Supporting member

[curtwise]

I joined Layonara with some hesitancy. I had explored several other sites; first experience=was killed instantly by an unknown after joining a party, next= I was accousted by a player feigning to be Michael Jackson asking if I had children, another=I entered a world of nothing, no PC's no NPC's. I know that there are some strange worlds out there and don't really want to look any further than Layonara. I am satisfied with the player inter action and find that there aren't any offensive characters or dialogue. The initial set up process seemed tedious but I'm new to this type of gaming. In fact I was afraid to try it for the longest time. Layonara seems to get good "press" and ratings so I thought why not. I have two grown children who like what they see and are preparing to "work up chararcters" for submission.
However, (there's always a "however") I have had several unpleasant experiences with crashes, server time outs, not being able to log on to the site, mysteriously disappearing items, ox pack, items lost in crashes/server time outs. The days that I have spent on line have been enjoyable but he next logon ( if I can get on), leaves me wondering where experience points went, items missing, sometimes it's like starting over each time I logon. Progress therefore has been glacial and exasperating at times.
The GM's seemed to be overwhelmed with daily tasks of just keeping things running.
I would like to be a supporting member and would be willing to make monthly payments. I spend more on Starbuck's or other "stuff" than what you're asking for here! If the money would help things run better then great, but if a person pays money for a service that can't be accessed or enjoyed (consistently) then why pay?
I don't like to "freeload" and willing to put in the time to build a character and hopefully become a vital part of Layonara, along with two other supporting members!
I think my trial period is about up, and I need to decide if I want to invest time and money for entertainment purposes in this world of Layonara?
I don't want to knock a good thing but would like to know that there is some vital way to correct the deficiencies to at least a lesser degree, so as to make the experience less atagonistic or frustrating. RL has enough stress and my computer probably contributes to some of the lag and other artifacts that I experience in play. And that is OK! I should probably be more active in the forum in order to get answers but my questions seem diminished compared to the overall task that you all have at hand. I think I can survive with the lack of experience and eventually get enough info from other players to make play more enjoyable. But the technical issues are confounding to me as I am not a computer wiz. I don't even begin to understand web site design, pings, URL's, etc. Not complaining just want an opportunity to get info on how to make a consistent connection to the site or at least understand why there are server time outs, etc?
Sorry about the length, but I'm new to this online gaming thing and just want to understand more about how to make it fun. I hope not to offend any of you dedicated Layonara gamers, not my intent. In fact I want to see Layonara be the most that it can be, and maybe with the right financial contributions, new and faster equipment can be bought and maintained. Just a thought. And a long one at that. Thanks for listening!

[Talan Va'lash]

I know the answers to all your questions!

The best part is that somehow I still manage to remain humble. *nods sincerely*

Ahem *removes tongue from cheek*

Anyway, There are quite a few knowledgeable players, and sometimes it helps greatly to get a question that comes up IG, answered IG.  Feel free to send me tells with questions (I extend this offer to anyone who is experiencing issues, or just needs to know something.  Though I reserve the right to change this policy if I get flooded with tells hehe.)

Or by email: TalanValash@layonara.com

----

Re: Items/XP/What-have-you dissapearing - When the server crashes, it doesnt get a chance to save everyone before it dies.  er, by save I mean save their character files, not save them from immenant peril.  Server crashes are frustrating in this regard.  I know I have shared the same frustration many times over the past years.  The best advice (or... what I did at least): Become OCD about saving your character, be it by using the remembering orb or by typing "/o c save" (minus the quotes.)  I know I save about 10x more than I need to, but thats a hold-over from the olden days when crashes used to be muuuuch more frequent.  But I haven't lost anything (at least anything I bothered to remember that I lost, so it can't be anything substantial) in quite a long while, so its paid off.

Re: The awful RP that goes on on a majority of NWN servers - I hear ya.  Everytime I go out to tour a few servers I am reminded why I choose to play here.

Re: GMs being overwhelmed with the daily tasks of keeping things running - I'm not sure what you mean by this.  GMs are busy, but, lots of players are busy too.  The members of the community that are in school are right in (or near the end of) the busiest part of the year (finals etc.) and that includes some GMs.  I'm guessing you're refering to character approval, since its the only thing I can think of that would be considered a daily task of keeping the server running.  I haven't been following recent submissions, but rarely very rarely have I ever seen a submission take longer than 24 hours to be read and replied to.

ymmv, don't be afraid to ask questions.  Lots of questions are good.  If its me, I'll let you know if I don't have time to answer them or if its bothering me, so keep em comin'.

Re: the begining of this post - I'm just silly, its not a comment on... anything really hehe

[_M_O_B_]

I came form a very heavy RP server, the Rp was good, but was wrecked by no good DM's and odd rules.

Layo is better, it is waaayyy much more than I expected, best server ever

[miltonyorkcastle]

As he said, check with Talan, he knows his stuff.

I've never timed out of the server unless it's crashed, and such an occurance without a crash would most likely be with the ISP (internet service provider) not on Layo's end.  And as for crashes, yeah, they're inevitable with NWN, because it really wasn't made to support the amount of conent Layo does.  It really doesn't crash as often as some I've been on.  Also, it's mostly the West server that gets overloaded and crashes regularly.  If you get a chance to go to Central, do so, and experience the wonders of lag-free roaming, heh.  As for missing XP, items, etc, MAKE SURE you use your Remembering Orb often.  Quickslot it.  Use it every 5 minutes, and everytime you pick up some new item you want to keep.  It's the surest way to keep you from losing items in a crash.  Just make sure you use it away from any monster spawns.  Oh, and read up on the Oxes.  You only ever want to put raw goods on an ox, and it has a limit on what it can hold, if you haven't already figured these things out.   Personally, the oxen drive me crazy, and I don't use them if I can help it at all, but many others do with good success.  

anyways, there is a lot of detail in this world that just takes time to work out.  once you do, things will run much smoother

[Pen N Popper]

One point I would make is that you are not paying for a service.  By that I mean this is not like your lawn service where you pay a monthly fee and then give the company grief for not trimming the bushes.  Think of it more like a co-op:  You are spreading the cost among a group of like-minded patrons.  Some donate money, others will donate a helpful hand, some donate time to GM.  I guess the point I am trying to make is that the world is only as fun as -you- make it.  The resources are here (ICly and out) to play any role you wish, should you chose to do so.

Welcome aboard!

[_M_O_B_]

Oh now that I notce and read it better.....

I time out a lot as well, think it's due to my connection or gamespy don't like me (happens wherever i go)

[curtwise]

Thanks for the positive and constructive feedback! I didin't mean to come off negative bout the environment but was mostly frustrated with my lack of understanding of some these issues. I didn't realize that you could or were encouraged to ask questions of other players with a "Tell" about the equipment or operating proceedures or such. I too feel that too much tech talk would ruin the RP environment. I can't figure out if I just don't know or understand the PW or RP or whatever term you have, world and how it works technically. Server timeouts very well could be on my end but I don't have any way of knowing this. Why I can't log into the Layonara server at times, i don't know either. There doesn't seem to be a way to get a current status of the connections or if there is a limit of the number of players? I did't mean to sound as if it is " a service" per say but again time and money are substance and this time of gaming should be pleasurable. I realize that RPing is what you make it and I'm learning, just a I learn from your responses.
I do enjoy my time on line (when I can get online) and find it addictive. Much to the displeaure of my wife. That's why I'm encouraging my two adult kids to get involved for their pleasure and enjoyment and to have someone else to take the blame at 2:30 in the morning with me.
Anyway, I'm sure I'll figure it out and enjoy myself doing it! Thanks!

[_M_O_B_]

Just keep trying til it works, thats what i do

[Talan Va'lash]

@PnP - The way you described it is the ideal way it could be.  As it is now (and has been except for a few rare months that I know of) L is paying a large fraction of the costs associated with keeping layo running.  Hosting, bandwidth, servers, maintenance.  As the server grows in population, the bandwidth used increases and the cost goes up.

*insert donate to layo plug here!*

@ curwise - Tells are an ooc form of private message in game.  You can send one to anyone on the server by finding their name on the player list (hit P to bring it up) highlighting their name and clicking the tell button in the top of the same window (looks like two faces talking to each other.)  You can also send one by clicking on someones mini-portrait in the chat window (if they're near you and speaking) or if they're in your party by clicking their portrait in the party bar.  I'm writing this right now because I happened to be on this page when my internet died 5 min ago.  I was IG (in game) and then it froze up and eventually I got a server timeout message.  The layonara server didn't crash (well, I have no way of knowing if it did or not yet.. but it would be a big coincidence if it crashed at the same time as my net went out) it was just my net (which has been going out around this time often lately grr...

*waits to hit submit untill his internet connection comes back online*

yay! *posts*

[ttdavet]

I was surprized to read that L is footing the bill for so much of Layonara,  I assumed with all of the players that he would be getting close to the break even point.  It is too bad that he isn't.  The idea that this is a co-op is a helpful one,  and I will be certain to continue to contribute bucks every couple of months that I am playing.  Thanks for everything L.  I am a new player here, and realize that this world is nearing an end, and have played on only a couple of GM run events, and am never part of the "happenings" in the world, mostly I just run around looking at all the amazing stuff you guys have built, but the other players are almost always fun, so I am happy to return again and again.  Maybe when the new world starts I'll be able to get my characters involved in some of the plots, either way I will continue to contribute and *looks right at the reader of this post* " and if you play on Layo regularly you should too.

[Force_of_Will_]

The world isnt ending.
The current campaign is nearing the end but after that a new one will start.
Its like Playing PnP.The Module ends but you play a new one after that with the same characters.