivalent of Karl Rove.

-- Also, if a hardcore loyalist would take down Lankan at first sight, why does Diwaniya become so horrified if you kill him? Diwaniya seems pretty straight-edge when you talk to him.

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Originally written by Waylander:

'Innocent' is such a subjective term. Those in those Refuge admit to being hostile to Shaper rule. They border on being rebels. A loyal Shaper has only one choice, and that it to wipe them out.

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