Pioneer's Way Bandits...

[AsuraKing]

So i just made a new toon and was running through the pioneer's way to get away from the gate when BAM an ambush of bandits appears next to me. At this point I have no armor, only a shortsword so it's safe to say I got slaughtered. Now I was able to run a few feet but died, and my toon is an orc fighter. Now if an orc fighter would die that fast i cant imagine many other toons, especially spellcasters, being able to survive that run. Might I suggest moving the spawn away from the main road so new toons/new players dont get killed right off the bat with no chance of survival?

[Saulus]

You died from a couple NPCs with 14 AC and 9 HP? ... They are CR1 if I recall...

[roguethree]

My 3rd level Human fighter pc's have survived solo in the Sharahan Hills, a tougher zone, just fine. I'd say you experienced bad luck or a cruel dice bag.

Also, isn't there a vendor at the Gates that can provide new pc's with armor and a more suitable weapon?

[Dave Fritz]

(snip) Also, isn't there a vendor at the Gates that can provide new pc's with armor and a more suitable weapon?

There is, but maybe an orc wouldn't understand the Gate welcome person completely.

Supplementary suggestion: If there is not a task or two for a new character to do just in the Gate (haven't entered that way myself) maybe there could be.

[BedlamX]

I found the vendor at the Gate quite by accident. AK has been away for a while and, if you don't know the vendor was added, it would be quite easy to miss him and think you have to make a run for the docks to get basic gear. And, yes...a 3rd level fighter with no armor and only a short sword could easily get smoked by CR1 enemies. Last time I saw them there, it was a group of 3 and 2 were archers. By the time most people go into the hills against the goblins, they at least have whatever type of armor suits their build.

Also, AK...if you didn't talk to him when you entered, the guy at the entry point has the same job as the one at the docks dealing with your homeland. You could probably have picked up at least some sort of armor there (depending on your homeland of choice).

[Saulus]

There will be some starter quests at the gates like Avanthyr eventually.

[Medoe]

2 cents: it's Great to see a challenging, well-written AD&D world like Sundren...and thanks to the Devs for putting effort into realistically trying to make life tough for PCs...after all the walk-thru NWN I've played, the change is refreshing.

Getting ganked in your first steps...that never goes down well...but it does teach basic tactics...like...don't stand there getting pincushioned by a couple of random archers...close the distance and bash them before they crit you...isn't that what an Orc Fighter would do? Mabe you took a double crit?

Glad to be doing some realistic AD&D adventuring, Medoe

[GRCrush]

Not to poop on yer orc experience but my small wee little reduce person sized hin pixie rogue sorceror made it past the bandits with a sling a dagger and a few sonic BOOM ( minor globe of sound) spells :P

The rogues are very easy to kill and provide good starter coin

[AsuraKing]

Wait there's a merchant there?.... looked around 1000 times before, if theres a merchant that I just missed then there's no problem.

[Saulus]

I updated the dialog of the Golden Pride Convoy to mention the merchant as an extra bump for new players.

Also I've made one of the two new quests Cornuto has helped me write which will give you a starter quest to go to the merchant right from the intro at the gates.

So in the future it should be hard to miss him.

[caterpillar]

I have to say they can seem pretty tough. I've created my new sorcerer character with 18 hit points and bravely tried to run through the mencioned area and I have to say I was pretty lucky, because I was hit only once, it was critical hit which improved my health down to 1 hit point. I even did not intend to fight them, we cowards have to watch ourselves, and almost met the gods.

I read this post, so I was prepared. To run. I think the bows could be changed for small crossbows? To have a chance run away? I made it, but I fear for new uninformed players it could be very frustrating.

[roguethree]

Critical hits happen. That's kind of what they're supposed to do: take more hit points away. The bandits aren't overpowered.

[caterpillar]

Critical hits happen. That's kind of what they're supposed to do: take more hit points away.

I fully agree with this part. But try to imagine that you've logged on the server by the first time and you're wizzard, sorcerer or roque. You do not know about those bandits. Of course you're cautious, new land, new unknown danger. Suddenly you're hit by an arrow, then the next one, before you even have a chance to find out what is going on you see a bandit running towards you with a sword in her hand. Then again two arrows. Did you see the archers? No? Because they were behind the rock? And shot you through the rock? It's not about the chance. The long bow is a very powerfull tool, especially, when you even do not see the position of the archer because he's able to shoot you through the stones. Very frustrating.

I'm not talking about bandits by the farm but in the valley with the bridge, I can't remember the name now. By the farm you have chance to avoid them, there's the long bow OK .

Wow I have made my own writting exercise today .

[Maevan2]

Wait there's a merchant there?.... looked around 1000 times before, if theres a merchant that I just missed then there's no problem.

[roguethree]

Did you see the archers? No? Because they were behind the rock?

There's a feature that I call "tab targeting" (because I use the 'tab' key). Basically, there's a key mapped to cycling through targets. If something's hitting you that you can't see, you press it, and it shows you where the bad guy is on the mini-map.

If the zone's tough for low-level magic users, that's appropriate. Life as a low-level magic user is supposed to be precarious. It's the trade off. Fighters are on easy street at low levels (when they buy armor), taper at high. Wizards hate life at low levels, become nigh unto gods at high levels. If death were more than barely inconvenient at the low levels, I might be inclined to agree with looking at a rebalancing of the area since it's going to be impossible to find a companion to walk you out of the Gate. However, at level 3, the very unlikely death against the CR 1 spawns - although embarrassing - is a pretty painless respawn.