New players perspective

[Bones54]

First please don't get upset, I'm just pointing out what I see.

First its not hard to RP in Sundren everyone is really great. I can do it all day long.

The problem I have been running into is this.

As a new player it has been very difficult to run DM missions with the hardcore players because most are much higher lvl and I can't enter certain parts of the world map.
I feel very restricted.

Trying to grind exp is nuts and I know you guys don't push for that. So with exp being somewhat hard to get killing things, and mind you I have run most the quest I can. I still see it being a lot longer till I really get into Sundren.

With the above said the death penalty vs the grind and LAG to me is really unbalanced. I died once and lost 407exp 568 gold and one of my items. With all of that plus it being hard to make real cash as a new player. I just find it a super struggle and it makes we want to back off from playing, but I REALLY don't want to.

Again this is all from a new players perspective. And I dont expect to just be in the middle things in three days. I have been off an on sundren for many months and these are the observations I have made. I really want to make it home.

Sean the DM is amazing, Everyone has been real helpful, I just feel like I'm looking up a sky scrapper right now waiting to get in.

I guess I'm just looking for a balance... or a boost in exp so I can at least run with what make up the core of the server at this point. *higher lvls"

Trust me I played when SH was still had a chest in it and was one map. I really love sundren I should donate but sometimes I wonder.

Again please take this for what it is, just my thoughts as a new outside player.

Please dont be mad, just keep up the good work.

[Azathoth51]

Well... my level four barbarian just picked a fight with an impossible classed Red Wizard for being... basically an arrogant red wizard.

And I got him to half health in like five swings... then his bodyguard showed me the way to the Forest of Eternal Night. I lost 600 xp for that... and I would do it again in a second.

My point? It dosent matter if you are low level or not... dont let that stop you from roleplaying. The higher levels will come, in time... Be patient until they do.

I understand your annoyance at not being able to go into certain zones, but soonish they will have the ability to lead party members to locations and that will fix many such problems.

And if your PC dosent know where a location a DM quest is being held in... why should he be there in the first place?

[Gabryal]

I can understand your frustration if you are used to a faster paced server. Keep in mind how much work the people who you call "higher ups" worked to get there.
Kathryn is level 12 now, she spent the first 8 levels doing nothing other than sit by a campfire, and RP based event. She never saw a moment of combat until then. Yes it took a long time to do that. Because trickle xp is not quick. But if you put the time into it you will advance in time. There aren't any shortcuts. The balance that Sundren maintains so perfectly is level vs. Renown. Of course a new person is going to be relatively unknown, but by slowing down the growth rate of a character, that character becomes much better known. It took me the better part of a month to get to level 8 with Kathryn but by the time I did, everyone knew her, and she was strong enough to participate in some of the lesser DM events. Now that she's level 12 she's well known by nearly everyone. She has even taken command on occasion of groups of players during events. The balance may not seem like what you are used to. But from my perspective it's absolutely perfect.

[Verrath]

*twitches* you got to level 8 in less than a month!?

Took me over three months for Annie to reach 7

But I agree - I was on a much faster paced NWN1 server before, where, if you set your mind to it, you could reach level 40 in a matter of days. It grew old after a while. Especially when you had a green faction recruit who could beat the tar out of his Captain because said Captain's player preferred to RP rather than grind. Or a caster who was a few days into training scorch the clothes off his or her teacher.

While this Server's level progression is very slow and it took me a good while to get used to both the fairly low XP turnout vs. the steep and painful death penalty... I have to say I prefer it.

[sharringtonm]

Ignore them bones. They love to debate and point at their shiny gold stars they gave them selves :P

Were having a small Router issue right now and hence the lag. Up till this last two weeks, there never was lag. You can expect it to be gone very soon as well.

The router issue has another side effect. Its near impossible for a DM to get on when there is a large player base on. So our normal DMs aren't showing up. We have DMs that only run missions for low levels, finding ways to draw the high levels away. We also have pure RP quests as well.

My suggestion to you, is in a DM quest.. if you want to be noticed.. speak up and be noticed. It works everytime. I play a quiet good natured and simple PC that rarely speaks up unless someone speaks to him first. I do not get noticed very often, and get skipped over for events constantly like that (but I'm okay with it).

I hope you'll give us a little more time till we can get the new router in and our DMs can return to out lag free world.

Thanks for trying us out!

[Verrath]

Wait, we get gold stars?

[TheBrogueadier]

Don't be afraid of DM events at a lower level, just use common sense..

I've been pottering around Sundren for a couple of months now and I love it to bits, but even with weak little 3rd level Eira and Giacomo I managed to get in on the fun stuff..

Sure I died horribly in the big combat bits, but once the fighting died down and the talking started I had plenty of chances to get stuck in and take part..

As for the grind, gather a group and make a quest of it, RP it up and make it an event yourself, if a DM is about they may take notice, if their isn't one on you can still have fun and a group of people the same level will make it great fun.

I can honestly say some of the funnest times I've had on Sundren was at the lower levels, planning, messing the plans up, running in fear from goblins.. Now I'm at the hovering around 10-11 I tend to find combat a lot less enjoyable.

[Saulus]

Seeing this was posted as a suggestion and not in general discussion as pure commentary I will nip this right in the butt: anything related to XP gains is a dead horse topic. We are not changing it, and that's that. Please search for experience gains on the forum to see the numerous other questions in relation to this.

If you can't get over how much XP you are getting, then Sundren is definitely not going to be your cup of tea and I'd honestly recommend moving on rather than frustrating yourself (and others).

[Elusa]

I'm not really going to comment on this too much because it should be placed in general discussion, not suggestions. But if you only lost 400, you're lucky. When you get up to level 10-11, it's 4k-6k per death. Sundren isn't easy. Not everyone has the patience to get to level 15, or even level 10. But it's not perma-death, so if you don't like the difficulty, you're free to choose other servers. We're all about the roleplay here.

[JuneyGnomey]

I only just chattered my way up to level 5. It's very rare for my character to venture out into the big wide world, so I really enjoy a server with level capping like this - I don't feel like I'll always be left behind by the people I like playing with and never get to travel with them again, which frequently happened on my old NWN1 server.

My only complaint - I wish she'd get XP by the word rather than by the hour; I'd be level 15 by now.

[caveman_282]

I think he was just saying that with the new mapping system in place its hard for the low lvl players to get to actually get involved in the RP areana where everyone else is. Because they are limited to where they can go to and interact. So bascially they are forced to grind xp instead of rping more. With the cost of death and the limited areas that the lower lvls have access to it makes it a lil frustrating. My lvl 9 cleric use to be able to go to necropolis and xp/rp when he wanted to now he cant even get access to the place until level 10. I could grind with easy there or rp with people alike way before lvl 10. Cant get into the city were the Thayen enclave is because the guy wont talk to me because my hin isnt high enough lvl. Even if I just wanted to go ther eand chat with a few friends and have a few drinks or go explore the caves and risk my own death. With the penalties already in place for death I think it should be up to the player where he wishes to go instead of limiting his resources. Just an opinion. I love the server and the work that goes on and into it. I love the people here.

The new system will just take time to get use to.

[Skro]

Well, in one point I give some credit to Bones when he say:

As a new player it has been very difficult to run DM missions with the hardcore players because most are much higher lvl and I can't enter certain parts of the world map. I feel very restricted.

In the other hand, that restriction slows you to run to inappropiate places due your level. When I started playing Sundren, one year ago, I went to the Viridale Forest, and well, it's a level 5+ area, and I was level 3. So, I got my back kicked one time and then a character told me to go to the Sharahan Hills.

Anyway, If you have some time to spare, you can go up to level 5 in one day making NPC quests and when you hit level 5 ALSO unlock other places like Viridale, Druid Glade, Sestra, Aquor (Maybe), Gate of the Sunderer. And there you have 80% of Sundren's points unlocked. The other two areas Necropolis and Schild Mountains, will be a little harder to unlock because they are level 8+ areas, but Im a owner of a level 9 character who died a lot and lost between 2000 to 4000 XP, and I can understand your frustration of dying and lost XP, i lost XP in so stupid ways (Yesterday I warned a party member to not try to disarm a strong electric trap, he did it, and I received 43 electrical damage and died). But you must get used to it.

You can find some help for another characters to accomplish your tasks, I can offer IC my services of casting druid, the only thing I expect it's gems or an specific item if you want. But don't let you down by a death.

[Lollercide]

The mapping system is being worked on and isn't quite complete, mind you. There will be a time where a friend can 'show you the way' to a map you have not visited as of yet - So that concern is taken care of. The DEVs are working hard on a lot of things, including this, so be a bit considerate with their efforts vs time.

XP? Dead horse as stated by Saulus. After dying a million times, losing XP, and then gaining it back... I've come to learn from the DMs that levels mean nothing compared to great RP.

Check this out if you don't believe me. Rely on RP to strengthen your character, not grinding. Adventuring shouldn't even be considered grinding, really. It shouldn't become a tedious task you constantly bring yourself to do to improve your character.

It's a fun challenge that might come at a cost, yes, and even reaps great rewards... However that isn't the only (or the best) way to improve your character.

As for the DM events with the low levels and high levels? Well.. I understand what you mean, but as said before a lot of DMs are busy with IRL issues. When they are all settled you can expect a lot more RP and DM love.

[Skro]

Also This is a way to lose XP often If you try to go at your own at dangerous places:

[Bones54]

thanks guys. That helps. Im not trying to lvl fast I just thought. its going to be a while to go places. but you have all reassured me so thank you. i shall see you in game