New Players: Things you won't read in the Wiki!

[thaelis]

There were some things that I remember bugged me or just seemed bizzarre when I first started playing here, so I thought I'd mention them for all you new guys.

Crafting System: If you want to be a crafter, get used to frustration, tedium and constantly searching for 2-3 other players to collaborate with. Most items cannot be crafted with any one skill or feat, and may require 4 or more individual steps to create, not to mention use of "Dyes" if you want it to have custom colours. Many of the ingredients for basic items, dye and enchants do not exist ingame (so far as I have ever found anyway and I've been here a while)

I believe its is being worked on and won't be like this forever, but just in case....get used to it.

Levelling: Don't expect to ever get past level 20. If your play times are right, and you have the time to really devote to your character's story, you might one day get to 21 but don't count on it. There's characters that have been here years and still aren't even halfway there.

Magic Items: Both dropped and crafted items are vastly less powerful than the majority of NWN2 servers. Personally I like this, but I suppose it might upset some players. Dropped items with a useful power will always have 2 extra "junk" powers to stop you enchanting it further (ok, I admit that's silly). The exceptions to this are rare items in the level 18+ dungeon and in faction stores. Which brings me to....

Factions: Joining a faction is virtually a neccessity on Sundren. Its the only way you'll ever get good gear, get involved in more events, and hence get more XP/items etc. You can also buy and sell gear for 150% better prices and gets weekly wages even when you do nothing. The faction gear is about 1000% more powerful than anything you can craft yourself (without DM intervention).

Power Balance: Base warrior classes (Fighter, Paladin) as well as Rogue have many perks which I'm not sure are listed in the Wiki yet. When combined with the harsh rest restrictions, it means spellcasters are severally handicapped compared to a regular NWN2 game. Don't expect to beat down a Fighter as easily as usual in most instances!

I should also mention that despite, or perhaps because of all this I still prefer Sundren to any other server I've ever played on. The team are great, and Saulus obviously is super dedicated to have kept it going and evolving for such a long time

[Dispater]

As an addendum to the leveling portion, there is a repeatable quest that allows epic XP. Now, I wouldn't want to try it alone..

Also, while crafting can be difficult, there are two sides. The gathering and the crafting. Yes, it can mean that you need more then one player to make a lot of things, but generally it is all doable in game. It just requires luck and dedication.

[Kitsunestume]

Of anyone has any questions on the creating system in its current implementation, feel free to ask me. If I can't supply you the answer or goods your looking for, I can generally point you to someone who can.

Cheers,
Kit

[Lugwy]

Fighters, Rogues, and Paladins got some Pathfinder love. Check them out.

Also, some abilities/feats were added/altered. Luck of Heroes, for instance, won't grant +1 AC here.

[Lotus]

On Epic Levels:

Given the daily quest (and more incoming), epic levels are a possibility for everyone.

On Class Changes:

Spellcasters are still quite powerful on Sundren and are in no way handicapped. Rest restrictions simply keep them from powering through all of the content on a 10-minute timer and encourage grouping.

Our changes to the more mundane classes have made them more attractive so that there isn't just one way to build a damage or tank warrior, so that maybe you'll take Rogue for something other than a lead-in to Shadowdancer or Assassin.

On Magic Items:

An ongoing labor of love, but it's true that great gear is and will be available in the faction stores. We plan on rolling out two to three new factions in the near future; you should be able to find a home that makes sense for your character.

[Kitsunestume]

IRC Server

Check lugwy's signature above.

I'll embelish this post when I get home instead of posting from a smartphone.

[thaelis]

On Class Changes:
Our changes to the more mundane classes have made them more attractive so that there isn't just one way to build a damage or tank warrior, so that maybe you'll take Rogue for something other than a lead-in to Shadowdancer or Assassin.

What they said! The class changes have made it more interesting to play mundane classes...after all they don't get as many cool toys as us casters

[Snowmane]

Factions: . . . The faction gear is about 1000% more powerful than anything you can craft yourself (without DM intervention).

Ok, that's a bit extreme - change that to like 100% more powerful to bring it back to reality for new players. You should probably also add a blurb about how faction rep is acquired and how it is required to use the faction gear. Otherwise, very good information for new players.

[Fezzik]

If everyones gear goes on par with the Legion, you'll understand if you haven't seen it yet Snow 100% is an understatement. But, as Kit said, there are a few of us that are very familiar with the crafting system, just poke us (Kit, Me... ummm.... couple of others, namely dwarven Skullcleavers)

[cmosier]

The game does kind of push away from the "Lone Wolf" mentality. I've done it once and it took time and some stubbornness. And the ability to turn into a pit fiend. My best advise. Make some friends. Make some enemies. Have a good time.

[lostinspace]

I think the most useful thing for new players to know is how to get out of the barracks clinic and into the rest of the gameworld. A whole bunch of transitions through a complicated city, looking for PCs, is liable to get a newbie feeling lost and confused.

[Saulus]

There's a quest that guides people out of the city and through the first few events. Though I think the quest might not be forced upon new PCs right now, they have to talk to the officer manually.... Also people can leave the city and go to the Barracks directly from the City World map.... that's 1 transition actually.

[FoogooFish]

Was that changed? It was always a bit touch-and-go, but I put the trigger to where anyone trying to leave the infirmary was approached by the NPC.

[Starrizer]

Be a man: Explore like I did when I joined! (2 days later finally figuring out where to do stuffs!)

[sonuvalich]

Couple tidbits:

1) While very fun and interesting, the starter quest does not give you xp/gold at completion (apart from what you earn killing) and involves a tough boss fight even for a group of 2

2) There is a quest that you get after completing the quest from the Lathanderite priest but apparently once you hit 5 you can no longer get it, so you should probably bang the quest out rather than killing a lot of guys to level so that you don't lose that sweet, sweet quest xp/gold

3) Make a group and bang out all those Viridale quests if you can, nothing like fighting legions of monstrous humanoids/mushroom-people

4) Buy buffs from Sandro at the Second Wind Inn and all of this become exponentially easier...fair prices!