I've let the post sit for a day or more and came back to see some of the same points being argued on both sides, so I'll sum up as best I can the arguments so far.
FlashChat is rediculously slow for Dial-up users.
- Rhaine
Because of that small factor, it is realistic to say that RoH will lose players in the move to FC. Gnimish even stated he won't sign up for flashchat and he's a former Overlord. Its the same argument for the RDI people who won't download AIM/AOL. Its free now isnt' it? Why not compromise? We can register there, they can download a version of AIM. Both groups need to meet in the middle somewhere.
RDI needs RoH, RoH needs RDI
- Wyheree
This isn't necessarily true. The RDI's numbers grow almost daily, RoH is dying. We need it, not the other way around. Rings of Honor need the RDI player base to survive, and the only thing we have to offer interest is our mini-game.
The Duels were originally a side-attraction. Rhdyin and the Nexus was the game. Somewhere the duels became the center of focus. Not Rhydin.
Registering over Downloading
Myself, Cory, Deluthan, Gnimish, etc...
I already voiced this argument. Why can't both sides meet in the middle?
RDI folks duel while RoH is at the Inn, no other time.
- Myself, Billy, Deluthan.
This is my biggest apprehension about holding dueling regularly at the RDI. Good numbers while we go to THEIR comfort zone.
Lack of RESPECT from RDI players over duelists and ranks.
- Cory, Wyheree
This is another problem we face, yes Wyheree brought up cross-posting, but that won't make the RDI playerbase acknowledge the respect given to a title holder from RoH. A post expresses a SL and OOC KNOWLEDGE. Unless you have a character involved in that SL or hear about it in play, that character won't know what the titles mean or if they're significant.
Like Jewel being referred to as an Empress. Its the same concept.
Under that same vein of thought Wyheree brought up how hard it is for new players to be integrated into the DoS ranks. This is simple as both sides of the fense do this.
Swords is the RoH's elitist group. RDI has its fair share of Elitists. You don't play with these people or get along with these people, you don't matter. (
RDI). You haven't beaten this person so many times, you haven't lasted this long in a match against so-and-so, you don't matter. (
RoH) - I could name characters that keep this type of thing going, but that will only add fuel to a fire that shouldn't even be lit.
I've seen another trend most of you have been doing with argued points.
Each of you latches onto a certain part and ignore everything else the person said. This keeps many aspects from being pointed out and kept on the table, while the personal interest points get slung back and forth.
It should also be stated that RoH is nothing like it used to be in its infancy stage. Many of the older players want to return to the golden age of this place when Rhydin and the Nexus was why we played. Now, it seems the biggest reason many play is the duels. Not the characters or the possible story lines. Its the Rank they want. The rest doesn't matter.
This is a problem with some of the new(er) duelists. They see Barons, Warlords, and the Overlord bickering over who did what, when, and in how many rounds. And there's a push to make rank advancement easier. I'll say it now. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RANKS.
Its about the possible SL's that can be built around working towards something. Vanion has his SL going with the Temple of Myr'kul (sp?) it took him years to get all 4 Towers in DoM just to get halfway done with that SL.
This is what the "game" is for. It's supposed to be a tool to help promote Role-Play. - I know many will think using him as a positive example is blasphemy but I don't give a rat's ass.
The other problem is that both Forums have their own individual histories. It will be impossible to bridge that gap. If this was the 80's I'd say RoH is the East Coast Rappers, RDI is the West Coast. We have our Ice T's, Cube's, Dre's. RDI has its Tupac's Snoop Dog's, and Biggie's. ( bad analogy I'm sure)
And I'll bring up the final point that Gnimish mentioned. This is one I feel we all need to focus on.
As for promoting "the game"...maybe that's the problem. Druid is right, this is an age with games like World of Warcraft, which I play by the way, and competing with that for people's time is just going to end badly of course. But from where I'm sitting this isn't a "gaming community" it's a "Roleplaying Community". I don't come here JUST to play a game, if dueling was ALL there was to be done I wouldn't even bother. There's a lot more to the RoH community, and that's why I also think duel logs are a poor way of determining attendance and participation. In short, I wouldn't present the game, I'd present the community.
Instead of presenting our "game", we need to present the Rings of Honor Community. Rhydin and the Nexus is the common ground between RDI and RoH. THAT is the game we all play. The Duels are just a mini-game to help promote interest in RoH. IT IS NOT THE GAME.
There are old-time players that won't come and duel because its on AIM/AOL, we have old-time players that won't RP because of FC. One gains, the other loses. No one should lose. In the move to FC, DoM will remain on AIM according to I think it was Matt or Deluthan. Right there means that DoM will continue to be on AIM unless Brigath says otherwise. The RDI folks want to duel in magic, they'd better get used to AIM/AOL.
Matt has said it, I've said it, Cory has brought it up.
Rings of Honor needs the Red Dragon Inn, It doesn't need us.
Anyone that says different really hasn't looked at the numbers and amount of active posting going on in both. The duel charts are not an accurate way to judge who is where during a shift. They just show who dueled. Not who was in the room and role playing.
There's my next 2 cents.