Wishing Leveling up was a bit easier...

[RomonaBlack]

First of all I am not putting down the current XP leveling system.  I think that it is good that you can't just level quickly to epic status but the thing that is hard for me is that my RL kind of takes up most my time and in order to level up you have to spend a lot of time on the server crafting, questing and RPing.  I guess I wish that some of the more minor built in quests gave more XP but most of all I wish that just killing monsters and stuff like that gave more XP.  I've been doing that a lot lately because I really want to break lvl 6 at least so I can run all over the place (I know some areas are still very hard though) securely on Mistone.  I just don't have the time (work 40 hours in a bank and have a husband, so I can't stay up too late and I need to spend time with him) to go on most of your scheduled large quests and those that I am interested in are only for higher lvl people.  Just hard I guess.  Anyway I'm done ranting.
-Romona

[feniox]

I know how you feel, I don't really mind waiting a while to level up, but I often see people do a character bio, log in and then within a few days they are a higher level than me. I have to wonder at their secrets

But yeah, even if it was easier to level, the people who have the time to be on here a lot would still advance a lot faster, and the higher level characters such as Kobal, Ozy, etc, would be waaaaaaaay out infront, so nothing would really be too much different.

[Vyris]

You might be suprised..
I've never personally seen Ozy engage anything in combat, yet he is still I think the highest level character here? Try setting aside a couple hours once a week to do quests, it gives you better xp than 3 days worth of killing goblins by yourself, it's a great chance to RP with people you might miss otherwise, and you might make a friend or two that could group up with you in off-quest time to tackle tougher monsters for better xp.

Also keep in mind a lot of the higher level characters have been playing that SINGLE character for the better part of a year or more, those that rush themselves to level 19 are going to be highly dissapointed when they reach level 20 and find out that they haven't met the requirements for epic level players, and are denied ECDQ's by the DM team.

Enjoy the lower levels, Layonara is about community and RP, not how high you can stack the corpses.


Vyris

/edit/
PS : I've been a registered user here for more than a year, and my highest level character hasn't even gotten to level 11 yet, not that I couldn't, trust me, I'd like to. But there are so many other pleasant diversions I haven't felt pressured to. He owns a house, and his story is getting fleshed out very nicely. I've even managed to make some small effect on the plot with my CDQ, just because you aren't level 25 doesn't mean your story isn't meaningfull.

[feniox]

I think Vyris summed up what I was trying to say, but managed to make sense where I failed at it

My only problem with quests is that I'm a musician by trade, so a lot of the time during the evenings when the quests in good times for me (GMT 8pm and on) are running, I'm usually out at practices and the like. This of course is no fault of team, and I'm not complaining about it any way.

On the characters though, I don't think I could play one single character exclusively, I like to have a range of characters that I can use depending on the mood I'm in at the time I log in (which also hinders levelling, lol)

[RomonaBlack]

Thanks for all the advice.  I don't necessarily want to rush through the levels I just want to get to one where I can help other people with out feeling like I'm always the one they have to worry about getting killed and doesn't really help out.  I love RPing to and I am tryng to learn a trade.  The quests are hard for me to get in to due to time schedules also.  But thanks again.
-Romona

[Trip1888]

I understand exactly what you mean.  I always feel like the little weakling in the back getting a couple stabs in here and there and then running away to heal myself...

[steverimmer]

I too know how you feel...although I would not like to see levelling made any easier myself.  On the other hand its always possible to get on quests you're too low a level for (within reason) I've done it myself many times...but if you do, you should forget about being a combatant and when melee starts make sure you don't join in at all, even with bows or crossbows (a lot of creatures now seem to make a bee line for the weakest characters when they are attacked).  This means that your contribution to the party has to be an RP one rather than a traditional one and that only goes to enriching the game for you and for everyone else

[RomonaBlack]

Again though the quests are hard to make if you work 40 hours a week including saturdays.  Oh well I guess.  I'm still having fun though.
-romona

[FlameStrike]

Don't worry too much about leveling up and enjoy the moments, because when you reach higher levels, you might wish you were lvl 7 or 8 again.

[Vyris]

Trip1888 - 6/2/2005  11:55 PM

I understand exactly what you mean.  I always feel like the little weakling in the back getting a couple stabs in here and there and then running away to heal myself...

One usefull thing you could do in that instance is to stockpile some targetable healing potions, then just hang back and watch everyones life bar on the party list, if someone is getting walloped target them with a potion or two, you'll be helping a lot that way, and staying out of battle, the targetable potions have a decent 'range' on them (A bit too much imho) The front line folks will appreciate your effort, you will be contributing in a most vital way, and you'll be staying out of the general melee.




Vyris

//edit for dumb typos.

[miltonyorkcastle]

I have managed to be a part of a total of I think five quests since I started on this server due to my completely unpredictable schedule, one of which was my character development quest.  I started on this server in February (and I totally dig it), and I would have to say that the quests are by far the best way to get XP and explore the world.  However, for those like myself who have a hard time finding time for quests, I have a few pieces of advice.

First- and this is probably obvious- with the friends you make on this server, work out a time among yourselves for a quest of your own.  The new player's calender is perfect for this.  Granted, you won't get the extra XP from a DM's quest, but I guarantee you the DM's watch the quests on that player calender, and some of my most enlightening experiences and the most creative RP I've seen has come from player initiated 'quests.'  The quests can be as simple as helping (or being hired to help) a friend gather crafting materials to something as complicated as figuring out a character's lost past.  You'd be surprised to find how much XP you end up with, but moreover, how much XP such events lead to as the relationships you build in those situations open the door to bigger and better things..... and more relationships.  I guess I said all that to say, build relationships, and lots of them.  My character just reached 11th level and I could not have done it save for the innumerable amount of aquaintences and friends Cole has made.

Secondly, as a 'higher' level character, I find it extremely rewarding to help lower level people.  In fact, Cole damn near makes his living helping out poor 3rd level characters who decide to explore the Krandor crypts.  And for that matter, I know many other strong characters who aid and teach lower level charcters.  So, once again, if you're having trouble with XP, in an effort to build relationships, don't be afraid to talk to those 'impossible' rated people.  They just might be the ones to point you in the right direction or to the right group of people that can help you find your niche and that extra XP boost you were wanting.  
NOTE: I am not talking about high level characters 'power leveling' a low level character.  The idea is to meet enough people that you find the ones that are a good match for your characters.

Finally, and this is common sense, but stands to be said, XP comes in spurts.  Some days you get tons, others you get none, and if you play multiple characters, sometimes their cycle of low XP comes around at the same times and, bam, you play for what seems like years before you get any solid XP.  

Truth be told, this has all been covered at some time, somewhere else in these forums, but it all comes down to this:  the key to advancement in the RP environment of this server is relationship.  It's who you know, and in some cases, how many.  So while you're trying to decide on a quest that fits your schedule, go talk to ten new people standing around Hlint or Fort Hope.  You may find something better than those quests.


-milton yorkcastle


Disclaimer:  The DM's work their butts off and run some awesome quests, so let me be clear that I did not write all that to discourage involvement in DM quests, just to encourage player interaction.

[RomonaBlack]

Okay, yes I have made friends...I have two definate ones and a few others that help me out and such, but I still think that as an employee of a bank it is very hard to find time to quest (even small party player ones) when they usually take 2-4 hours due to the party not being able to make up their minds about what to do.  I'm going to try to go on a quest this thurs.  First quest.  I also wish that my brother was on more because I would love to hang out with him.  That was the first reason why I bought this game; was to hang out with Trace Nightwind, by bro.  Oh well.  I'll be fine just wish that a lone adventurer could level up a bit easier than they can on this server, not all the time but when there's hardly anyone on and I actually have time to play.
-Romona