First Impressions and questions from a new player

[Kuroboshi]

A friend recommended trying this server and so far I am /very/ happy she did.

I like the new DMFI tool you are using here, especially the languages. I really love it! The OOC tool is good, helpful and useful. I like being able to save my character when I find something nice so I don't lose it to a server/client crash. If things get broken in the course of play, lost due to death, etc, that is fine, but losing them to a crash really bites. So being able to save is a big plus for me. All the easy to find, commonly used features being at the top of the screen is also quite nice. Kudos on a nice and simple system.

I know the server is still in beta so the number of merchants with no shop is a not a problem. I have not yet been out to adventure so I am not sure what the areas for that are like but reading other posts here I understand that there only a few to try at current. I look forward to seeing them. So far the towns I have been in have been nicely made with good attention to detail.

The inn/tavern in the starting town, sundren gate I think it is called, was very nicely put together. We did note you can't actually rest in the rooms there though. I know that will be fixed in time, and doesn't detract from the interior design though. One of the nicer inns I have seen on any server with good attention to detail. It shows the builder put thought, care, and effort into it, rather than just slapping it together as many servers have done.

So far, the RP with the others characters/players I have encountered has been good. The passwording really seems to have helped discourage some of the fun spoiling types. I have been on other passworded, application type servers for NWN1 and the RP was no better than the other servers not so protected. So finding good RP here so far is encouraging.

Everyone I sent tells to OOC has been polite, nice, and encouraging. That is a major plus for me. Too many NWN1 servers had players who were out to "win" and didn't care if others had fun so long as they could "win." I am happy that those here seem interested in fun and RP, rather than "winning."

So far, I am very happy with the server and look forward to exploring it more.

A few questions now, if I may.

I want to keep the character I play with that friend pretty much even to hers so I want to have a second to play for other times. This server seems crafter friendly from what I have seen at the port. What I want to know is, is that a correct impression?

What I would like to make is a wizard/fighter/eldritch knight. He would eventually learn all the magic item creation feats and have the craft armour, craft alchemy and craft weapons skills. The goal would be to have a character that is primarily a caster but also an elven smith, able to make and use the things he makes. That way he can give an honest guarantee of his wares to others and has enough knowlege of what he is crafting to know if it has flaws and needs to be remade, etc (hence the fighter level).

So, the questions:
1. Would I get smacked, and labelled a powergamer, if I only took one level of fighter to represent his early training in the guard, and his desire to know how the things he makes work?

2. Is there a desire for a player based economy to develop here? Can someone playing a crafter get the moulds, materials, etc he/she needs to make things and still make a profit while making it worthwhile for other characters to seek him/her out rather than go to the in-game merchants?

3. I saw only one person selling molds and materials so far. They had only 4 molds in the shop. Is this a thing that resets only once per server reset? Will there be a way for crafting specialized characters to get the molds they need to make the things they want to sell without having to hope they are the first one on after a server reset and all rush to the merchant to try and get the mold they need?

4. Have the magic item crafting recipies been altered or removed? I did not find any posts on this yet, but have not looked as much as I perhaps should. If there is already a post on this, please just give me a link to it.

5. I would really like to have a viable crafting character and am wondering if this is the kind of server that will support and allow for it? Can the more rare materials be found? If not now, is it planned for DM drops or DM quest rewards to have things like adamantine or mithril be given out? I have no problem with such things being rare, but if they can't be found at all, it takes the fun out of playing a craft based character.

6. In order to increase the customer base of said character I was thinking of making him Chaotic Neutral, not Chaotic Stupid or Chaotic Can't Make Up His Mind. Just a master craftsman who doesn't really care a lot to which end his items are used. Is that kind of thing acceptable for a Sun Elf on this server?

7. The space allowed for descriptions in NWN2 is rather limited. I had hoped to put the description for my character I put in my application to play here into the in-game description but didn't have near the space I am used to with NWN1. Is it ok to make posts here with the full description/appearance of our characters so people know what they normally wear and look like? Can such be put in the character discussion forums?

That's all for now. I apologize in advance if any of these have been discussed elsewhere and I just missed them. Really liking things so far, keep up the good work staff and players,

Kuroboshi.

[Votta]

First welcome aboard.

As far as creating a crafter I would wait til after beta completes for this. From the previous post crafting is not completed yet but it is in the works. As far as taking 1 lvl of something, unless you tell us how the heck is my char going to know. IC it would just come off as 'Well at least John can swing a sword without cutting himself.'

[Rhazeal]

Massive post here, I am overjoyed

1)
Not by me, no. "Early training" is only 1 level, and even then, 1 level is what a normal guard ought to be in the early stages of his... Career.

2)
Yes, this is something you'll be seeing in the future, when the full-fledged crafting system unfolds. It's not really implemented yet, so while the shops are there, they are useless at the moment

3)
You'll be seeing a lot more merchants and crafters coming soon, with the addition of the capital city, Sundren City, fast approaching. Stay tuned!

4)
Yes, and no. As stated above, the crafting/enchanting side of the game is currently being created / awaiting implementation

5)
Yes, rare materials can be found, and while they are not abundant, I'm sure that a crafter based character will have the neccesary gold to buy them at a favourable price. For example, the Sharahan Hills, north of port Avanthyr, are rich in iron and mithril.

6)
I would say yes. However, I tend to think that the morals and ethics of being a merchant borders true neutral, as it harbours no alligance to either side.

7)
I, personally, like to only write up the appearance of a character in the description. This mostly makes them nice and short, as well as reducing the change of accidental meta-gaming. You are allowed, if not encouraged, to write an in-dept descripting of your character in the character discussion forum. This will also net you input from other players.

Looking forward to playing with you!

[Kuroboshi]

Thanks for the quick replies, and the welcome!

I was more worried about the DMs than the players in my first question Votta. I have seen a lot of posts about grinders/powergamers and did not want to get off to a bad start over my choice of levels even if they make RP sense to me. Not everyone has the same views on those things and I wanted to make sure I was not going to get into trouble for it. I do like your IC quote though and it is the kind of thing I am hoping he would get in game.

A quick couple notes to Rhazeal's wonderful responses.

6. Elves tend to be chaotic as they take after Corellon. Also since he would sell pretty much anything to anyone and care less if the law allowed it, I would see him as more chaotic than true neutral. However, that being said, since he would not actively promote chaos, true neutral could work too. I just see him as wanting to perfect his art/trade/craft and not care at all what others think of him. Within the DnD system, chaotic alignments also include the non-conformists and the free spirits who don't care about laws and heirarchy so he seems to fit chaotic more in my mind, but I wouldn't complain if the staff thought him better as true neutral.

7. I was actually referring to just his appearance. I wrote 4 paragraphs on it for my application and wanted to copy them for the in-game description. Was annoyed that unlike NWN1 I can't just copy and paste into the description window. I like to have detailed descriptions, especially ones that account for the things you can't see in game just by looking at the model. So flecks in the eyes, jewelery(sp), holy symbols, tattoes, etc. Also, I like to include a bit about the types of clothing my character's are normally seen in. The kind of thing that someone asking around the local inn about him would know. "oh yeah, I've seen <name> he normally sits over there and wears <description>." I am also not very good at getting the in game model to match the looks I have in my mind for my characters. So I like to get it close, then give a detailed description of his appearance for the examine so people will know how he is supposed to appear, vs how my poor skills with the in game graphics make him look.

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on each of my questions and give useful information. I deeply appreciate it. I look forward to gaming with you all,

Kuroboshi.

[GodBeastX]

The powergaming and grinding is directed towards a very small set of players who are in a race to level 20 more than they want to actually RP. You'll eventually meet those few I put a harsh tone on it as well so people realize we take it seriously.

Don't let it worry you, I don't care if people make power builds as long as they RP what they picked. I posted that somewhere too... maybe I'll find it.

[Kuroboshi]

I understand now. Thank you for the clarification. I appreciate the quick replies I am getting here from the staff when I know you all have so much work to do. It really adds to the impresson that the staff here do care and that the players will be treated well.

I have PnP tonight in little bit, but will start working up the description and bio for my second character, and post it later this week. Looking forward to lots of fun.

Thanks for everything,

Kuroboshi.

[Scarlett]

Yay. I'm glad you like it here. If you stick to the regulars, things will be just fine for you. I promise. P