[Leanthar]

What a double edge sword.

On one hand we have players talking about keeping quests open so that they can join quests, or to run more quests so that they can join quests, or to not limit quests by level limits so that they can join quests.

On the other hand we have players talking about allowing player X, Y, Z (or whatever) in to quests for various reasons or because they are higher level. Do you see the contradiction of these two requests? It is a no-win situation and the team is trying to do the best we can in a given situation—including on quests.

On then on top of all of that we have players talking about how it is unfair for epics to be allowed to join quests 'because they already have so many quests run for them’. First I want to state this part of things is inaccurate. I ask you to go through the calendar and find quests that deal with Epics only (IE level 21+ only—not level 12-18 or 16+ etc.)—other than the ECDQ that is run for players to get in to the epic status—of which there has only been about 14 of those series in the past 24 months. I think you will find none like that (though I could be wrong), most certainly not enough to fill the fingers on a hand—and that is in a four year time span.

Now...
Granted, in this case having a 'closed’ (contract signed) quest may indeed seem like no others should have joined but I don’t see anything where this 'rule’ is in affect. But I do understand where you the players are coming from and thinking. However, with that said I do not know what the GM had in mind nor was I there. I am also pretty willing to bet that none of the players on the quest knew what the GM had in mind. Again, I do not know what occurred (or was going to occur) with the contract or the quest. I personally feel that a good RP opportunity was missed, at least from what I have read and heard from quite a few players and a couple of GM’s.

A few things I want to point out:

1) Good RP does not require any level and adding epics to a party does not affect good RP
2) I do understand why you guys feel overshadowed when epic (or high level characters) join a quest but at the same time I know of no way to allow high level characters to join quests. If anybody has any good, solid, workable, ideas that allows for volunteers, timezones, RL, RL schedules (of players and GMs), players and GM’s coming and going then by all means lets hear them.
3) We have a large GM team that are very good at what they do, but even with that many we can not be expected to run quests for all 750+ active players (we have that many at least right now) – and certainly not for all of the individual characters. It is just impossible with all of the other issues we have to deal with (see #2 above).
4) Keep in mind that people try to do their best and even then can and will make mistakes, that is part of being a human being after all.
5) Keep in mind that this is all volunteer work and the team does the best we can at all times—sometimes it seems fair and sometimes it does not—but we always try our best.

With all of that said.... Do you know how disheartening and morale crushing it is to always try your best and then when a possible (I said possible because I do not know what was going on with the quest or what the gm had in mind) mistake happens and people blow up and get so upset? Nothing destroys a GM’s morale quicker and I think all of us want the GM’s around to run quests and keep the world fresh and engaging.

I want to encourage everybody to stop seeing your Layonara experience in a comparative way in terms of who is getting what more than whoever else you play with. We all need to learn to enjoy our own personal Layonara for what it is and if that is enough to look beyond all of the other tedious and frustrating things—this is a game after all. Step back, see a bigger picture and try to think of all of the other players, keeping in mind that at one time they were where you are now and had to choose what quests to go on or not. Keeping in mind that everybody has their own schedules and life and that includes the GM Team. So think of the positive experiences and if that continues to be better than the negative then come to Layonara and enjoy your time—this is true for any game out there, including MMO’s.

On a final note: I have heard it mentioned a number of times how the plot quests or other series cater to epics and that is so far from the truth it is out right wrong. But to try and show what I mean I have listed the plot quests since 4th quarter 2004, straight from the calendar. I hope this will go a ways to show you that people get 'targeted’ on a few things, such as X quest was 18+ so that must mean all quests are like that—they do not take a few minutes to step back and see the bigger picture.

Plot Quests since 4th quarter 2004:

August 2004:
I will try to run a 3-5 hour quest based on the plot on this day. It will be open to any level, though it could be dangers for those that are 7th and below.

Time is in PST.

September 2004:
Meant for levels 6+ for the most part. During the storms part it is open to all levels. After that I highly recommend 6+ levels only.

This will probably last 3-4 hours.

Time is in PST.

November 2004:
Open to levels 5+ for the most part. Low levels may be hard pressed though. But much of this will be based around the Lost Library and other NPC's. (This is assuming Bioware has released 1.64 and we have it patched on the server)

It will probably last 4-6 hours.

Time is in PST.

March 2004:
Level 12+ only, max of 12 character. Be forewarned, very dangerous. Quest starts at Ozlo's Tower.

2pm PST and it will last 3-4 hours.

March 2005:
This quest is open to levels 9+, max of 20 players. Once every few centuries the two moons and distant planets align. During that time magic is at its most powerful. What is to come on this Crimson Moon?

Depends on what happens but this could be a deadly quest, also depending on what happens, it will last 3-5 hours. Quest begins in Bloody Gate.

3pm PST


April 2005:
Levels 12+ only, max 12 characters. It will last 3-5 hours. Quest starts at Xora's Tower. Remeber, dying at a Bloodpool always gives a death token.

2pm PST

April 2005:
Open to everybody 7th level and above, max of 20 characters. Quest starts at Casterly Castle and will last 3-5 hours.

2pm PST.

May 2005:
Level 9+ only, max of 15 characters. It is very likely this will get deadly but who knows--there is a chance that things will go very easy.

3PM PST and it will last 2-5 hours. Starts at Casterly Castle and will move to central and perhaps east servers.

May 2005:
Open to characters 14+, max of 12 characters. This quest should be about information, however two things can turn it very sour and one of those will kill everybody nearby at the time--as well as unleash a major fork in the plot--and likely complete failure. Play smart or don't play at all.

Quest starts at Kingdom of Roldem - Tibum.

2pm PST - 3-4 hours.

June 2005:
This will be the conclusion on the gathering of the four gems for Ozlo from the Speaker of Nature. Depending on the success level of the other quests it could be short and easy or long and hard. Sorry that is the best I can say.

No level limit, no party size limit--for at least the first part, after that I can not say but I will adjust the party(s) as we go.

3PM PST - Starts in Arabel.

June 2005:
Open to levels 7+ with a max of 25 in the party. Quest starts in Lorindar.

Starts at 3pm and will last 2-3 hours.

August 2005:
This quest is one of information and likely some combat. It is not a real difficult one but it will open up some information on how certain things happen in the Planes and the Prime called Layonara. It will last 1-3 hours only.

Level 8+ is required and there will be a maximuim of 30 on the quest, this will be enforced but hopefully players will work it out amongst themselves on who travels or does not travel in the party.

Quest begins in Lorindar at 3pm PST.


August 2005:
This could be a dangerous quest but it depends on the players, as such I will limit the party size to a Maximuim of 16 so that we can control the lag to a degree. Levels 12+ only please, the party size and levels will be enforced so work it out amongst yourselves on who goes and does not go.

Quest begins in Arabel at 3pm PST.

September 2005:
This is the last chance that this quest will be run, let us hope it is successful on this attempt. Level 13+ only please and a max party size of 16 players. It is a gathering quest but will certainly have significant danger involved. I am really hoping the three involved in this for a while now (you know who you are) can be there.

Quest begins in Arabel at 3pm PST.

*sorry folks I need to move this to Sunday at 3pm*

October 2005:
This quest will start a "series" that will last at least two quests, and perhaps three--depending on players. At the end of each quest in this "series" your character will NOT be playable until the "series" is completed (IE. you will be stuck in a location and you will not get out until the party figures it out or dies trying to figure it out). This could take a while to solve but it is also very important. Not being able to play the character until it is solve will be enforced and you may not be able to play your character for up to a month (except when the quest is happening). This will get dangerous and as such level 14+ is required and a max party size of 16 will be strictly enforced. Bring rations/water and supplies so that you may survive for a long time, be prepared.

Quest begins in Arabel at 3pm PST.


October 2005:
This will be the continuation of the "series" that began with Darkness and Shadows. Same party restriction will be applied and the quest will begin where we ended the last quest. I hope you brought all of the needed provisions.

Quest begins at 3pm PST.

October 2005:
This will be one of two things, either continuing the "series" that began with Darkness and Shadows and therefore beginning where we left off last time or it will start in Arabel. If we begin in Arabel it will be a max party size of 24 and at least level 12, otherwise it will be the same rules of Darkness and Shadows and will begin where we left off. It all depends on players for this quest.

Quest begins at 3pm PST.

November 2005:
It is time for a few critical decisions. Levels 8+ and a max of 30 players.

Quest begins in Lorindar at 2pm PST.

December 2005:
More information and perhaps final path decisions--come prepared to think long and hard and hopefully get things right. Level 8+ and a max of 30 players.

Quest begins in Pranzis at 3pm PST.


January 2006:
Quest begins at Moraken’s tower but will fairly quickly move to another server. This one is quite dangerous and likely deadly. Anybody may join while the party is at Morakens, but once travel to another server begins you must be 18th or higher level. The party may be no larger than 16 when travel to another server begins, it can be any size while at Morakens. Warning, at one point you will be fighting beside a Blood Pool. I suspect this quest will last 4-6 hours.

January 2006:
This is the continuation of the January 14th quest that had to be ended due to bad weather and power outages on my side. I am sorry to all of the GM's that have scheduled quests and I really hope this does not cause your quests any harm.

Only Players that were in the quest on the east server may join again. We had 16 players at that time and I hope we have that many again. I think everybody saw the numbers were needed.

January 2006:
Quest begins at Lorindar. The quest is open to levels 6 and above. This is combat light and may be a short quest, perhaps two hours or less. But there is a way that it could become as long as 6 hours though I do not think that will happen. There is no party size limit unless the quest does go down the six hour path and at that time it will turn in to a combat oriented quest and will need to limit the party size to a max of 16 with a level limit of 14 and above only. Begins at 2pm PST

Any thoughts, ideas or solutions are appreciated but in another thread and keep it polite and on subject or it will be locked. This thread is now locked.