Fighting Areas

[Paerin]

A major part of the problem is the anonymity of the player base. I have been reluctant to bring other servers and how they handle this into any of my posts because I simply abhor when people say "well on X we did Y". I also realize this is an open beta, so it may not be appropriate at this time, However I would make the following two suggestions based on how another extremely well recognized PW for NWN1 handles these situations. I will also post a link to this PW's wiki page on how players are expected to handle OOC information such as cheesing, metagaming, etc with the creators permission (however I will not give this information unless I get that permission).

1. Place a password on the server and strictly enforce it
2. Require board registration and a game application to play.

This would not only make players more accountable for their actions and reduce the amount of random power-gamers to log in, but it would also firm up your community (of desired participants) and create a better roleplaying atmosphere.

The added benefit (bonus) of this system is once you post the rules it would be up to the players to obey them, or get banned. You wouldn't need to waste your time hard-coding systems to enfore the rules you set forth, because there would be no random fools constantly breaking them.

You may have plans for something along these lines after the beta is finished, but I would highly suggest implementing something like this before that time comes, so we can all get back to doing what we enjoy.

[Saulus]

I may consider such a solution as I have experience with these kinds of situations. It all depends on how troublesome it is to weed out players who do not intend to follow the rules.

[Paerin]

It's really a matter of whether you want to constantly be weeding out players who are troublesome (due to no requirements for joining the server) or spend a little time each week reviewing applications and allowing decent people in.

Either way, proactive or reactive, is unfortunately going to take time on the development staff's part: I just believe being proactive about it will make the world more enjoyable to the players.

Overall, it's your decision and I'll let the issue rest. I just feel bad watching you guys get so frustrated when you are put so much hard work into this place. Anything we as players can do to help, just let us know.

[Dragoncleric]

You know I'm looking at Godbeasts post and I'm thinking to myself:
Didn't I type that already in another thread? (Albiet less structured and more passionate.)
It's simply why I really don't log on much or at all sometimes.

You're never going to get away from the MMO mentality on servers that are open to anyone, and don't have players and/or DM's that PnP often.

Because we simply only have either: a.) fighting or b.) Hoping DM's dish something out. For xp: No one wants to have the eternal low level character.

I'll probably be playing MMO's again in about 4 months or so, so whatever. I'll have to be like that there.
I'm going to use NWN2 as a campaign platform only once players and DM's can get ones started up. I just don't see anything close to it on any server.

Small groups of players, regular schedules...PnP. Otherwise all you've got is NWN2 MMO worlds.

So yeah...this is my goodbye post. About time too. I have no place in a non-PnP styled play area. If I want an MMO I'll play one. Unfrotnetly you can't hide it with 'roleplay' because even roleplayers want to see their characters grow and gain.
Even I can admit that.

[Ethereal Edge]

Keep in mind that some excellent roleplayers won't apply to servers that require registration, no matter how good the server may seem. Just a note, of course.

[GodBeastX]

I think most of the issue is we don't know all of the playerbase as whole yet. As people become well known with the DM's we begin to know what to expect. Trust me, you'd be amazed how often four DM's are watching a group of people RP as if it was a movie, because alot of you are enjoyable to be around, and I likely don't give you enough credit on the forums.

"GodBeast, go get the quest system done so we can get people using it."

"Hold on Saulus, I gotta see what happens with this."

That really is how I feel when I see people RP'ing things out. It's like reading a good book alot of times

Honestly, I've never felt I needed to follow certain players around into dungeons unless I feel like making the dungeon more dynamic. I know I don't because they are here for the RP and if they wind up entering a dungeon, I know there'll be nothing but effort into their RP. They know that they get out of the server what they put into it. And I have no doubt they will have enjoyable days ahead of them in Sundren. Especially when the areas become more complete.

As players become more established, this issue will slowly fade away because new players will be smaller and smaller, filling the slots for players with all veterans to Sundren. Another benefit of knowing the players and their characters well is we can give more "True to that character" DM attention. Which is more enjoyable for players as well.

So while I'm upset right now at what people are doing, it'll slowly change, and it is already. There was alot of time that went by yesterday that the caves and Mossclaw were empty completely. I was shocked

[undeadsteak]

I really dont like the quest system, it never makes sense with roleplaying. How can something keep happening over and over for different players? Id rather like DM given quests.

[GodBeastX]

I really dont like the quest system, it never makes sense with roleplaying. How can something keep happening over and over for different players? Id rather like DM given quests.

Saulus can reply to this one

[Saulus]

The quest system gives a certain level of life to the world and helps take some burden off the DMs who can't be everywhere at once. It isn't a substitute for DMs but rather an augmentation. There will be many varieties of quests that will pop up and although they may not be as epic or have as high rewards as personalized DM quests, they will be an intergal part of Sundren.

The true vision of Sundren is to be a high quality roleplay server that has a degree of automation and action which enhances the roleplay rather than snuffing it out. Eventually players will be able to track their quests completed and which ones they've done as kind of a testament to their residual impact on Sundren.

[Ash]

"...For xp: No one wants to have the eternal low level character...."

I'm not no one.

I don't play on a server like Sundren to gain XP or level. I'm there for the roleplay. Dungeons are part of a fantasy world, and adventurers will adventure in them. Good and evil clash, and heroes will be heroic and villains will be villainous.

My point is, if I gain some XP and level, that's nice, but it's just something that happens. It's not my priority. That's roleplaying.

[GodBeastX]

Speaking of Villains, I need to find all my PC villains. I only found 3 so far

[Ichbin]

Speaking of Villains, I need to find all my PC villains. I only found 3 so far

Err, I made one, but I think Im just gonna wait till after beta to unleash him.

[Garfaldo]

I think people are really coming around and warming up to the idea of what the server is about... myself included. I'll be the first to admit, that even tho I do not consider myself a power-gamer by any means, my thirst for action might have brought into a dungeon or goblin infested path a few more times than necessary.

Now I find myself set on exploring the world more, and interacting with the people. In addition to the exp system, I think you DMs will find as more content and conflict areas are added people will be drawn away into more enriching activities for the server.

I used to play one of those text-based MUDDS about 10 years ago, and much of what I did and learned RP-wise from there was lost over the years. Now I'm trying to learn it back after being fried by scores of poor RPGs and even more poorly run servers.

[Pokenopoly]

Speaking of Villains, I need to find all my PC villains. I only found 3 so far

Go villains!