Alright, once and for all, here's why I used to choose pacifism: I got so sick of

being taunted (along with everybody else, this was not directed solely at me!) for

being in divine protection, that I swore I'd never stay in it longer than a few minutes

for the rest of my Avalon life. I made this oath to no deity, or any other person

in particular, but I did abide by it for a very decent stint. At which point

pacifism was invented by benevolent and FRIENDLY gods, who realized that it would be

a hoot if people could get taunted year-round, day in and day out, instead of just

for however long they stayed 'protected.'

Well, pacifism bought me a permanent minor boon in Scholarship (my choice), and, were I

able to continue in Avalon for any decent stretch of time, it would have bought me many,

many more. I can honestly say that, barring intervention from the gods, I would have

had all ults in my non-guild skills by the end of this rl year. Ooooh, how that would

have grated on the nerves of the fighters who can't afford a year to quest and learn

passivity because they just HAVE to level off the blood of their fellows. Well, I

have gone back on my oath to myself. What need have I for foolish oaths about divine

protection? As Orthwein correctly and frequently points out, death in Avalon is nothing,

if you learn from your deaths, you will advance. Well, I've learned plenty, including

the importance of a decent client when playing MUDs; the importance of asking people for

what you need; the importance of sharing your information with younger players who

ask politely. In real life, as in Avalon, I'm a big fat lazy guy, and, I'm sorry,

but I just can't be bothered to run around trying to learn every single countermeasure

to every single attack, especially those that aren't available on the lower end of

a skillset. I mean, c'mon: Netdodging? How quickly did I learn that one? And how

quickly do you run out of mana, when you use it? So, of course, you better smoke

megillos, and carry mana restoration potions. But whoops, you've just had jegga spit

at you by one player, while another has spit mandrake, and a third is using his demon

to make you 'chant eq'... (You can substitute 'playing his instrument' for 'using his

demon' if you prefer!) It all comes down to how much do you really aspire to godhood,

which is the presumed goal in this game. Don't believe me? Read the help texts!

Now, since I don't aspire to godhood at all, and I never have, you all make the

assumption that I'm stupid, or useless. That's fine, I probably am. Also, I know

it is very hard to argue with somebody who just doesn't happen to be playing the game

the way it was designed to be played. On the other hand, I spend my real life dollars

to do it, just like any of you (who aren't gods or getting special dispensations,

of course), so I don't really feel like this is any sort of democracy where I have

to bow to the will of the loudest. And frankly, the loudest voices in Avalon are

always shouting KILL, KILL, KILL. My worst single moment in Avalon came, not when

Lord Apollo commanded me to get rid of Orthwein's mark; not when I realized how much

money I'd thrown away on this place; not when I quit any of the various things I've

quit--It came when Faustus told me I had been the first person to kill him, and I

couldn't even remember why or how I'd done it. I am sure many here think the how

is FAR more important than the why, but to me they're both pretty pointless. My new

policy is: If it walks, and it probably knows less than me, it's fair game. This should

keep Avalon sleeping soundly for years to come.

Written by my hand on the 9th of Eleuthral, in the year 969.