Dungeon Balancing

[Intrepid42]

1. New Mossdale/Temple of Gruumsh

18 Dual-Wielding Fighter (mainly +2 equipment, some +1)
19 Bard multiclass

Did well with being careful and choosing the ground of battle
Bloodmaim Shadow Priests took a lot of killing, but more fun than frustrating with two
Lost a party member after I triggered the Deadly Electricity Trap (by accident, I swear) and retreated
Would have made it to the banner, but might have struggled with the boss

2. New Mossdale/Temple of Gruumsh

18 Fighter
19 Bard multiclass
19-20 Monk

Got a third, and romped through to the boss. A lot of fun. Even getting stung by the Deadly Electricity Trap (accidentally, or so I was told) on the way out didn't stop us.

The Orc of the Match award goes to whomever they have setting those traps.

[Phantom Lamb]

Thanks, the AC for the priest may have been an oversight. It could be the combo of his spells + natural AC + item AC, but I'll look into it.

Traps - are the placed in an out-of-the-way location? or in the middle of a road in a non-interesting spot? or at the end of a linear path where a boss or chest might be?

I'll look into loot as well, but I could use some more information. What is it that makes Whurest and Ixis more appealing in loot? Is it the drops from the critters themselves? Or are there chests and other things that make it more appealing?

Loot has a little bit of a constraint right now, in that there's a new variable and system in the works that isn't fully implemented. I don't want to place items that refer to the old method of loot, because that will just need replacing down the road. But, I can't use the NEW method because it has no respawn timer on it. There was a period in Argyle where I tried it, and you could just open, open, open the containers and get loot every time. That got fixed quickly But that's why there are all these corpses there now that have no loot in them.

[Envy]

I went in the Armory solo, as Targus, and the hardest thing for me was the Necromancers, I got blinded by chaos shiled, then level drained and interposing handed. The chaos shield seems to do a wide range of nasty things on hit.. He also had a couple spawns and a Deathknight with him. Was a tough fight!

I don't think he was to deadly, but it sure made it tough. Not sure if I like the level draining, but I suppose you need some risk like that somewhere!!

[thaelis]

I went in the Armory solo, as Targus, and the hardest thing for me was the Necromancers, I got blinded by chaos shiled, then level drained and interposing handed. The chaos shield seems to do a wide range of nasty things on hit.. He also had a couple spawns and a Deathknight with him. Was a tough fight!

I don't think he was to deadly, but it sure made it tough. Not sure if I like the level draining, but I suppose you need some risk like that somewhere!!

Level drain is biatch because it seems only another player can heal it??? So, if you're unlucky you could be waiting a real-life few months til a friendly Cleric logs in and casts Restoration on you.

When it happened to me I got lucky...a Lathanderite Cleric happened to be hanging out at the Inn and we had some nice RP from it, but I remember Potions: Lesser Restore, Cure Poison, Cure Disease and Spells: Remove Curse, Greater Dispel all did nothing. I checked all the Temples too and they didn't offer a cure.

[Fezzik]

The level drain (assuming it isn't from the necromancers in Argyle) needs a restoration at the bare minimum... or rest (server reset).

The necromancer level drain will go away with regular rest or after about an hour RL or so (it's 10 min / level I think)

The Trap in the Temple of Gruumsh is at the entrance to the actual temple from the cave area; it's a deadly electrical trap and will kill just about anyone under 100 hp who fails a save (I've learned now to make sure that i have a little spell that makes a certain bard immune to electric -- electrocute me once, shame on you; electrocute me twice, shame on me....)

[Lugwy]

Thanks, the AC for the priest may have been an oversight. It could be the combo of his spells + natural AC + item AC, but I'll look into it.

I didn't see him cast any buffing spells prior to the fight, but I can check.

I'll look into loot as well, but I could use some more information. What is it that makes Whurest and Ixis more appealing in loot? Is it the drops from the critters themselves? Or are there chests and other things that make it more appealing?

Mostly a combination of greater concentration of mobs and usefulness of loot in Whurest/Ixis (essences from golems, hearts from duergar, blood and gems from lizards), and in Whurest if you went all the way down and risked dying or worse to the mind flayer, you're rewarded with his treasure trove...provided you can get past the last surprise.

Mossdale kind of lacks both utilization in its loot tables and rewarding loot in general. The relative scarcity of mobs is a plus for players not wanting to be horribly slaughtered by a zerg rush of Bloodmaim, but it kind of means less loot overall. It also makes defeating the boss rather underwhelming--okay, you just ganked that dual-spear-wielding badass...what, just a draft for a headband of intellect?

[Raksha]

Thread, ARIIIIISE~

I'm going to reprise the issue about the intro quest with the Sharrans, the one that sends you to the Back Alley to fight Suzie. She attacks twice a round at +9, has several nasty bard spells including Hideous Laughter and Daze, is backed up by -another- bard with daze, and a couple of other minions.

I completed this successfully with an at-level character... that was an Eldritch Knight ... cheesing out the combat expertise toggle for all I was worth. And it was still a fight of inches despite having an AC upwards of 27 every time she swung.

Definitely in need of a re-tune!

[cmosier]

I think they already said they were going to look into this. I was able to handle with a Level 6 fighter and still have half my hit points.

[Fezzik]

The bosses especially require a party (some of the time) they aren't supposed to to easy which is why they're red or purple

[Snowmane]

True, but if a new player joins the server and follows this quest (which is the first quest they are exposed to) it will end with them in the fugue as they will be lucky to hit level 4 before reaching the final boss. Even if they are lucky enough to stumble across another PC that is doing the quest, their chances are iffy. For this quest, I agree the final boss is too tough (even after they reduced her strength from my initial reports about the quest - that's right, she used to be even tougher!).

[sonuvalich]

You can always run outside if it gets too dangerous, NPC's are too dumb to use doors! I think that qualifies as an exploit though.

[thaelis]

True, but if a new player joins the server and follows this quest (which is the first quest they are exposed to) it will end with them in the fugue as they will be lucky to hit level 4 before reaching the final boss. Even if they are lucky enough to stumble across another PC that is doing the quest, their chances are iffy. For this quest, I agree the final boss is too tough (even after they reduced her strength from my initial reports about the quest - that's right, she used to be even tougher!).

Agreed, you are at level 3-4 for such a short time that your chances of partying up are minuscule unless you planned before hand to group up with your friend.

Maybe it could be made so she won't spawn unless a min. number of players enter the area? (I don't know if such things are possible)

Or, there could be some grave markers outside her little house?

"Here lies the body of Ken, a brave soul, who met his end, not by a troll, but in the thieves' den!"

"Last words of Sir Berevor the Amenable - 'Hello? Anybody hom.....GahhhH!!!"

[Mermillion]

As a new player the Sharran questline was a huge slap in the face, simply because the NPC suggests that you are more than capable of handling it on your own.

They should at least suggest grouping up for it, if it's going to be so hard.

[Saulus]

I feel like there's an echo here, if it hasn't been said before -- we will be toning down the starter quest to the point of impossibility of failure.

[Nethaxion]

I am on this quest, and I was able to find my way to Sally after being told to seek out the leader of the Sharrans.

I am able to kill her, though the battle is close. But the quest doesn't progress. I've killed her numerous times now.

Could someone verify that this is still working properly?

Thank you!