A Personal Project: Map of the Keep

[Jason Baane]

You know, your map is being taken seriously by a lot of people.

Most of the kingdoms which are on it accept it as irrefutable canon, and many people call it the official map of The Keep.

With this in mind, I would like to ask that you please get some standards for what you add.

Approximately 50% of what's on the map, and probably more of it, has never been hosted that I've seen.

I'd like to think that kingdoms/states/nations that are regularly hosted with dedicated player bases should get more priority than what is effectively a pocket plane that some guy thought up for his character that generally gets an entire continent dedicated to it.

[Atheism]

I do have standards for this Map. However, I also know that, in order for people to accept it and for the collaborative effort to grow, it needs people to respect it and be willing to add things to it. To that end, everyone gets the same speech:

You are being added without question. However, if roleplaying does not take place in your domain, it will be removed. Either I have to witness it, someone of good reputation has to witness it, or chat logs have to be produced. If it is not actually RP'd as to exist, it will be removed.

In fact, in the update I'm currently uploading, I've had to remove someone due to inactivity. My general "rule of thumb," is that if in the span of a month (thirty days) passes and I do not witness RP (And I keep a watch out, believe me. I lurk a lot.), it gets removed. So far, everyone who is currently on the Map has met that quota - usually exceeding it. However, there are currently three more that I'm waiting to see if anything comes about.

And, Jason, believe me, I put priority on places that are actually hosted - specifically kingdoms and other fiefs. You have no idea of the amount of people I've actually turned away and refused to add due to either their demands, their ill reputation, their god-modding, or various other attributes of ill repute that would bring unprofessional discourse down upon this Map.

In the case of this project, I've been very optimistic. Ninety-seven percent of the time, that optimism has been returned with an overall increase in collaboration (see: Dartania and Silvermoon, for that matter), in part, because of this project. So... Y'know... Maybe you shouldn't be so critical, when, if nothing else, I have helped direct participation to various dominions currently holding claims on the Map.

Even with my somewhat "liberal" permitting of people to the Map, that's something that comes with the territory like this. To be fair, I have to give everyone the same opportunities. If they mess-up, they get removed. Overall, my "liberal" permitting of people and claims has lead to success, spreading the Map, and has helped make this little project grow, and, as you say, become "irrefutable canon" to, apparently, many people.

As one of the players behind one of Silvermoon's allies said: he views this as the first step in the reform of roleplaying on the Keep.

That, Jason, is something I am very proud to be a part of. You should be as well. All of the people who hold claims on this Map, should be given credit for what they are actually doing. They're helping bring about a change that many people have desired for quite some time. As I say, "I'm just the map-maker." The people who claim these lands and develop them, create histories for them, and create plots and sub-plots on them deserve just as much credit as I do - if not more.

[Atheism]

Bump for a bit of a major announcement.

Roads and Sea Routes can now be added once again. I've fixed the problems with my graphics program. So, if anyone has any Roads or Sea Routes they may have mentioned in the past and I was unable to add, please make them known to me, and I will add them where appropriate.

[Rosery]

Most Sincere apologies Atheism, I was only responding to a point in your post. Post snipped.

Awesome Map, I am proud to be a part of it, out of curiosity if in the future Lights Haven were to conquer a kingdom and the creator and I worked something out would we be able to come to you to get the map altered to show that Kingdom to be part of Lights Haven? Map related question RAWRNESS.

[Atheism]

[Snip]

Rosery, please try and not use my thread as a place for ranting or discussing your opinions about the Keep or the environment on the Keep. This detracts from the whole point of this thread: to advertise the Map, and give an explanation about it and its usage.

My response to Jason was not meant to begin a debate, but to be in response to his inquiries about the nature of "Map-lot claiming" and the policies I follow about making a claim on the Map, and maintaining that claim.

For the sake of that, I will direct you to the first page of this thread, where I state that it doesn't have to be canon. However, I will not deter people from using it as such, as, overall, if some groups on the Keep find it is canon, and have friends who like to follow it as such, then, by all means, I am happy to provide them with a focus for collaboration. That's doing my part for a community I obviously devote some amount of time to.

[Atheism]

Awesome Map, I am proud to be a part of it, out of curiosity if in the future Lights Haven were to conquer a kingdom and the creator and I worked something out would we be able to come to you to get the map altered to show that Kingdom to be part of Lights Haven? Map related question RAWRNESS.

If other kingdoms or lands are annexed, they can be shaded to show this according to the color of the claim that did the annexing.

[Malhavoc]

I'd like to request that my character's small region is added to the map. Malhavoc's territory is a swampland known as the Mekunal Waterwood, in the Nyan Delta. It is essentially a large mangrove fed by a large stream that flows out of a cluster of low mountains (The Thornbacks). In between the Thornbacks and the Nyan Delta are low, rolling hills and humid plains. This land would be located in the south, preferably, near a cluster of civilized (I.E., not savage demon undead monkey werewolf Godzilla) kingdoms. It only has small towns and villages (Not mapworthy), and one large fortress city in the center of the swamp, Fiz Kar Kadan.

Is that acceptable?

[Atheism]

Malhavoc, your claims have been added.

Also, the "Kingdom of Leighton" has been removed in accordance with the policy of inactivity. I haven't seen any "Leighton-related" room open in well-over 30 days.

[Malhavoc]

Thanks muchly.

[The`Gorgon]

Hi, I'm the newest ultra-powerful villainous megalomaniac to the keep.  I'd like that cluster of islands in the farthest northeastern corner of the map to be my character's; name of the Gorgon's Crown. And the bay on the western side of the southern most peninsula? That's where my fortress, Kal Satharik will be. That cool man?

[Atheism]

Not, really. No. That's a relatively large island, and as you are the "newest ultra-powerful villainous megalomaniac to the [Keep]," you have little tenure, I've never seen you RP, nor have I ever heard of you. Also, this Map is for individuals with, to varying degrees, good reputations on the Keep. Stating you are the "newest ultra-powerful villainous megalomaniac to the [Keep]" makes me question your motives, as well as your skill in the field.

As I've stated before, priority is given to places where actual RP occurs. As I have never seen you, nor even heard of you, it does not give me much incentive to grant such a potentially valuable claim. Especially when it could be given to someone who has an open domain, and has a developed storyline that will grow and expand.

So, no, I cannot grant you those islands. If you have any other idea on a place you may desire, please feel free to post such.

[Atheism]

Personally, I'd like to thank everyone that has made suggestions, thrown ideas at me, and especially claimed land on the Map. You've helped an idea come quite far when, originally, it was nothing more than a fool's concept. Without all of your help and support, this couldn't have been possible.

Keep the claims coming, guys. There is still a lot of room to go.

[MaRoka]

Hi, Atheism!!!
First, i wanna say just how much i like the map project! =D It's awesome!
I'd like to install a megalith in the 'Boreal Sea'. That land called Akemaa is practially withing on square. I'd like the tower to be TWO SQUARES LEFT AND ONE UP from Akemaa. I don't yet how it'll be called, but i'll send you an e-mail to thebasementman@...  with a picture of it's exact location. ^^ Just a heads up, i still have to find a name for it.

[Robo]

Bump, cuz I don't know what the fuck the point of a Bump is.

Also, Athe, I had an idea for the island occupied by Saulth and Zul. It's rather desolate, as it is.

I had an idea, for adding a City, within it, sort of like... A Lost City, despite the cliche.

I'unno. Basically, I just want to give characters a reason to journey to our humble island, so that Sualth and Zul-fyr may have the fun of hunting them down and murdering them. =D

I'd like to link it to the catacombs beneath the surface.

Also, to anyone reading this, you cannot use that whole... Hunting them down murdering bit in your RP, if you do peek in.

That is metagaming, and I kick metagamers from my rooms.

I'm not sayin' you'll die just for entering, but, I'll try my best.

[Vivi]

Oh I could come get lost in the scenic catacombs of....lost...city?

[Rosery]

Oh I could come get lost in the scenic catacombs of....lost...city?

Don't forget murdered Vivi! You could get lost in the scenic catacombs of a lost city and <B>Murdered</B> don't forget that. Silly Vivi, you must be going senile...I wonder who vivi corp will go to...

Yo Atheism, I was curious...if Lights Haven at some point grows, not nesscarily conquers but just gets generally bigger, will it grow summarily on the map if I let you know or not?

[Robo]

Oh I could come get lost in the scenic catacombs of....lost...city?

Yes Vivi, you may, if it gets accepted. >_> Hell, I could even make it a sort of "club house" for the Accords.

Besides, Vivi is one of the few characters Zul-fyr could never kill, even if he wanted to.

I'm also thinking of calling the city Arkeng Honto. Or a variation of that. >_>

[Vivi]

Besides, Vivi is one of the few characters Zul-fyr could never kill, even if he wanted to.

"THE ATTEMPTED MURDER! IT BURNS US!"

Alright I'm going to stop clogging up Ath's thread with random BS now, I swear.

[Atheism]

Updates have been made.

And yes, Rosery, given adequate roleplaying proof, your borders can expand as your fief grows.

[Atheism]

THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR UPDATES MADE!
INCLUDING A SECOND "EXPANSION-MAP"!

PLEASE REFER TO THE FIRST POST OF THIS THREAD!

[Beckett]

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. The Keep has just recently received an Expansion Pack. This tremendous community effort brings to reality an entire new set of continents, several large bodies of water and an entire new native culture that delves deeper into the Keep's past. With immense expanses of land to traverse, dozens of indigenous and primitive cultures to convene with and more than a hundred thousand varying elements to add depth and dimension to your roleplaying. As a community project, you pay nothing for this great new addition. However, with great power comes great responsibility, so use this New World well and prepare for your expedition. On the other side of those pirate littered seas is a kingdom just for you. All you need to do is man-up and take it. The New World, continuing the trend of expansion and reinvention that is changing the roleplaying landscape.

[Atheism]

[Bump]

[Atheism]

Bump for the sake of bumping.

[The`Gorgon]

So, I might have to talk with Arthur about this if he ever shows up again, but after the Battle of the Ivory Tower, the Gorgon has claimed the area around Alhafsa and the Oasis. I've been doing some roleplaying in the Desert and in some of the various Kingdom RP's. You can talk to Typhirus or Riana about me claiming the Oasis. So, I'm basically claiming the portions of the Desert around the Oasis, Alhafsa, and some of the southern coast, for loyal service to King Arthur during the Battle. And I'm still waiting for a few more of those islands to become mine.

[Atheism]

Your occupation around the Oasis and the Southern coast has been added, as well as several more islands to your main domain. However, Alhafsa is actually my creation; Arthur doesn't have the ability to give you or grant to you anything to do with it. It was created to serve a very specific purpose, and it will continue to do that: be neutral.