The World of Layonara
The Layonara Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: pejsaboy on July 24, 2006, 03:02:40 PM
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Rather than make a suggestion right off the bat, I thought I would pose the question to see if a suggestion is warranted. Chances are it will not be. Anyway, I've only been on the server/forums about a month and a half, so this may have already been answered.
Last week I stumbled on the XP/level table in LORE, can't remember what I was actually looking for at the time. Suffice it to say I was [first] really kind of dumbfounded, and a few minutes later the disappointment set in. The XP amounts required to hit the next levels from where I'm at are HUGE, and then they only get larger: to go from lvl 8 to 9 [where I'm at now] is 320,000xp. Then later on about 14th or so it jumps to 640,000xp. Later on, it gets even larger, about 1M per level.
Some quick figuring in my head gives me this: At the rate that I generally gain xp, It would take me around six weeks [1.5 months] to hit levels 9-15ish. Then about 3 months a piece to do levels 15-20. I'll admit that I don't have as much time to play as many, but that's a LONG time IMO, even on a guessing scale. On a rough conversion to Layo time the way I understand it [1 day RL ~ 15 days Layo], the next few levels would be about two years apart.
So, my question is why? The only answer that comes to my mind is that the team doesn't want to deal with a lot of epic level characters, which is fine. I am just curious why it has been setup this way.
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Your not the first to hzave asked this, and you properly wont be the last.
there seem to be a "deadzone" where you get XP relatively slow. these begin at the 8th level, and usually end at around 12-13 when your able to travel to Dregar and kill creatures over there, that are more "your" level. At this point you will relatively get quick Xp until about 15-16, where it will go slightly slower until you hit 20. Everyone have had this deadzone and its not easy, and you get frustrated alot. but it all evens once you get to Dregar.
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To reach level 20, one usually needs 1 year or more, depending on how much one plays.
This level/month calculation is more or less only valid for "pure bashing". For questing, it's almost the same regardless of level.
Oh, and... Erh... Getting to level 15 in 1,5 month is really, really fast. I have played my character for around 6 month now (and, I think I have "above average" amount of time played) and she's still at level 14. ;)
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http://www.layonaraonline.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=28175&posts=1&start=1
[big]....."7) Powerleveling to the extreme. I mean at least one player has reached level 12 in just over 5 weeks. That is ridiculous and is not in the spirit of the server. Now that player is continuing to powerlevel with his friends, which strangely do not see anything wrong with that although they know what the server is all about. Slow down, learn how to RP or join in the RP. This world in nwn is not for powerlevelers, there are 100's of other servers for that......." [/big]
Layonara isnt about reaching "X" level as fast as you can.
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Guardian 452 - 7/24/2006 6:16 PM
Layonara isnt about reaching "X" level as fast as you can.
It's about being your character, and enriching the spirit of the world by doing so.
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Dont forgot the GM quests.
They learn you how to have loads of fun Roleplaying, and give you ideas for when your not quests. Like Guardian says, its not about leveling.
Ive never laughed so hard seeing "ghostly" Takerday (dead), trying to run through walls and falling flat on his back....
....or been so worried when Shades appeared and charged us all without warning.
And I was only sat on the Bench in Hlint.
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Weeblie - 7/25/2006 12:11 AM
To reach level 20, one usually needs 1 year or more, depending on how much one plays.
This level/month calculation is more or less only valid for "pure bashing". For questing, it's almost the same regardless of level.
Oh, and... Erh... Getting to level 15 in 1,5 month is really, really fast. I have played my character for around 6 month now (and, I think I have "above average" amount of time played) and she's still at level 14. ;)
I second that weeblie, I have been playing in 12-13 months and I have played quite a lot in the last 10 months and my character is level 15.
And please don't even get started on the level grind... Levels is fun, but rp is much more fun that being the best wacker of mosters around
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I have played Q for over a year and a few mounths I think to finally hit 20, but that is by choice. Alot of the other charters that run around, know him or know of him. I personal perfer it this way. I know some that have reached levels faster but if you make your mark on the land you are remembered longer. (get out and get to know people, have fun, RP alot, this is what this server is all about.)
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As everyone else has said, RP is the main focus of Layonara. You are not supposed to be able to get to level 20 in less than a year or more. I have been here and playing my character for almost a year and a half now and he is level 16.
So slow down don't focus on levels as much and just try to enjoy the world. Then when you do get a level you appreciate all the new powers/spells/items you can use.
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Don't worry about the XP. Play, RP, have fun...the XP will come, but it's a bonus, not the goal.
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Ayup... been here 6 months and am only level 11... the role play is the fun.
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Good points everyone. I guess I just haven't quite adjusted to the heavy roleplay vs. the quick pace of the OC and expansions. I do enjoy the RP and all the features of the world a lot though :)
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Turor was made (approved, too) on July 11, 2005. It is now July 24 (or 25, depending where you are), 200*6*.
I'm happy to announce that on July 23rd or 22nd, somewhere, Turor Sunderstone managed to attain his 9th level :P
Of course, I keep thinking to myself that if ONLY I hadn't kept getting these long absences from the server, he'd be level 20ish by now... *snicker*
In short, level means nothing. There are epic levels (the ones that don't do their completely own thing long enough to sit and RP with the 'rest of us', anyways) who have come to respect Turor. Somewhat. Kinda. If you can RP your character effectively, it shouldn't matter what level he/she is, because people will like them. You might even end up running with those epics on a few dandy little quests or something just because you know them, and were at the right place at the right time kind of deal. And that's always fun.
In short, Hello.
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...the best stuff ever happens sitting around the benches in Hlint. Seriously.
For example. Tonight. Someone screamed "MURDER" as I was sitting on the bench in Hlint..
Long story Short, Rhynn no longer has a mouth.
I love Layo and RP!
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Dorganath - 7/24/2006 6:00 PM Don't worry about the XP. Play, RP, have fun...the XP will come, but it's a bonus, not the goal.
There's nothing else to say on this subject if you get this point. You can give personal RL timelines, you can point at others, but in the end, regardless of the real time value of what you're able to expend towards the game... if you get the above point you just don't care. Everything else is static in what is otherwise a good time. Bring value, have fun, and you're a useful addition no matter how you slice it.
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there are of course other levels to think about - crafting levels.
Should decide to become a crafter then you will find immense pleasure from gaining crafting levels, joy and amusement at the new things you can make.
In addition you will actually have 'serious' resons to go on expeditions (it sounds better to say you are questing into a dungeon for iron to craft with than it is just because your a physcopath who likes committing genocide upon the ogre peoples).
An finally once you have crafted things hunting around for buyers and interracting with customers forces you to walk down the RP route, as does interracting with PCs who you need to buy things from.
As a crafter I have come to know and interact with many more characters than i would have otherwise. And i like knowing the people in Hlint!
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As far as reasons to do things go, you can always make up your own roleplayed ones, assuming it's only character-level and not something that would require a GM. I've been in some fun player quests that are simply roleplayed reasons to get out when some of the more passive characters would be less likely to do so.
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As aptly pointed out by Nibor, crafting is not only a good way to gain levels in something other than simple fighting, but it's a lovely way to set up parties to go out adventuring. And I've been on the server 4 months now, and Kell just recently reached level 7. And I've been enjoying myself so much that I'm working on a second character. (Granted, it'd be nice if Kell didn't have to depend on the kindness of others to get his hands on even the simple stuff he needs to craft, but nevertheless, it's most enjoyable.)
Materials quests not only garner XP but allow for a great chance for additional RP - and a passing GM might even drop in to make things more interesting, if you're lucky. :D
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Agreed. I am a crafting junky... sadly Aliester left before I hit "the zone" and started forsaking everything else... showering, sleeping, loitering in Hlint... there's WORK to be done! And when ye got WORK, lad, when you feel the NEED to help everybody you meet to find a craft that's fun for them, a source of income and trades to fall back upon... that's when you hear the call of Dorand. Anybody feeling "stuck" in crafting ask the fat dwarf Bjornigar for advice or help finding key components, mines, what have you. It's what us Defenders of Dorand DO with our restless lives. ;)
Idle hands... they lead to shennanigans!
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Crafting is definitely a great way to get your character started on Layo. It gives them a social reason for moving around the world and a physical reason to go in to danger. In fact crafting and family-roots are Gel's two biggest motivators for travel. It also gives common ground for others that you meet to talk about. But in terms of conversing with other characters, I like pursuing more philisophical conversations with my fellow players. They can lead to some very passionate moments for characters as well as give future motivations for the RP stories that overarch Layo.
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On the idea of crafting that has come up since my last post in this thread, I actually have just [barely] started into the crafting :)
I haven't collected any copper for arrowheads yet, but I've got everything else ready to work on a small batch of arrows.
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Once you head down the Craft path and make some gold off your items your gonna be hooked.
You are also gonna want to Craft everything you own,Trust me.
:)
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I met some of my best in games friends because I needed material... Who can mine for me... Someone points me to the Stonecutters... Who needs rings... get pointed to others... who can do this or that? who needs this or that? Who wants to go to Haven to mine gems? Crafting takes time but in the end I think it leads to more role play than sitting on a bench waiting for someone to come along and leed a journey (which alot of the time is for CNR anyway). Plus when I'm on and don't feel like dealing with others I can always craft...
And Like someone said above it's nice to have you and you friends useing and wearing stuff you made. I have a bow made by a player who has passed on, and I wouldn't sell it for the world because me made it with his own hands special for Tyrian.
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One thing that can't be overstated either is that Layo is a party based world. Armolas is now Level 12 ranger and still has trouble fighting 2 ogre berserks without the help of a summons. But, put him in a party as archer support and he is quite deadly. Combine that with the massive XP from being in an able party and you will get your levels quicker. I was in a party on Dregar and came away with close to 100,000 xp in one night and all we were doing was mining silver and going after several other resources that people in the party needed. Point being, party up.. alone you may not be very effective at tackling the high xp targets, but in a party, things get much easier.
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I hold the record for lowest level character for longest time played. Even without the 6 month break I took from Layonara, Caldiir was level 8 for almost 6 months. He was the first character I created here, and that was way back in 2004. He's now level 9, but he has a lot of fun RP'ing in and around the towns. Especially when he's stirring up trouble.
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Well, to be fair, Deacon, those of us who play Drow, Tiefers, or any other special subrace with an EL penalty get an advantage when it comes to slow levelling. *grins* It means that Kell will likely never realize his ambition to become a shadowdancer.. but I'm rather ambivalent on that point. He's level 7 now... if I play him hard, he might be level 8 in a couple of weeks - then we'll see who holds the record. ;)
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I love the roleplay thats why I keep playing Layo. I can level in the NWN solo adventures. I just don't like when my characters get snubbed for an adventure because some high level folks realize that my designation compared to them is "easy" or "moderate". It makes no sense from a role playing point of view and at times I wish for more levels so that I too could be included. NOT all epic level characters do this, they just play a character, and they make it great. I understand that I will get killed, and that I will probably drain a group of resources before gettting axed, but hey the Hobbits got to travel with Gandalf didn't they? To the snobby power levelers I say you are missing some great chances for lots of fun role playing. To the many epic characters who don't seem to even look for the level indicators thank you.
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These are all good responses everyone, thanks. In fact, the previous disappointment I had been feeling is long gone by now. I also had a good trip into the Haven mines last night because Tyrian needed some stuff ;)
Now, if I can just make it into the goblin caves without bumping into a rude dwarf that was there first.... *laughs* good times.
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This may be getting off point here, but Gunther will adventure with just about anybody. I've adventured with Gruwlz above in Saudiria and the surrounding area. Sometimes though I have a pretty good idea of what we're getting into, and I feel somewhat badly about including a 7th or 8th level person on a trip through northern Dregar. I think there are just some places where some characters shouldn't go and where higher level characters should take some responsibility and deny them the opportunity to get themselves, and possibly others, killed.
As for the argument that you cant tell by just looking at someone what level they are, I agree to a point. However, I've been in the army, I've fenced, I've done my civilian job for about five years or so. I could tell pretty much right away in any of those circumstances when someone was 'green', so to speak. I think the same holds true for adventuring. I think an experienced character would be able to tell in a very short amount of time, what the given level of someone is (albeit roughly and perhaps inexactly and maybe not always with absolute certainty). I further think, if that experienced adventurer is of a good alignment, that they would consider very carefully taking someone where they shouldnt be.
I dont intend this as an insult to anyone who wants to see Dregar or other places besides Mistone. I hope it isnt taken that way. Gunthers been booted from quests when the level requirement was upped and I sympathize. It seems recently though that I've had to escort a lot of people back to Pranzis or Lorindar after they find themselves alone in Saudiria or other places. After the fourth or fifth time, it does start to get stale. In that same vein, in regard to quests, there is a lag consideration. When it comes down to picking 15 or so people to go on an epic quest, people are going to pick those that they know or have heard favorably of. Its just more practical. There are characters out there that will give up their spots to people who are relative 'newbies' though also, so they can go on these quests. My hat is off to those who do that. That kind of self sacrifice is what makes Layonara great, on the part of the DMs and players. Enough rambling about that though.
Anyway, I did the craft thing for quite awhile and had a great time doing it. I'm proud to say that Gunther is wearing the armor that he made for himself out of the ore that he smelted. Gunther also has a nice ore mining and smelting business on the side now and has several customers. Gunther is over a year old and is 17th level. My levelling seems to go through sporadic growth spurts, but I wont lie, its nice to be at least somewhat valued. I think Gunther is valued on quests anyway. Maybe its just for comic relief though.
As a giant playing character, my advice to you is to cultivate patience. A lot of it. Most of the people I started playing with are 20th level now. Those that survived anyway. Find something that you enjoy doing in the game besides mindlessly bashing things (though that can be fun) and go with that as far as it'll take you.
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As everyone else has said, here, XP isn't everything. While I do agree, it's nice to get to a high level as quick as possible, Layo is that, but different.
I quit playing AD&D out of books because none of my friends could get together at the same time to play (yeah, we did it out of books...from first edition to thrid). Well, when we played, we played in character. Then we would do whatever we could to get way up in levels because we never knew when we were going to get together again.
Now, me and some of my old friends, and now alot of my new friends, play on Layo. We come and go whenever we have time. It's no longer a "Ok, let's play a week from Sat.", "No, I have this to do, how about next Thur?", "Sorry, can't then, how about...." You get the idea.
It's now, no longer about getting the XP as fast as possible, now it's about having fun with friends. Besides, it would be awful mundane if everyone got to a high level too quickly. After so long, every time you went to fight, it would have to be some kind of epic hero thing 'cause everyone would be at level 40...fun for the first few times, but it'd get boaring really quick.
Wander around, make friends. Talk, craft, have fun. Don't fight a dragon alone. And STAY OUT OF TROUBLE (I can vouch for that last one.)
Remember, Layo isn't hack-n-slash...we're a whole different world.
:)