Damage Control?

[Phrack]

Obviously we've known that this has been coming for awhile.  And yeah, a lot of us have dreaded it... I myself even pointed out the negative aspects of EPN losing tags and so on.  But this morning as I sit here, I've had plenty of time to think about it, and I want to open the discussion up, not only to the members of the Council, but the faction as a whole, and other EPN members who have input or concerns.  That being said, this is where I currently stand on the status and nature of E Pluribus Neo as a whole...

Personally, the more I think about it, the more I think we've been given one hell of an opportunity.  If they want us to go underground, then by all means, let's do it.  We're talking about a return to the beginning of Pluribus Neo, back when WE stood up and declared our independence.  Back when WE were the ones in control of the organization, what turns it took, and what it had the potential to become.  Because, flat out, it was OURS.  No one else's.

When we got our EPN tags, it was a wonderful thing, I agree.  It gave us the possibility of being recognized in the story in a much better manner... but looking back, how many of you can say that we were recognized correctly, or given the credit that we should have been given?  How many of you can say that the very concept of what EPN was, wasn't diluted by being more defined by an ill-played Kid or Shimada?  Truth be told, I never wanted any Joe Blow to be able to get EPN tags anyway.  People in EPN should be MORE competent and MORE capable than those in other organizations...  we're not Zion, we don't recruit everybody.

The same can be said for the Cypherites, for that matter.  They were never stronger, as an organization, than they were before Cryptos came into the picture.  The reason why was because, like us, their organization's success was based PURELY out of how much the members were willing to put into it.

To hell with LESIG.  I understand their purpose... I always have.  Perhaps better than some of them did... but LESIG restricted us.  We wanted to have an opportunity to affect the story, not someone to lead us around, hold our hand, and give us pep talks.  We never needed that.

All in all, I feel like this move has put us back in control of OUR organization, and that, coupled with my new job, is going to allow us to do more things than we've been able to do in a long time.  I start work Monday, and in a week or two, I hope to have my first check.  I intend to reopen OUR EPN Relay.  I intend to get US on the same page, and yes, as underground as we can get.  I've spent the last couple of months looking for a way to clean house and show our uniqueness again, and at this point, I think we have it.  Others with EPN tags will begin disappearing, but we'll stick around, just like we always have.  We'll have more control over who IS a member of our organization, and who ISN'T.

So yeah...  that's where I'm sitting on this.  I want to hear everyone's thoughts, and comments, and concerns.  I'll answer any questions you might have.

[Vesuveus]

I get what you are saying now. I think the difference between our xfire message and reading this is that I wasn't EPN when it first started. I thought about, but EPN was portrayed sooo poorly in those critical missions. I thought it was just a bunch of retards.

How little I know and how much I have learned and enjoyed.

No more having to give tags becuase it's an out of character game that can't restrict alts. Now we say who we share information with. No lesig liaisons having to hold meetings that our spies have an out of character right to get into.

I would be privelidged and honored to continue the ride with you fine gentlemen (and shims). This will be uncharted water for me but I expect to be on the forefront alongside you.

[GreyMountain]

Being one of the "younger" members of the game I have missed a many things happening that all you guys have sat through and witnessed.
At the risk of sounding all sentimental and coming across as if the world was about to end.  Matrix Online was my first MMO and while I now enjoy others too, nothing can take that away.  Heck, MxO and LOTRO are totally different in my opinion (I won't mention WoW).  I still have fond memories of the End of Beta event, listening to Radio Free Zion, forming the short-lived Triumvirate, watching the system chatter when characters like Morpheus logged on (I'm sure the friends list used to work like that), and having a laugh with many friends (most of whom I lost touch when we all stopped playing).
Currently while playing the weekly crit and going to the occassional event I always think "It'll never be the same as before."  But something I've realised since Rare's thread is that it can be the same as before.  Granted, some things are out-of-reach for various reasons.  The main thing I've realised though is that all the things I remember fondly from the past were (mostly) player-created or supported.  I mean, the End of Beta event with the Smith Virus and sky eyes was only made good (imo) because of the atmosphere RFZ made with their DJs.

I'm not really sure what my point in that was.  I guess the moral of the story is that the players make the game.  What Rare is planning to do could kill mine (or others) interest in the game.  Or it could be bloody fantastic and the game is reborn.  However, I don't think Rare can go it alone.  The players are an integral part and I think it is partly down to us to help create the atmosphere and memories that make MxO such a fond memory.  (That last sentence makes bugger all sense in my head, but I'll leave it there).

LESIG?  Did we have Liaisons?  Since Reposco I haven't seen any.  Granted I recently applied for LESIG (so all this bashing may appear hypocritical) but I got no response, probably due to all this being considered.  I have had little experience of good LESIG.  Except for Reposco I have only seen two other liaisons.  Both seemingly couldn't handle player-RP when they came across it, and both were rarely seen.  I hear there were good liaisons before I joined, and currently good ones on different servers.  But their good work seems mired by those that don't pull their weight and those that leak like a sieve.

Finally (at least for now, I've forgotten my other points) the issue of EPN/CYPH.  I haven't seen a single quest or issue that EPN has had that was about EPN.  Crits were obviously just Zion crits.  And Live Events just seemed to regard us as an extension of Zion.  We've been to the No-Fly Zone (or at least Archangel has) but I think were EPN not around they would have just sent Zionites.  I think the only reason EPN went was because Rare needed something to (seemingly) differ us from Zion, or because we were just viewed as more "daring" members of Zion.  The removal of us as a sub-org means that we no longer have to follow the views and actions of Popper and his girlfriend.  True some of us ignored them anyway.  But, just looking RP I've been involved in, and faction chat, it is obvious a great many have become disillusioned with the current path of EPN and our pathetic actions and water-downed goals.  As you say Phrack, it can be an oppurtunity for us to take back the path that was diverted as we walked it.  (Honestly, that is the cheesiest line I have ever typed.)

Ideally (and I mean really ideally) I would like Rare to mention, in those monthly meetings or whatever, what EPN (or CYPH) are upto.  But, I wouldn't want his version of events, but more an overview of what WE did with EPN.  The actions we did in our RP.  It would be a cool touch, just to make EPN/CYPH feel a little more in touch.  But perhaps a step too far.

[Tsusai]

I have mixed feelings overall.
I'll see how this all plays out...
How Rare's original post to LESIG sounded like to me. (Yes, I added a new toy today ^.^)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ssEV8lmB3s

[Asamodai]

Some of you may or may not have noticed that I've not been on in about 2 weeks.  Truth is I'm fighting for inspiration to do so.  This might be a step to actually getting some.

[GreyMountain]

How Rare's original post to LESIG sounded like to me. (Yes, I added a new toy today ^.^)

Lol.  I can see that meeting right now.  The cookie to me represents the NPC disguise idea.  Its a piece of crap pulled out of his arse to make the whole change thing seem sweeter.

[PoyntBlanc]

I personally kind of like the idea of adding a new twist to the game. it makes sense. Jow things are now, isn't working. Maybe we need this to jump start. it will change the way how we play and interact with the other factions and Orgs.

When I heard about EPN and Cyph getting "merged" (For lack of a better word), I was a bit disappointed, I liked the fact we were different than Zion, and we had our own story and Liason to prove it; but after reading what Phrack said, it opened my eyes to this new meaning: going underground. Being who we always were as E Pluribus neo, PN is one of the only true EPN factions alive and kicking. So we need this to finally be ourselves and do what we always wanted to do.

Maybe this will result in a failure, maybe  a lot of people will quit, but at least the developers are trying to spice things up while the game is still around. After looking at all aspects and point of views I believe this is a step in the right direction, something we all need, even f you don't like it.

[Archangel]

I say we blow something up...

Yes...that just came out of my mouth.

[PoyntBlanc]

Yes...that just came out of my mouth.

Thats what she said

[Archangel]

Hey, that's my line!

[PoyntBlanc]

Haha I thought I would try it out for a change, but you can keep it 

[Naabu]

As most of you know I just came back after a short break (like 3 months if that's short...) because I was getting fed up with the bullshit from LESIG/Rarebit.  The small recognition we do/did get was shoddy at best. Don't get me wrong, those who did a bang up job as a Liaison or at least tried to, deserve credit. However He who writes the story now, can't handle EPN and the lack of story content for us is sickening. I lost all joy of jacking in, it just seemed like a chore for a while.

Now, like when Phrack mentioned in his original post, when Pluribus Neo didn't have tags and it WAS OUR organization, we kicked ass. People would acknowledge us as being that much better than Zion. That much more in control! Now, with these tags, we just kinda "uhhuh...*retard drool*" and let Rarebit autopilot us to shit and group us in with Zion. Fuck that!

I say it's time we let the community know where Pluribus Neo stands...

[haskovez]

First let me say congrats to Phrack on getting a new job.  I haven't been on for about a month due to a job change and buying a house, but I am excited about what I am hearing and willing to Reup in a month or so when i get caught up on this move.  I am glad to hear that PN is going to keep their EPN tags as I always liked them.  And for an example of what LESIG could have been but was not allowed to be, look no further than Zeissman which was still the best Liason we had (thanks again Phrack).  So anyway I am happy to hear the annoucement and I should be back soon (when I catch up with unpacking a bit).

[Aracher]

Personally the meeting with roolith and Pramana really made me think about quiting, I mean I won't I'm going to give rare a chance and see how this plays out......but If nothing comes of it for EPN things might be different.

[GreyMountain]

Roolith and Pramana did a totally crap job of answering our queries and issues.  If anything, it made people worry more.  On the one hand we had Roolith who said jack shit.  And Pramana who ended up way over his head at that meeting.  The fact we were asking questions OOC, and they were trying to stay IC was something they should have thought through more.

I say we pretend that meeting never happened because it seems to have made things worse.  And instead, we just go on making our own story for EPN.

Also, reading through the New Approach thread I have the feeling many (notably PrivaronT) has the feeling EPN/CYPH are being discarded entirely.  I don't get that feeling from reading Rare's posts.  Granted we won't have much of a presence in the story or LEs.  But that comes with being "underground".  I think we'll still be in the story, and will have LEs.  But, only when the story needs it.  And when the story requires an "underground" arguably "terrorist" group, then its going to be something good.


Having only recently come back I have no desire to quit.  Only when everything really, really goes to shit, then I'll leave.  But I hope that won't be for a while.