The Hitchikers Guide to Sundren

[Ouroboros]

DON'T PANIC

Easy for some, but not everyone.

Okay, so you go in, you create a character and you go for a wander. You stop off at an Inn, hoping to get some directions on what to do but alas, nothing. You pull out your map and go "Hmm... i wonder if this is where people are?" so you go there and instead of meeting someone to RP with or unleash a bit of vengence upon baddies, you find said baddies that nail you in a matter of seconds. As someone mentioned earlier, some direction is needed for new players. It's not fun having to find out the hard way that a certain area is way beyond your survivability limit. So fingers crossed, i can peel some info out of you guys about sundren so that new starters (i.e. ME for one) can figure out where to go without having regular visits to that Shadow dude.

Especially for people use to the NWN2 campaign, it presents you with slowly progressing challenges. Some method of this would be nice for Sundren i think, and there may be one, but i don't really know.

So Firstly, as a new starter, what did you do? Where did you go? Did you manage to find a few people to RP and explore with or did your character feel that a bit of a stretch of the blade would be a nice change? If the latter is the case, where did you go? What is the general Level requirements for the different areas? Is there a farm that has a particular Boar problem and needs an exterminator?

For any new starter, here's something i discovered:
Right click on your character, there is a Sundren Tab. In that there are several Sundren based commands. The handy one in particular is the one that allows you to locate other people. Lets you know where people are distributed so you can "Accidentally" bump into others.

I dont want to power game, but some pointers to an area where i can get use to the whole place without fear of penalty would be really good.

[BladeofMystra]

ME for two .. well.. when i finally flesh out my new AA

BTW in my short time as a good warlock I met only 2 non-talkative elves. I tried saying hello but they were gone too fast. (shrug oh well). I visited all of Sundren, the sea town to the north of where you arrive - i visited every area (I think) in the town where you arrive and i visited the crossroads. I found the Elves in the hills south of Sundren.. and some .. other things which were less friendly :P

I would take a moment to encourage the builders to create something of a "hub" for RP. A place to get parties together - share stories afterwards - and share character backgrounds.

I would suggest the crossroads as that kind of hub to players... but you all have been here far longer and must have somewhere better you are hiding out

[undeadsteak]

I was edited.

[Ouroboros]

okay, so we're getting started. Thus far, we have the following info:
RP Hubs (For general chatting or meeting other players) = Crossroads, Virdale Forest Border and Sharahan Hills Camp.
Level 3-5 areas = ??
Level 6-9 areas = ??
Level 10-13 areas = ??
Level 14-17 areas = ??
Level 18-20 areas = ??

[undeadsteak]

Uhh. HI!

[Ouroboros]

So, here's the latest...

RP Hubs (For general chatting or meeting other players) = Crossroads, Virdale Forest Border and Sharahan Hills Camp.

Solo Play level recommendations
Level 3-4 areas = ??
Level 5 - 7 areas = ??
Level 8-10 areas = ??
Level 11-13 areas = ??
Level 14-17 areas = ??
Level 18-20 areas = ??
I mainly ask this because some of the times i have logged in, no-one else has been online (maybe one person) so some info for Solo'ing is probabally a good idea.

Group Play level recommendations
Level 3-5 areas = Mossclaw Forest, Sharahan Hills, Sewers.
Level 6-9 areas = Stonegarb Caverns, Aquor Tunnels, Mossclaw Village, Necropolis
Level 10-13 areas = Necropolis, Aquor Tunnels, ?Sestra Caverns?.
Level 14-17 areas = Necropolis, ?Sestra Caverns?.
Level 18-20 areas = TBA
Bank Location = Temple of Waukeen - Trade Tier.
Server Password = N/A - No Password required for login
General required Ping for Playability - 200ms


Please post any Additional Info you have, or any other questions, or even if something isn't right.

[undeadsteak]

TOtally Edited.

[Ouroboros]

General Sundren Lore / RP Info
RP Hubs (For general chatting or meeting other players) = Crossroads, Virdale Forest Border and Sharahan Hills Camp.
Bank Location = Temple of Waukeen - Trade Tier.
Magic Level = Low. Some items of magical power, but is highly balanced.

Crafting Info
(some people may come on and leave if they find out that there are potential limitations to crafting. Therefore, I'm just asking if said resources are even available. Don't say where though, i would rather find this out via RP'ing rather than the Google-style method. I know they are burning questions for me!)
Weapon Crafting Limitations = ??
Armour Crafting Limitations = ??
Iron = Yes
Mithril = ??
Cold Iron = ??
Alchemical Silver = ??
Admantium = ??
Wood = ??
Duskwood = ??
Zalantar = ??
Magical Creature Hides (Umber Hulks, Fire Meephits, etc) = ??
Alchemy Crafting Limitations = ??
Alchemical Supplies = ??
Trap Crafting = ??
Enchanting (Craft Magical Arms and Armour) = ??
Scroll / Wand based Enchanting (Would a poor rouge for example, well versed in using scrolls and deciding to study enchanting so they can improve their own weapons be faced with the nasty supprise of not being able to enchant from scrolls?) = ??


Solo Play level recommendations (from some suggestions. Not going to be specific to class as that would really encourage Meta-Gaming too much i think)
Level 3-4 areas = ??
Level 5 - 7 areas = Gate of the Sunderer, Sewers, Sharahan Hills
Level 8-10 areas = Mossclaw Forest, ?Necropolis?
Level 11-13 areas = Stonegarb, Aquor Caverns
Level 14-17 areas = Aquor Caverns, Necropolis
Level 18-20 areas = ??
I mainly ask this because some of the times i have logged in, no-one else has been online (maybe one person) so some info for Solo'ing is probabally a good idea.

Group Play level recommendations
Level 3-5 areas = Mossclaw Forest, Sharahan Hills, Sewers.
Level 6-9 areas = Stonegarb Caverns, Aquor Tunnels, Mossclaw Village, Necropolis
Level 10-13 areas = Necropolis, Aquor Tunnels, ?Sestra Caverns?.
Level 14-17 areas = Necropolis, ?Sestra Caverns?.
Level 18-20 areas = TBA

Technical / Multiplayer Sundren Info
Server Password = N/A - No Password required for login
General required Ping for Playability - 200ms


Any other questions or info, post em.

[GatorPhD03]

I disagree with many of the level ranges people are giving and the assertion that you can't solo. Believe me I know...I play a ranger with poor social skills (and he knows it!).

I've been on Sundren since the first half of 2007 so I am not a new player here. Still, I'm not going to give away my discoveries...adventure! Take some risks and laugh them off! I turned a character death into a rather funny experience (with the help of a quirk in NWN2 graphics) and that was before the new newbie character death rules. I still manage to level albeit slowly since I am not on to often...in short my character has turned out to be pretty successful. Don't get to wrapped up in "which area will I not die in"...just have fun...and get wacked a few times in the process .

Just my 2 cents.

[undeadsteak]

Uhh, ive been here as well Gator, and maybe a warrior can go a bit higher then that, but playing mainly anything else? Its a bit hard, you'll most likely need a group or need to be very high lvl with good blue item gear. And i reccomended pretty high lvl stuff for group solo. Go to the necropolis at 6-9 prepare to be killed most likely.. Unless youve got a huge group.

[Ouroboros]

Mainly, im just after some sort of guide or hinter. Sometimes when people come in they have no idea where to go. Also, people like myself really don't get much time. Sometimes i only get about 30mins at any one time to get into RP'ing as well as some action. I have found it a total pain to have the little time i had wasted because i got nailed by some baddies that were way too difficult and i got to know that Shadow dude all too well.

there is basically no way we should cover everything, and i agree, there should definately be supprises, but a pointer in the right direction when no-ones around would be nice.

[Saulus]

People worry a little bit too much about stats and XP and levels etc on Sundren... especially considering it's a roleplay server, and was designed with that in mind first and foremost. I am aware of players which I will not name that have very limited time to play, but they play casually and tend not to worry so much about these things mentioned.

They enjoy themselves just fine because they take things in stride.

[Ouroboros]

Personally, I consider myself a bit of a perfectionist. If i do something, i like to do it damn well. So when i create a character, i like that their attributes fit their personality and that their personality changes as they do. Normally, their personality would change as they interact with everything and everyone, but in a RP environment, that isn't always possible. Sometimes, a bit of planning is important, and one thing that i absolutely hate is doing irreversable things that i will regret.

to this end, i just want to make sure i make informed decisions. If i have a character with an "Ultimate Goal", so i have them go down that path and then realise at level 15 that what i wanted was impossible from the beginning and that their story won't finish they way i wanted it to, personally, the character will probabally never be seen again on the server... i lose interest.


Oh... and the only other thing is that, while i am very use to Online Games, i found NWN2 Multiplayer to be daunting. I have had some situations thati have been... for want of a better word... scared to go online with it. You guys sold me with port Avanathyr, absolutely beautifully made, and that was enough to keep me into it no matter what really. Now the beast of curiosity has bitten me and i guess this is my way of getting into it.

I'm not worried, just curious. I hope I'm not ruining anything for anybody!

[Boadicea]

I am a 4th lvl warlock...bet I am the only one too!

I have partied up twice since arriving, enjoyed the RP, have not found lvling to 4th hard, and been to most the areas initial entry points, and further were it didn't kill me fast!

I do not believe there should be hubs or lvl related hubs, it should be a hub...one hub or looked at as the major hub. A place that has to be passed through, by, to move to other locations.

This pushes players to bump into all types at all times, this promotes party options, and RP interaction. When players log in, this is where they kick off. Some type of outdoor social setting, so when your there you are there. No extra transition needed.

Perhaps an Inn on that map with an outdoor fire ringed by useable seating, go into the Inn to buy drinks, get a room for the night, watch entertainment, or have some of these options outside.

A merchant to handle basic item needs, and sell to at low return.

Does this take away from content and places already created? No, those places specialize, as they do now to some degree.

As player groups become social groups they meet at these other favorite spots to interact, the Church of Helm being a prime example, or another tavern that allows getting away from certain types.

It does feel very spread out at this time.

A focal entry point would allow you to often see someone quickly, even when the server is light on players. Over hear a story, get in on a conversation. Join a group.

I have seen this work very, very well. I actually thought the map just outside the main city, with the tents and fire was this type of place, but you wouldn't want NPCs spamming the conversation.

This server is going to grow with players, it is coming together very nicely. I think this type of hub would help as well.

[undeadsteak]

I love how Sundren is right now.. One hub? Meh, just use the "Find players." So you meet people.