Stormcrest Guides: Pre-launch Announcement

[Chongo]

STORMCREST GUIDES
 
 
 Hello Layonara Community! I'd like to go ahead and announce a new project on the very near horizon with us standing at the introduction of v3 for Layonara. Nestled in the trees between Fort Vehl and Port Hempstead there will soon be a small cobble path that leads to a small rickety old shack built into a tree. This is the Stormcrest Shack, a cozy tavern at the crossroads of the server start cities.
 
  What is this shack and why is it there?
 
 It's a gathering point mostly. A group of characters have decided to participate in a guiding service. This isn't any grand guild or organization, it's a simple meeting place where sponsored guides will often just hang out, offering maybe to guide someone around, or to a particular destination your character may have in mind. They work for nobody, and pay no dues, so what they charge you is what they deem appropriate for the destination you have in mind. The tavern is owned by a one eyed dwarf some may know, though he's donated it up to just about any of the guides to make use of it to get a client, and the doors are always open to get a drink.
 
 Now, Stormcrest Guides work on a pretty free flowing premise: That the participating guides can work when they like, for whatever amount they like. Even if its just buying them an ale. That said, there are some rules:
 
 - A guide can't be contracted out for resources, or any other goals that are at an unreasonable challenge for your character. More simply, anything that seems to not be in good spirit of the server.
 - Distribution of gold and items found on your travels is at the guide's discretion for distribution.
 - That the only people working as guides are sponsored by Stormcrest.
 
  Who are these guides?
 
 Well currently the participating characters are:
 
 Talan Va'lash, Lalaith Va'lash, Varka Cleaveson, Jennara Creekskipper, Acacea Thistletongue, Quillwem Laylluanilm, Triba Gues, Jacchri Abianca, Ireth Telrunya, Ketilbjorn Svadi, Lillian Dartforth, Daeron Stormcloud, AnnaLee Ohtartel'selu, Kavil Yodin, Ozymandias Llewellyn, Connor Garvill, Rhizome, Bilvikki, Remiel Delmir, Rodlin Serim, and Katrien Hommel (with the full acknowledgement that she is apt to getting lost).
 
 More guides will be added perpetually as time passes. The requirements for getting sponsored by Stormcrest will be posted up in due time following the initial launch.
 
  So why does Stormcrest Guides exist?
 
 Well, for starters, it'll be fun. It's an easy way for everyone to meet each other. It's an easy way for us to find a convenient collection point for roleplay and good times. It's a means for anyone out there to walk up and ask to go adventuring with someone who has their footing on where things are, the lore of the lands, and generally the storylines all around you as you travel around. Playstyles can be shared between players that generally wouldn't party together because of level spreads or the like. It's just a good way for us all to get together and party responsibly, mostly.
 
  So how do you get a guide?
 
 Well, the easiest way is to simply hang out in the comforts of the Stormcrest Shack, or lounge by the campfire at the pond outside. There is a torch outside the shack that will be lit when there's a guide about who is up for taking someone out. Alternatively, you can PM me, Chongo, to try and set something up in advance.
 
  What sort of things can you do when you get a guide?
 
 Once you get someone as a guide by hanging out at the shack and asking, there's all sorts of things you might do. It's really up to you as the character wanting to see or learn more of the world. You could wander local lands to get a handle on your surroundings if you're unfamiliar. Or you could travel to an exotic destination that you've been yearning to go but feel you could benefit from someone who can maybe show you around with a bit more flavor. Or maybe you want to be shown someplace so you can learn the lore shaping its history. It's really up to you as a character and what feels fun. Every character in this game has a lot to share, and getting a few of these older hands with lore up the wazoo on every blade of grass can be quite fun, especially when you're part of learning something new with them. The things we're not out to do is go get you high end items or resources. That's just against the spirit of Stormcrest, and while getting an emerald is fun, it should never be the spirit of the goal.
 
 
 Layonara has a wonderful community that is ever changing and still growing. Make use of the people around you. Come hang out at the tavern or at the campfire, at the crossroads of Fort Vehl and Port Hempstead. The sign will point the way there. Cheers.

[Chongo]

Bear in mind the entire team is quite busy with the numerous projects being worked on, and that the introduction of this may take a few weeks.  That said, go ahead and get it into your head that this is on the near horizon, that the Shack will be a wonderful place for the community to get together, and that the party is about to begin in a new and exciting way.

What is the Shack going to look like?

http://www.layonara.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=110587&ppuser=4681

http://www.layonara.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=110586&ppuser=4681

[Witch Hunter]

*jumps up and down with joy* the interior looks great! not to mention the idea! :O

[s0ulz]

This is an awesome idea and the tavern looks amazing! Good luck with this

[Pen N Popper]

Fantastic!  

Do you envision this area as the new "Hlint benches?"

[Leanthar]

The team is excited about this guide set up. We think it will help to welcome new players as well as be a nice gathering area for players to RP and get assistance along the way. Thank you to Chongo for getting it started and hopefully the community fully supports it.

[LynnJuniper]

Chongo this is an awesome idea. It gives more of an environment for helping new players and promotes intense rp. I think I can say that Rhynn will probably be spending a lot of her time here rather than sitting semi afk on a bench . And Thanks to L and the team for implementation of this (Wow this Firefox built in spell checker is horrid. Back to Word)

[Faldred]

Sweeeeeeeet.

Great initiative and an excellent idea!

[Chongo]

Fantastic!  

Do you envision this area as the new "Hlint benches?"

I think it'd be bold for us to come in assuming this is going to be the new Hlint benches... but yes, the major goal of this is to pool the community in a fun way.

[Chongo]

Hey folks, I've been out of town and am just now coming back to see that this is in game now, so I had a few community questions since the premise is to gather and integrate everyone in the community...

- How's the concept working out?
- Are folks making use of the shack?
- I know we *just* launched, and a lot of the guides are probably busy working projects, but has anyone been out yet with one of the guides?
- Do you have any ideas or suggestions?

Fun.  This little gig will organize itself pretty rapidly if it hasn't already, the small initial crew just didn't get to chat during the launch before I went away.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Acacea]

I think the crossroads should be made a true crossroads that people walk through when going from Vehl to Hempstead...or put a sign where you turn that announces the shack, that would be cute. Also I think the lantern should be in the same place, so that if it is lit, you can see that there is a guide at the crossroads before you actually walk to the crossroads.

The lantern has that funky reversed light thing going on too, and the guides can't light it yet of course

I have seen people there several times, with good experiences barring the orc thing that was hauling 'boxes of alcohol' out of the shack and tossing them in the fire along with the benches prior to trying to eat my character! (hold monster! ), but no real traffic so far. No guiding either, mostly because the one person I saw interested was unsure where he wanted to go.

It sounds like I'm saying it's a failure but I actually think this will make a great gathering point from what I've seen - I think as long as nothing is done to the two starting areas to make them the slick hangout areas, traffic should flow past them and to the center where many people can pool together comfortably. If it's more clear where it is, and what the guides are, in game without needing to look on the forums to know what its about, I think it'll start turning on its own.

Because it was added only recently and probably people were unsure if it was 'starting' or not because of not knowing if there was anything else needing to be done, I consider it as not really having a run, yet.

Buttt now that Chongo is back I think at least a few people glance up and go, "Oh, are we doing it now?"

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

How would one go about becoming a guide? Honestly, Pyyran fits the mold of that sort of guide incredibly, and... Well, it sounds like fun.

[ycleption]

- How's the concept working out?
- Are folks making use of the shack?
- I know we *just* launched, and a lot of the guides are probably busy working projects, but has anyone been out yet with one of the guides?
- Do you have any ideas or suggestions?

I've been there a handful of times (maybe 10-12), and have not seen a guide, or anyone else for that matter, yet. I love the idea, but I think the biggest problem is that it's not really on the way to anywhere... i.e. with the Hlint benches, half the people entering or leaving town would pass by. Stormcrest is just not conducive to the kind of chance encounters that made the Hlint benches so iconic. If it were placed in the Hampshire fields, or right in the middle of Dapplegreen, rather than in it's own area, I think it would be a lot more effective at gathering the community.

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

I'm thinking perhaps the Hempstead fields would be better than the Dapplegreen... After all, the Dapplegreen is just the path between Hemp and Vehl, whereas EVERYONE has to pass through the Hemp fields.

[Dorganath]

The shack is being moved for the next update, but it's going to stay in Dapplegreen.  

Really, one area away from the Hempstead fields isn't that big of a deal.

[aragwen]

I've been there a handful of times (maybe 10-12), and have not seen a guide, or anyone else for that matter, yet. I love the idea, but I think the biggest problem is that it's not really on the way to anywhere...

 
 Being one of the guides, I would suggest that if you require guiding, then post a message in the general forums and one fo the guides will see it and pick it up. I have sat there for a while once or twice without anyone passing through.
 
 But post in the forums marking it clearly Stormcrest Guides and see what happens

[Serissa]

How about putting some fish in the pond?  That would give you something to do while you wait for someone else to show up, and fishing used to be a good way for beginners to feed themselves.
 
 Serissa

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

Hey, yeah! Fish! With a sign that says "Please, no bow fishing; I'd rather catch fish than old arrows."

[jrizz]

you rock Chongo!!

[jrizz]

Chongo, how do I sign Wren up as a guide?