extra mobs for higher levels

[gbbishop]

Just a question why do we still have this?

When a high level enters a lower level area. More mobs spawn .. no my guess is this is to "scale" the difficulty thus offering higher levels a challenge. What it does in reality is make it annoying (not more difficult at all) for high levels so they invis through an area to get to the next. This leaves a huge group of mobs which effectively makes the area too hard for the proper level character that wanders in behind the high level.


Can we please get rid of this spawn system?

[Saulus]

Short answer: No we can't. It's hours upon hours upon hours of work to even implement a new spawn system; assuming we have one.

It's a project GBX has been working on, but I would not expect to see this anytime soon.

[gbbishop]

Ah cool, I was thinking it was just something we could switch off. ah well. Cheers.

[Phantom Lamb]

Many encounters have a maximum spawn number set to something reasonable. But some do not, and that's where you'll see those gobs of monsters. Still it's much better than where it used to be.

[Laurk]

I support this thread!

(thanks Kitsunestume)

[Kitsunestume]

Is the Whurst ruines the hardest dungeon on the server? Because if so those dwarves need more attack and damage. When we go through there, Abby may as well bring a book to read. People "let" me heal them to be nice, but could easily survive without a healer. The boss fight is the only part where she's even needed.

I would love to see at least one over-the-top place where its so difficult, even high level groups have a very good chance of dying.

Any comments or opinion on current dungeon-balance should probably go here: http://www.sundren.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19196, rather than a thread-jacking.

[gbbishop]

I guess the lesson we learn here is: If you are a high level and spawn a big mob, clean up after yourself.

[sonuvalich]

I would love to RP it up, with the permission of the involved PC's. Say a high level evil character sees bright-eyed and bushy tailed new recruits to an organization he/she hates gearing up to trek out to fight goblins in the Shaharn Hills. Said evil person could run off ahead of them and "warn the goblins and whip them into a frenzy" or "bribe the tribe to do their best to kill the adventurers." Use your imagination for the rationale, but it could turn the game mechanic into an interesting bit of character interaction (maybe give your local hero a new nemesis?)

However, as stated above, I would only do this IF ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED AGREED. Otherwise I would think it qualifies as griefing or exploiting the game mechanics.

[thaelis]

I super super support this. Extra mobs for higher levels means you can't Rp with anyone outside 5 of your level except by a campfire *spews*

High level Rangers/Druids literally cannot wander around in most of the Viridale as they would be 'griefing' low-mid level players.

[ManUtd4Ever]

Well... I remember a 20th level female elven ranger who use to hang out in Viridale who use to spawn larger mobs. The folks I hung out with at the time loved it because we could / would mop them up. If any of us were getting into trouble she would appear and "bam!," problem solved... only to see her fade back into the trees.

Fond memories not shared by all I am afraid. There were some who disliked her doing this. Made RP since to us. But the take away is to coordinate ahead of time.

[sonuvalich]

I like that idea too. I only spoke from the antagonist side, but it could be RPed from the mentor side too. "I will go anger the goblins and draw a large number to you, that you might test your mettle in battle!" On the other hand, it could be considered a form of powerleveling by some, because you are increasing the number of spawns for them to fight beyond what the area would give the party otherwise. Frankly, it doesn't bother me at all if players wanted to help out other players in this way, (and honestly the example I gave above is helping players out in reality, even if you are RPing it as antagonizing them) but official word on if this is a no-no would be nice.

[gbbishop]

Unless policy has changed, this is a no-no.

If a character is there "helping" i.e. giving buffs or rescuing noob-bacon when they start to sizzle. Then the CR is not accurately accounted for. I think it is relatively quick to make 14th level and thus be able to join any party. So I don't see this as the problem.

It is a poor low level trying to make his way through massive mobs of what already might be challenging creatures. I think non-melee low levels suffer the most in the situations.

Anyway i am fine with waiting for a new spawn system.. this is not a huge problem and would at the very worst result in a death or two...

[ManUtd4Ever]

No... that wasn't how it was. Didn't mean to imply it was coordinated ahead of time or some grand design for a 20th level to assist junior characters leveling.

Rather, it was a senior elven ranger who felt she belonged in the forest. That was her RP. That is what she did... so that when a group of new toons ran through Viridale she was typically there.

Like I said, it was fine with some and made others upset.

[gbbishop]

ManU I agree with you. In the case you present, I would be hard pressed to call foul. But I ain't a boss so... it matters not what I feel on the matter.

[thaelis]

No... that wasn't how it was. Didn't mean to imply it was coordinated ahead of time or some grand design for a 20th level to assist junior characters leveling.

Rather, it was a senior elven ranger who felt she belonged in the forest. That was her RP. That is what she did... so that when a group of new toons ran through Viridale she was typically there.

Like I said, it was fine with some and made others upset.

Whilst it's nice that some players respond that way most would be all "Get lost!" "What the %&^$ are you doing in a level 5 area!!" "We aren't here to RP this is a grinding zone!"

And even though I hate it, I can totally see where they are coming from... I just wish there was a way to avoid it. It's like you're constantly forced to metagame when considering where to travel.