First, I would like it noted that I will make every possible attempt to follow Lathander's post on "Posting", and rather than deleting this topic, I ask any staff member to edit, remove, or ask me to edit or remove any part they feel do not follow. As it says in the post, we are encouraged to speak our mind as long as we do not curse or speak for others, and I will try not to reveal any information that may be used in an IC fashion such as trainer or item locations, quest specifics, etc.
Here is the link to the guidelines: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=8355
As to this being a complaint, it is not, and I have already contacted someone in that matter, so this will be subjective opinions (mostly) from here on out.
As it may or not be a secret, Alexan was hoping to become a Garlain. I spent weeks RPing the issue, I had inquired, spoken with the faithful, researched, and prayed. I never brought the issue up to immortals OOCly due to looking into the applications post and it says specifically not to put in an app for a coded deity. So I continued on without being challenged or informed (in fact I received praise and was told to continue on the path) by any immortal, member of the Player Council, or anyone with the knowledge to tell me this kind of application would be outright denied. I especially point out immortal in this context due to the fact I prayed (and often as it suggests as a newer player should in the helpfile), so it was documented that I had expressed interest.
I finally found a post in a forum two days ago where it listed certain races that could play outside their pantheon, and any other should apply. While not outrightly explicit, I figured there was at least a possibility of my entering the faith by that post, and since I was not told by anyone, in character or out of character, that I would be denied outright, and in fact was encouraged to, I sent in an application. I cannot say the exact time, I did not record it, but I do remember going to sleep after and getting a response when I woke up.
I was denied. Worst of all, I was denied due to a rule that contradicted itself.
As that post goes, the immortal states a few deities who accept outside their race. Now, this is going by official lore, meaning what is in the helpfiles, and what the helpfiles state as official sources. The deities the immortal lists (which I exclude Mielikki in the list, as ingame lore changes how that was decided), make no connection to the deities. On a point by point basis:
- Gond is not praised by gnomes, in any major fashion by the official sources. It is said in the official sources during the Time of Troubles, he was a gnome avatar, and helped to create the Faerun version of blackpowder on a tiny secluded island. While you may say that is enough, and that it could have disseminated from there, a complication arises. One, it is never explicitly stated in any source he had moved his following onto gnomekind. Two, where this complication is probably arises most is that Gond is actually on the gnomish pantheon: as a deity known as Nebelun the Meddler, who is actually praised and celebrated in a different way than humans do. Oh, and Garl and Gond are not allies, unless you count Gond's actual stance as Nebelun in the gnomish pantheon.
- I was told in my decline of application that the exceptions are rare ones, such as half-elves raised exclusively by Elves that could praise the Seldarine. I found this funny considering this same logic is not used at all in making Chauntea a list for Elves. The only deity of the Seldarine Chauntea considers an ally according to official game lore is Mielikki, and that is only using the qualifier made in the game. One may argue this was to increase the choices Elves have when making a Druid, but then why was the Seldarine deity Rillifane Rallathil overlooked? Why would an Elf, who starts with a hundred years of Seldarine faith, immediately abandon that for a human deity that, even in her extended portfolio, explains "plants cultivated by humans", and agriculture?
- An easy one, Yondalla is not even Tymora's ally in any of the official sources. Being considered the Mother of Halflings, it seems incredibly odd she would allow Halflings to follow another that she does not even count to be an ally.
While one may say this is not enough of a qualifier to accept a human, I point to this tidbit in the official sources:
... the Temple of Wisdom, called the Shrine of the Short by some humans, is one of the few gnome temples that regularly admits human supplicants, having even won a few converts among them, and it is thus the most widely known temple of Garl outside the insular communities of the Forgotten Folk...
Now I want to make this abundantly clear from this point out: this is not a revenge post for being declined. I'm not mad I was declined, and I can see the OOC reason, even though the rule was already contradicted by the rule maker in her exceptions. I am mad on how the whole process was handled.
- The decision took less than eight hours. While this would not be a hard decision, it raises alarming questions.
- Alexan prayed, and often, to Garl, making his intent to clear join.
- Alexan received kismet based on his RP concerning his path to Garl, and was given a thumbs up by many of Garl's faithful.
- Alexan (considering that post was made in a topic far down the line, meaning I had no prior knowledge of the exact rule) inquired to Garl from day one, expecting that while there was no Faith Manager, an NPC would eventually make themselves known, and never hid the fact to anyone.
Maybe the immortal wanted the character to RP how they wanted, and that they did not want to shut down current RP.
A noble thought, but then why after the decision was declined, and the immortal removing the Inquirer stance when Alexan was online, why was no attempt at exit RP made? Meaning, while I know OOC I cannot be a part of that faith, Alexan is a persistent person, who would not give up easily. And even if he did, what choice do I have? Do I take a heavy decision like faith and shrug it off? He had to do that once after he felt disgusted with the Highcoin of Waukeen he met, should he feel any better about having to do it again? Or should he just grow bitter from never getting a straight answer from any Glitterbright, or no response from Garl? Well, that certainly seems negative.
This immortal did say something that resonated with me OOCly though, mainly: Faith is a privilege, not a right.
But then who is getting the privileges? Now I cannot say for certain this immortal's roleplay, I do know this immortal currently also holds two different positions as Faith Manager, and has held others as well. Two questions arise from this: Why would a staff member of faith, who controls all the faiths anyway, need to be so heavily invested as to have not one, but two characters be faith managers? Moreover, this is not something I have direct knowledge on, but who approved the nominations, not just the current ones but the past ones? Was it the immortal who actually is the approving authority? And if so, isn't that a MAJOR conflict of interest to us players?
Once again, I am not mad about being declined. I felt as though I RPed heavily, going so far as regular prayers and celebrations of Holy Days and living by the Dogma set out. If that was not enough, or if that rule was in place, then why was more not done to stop the beginning RP, or to end it amicably in a in character way, as it should be on a roleplaying server? As far as Alexan knows, from what he was told by the other faithful of Garl, the only major contacts he had with the faith, he still has more of a chance.
I do want to make it clear, if I leave, which seems a plausible idea at this point, it will be due to how this process and RP was handled, and how it was jarred OOC.
