Path of Conquest: Kalimdor

Introduction

Now that the new Warchief and hero of Northrend, Garrosh Hellscream, has loosened the chains that kept the Horde in check, conflict arises in Kalimdor. Unwilling to relent, and driven by a great disdain for the foothold the Alliance is getting on their continent, the proud orcs have opted the path they are all too familiar with: The Path of Conquest. The gears of war start to turn... Will you take up arms and make a stand? The scramble for Kalimdor begins!

Features

A meta-campaign consisting of elaborate campaigns throughout several zones
Diverse scenario-based RP-PvP battles that are made public in advance
RP-PvP battles that have an actual effect on upcoming battles
RP-PvP campaigns that have an actual effect on the way the state of certain zones are perceived
A scoreboard to fuel the spirit of competition.
Visual representations of battles in the form of battle-maps
A fair share of fun!

Campaigns

Chapter I - The Southern Barrens [ H ]
Chapter II - The Stonetalon Mountains [ H ]
Chapter III - Ashenvale

Frequently Asked Questions

First things first, what’s this whole Conquest-thing about anyway?
The Path of Conquest is a series of RP-PvP campaigns organized by the Orcs of the Red Blade (ORB). These campaigns are spread out over different zones in which ORB and other RP guilds compete for control.

Alright, I am none the wiser now. You mentioned ‘controlling’ zones as a faction. I don’t like that at all – you won’t be able to see any difference! What’s up with that?
Instead of speaking in terms of ‘zone X belongs to faction Y’, we’ll maintain a discourse that differs slightly: ‘faction Y has the upper hand in zone X’, or ‘the Horde has the upper hand in the Southern Barrens’. So instead of focusing on gains and losses, we shift attention to inferiority and superiority.

What’s the added value for a faction to have the upper hand in a certain zone?
I am glad you asked that, fictive individual Bob – can I call you Bob? We want to try out this system for two reasons. Firstly, we have a desire for our campaign to have an actual effect on the server lore and the state of affairs in that zone. We want to create some dynamics in this otherwise static game.
Secondly, since it still is W-PvP, we felt like adding a little scoreboard to keep track of all the wins and losses that occur. Our hope is that it will add a competitive element to the campaigns, in which members of both factions will want to attend.

A competitive element? Sounds good! But how do you make sure it’s balanced?
No guarantees. In short, we’ll do our best to keep the odds even. Additionally, the battles and objectives that must be completed to win will be handed out far in advance of the actual battles. This way, everybody can prepare fully and hammer it into guildmates’ skulls that it is essential to show up on a particular day.

And what about gear restrictions?
There are no gear restrictions for the battles. So, feel free to either turn up in your RP gear, in your PvE gear or in your PvP gear.

It surely must get boring quickly to go at it every other night…
I think you’re mistaken there, Bob. We’re trying a lot of new things in these campaigns. One of these things is having battles have an effect on battles to come. There is a distinct type of battle we have dubbed ‘resource battles’. In these battles, both factions compete over a tangible (e.g. steel, wood) or intangible (e.g. morale) resource. The faction that wins these battles gains an edge for the ‘big’ battles of the zones that decide its fate (so-called ‘decisive battles’). And, as you may have guessed, these decisive battles in turn decide who has the upper hand in that particular zone.

Resources -- sounds vague. How do you put something like that in practice?
I may have lied a bit when I said that the winning faction would receive an edge, as in fact the losing faction will receive a penalty: they will have to unequip items in certain slots. In cases of a heavy misbalance between faction this can be overruled in favor of fun, however!

About pressing a stamp on the contested zones in the server lore: I don’t really feel like playing along there, since I am not part of neither faction’s fighting force.
That's fine. No hard feelings. We simply thought it would add a little more depth to our role-play, so we're not fussed if some people choose to ignore what we're doing. Though, naturally, we assume that the guilds we create RP-PvP events with, abide to the outcomes of the battles and treat them as if they have happened; a part of lore. Because otherwise this whole endeavor would be in vain to begin with.

As I understand it, you’ll have a few battles in the zone in which the campaign is being held. What do you do in between battles?
Good question Bob. In the mean time we create other role-playing events to keep ourselves preoccupied. And no, we don’t leave the zone to do them. We stay put where we are! In ORB, we call it a RP-focus and we enjoy it a lot. Here’s why: in a nutshell, we get out of our comfort zone and role-play in an entirely different place than we’re used to! So in a sense, we’re laying restrictions on ourselves, since we’re confined to the things we can do in a certain zone. For instance, you can’t really go to a pub in Ashenvale as an orc. No, instead you’ll most likely spend your days taking a whiz in a moonwell and razing a furbolg camp to deforest the surrounding lands.

I’m tempted. Where do I sign-up?
Interested guilds are encouraged to contact Gnash. This will not insure you will be invited, however. Since we'll try to balance both sides, we might have to turn some down. Secondly, we strongly feel that your presence should be plausible In Characterly.

The first chapter is scheduled somewhere in July. Solid dates won't be available until a number of guilds have expressed their prefered days/times to row.

Can this thread (not the other one or others in the future) get a sticky for the time being?

Also: you should naturally feel free to give input. I'm always open to that.

Sin Belore is interested. You'll be hearing from us soon.

This looks great, will have a look if I got a character to join on.

Welcome back to the game. Event looks good, I like the idea of battles having effect on server lore, rather then just making it like we show up, fight, and everything back to normal after.

Good Luck with it.

Nessra/Anegra wrote:Sin Belore is interested. You'll be hearing from us soon.

Same with the cult, -I think-. Will probably contact you in Game soon.

Alright. I'll hear from you whenever then, I guess!

Welcome back to the game. Event looks good, I like the idea of battles having effect on server lore, rather then just making it like we show up, fight, and everything back to normal after.

That was the general consensus. And it's good to be back.

Any and all PvP is gud! :3

RP-PvP is definately gud! :3

I pray that the Warsong Blades are interested. I'll poke management right away! *nods*

Just so you know, we elves and draenei have a campaign going on in Feralas and Feathermoon is like our rp hub at the moment, so if you want to raid this place instead..

Chapter I isn't scheduled until July and will mostly involve forces from Theramore, anyway.

Heard nothing so far from the Alliance!

Good intiative but I'm afraid most people won't be interested. It has barely been a month since the Barren's Campaign ended, which took its toll, I doubt people would be up for another round of campaign(s) any time soon.

Count on the Dwarves.

The picture lacks kegs of ale.

Since we've started gauging interest for this, I found it to be time to lay down a draft for dates on which the battles will be held. After talking to both Kozgugore, Girloy and Ildranor, I've come up with an (in my eyes) reasonable planning. Feel free to give your thoughts.

Barrens
25/07 - 1st battle [mon]
27/07 - 2nd battle [wed]
29/07 - 3rd battle [fri]
31/07 - 4th battle [sun]

2 days of no PvP (1st & 2th)

Stonetalon Mountains
03/08 - 1st battle [wed]
05/08 - 2nd battle [fri]
07/08 - 3rd battle [sun]
08/08 - 4th battle [mon]

3 days of no PvP (9th - 11th)

Ashenvale
12/08 - 1st battle [fri]
14/08 - 2nd battle [sun]
15/08 - 3rd battle [mon]
17/08 - 4th battle [wed]

On a side note: Girloy and Ildranor of the Three Hammers have volunteered to coordinate the campaign on the Alliance side. Everyone is still encouraged to contact me if you have any questions, however. You can add me on gnash.the.younger@gmail.com or whisper me in-game. Communication is key!

The Blood Brokers are intrested. We shall make ourselves present to you soon.

The pirates would be interested, purely for the chance to smash some skulls without being apprehended. Plus the epic loots! I'll nab Koz in-game for more info later on.

Edit: I meant Gnash! I'll contact Gnash! XD

Remind me to ponder cross-racial politics.
I'm wondering if there is any difference in it between the horde and the alliance.

Conquest of kalimdor, now with Extra Wraithlord and cult of shadow!

gonna be tricky balancing this with krogon and sulthar, i'l have to mix it up with both!

Depends on who needs to be bullied?

Kristeas Sunbinder wrote:Depends on who needs to be bullied?

so many too bully, so little time to choose!