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Messages - G.Giant
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« on: January 02, 2010, 09:24:13 PM »
Yeah, but you can be a dex. based fighter just as easily...
Ah, forget it. These mechanics discussions can go on all day, and this probably isn't the place for it. We're both right.
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« on: January 02, 2010, 08:44:26 PM »
The Bow icon is mainly due in my perspective to the fact that rangers in any type of games have always received a lower armor class level than warriors. Which means they tend to rely more on their nimbleness to evade the attacks, and thus are better suited for ranged attack as those are based on dexterity.
From an RP perspective I'd agree with you 100%. From an NWN mechanics perspective, Rangers got the shaft, no horrible arrow-related pun intended. The only class related skill that applies to archery really is the ability to cast Cat's Grace, where bow-based fighters (by virtue of feats to burn as well as specialization) and rogues (with their synergistic mobility as well as sneak attacks that can be delivered from a safe distance) are much better served. I would of course assume that's why many rangers multiclass (or why most melee classes tend to, really, since you get diminishing returns going straight through in any of them.)
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« on: December 18, 2009, 05:06:44 PM »
I agree.
Over the years we've done (on a highly irregular basis) sessions called RP101. They were not only about how to RP though, but also to give new people a good start and make them get to know people in an OOC setting.
I think it would be a good idea to re-start those. Perhaps. I think most people still playing NWN in 2010 are veterans of other servers, have a PnP background or both. I'm sure your house style is a little different (as all are) but I don't think a lot of newbies will end up here (and choose a password protected server, and apply through your process) without any idea how to role-play a character. But what I am getting the sense of- which I guess I missed before- is that you guys want to get to know the player first, and the character second. That aspect is a little new to me, as I'm used to (and kind of prefer, honestly) most interaction to be between characters and in character, including such things as asking for directions. And, as friendly as everyone else- and again, thanks to all who have sent messages, etc. with instructions- I don't like the idea of asking established players to drop what they're doing and show me around. That doesn't mean I don't want to RP, far from it, but I'd rather be doing so from a different angle than "I'm new and I need help." It also takes away the thrill of discovery, honestly. Finding out through tells and PMs that there's some quests out this way because that's where the starting area was before, and there's some signs you can touch that are (basically) giving me the free XP I was suggesting you grant at creation... That's why I'm kind of put off by the "ask for help" thing, as I'd rather my chars. first impression not be begging strangers for aid, and wish my OOC impression was as an RPer and not a clueless guy unsure what to do next. Maybe it's the old trope about men not asking for driving directions, which I'm probably guilty of as well. This is all just my opinion, and I thought I'd express it as I don't sense that you have a lot of outsiders going through the new player experience.
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« on: December 18, 2009, 06:24:18 AM »
I do want to quickly point out (with a sincere thanks to those who offered) that I'm not fishing for help or advice here, so take me out of the equation.
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« on: December 17, 2009, 06:17:36 PM »
If I was asked by Bioware to revamp the NWN rules (which, I fully realize, has a very slim chance of happening) I'd have a rule that familiars must be with you going into a dungeon and can't be dismissed until you've exited.
That would cut down on pixie abuse heavily (as you'd have to protect them the whole time) and might teach all the mages to be a little more protective of their li'l friends/fiends.
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« on: December 08, 2009, 10:07:24 PM »
Obviously as a casual player/lurker I don't know enough to comment on traffic, but if you remember my suggestions from the "what Layonara needs" thread, I really think a lot more thought needs to go into the new player experience.
No offense, but I don't get the thinking behind the current layout at all. It's extremely sparse and spread out across the two cities, with no guide to tell you where to go, and with extremely dangerous areas waiting if you don't guess the right path. The starting quests are kind of tucked away and, really, not all that useful considering the high XP curve; but at the same time there's such little low-level activity it's tough (if not often impossible) to find some reliable friends to party up with. I know, "get help from established players", but really, what can a level 15 or 20 do to help someone who's level 4 in the long term?
I don't see a fix without a lot of work... UNLESS you simply let new characters start at level 7 or so. Eliminate the need for a starting area altogether and let new characters be able to take an active role in the world. Considering the stringent character approval process you have (and which can be used to account for those early levels) I think it's a fair suggestion. Heck, it might make it easier to write those applications, since you don't have to make, say, your wizard a clueless neophyte who only knows a few cantrips.
This might also encourage more new characters from established players, since they'll be able to hit the ground running instead of spending weeks grinding to get anywhere.
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« on: November 23, 2009, 08:15:58 PM »
I think that kind of thing would be great for your MMORPG. Solo quests, I mean.
Instead of just having CNR areas that can be cleared over and over you could have once-a-day repeatable quests that could function as "day jobs" (getting hired to clear monsters out of mines or forests for mining or logging companies, for example, or escorting caravans and dealing with random bandit attacks on the way) that function as short solo quests and give enough XP and gold to be worthwhile, but not so much that it's preferable to finding a group. Having a reason to repeat them would be great for the RP as well, and they'd be good ways to meet up with people of your level for other adventures.
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« on: November 05, 2009, 09:40:44 PM »
Also, do you have the original files? As mpgs or whatever? Because it's best not to turn them into wmv or avi or anything until after they've been edited. Work with the original video files in the highest possibly quality and then compress the finished product.
It's also best not to compress the video file at all if you're going to put it on DVD, because you'll really notice the compression lowering the quality on a TV screen.
Good luck!
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« on: October 25, 2009, 05:53:18 PM »
Hey, so I've been lurking around a little as I'm thinking of giving this server another shot... And this thread seems like a decent place for a new player to vent.
I really want to like Layonara, but the hurdle of getting started is HUGE. I can go to Arelith or FRC Cormyr with a new character concept and be up and running with a good group of quality RPers that afternoon. Not here, you have to wait for someone who obviously has other things to do to notice your submission, and then invariably there will be some minor changes requested that will delay you for days longer. I can absolutely guarantee you than many a great RPer has walked on by because of the bureaucracy.
My suggestion? Keep your character submissions, but if someone is playing a basic race and class let them jump right in. Meaning, let them submit and then create a character and get started right away. Work with them AS THEY'RE PLAYING to get the submission up to your Lore standards. If they want something off the beaten path (dark elves, etc.) of course keep the submission process as is; but if I want to play a human wizard please don't make me wait a week because I made a lore mistake. You have plenty of safeguards in place to protect the lore along the way (as well as other players and DMs to correct you.) Maybe a few will have to restart an occasional character, maybe you'll have to ban a (very) occasional bad apple, but that's okay.
I get why it's in place, and how things probably were a few years ago when this was a popular game, but I think the landscape is different today not that NWN is, like, 8 years old. Most new arrivals will be NWN veterans (they barely even sell this game in stores anymore, after all) and there will be far more good apples than bad. You need new players, you need veterans playing new characters. The other servers I mentioned, they're around all the time, and feel much, much more lively because of it.
I also think far too much "creative writing" is required as far as motivations and all that for even the most basic of characters. Role playing is about improvisation as much as preparation. Sometimes you don't realize your characters' motivations and personality quirks until you're in their skin for a while. I know I certainly don't. Some times you also realize you just aren't as into the character as you thought you would be (as in, realizing you just don't like playing bards or gnomes) and want a fresh start; again, that's by no means easy to do here.
Second.. I get the sense that this will be a great world especially when you get to go on DM quests, but the starting areas are absolutely unwelcoming to new players. In the main city the only appropriate quest (sewers) is somewhere no 1st level character will reasonably find on their own. The only real help is a captain who will give you a quest (the kobolds) that's absolute suicide for a low level. The crypts are a little easier to find in Vehl, but again you have no help from where you appear.
I get that you want to encourage experienced players to show the newbies around, but you can't rely on that, especially during off-peak hours. There just isn't a large enough playerbase right now, and it's kind of an unfair burden to place on established characters. From my experience I saw absolutely no traffic in Vehl when I was starting out to ask for help IC, I had one nice OOC offer for help but couldn't take it at the time, and when I tried to play again I asked some others OOC for help and they were friendly but too busy with their own thing to rush to wherever I was to show me around. I'm surprised I even stumbled upon the other city, frankly, as most of my explorations around the starting area led to quick death. Even a few more helpful NPCs to direct you would be nice. I know there's not much you can do at this point in the game to rearrange the maps or whatever, but I really wonder how much consideration was given to guiding the complete novice.
Just a random thought but since you have so few new chars, I almost think you should just start new characters at a viable level (like 5) where they won't die immediately if they try to explore, and/or increase the XP rate to help people quickly get to a level where they can join groups and take part in quests (that seems to be somewhere around level 9 or 10?)
I certainly don't think people should get free epic status but the XP barrier to slow people down in the early levels might just be too much at this point in the server's life. Four years ago it might have made sense to keep people at level 5 or 6 for a month, but then I'm assuming you had many other people of that level around to RP and bash stuff with, and there were many years ahead to take your time developing that character. Neither of those is the case now, and it seems like you're just forcing folks to grind solo though low-content, low level stuff for busywork's sake because that's what you're supposed to do.
That's just my impression; this place feels like an unwelcoming private club, and I hope you guys give some thought to lowering the barriers. That is, if new players is even something you actually want; I'm not entirely convinced it actually is.
Hope I didn't step on any toes here, and of course this is all purely one outsider's opinion just 'cause you asked. Kind of. And feel free to take it all with a grain of salt, I don't mean for it to sound as preachy as it does but that's what tends to happen with one-sided writing.
Thanks.
10
« on: January 02, 2010, 08:58:27 PM »
Hope this is the right forum for a technical issue.
I was having trouble with game crashes when I was playing- almost 100% sure it was when someone on a horse was in the same area, but happened a few other times as well. I'm playing with all special textures (including shiny water) turned off.
The only thing I could think of is that I do have CEP haks installed as well, and don't want to get rid of them because I play on another server, but are there known conflicts with these?
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« on: December 18, 2009, 02:38:41 AM »
I'm giving Layonara another go, mostly because your forums make it seem like a really great community.
However, and I hope you take this in the spirit that it's intended, I don't think you're really set up for new characters to join. The model seems to be for newbies to beg for help from established players (which I don't really enjoy doing, especially in an OOC fashion) or for you to start forming parties from the beginning, ideally with people who know the world and are making alts and know all the tricks-- unfortunately there aren't enough low levels around for this to be viable either. As far as I can tell, I'm looking at a lot of hours doing the solo grind.
I would like to suggest that in the absence of a steady stream of low level players to party up with- and, unless I'm completely missing something, a definite lack of beginner quests- new characters should start at a higher level. This is hardly anything radical, as it's done on plenty of other servers as well as in PnP games.
From what I can tell, I think something like 4 to 6 might be the magic number. That still means you'll have plenty of work to do and still be far behind the just about everyone else on the server, BUT it will also mean you can have some survivability in exploring the world, and also speed the pace to when you can start joining (and being somewhat effective in) parties and quests.
I think this also might encourage established players to create an "alt" more often, since it will take a chunk out of the low-level grind.
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