Vacant Opals

[Tareth Thorn]

It hasn't been an issue before, because generally there's enough traffic to keep the opals in hand. However, I don't really agree with giving them out as secondary prizes in Diamond Quests. Here's why;

The way it works for the WLT was originally a model for this idea, but I don't beleve the ideas are congruent. Giving away a barony in the WLT works because a barony is still a step toward the end goal of being Overlord. An opal is worse than a dead-end in the quest for diamond. It's an inhibition on that quest, if anything.

Traditionally, an opal quest tournament is held for a vacant opal, but again the recent lack of participation has rendered this option less than desirable.

I would like to propose that the Diamond be able to appoint a champion to fight for vacant opals from any challengers. It would work like any other opal challenge, only that instead of a current holder, the Diamond appoints someone of any rank to defend it. If the challenger wins, they obtain the opal. If the champion wins, the opal remains vacant until the next challenge.

I think this fits in with the idea of the opals rather well, with the story of where they're from and what they do. That, and it adds another dimension to the title of Diamond, helping our top spot become more active in the overall community.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Jake]

I'd support this idea.

The one thing I would like to never see (again) is for an Opal to be "won" without a fight. I think it should be mandatory that they be defended, one way or another.

[DUEL Kheldar]

This isn't bad, but I think it'd be even better if the Diamond him or herself were the one to defend said vacent Opals. Or at least have that be an option.

[Elijah]

I would also have to agree with the above statements.

[DUEL Glo]

Ideally, we send vacant Opals up for tourneys which, for one reason or another, usually seem hard to organize and/or have low turnouts. Giving them away in the DQ was easier, especially if the thing was lost just before DQ. If someone loses an Opal at the start of the cycle or even midway through, doing a Tourney's better than having it sit idle for a month or more.

Anyhow, as far as Sy's idea, I'm not opposed to it. If people think there's better RP opportunities and more fun-factor with having the Diamond champion/appoint champions to defend a vacant opal slot, I think that's something very workable. Not many people have rung in on this one so far...whatchyall thinkin'?

[The Amazing Nova]

I would like to see the Opals defend themselves at some point. Might be a very interesting RP mechanic and it might let everyone see just how creative they can actually get with them.

Of course, the problem with a champion is that you're stuck with an empty seat if the challenger loses, and you'll just have to keep appointing a champion (unless there's some kind of 'champion for the month' deal) until they finally fail.

Since there's a potential for the Opal to remain vacant for a while if the champions are successful, it might be good to include some kind of RP sequence involving the vacant Opal so its powers just don't disappear off the radar.

[DUEL Kheldar]

Or what if, if the appointed challanger wins x amount of challanges, 2 or 3, they earn the Opal by default.

[Jake]

Or what if, if the appointed challanger wins x amount of challanges, 2 or 3, they earn the Opal by default.

Appointed challenger? Do you mean the appointed defender?

[DUEL Kheldar]

Yeah that.. damn brain waking up slower than the rest of my body

[Deluthan]

I would like to propose that the Diamond be able to appoint a champion to fight for vacant opals from any challengers.

I have a problem with Opals being taken even this seriously, because the bottom line is that all they are are toys for Emeralds to play with and fight over. We're not talking about Barons who get an extra fancy, are actually considered tougher opponents than Warlords, and hold a station that allows them an easier time to take shots at the big title. Opals aren't awarded any sort of game mechanic; the only thing they grant are role-play powers, and even those have proven to be a double-edge sword. "Opal" as a title seems misleading.

As they are, I have no problem giving Opals away in the DQ are, heck, even to an Emerald who expresses interest in a vacant Opal and who would be eligible to challenge. I actually like vacant Opals as excuses for more quests, since I feel the DQs are too spaced, but if no one's showing up, there's not much you can do.

And then there's the other side of the coin, which is giving the Diamond a power. In doing so, DoF enters the world of politics, which, depending on your taste, could be good or bad. I've always enjoyed the Outback as an innocent haven from drama in the Arena, as a place where accomplishments are purely performance driven, but that's just me.

[Spiffy McBang]

I don't mind not having anything resembling what the DoS does surrounding the Opals, but to not take them seriously is silly. Those roleplay powers have proven to be pretty intense. The characters know this, and whatever they do will be impacted by that. The Opals are not toys to be handed out to someone who didn't win but didn't suck as bad as everyone else who didn't win.

What about putting up a notice when an Opal is vacant, and the first two people to respond have to fight each other for it? It saves the disappointment of a low-turnout tournament and is pretty fair. The downside is that it would look seriously bad if it took three weeks for two people to step forward, but the only solution I can see is to set a time limit. That just leaves more problems, though- if one person signs up, then maybe they fight a champion, and if they lose, there's still a vacant Opal. If no one wants to go for it... ick. I don't know if that's too likely, though.

[Bane0fEvil]

I guess the suggested idea is pretty cool and interesting, but I'm wondering how it would be worked into the whole roleplay side. All of a sudden, the Diamond holder has a say in who they do or do not want to be the Opal holders? There isn't hierarchy like in Swords, where Opals are just one rung below the Diamond. Why would the Diamond holder care? I don't know, maybe I am just not creative enough to come up with ideas.
I do (did, maybe? Been away a while) see, however, the holders of Opals at a bit of a higher level than the rest of the Emeralds. They came out and showed that they have skill by beating the field on the given day, and winning the tournament, or whatever.
This idea has a chance of increasing the roleplay aspect (and that's what the opals have always been all about) if it is done right. I have a little concern that it might blunder, but knowing the individuals who would head up the transfer eases my mind. We have people around here who are very capable of great things, so I know whatever is decided upon will probably turn out for the better. I'll do what I can to help, when I can.

[DUEL Glo]

There's serious consideration of placing the Diamond-appointed challenger stuff into the DoF ruleset. If there are any objections, support, thoughts, opinions, etc., please post them here so we can discuss them!