Ryzom

I'm new to the game but one thing which I've found odd is; why are Karavan-following Zorai still wearing masks? According to the lore, the masks are a part of identifying with the Kami - so wouldn't it make some sense for the masks to be thrown aside or eliminated when a Zorai renounces?

Ooooh, tricky question and I´ve wondered about it too.

Honest Answer - I don´t think that there´s a "technical" way to get them of.
InGame and Off Game.
Ingame (Lore) they are merged via nanotechnology (or something similar) to the face of the individual.
Offgame (Code-mechanically) it would mean a completely new toon and a mechanism for each and every player that deciedes to "go Karavan", or "go native" again . That would put more stress on the engine, thus on the servers and thus on our gaming experience.

Sometime ago someone proposed for "Karavan"-Zorai, to simply get a "no Tatoo" mask, to show their "renouncement" of their birthright. Maybe that´s an Idea.
But others proposed that the Mask isn´t so much as just a religious statement, then more of a "show your conviction" kind of thing, with differnt tatoos stating the owners "state of mind". So there would be tatoos for "Karavan"-Zorai and for "Kami"-Zorai. But even he didn´t bother to sort them out
Maybe you will

Just my unbiased two cent.

Have Fun

Acridiel

tavenni wrote:I'm new to the game but one thing which I've found odd is; why are Karavan-following Zorai still wearing masks? According to the lore, the masks are a part of identifying with the Kami - so wouldn't it make some sense for the masks to be thrown aside or eliminated when a Zorai renounces?

It is odd, but the way I rationalise it is that PC Zorai are raised into the tradition and then reject it later on (if they do) that doesn't help with Karavan Zorai tribes but it helps explain it away a little bit.

acridiel wrote: Offgame (Code-mechanically) it would mean a completely new toon and a mechanism for each and every player that deciedes to "go Karavan", or "go native" again . That would put more stress on the engine, thus on the servers and thus on our gaming experience.

I was going to say it puts about as much stress as putting on or taking off a helm...but then I realised that light and medium armour doesn't have helms in the first place, which would support your theory. Still, wouldn't an option to "show/hide helm/mask" as has been implemented in other games make things easier? My character would take her mask off a temple or during meditation or even for sleep.

However, there is options to change your mask tattooing, and even have no tattoo (I recently changed mine as it fit my storyline going from the isle to the mainland), so it can have some good story worked round regardless. I suppose being able to remove masks however may get confusing as to who follows Kami and who doesn't, if everyone decided to take masks off. There'd have to be some sort of penalty to go along with not wearing it...who knows, I'm just waffling now.

tavenni wrote:I was going to say it puts about as much stress as putting on or taking off a helm...but then I realised that light and medium armour doesn't have helms in the first place, which would support your theory. Still, wouldn't an option to "show/hide helm/mask" as has been implemented in other games make things easier? My character would take her mask off a temple or during meditation or even for sleep.

The mask IS your face. It can't really be taken off, it grows out through your flesh via the nanoseed (IIRC). It is part of your actual body.

It's a living mask.
When you create a new character, you can see the mask moving with the mouth mouvement.

The mask is a "gift" from the Kami, the tatoos are put on by Homins trying to re-assert their individuality.

the Zoraï mask is a foretaste of the ideal Kami world.. everyone faceless interchangeable drones, with no personality or individual value. All just fodder for Ma-Duk, bland and tasteless souls easy to digest in his senility.

Even those Zoraï who reject this fate cannot free themselves from the mask.. the Kami hold little respect for the desires of mere Homins.

Could we just NOT resort to Propaganda here?
Thanks.

Acridiel

grimjim wrote:The mask IS your face. It can't really be taken off, it grows out through your flesh via the nanoseed (IIRC). It is part of your actual body.

Ah! I didn't understand that bit to be honest (had to look up "nanoseed") that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification!

iwojimmy wrote:The mask is a "gift" from the Kami, the tatoos are put on by Homins trying to re-assert their individuality.

the Zoraï mask is a foretaste of the ideal Kami world.. everyone faceless interchangeable drones, with no personality or individual value. All just fodder for Ma-Duk, bland and tasteless souls easy to digest in his senility.

Even those Zoraï who reject this fate cannot free themselves from the mask.. the Kami hold little respect for the desires of mere Homins.

your ignorance of our ways and motivations is sad. The mask as you name it is not a burden but a gift from the life giver.

Do not make idle assumptions on the relationship between the Zoraï, the Kami, and Ma-Duk - it is not for you to know or understand.