Why I Choose Karavan
 

I started playing Ryzom in November of 2004. In December of 2004 it was pretty clear to me that this game was about rival factions, (it was also mentioned on the box) and different visions for the future of the same planet and that eventually the conflict would force everyone to choose a side.

For a year I remained neutral, mainly because there was nothing going on. The factions were still rather poorly defined and there was not a great deal of information on either. AA was an original member of HOPE (an old neutral alliance), we even wrote a good bit of its charter. Atys began to change. I saw that war was coming and a side must be chosen. Sitting on the sidelines was not an option, it would have been the equivalent of abandonment. I felt the developers had made it pretty clear that neutrals would be an rp stance and not a viable functional alternative.

I know alot more of the Lore now then I did then. There is also alot more lore available. This post is about making that choice so I am trying to stick with what I knew at that time.

When I first started playing both factions worshiped Jena. Ma-duk was not a god but was referred to as the soul stealer, the deceiver. That lore has been removed, I can not find it anywhere. What I can still find in the lore is that the first appearance of Ma-Duk to a Homin occurred less then 50 Jena years ago.

At that point only the Kami had harmed Homin's. Kami loved to blast the pud out out of diggers. Kami tolerance was a great deal lower. They would not only force the digger to respawn they would get everyone in a 25 meter radius or so.

Kami forces actually attacked the first religious ceremony of the Karavan where the Jena commandments were revealed. This spoke volumes to me about how they viewed the world. I spent a great deal of time reading and interpreting the Jena Commandments. I found them far superior to the xenophobic and intolerant revelations of Ma-duk. Homins are not native to Atys so according to Ma-duk we must be transformed or destroyed.

So I went Karavan.

Pero

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Why do you feel you need to justify your reason to become karavan? Neither side is perfect and they have both made their mistakes and it is always going to be a personal decision on which faction you pick.
The reason why faction wars have had so much objections in SoR is because everyone played happy families untill one day when we where told to fight, in my mind the worst thing that could of happened (from my game play perspective)

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Amen, Pero, my good sir.

Interestingly, what i 'learned' about the factions while still on the island was very contradictory to what i have learned since joining the mainland. There seems to be either 1) a lack of the quality and quantity of good information on he island, or 2) perhaps a conscious effort to defraud by misleading the homins?

Even today, i occasionally walk the island in a younger version of myself, and i still observe the same biases and misinformation that i did last year. I wonder how many homins unknowingly support principles that do not reflect their beliefs?

I am not offended by those who knowingly choose to oppose Jena NEARLY as much as i am offended by those who are guided down the wrong path based upon falsehoods and deficiencies in the truth.

*Sigh*

A beautiful piece Pero. Thank you!

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

This thread asks for explanations about why people became neutral.Maybe Pero thought some people might like the same information but regarding Karavaneers. Maybe you (edit: or someone else, doesn't really matter) could start a thread for Kamists? Would be interesting all round I think.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

The other thread also covers Kara, this should be in there.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I think is very interesting. I'll say why I made a Karavaneer from a start; I'm very new, so maybe this could be a more temnplated point of view. Surely some of the oldies doesn't know the point of view of a new user; I wish this could help:

When I start download the client, I read the lore in the website, and search a bit more. Then, I knew that probably the Kara will be my choice, and select a matis as race; I didn't know nothing about fame, but knew that even being a matis I'll be able to join Kami if I wont, so I take because they are proud, honoured, strong and crafters. They represent the progress, whitch is always good to me.

Then, I was playing more, and become to ML with a good 50 lvl in all four branches. In ML learn a lot more about kami and Kara; for sure that being in the matis land biased somewhere my perception, but I have my choice done: The kami was about magic, conservation and the planet; the Kara was about Technology, progress and the people. For me this last part was (and is) the most important.

So I take my rite as a Karavaneer. Since then, I've learned a lor more of lore; old lore and new lore.

OOC, I have to say that it appears that, in some decisions, the choice of one dev was more important than the liberty for the comunity. In the temple wars, from all I've readed, the devs want only two factions, so they try to force the neutrals to join the factions, by making a strange lore movement. A bad movement, IMHO, and bad done. But, anyhow it was, now there are another situation, and have been for so long, that return to old is impossible.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

No, the other thread included one karavaneer post, but it was started for neutrals. Read what I quoted; "I'd like you Neutrals to..."

As for why I chose Karavan, it was a simple matter of what faction my guild went (we were neutral and voted). I chose my guild on the basis of where my friends were, and the guild chose our faction based on many things.

For anyone who doesn't know, before the fame patch the "faction" of my guild(s) would have been considered to be neutral, then kami/neutral, then kara/neutral in that order, then the guild went kara. (Though at that time, most guilds on arispotle were neutral by RP and everyone was neutral according to the game)

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I think that's a very good summary of why I chose Karavan. :)

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I chose kara to fight againt the kami as I no longer believed it possible to fight with ppl I fundementally disagreed with.

I started
joined a kami leaning guild
then joined a neutral matis guild, who then went kara on me while I considered myself kami.
then I joined infinity, there wasnt much question I was all out kami
after a small break and infinity's death I went to KoO where again I fought for the kami with passion like many of my fellow guild members

the kami always held an unexplainable attraction to me as far as the game goes, I didnt choose kami when I logged on, it kinda just felt right that I was on that side.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I started out by creating a matis character... Somehow the atysian races come to reflect our inner selves, our personalities, and it turned out I really was matis through and through...

I came to Yrk as a newb and immediately found myself among people (hi lvls all) who were very nice to me, they treated me as a friend, as an equal, I never felt small or unworthy among them, no, I felt one with them and gladly joined the guild which became my dearest kin, my family, my life , my everything on Atys - my beloved OOTN.

All my playtime (almost 2years now) I have never ever regretted that decision... My guild was karavan and matis are mostly karavan aligned so naturally I became a karavaneer. I worked with determination for the glory of my guild.

When the faction division and the outposts arrived and the Karavan alliance was formed and we became part of it... well... I felt that my guild has multiplied in size ten times over! Same friendly people, industrious and determined, resolute and well-organised, disagreeing but always coming to a consensus with infinite respect for each other. They always lend a helping hand, always come to aid, even when it's an another 11th our attack or when they have tro wake up at 6am to be there. They are there for me and I am there for them. We stand shoulder to shoulder, well organised, determined , a true brotherhood in arms. Now not only OOTN but the whole Karavan Alliance is my large family and I keep working with fervor for it's ideals.

That is why I am a karavaneer.

P/S/ Quite a few kami players join our ranks every day but a thought of going kami has never even crossed my mind.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Loracas came to Atys with a large group of friends from another game almost 3 years ago during the open beta days. We as a group decided to play as a Matis based guild. Out of Cavern guild was formed the first week of retail. OOC was a very large guild in the early days, but I managed to work my way to HO.
When the first talks of faction were heard on Atys (long before any fame patches) it was clear to several of us in OOC that a side should be chosen and the guild should work in that direction. Many members disagreed.
The current leader of OOC (Thanakar), myself and others decided at that time that we would leave OOC and start Cara Via (actually called Karavia in those days...but thats a whole nother story).
Cara Via was designed by us to be a Matis based Karavan guild from the very beginning, long before any fame patches.

I was always Matis in the betas, even when we all started in Fyros. I've always created a tall, skinny dude with long green hair and I'm not even sure why.

....and thats why I am Karavan!

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Before playing, I read up on lore somewhat intesively, and after some debate rolled with a Matis character, which I feel best represented my own personality. (Interestingly, my other choice was a Zoraļ, as both of these races are closely tied to their natural environment and I grew up in the middle of nowhere; however, I've always had my faith in science, not religion, so associated much more with the Matis botanical work and support of the technologically advanced Karavan.)

My adventures started in Borea, on the old Matis training island. For the most part, I forged my own way on the island, but received help from two certain homins, who instructed me on crafting and even outfitted my person with the best pike and armor that could be made in the place. We soon became friends, and when they left for the mainland they invited me to let them know when I myself came over.

So one day I, overwhelmed with the vastness of the city Yrkanis, finally stepped foot into the mainland. I got in touch with my old island friends, and was ushered almost immediately into a team with several other homins unknown to me, and we headed South. We started hunting some of the biggest Kipees I had ever seen, and even though I would die in one or two hits, no one complained that I was using such a low a melee skill. As of that day, most of that team would become my guildmates, and I joined the Reapers of the Dark without hesitation. From my first days on Atys these homins showed me nothing but kindness, and I stood behind them as we became a Karavan guild, to my own Matisian liking.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

As the "Why I Choose..." threads could prove useful lto newer players I'm going to Sticky them. Try and keep the comments and posts in these constructive and at the least non abusive. Go on, I know you can do it.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I started this game while I was trying a string of really bad MMOs.

I really figured this one would just be the next brief stop in my tour of the MMO slums.

I made a matis character simply because I liked how the female toons looked.
Then I found that the game was pretty fun, and I just stayed with the Matis. I read the lore, came up with a fun, but evil character for my little toon, and I kept playing.

Sadly, my character didn't fit right with the goals of my guild, who at the time wanted peace between facitons and harmony between races; but that was way back before any of it made any difference to the game. I liked my guild more than I liked my RP, so I changed my ways and became a uniter, not a divider.

Then the events started happening. Little things at first, but they still forced the players to choose a side. It was becoming evident that "Neutral" would have no meaningful role in the Saga of Ryzom. The guild still wanted the pretense of moral supieriority that not aligning with either of the flawed factions would have given us. After all, OOC you really can't trust either of them. But, we also wanted a meaninful hand in shaping the way the story worked out.

So, based on a few factors, like race, lore, the current members of each faction, and the fact that the Kamis were comitting wholesale slaughter on homin diggers across Atys; we decided to support the Karavan and work to unite the races of Atys in Jena's light. We still debated it from time to time up until EP2.

That is really when the Kami showed themselves for the bloodthirsty, deceitful, hypocritical little fuzzballs they are. Ordering thier minions to attack Karavan diggers while turning off the Kami Tolerance in the battlegrounds were the most lavish displays of Kami decadence, but hardly the only ones.

But, even if my character were lore-neutral, the behavior of some of the kamist players would have turned me off to them. I am not big on PvP. Ganking harvesters in the PR seems a bit dishonorable. So much of that behavior came from the Kamist camp that even had I started with a Ma-Duk loving Zorai, I would have changed factions just to not be associated with it.

Now faction plays a huge role in the game, from which TPs you get to how easily you find support for your OP fights. The KA is a great group of players. We work together to help each other out, and I am proud to be part of them. I don't even like PVP, but I will show up everytime I can in order to support our alliance.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Such lore never existed. Ma-Duk was not referred to back then at all. What you are talking about is the myth/prophecy about a dragon on your Karavan temple. I'd say you should at least read the Kami sanctuary too a bit.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

The religious aspect of either powers do not interest me, but more their ideological points of view and what broader concepts they relate to. This is what made me choose one side over the other.

To me the kami represent a very narrow-minded conservative outlook. Childlike and reactionary. Their end vision of Atys being an unchanging place with little room for homins, save to fight Goo as presumably the Kami cannot. They do not represent peace, nor equality , nor progress. They are a self preservationist tyranny.

The Karavan represent the future, and quite likely the past and creation too. The karavan are rational and progressive, They support rather than punish homins on the whole (killing off the kitins, rescuing homins, no kami-like tolerance). Many believe the Karavan to be some dark force of exploitation, however their action in comparison to the kami show them as far more liberal and open minded. A power of responsibility and reason.

i see no validity in being neutral, for that is the way of letting others decide your fate (kind of like not voting in an election). i also can see it is the homins of the power that wins that will decide the destiny of homins on atys. And in that future i prefer the freedom to progress rather than fight for stagnation under the kami.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Lol.... I didn't want to go in this matters, but I think something alike. The Kami maintain the theory that a ecosystem must be maintained the same, with no changes. This is a old theory, now known as false. The ecosystems are dinamic, always in change, today you have a forest here, in a few years it could change to another ecosystems... that happens, with homin/man or without him.

For me the kami represents an damaging enviromental point of view who try to maintaind the land artifially always the same, like some kind of specimen in a bottle, like a museum, instead of let the natural changes happen and flow.

Maybe this was one of my main motives for not select the Kami.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

First post here after 14 months...

My reasons have not much to do with Lore or Karavan/Kami differences. I'm not RP-er (tried, doesn't suit me) and most reasons are practical.
Neutrality suits me most, but they are too many drawbacks (neutrality is not an option, unless you like to hurt yourself).
After TNE had to choose between Karavan, Kami or neutral we voted for Karavan, lost few members but we are still here. I stick with guild decision and never regret it.
I'm proud to be part of Karavan Alliance with great organization and good friendship between each other. It's honor to be among ppl who didn't started to kill harvesters in PR, pulling Yelk's on packers and do other low things like the other side.
As long i walk on Atys I'll be Karavan.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

LOL! you ever read Rundll's sig?

Rundll is a member of Order of the Nameless. OotN is a member of the KA.

Funny post!

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Didnt you know the kami are evil, we started everything bad on atys, DUH

*sarcasm for those who couldnt figure it out*

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Have you read it recently?

And by your logic I can assume that you're a person who enjoys photographing short/little girls. I'm sure you'd object to that characterisation, so lets just try and keep these threads free from personal comments. Sasa is entitled to express his opinion on the relative moralities of each side without being personal, just as you are, but he managed it and you didn't.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

(Reminds all it's a stickied thread. Let's not fight. <3 all)

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Ahh its changed has it? new public relations ploy?

No, the factual inaccuraccies were the issue, not oppinions. I think there is a fairly wide difference in your example and mine, but lets play nice. And he didnt manage it, "naming no names but I have seen group X do Y" is not impersonal, its just unspecific.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I'm not going to blame/shame on this forum. This thread is for Karavan supporters to express their reasons for that. If you don't like my opinion contact me in game or make another thread somewhere, but keep this one clean. Maybe I don't think that your guild is really neutral, but i didn't ruin "Why i choose neutral" thread. Have respect.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

The Main reason I chose karavan in the first place was due to the guild that became my home already being karavan aligned. There are two reasons I stay with Karavan. Although I have a good deal of kami friends for the most part I can get along better with Karavan members in game. Secondly I find that the karavan are more of knowledge seekers, searching for ways to know more and better cure the blight spreading over Atys. Whereas Kami are more of the destroy it type, which in my opinion will do nothing to help atys but cause mindless destruction. So in this aspect I see Karavan as trying to help Atys. When it comes to digging, karavan are accused of exploiting resources. Though I do not see Kami any better in this aspect. They still dig and take just as much as the Karavan and this is a little bit of hypocrisy in my opinion and I can't follow such things. I know the karavan aren't perfect but I can identify with there ideals more then the Kami side. As for going neutral, if it was possible to be a true neutral, without being a merc and still have any benefits I might have stayed neutral. I don't support the sword for hire view of many of the neutrals (Not true for all), in my opinion that is very selfish more so then the followers of jena or ma-duk.

Also please stay out of other factions threads, no matter whom you are, this is to inform new players, not to spread hate between factions.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Ballistic Mystix moved to Atys after the hated EA killed our beloved Earth and Beyond. Our GL Rakujitsu,Oshido and Soma planted our flag firmly in Tryker. I soon followed and loved the early halcyon days on Atys. All was new everyone was small and hominkind supported each other to salvage our culture from the the destruction wrought from the kitin.As faction loomed on the horizon Ballistic Mystix and our dearest friends and allies formed the nuetral HOPE Alliance. It's goals were to maintain the early feeling of community we enjoyed at launch. It was a noble ideal which as time progressed became increasingly impractical to maintain. We as a guild decided to follow the "Karavan for tps" approach. As time progressed Rak,Osh and Soma moved on and I became GL.Events on Atys finally determined that we as a guild must commit to a side. At the time the Kami were dominate and we decided that as Trykers and with a background in EnB a futuristic tech based game that the Karavan best fit our ideals. For me personally I never saw a Karavan harm a homin but had witnessed and experienced being killed digging with low Kami Tolerance. The Karavan saved us and never harmed us so I follow them.-Kil

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Because I had no luck with the dice :p Odd for Kami, even for Karavan... showed a 4 :D

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I chose karavan because, as I see it, the karavan....

oh to hell with it, the Karavan have space-ships! I can't say no to that.

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

I grew up on a simple farm. It was just me, my twin sister Irreana and my father who took it upon himself to raise us both on his own. Mother had died giving birth to us and he often blamed himself for that misfortune. In a way, he saw everything he did as a sort of penitance for the sins that lead to her demise. But he made us feel safe and secure. He provided us a home and taught us the value of faith in Jena. We were happy, too... but that changed.

One day, my father had asked Irreana and me to stay inside and not do any work outside. He wouldn't explain why and I could tell he was greatly disturbed by something. I watched him head out into the field that day to work the land as he usually did. Irreana, who was always more rebellious, decided to defy him. I tried to convince her to obey and stay inside but it was no use. The horror I witnessed that day still haunts me. I watched in shock as the Kami came and slaughtered them both.

It is that memory that still burns in my mind... and fuels the fires of contempt that I hold for every follower of theirs that I see. They will pay for what they took from me. One day, their deaths will be avenged and I will stop at nothing to see that happen.

((Every story has two sides... this is just one.))

Re: Why I Choose Karavan
 

Hello...Karavan have lasers...duh.