I'm shouting out a thanks and adding a suggestion.

Had wonderful fun on a little DM quest that was simple, yet a good time for all due to the uncertainty of the situation. ExileStrife and maybe another DM had a little troll situation in the mines that I though was a blast, and it probably was very easy for the DMs to run.

Thank you, enjoyed it muchly!

Here's my suggestion:

I know there are superior players here in EfU that can devote 8-12 hour blocks of time with amazing plots, outstanding applications, rock the server and make DMing great fun so they get the lion's share of attention. This is not a gripe, it's a fact, and I'm cool with that.

But some of us who are mediocre to sometimes good RPers that can usually only play 2-4 hours REALLY appreciate these little things like the "Barricaded Trolls". And DM spicings of normal quests. And random NPC possessions. In fact, I enjoy them A LOT. They are great fun, and the reason why I play EfU.

Simply put, I'd like to see more of these things. I can recall nearly two years ago playing Jane's quest when another Chosen dogged us near the finish because our magic weapon spells were depleted. It was simple, yet made it special. They don't have to be made more difficult, just a DM touch sometimes. FWIW, I'd like them to be made tougher sometimes too, to keep us guessing. :)

So this is a plea for more of these types of things more often. Little things like this make EfU so much fun for a significant block of the player population.

I know DMs want to spend their time having fun, and facilitating the intricate and amazing plots some of the very good players are working on, but I'd like to encourage the DM staff to keep on dong these little things for those who aren't as interesting to DM for.

The alternative is a PW with a select 10-15 players who are awesome and everyone else has gotten tired of EfU and moved on.

Hear, hear!

Gwydion raises a good point.

- DD

Since school is starting back up again... Hear, hear!

Call me butter,

Also, I'd REALLY like to see more OOC DM feedback via TELLS at any and all times. I don't care about the DM XP as much as some feedback. It's gratifying, and I think the DMs can help guide all the players towards what they'd like to see more often.

Obviously awesome RPers who are getting non-stop DM attention are doing a great job. That's not why I called. And seriously, I'm not griping or airing jealousy, because I understand the reality that DMs HAVE to spend more time with intricate plots because that's what AWESOME requires.

Once my cleric took time at the end of a quest to try to sanctify a holy altar, and a DM shot me a tell saying it was good stuff. That made my EfU week.

Recently I had a DM give me some minor XP for some RP because they thought it was very IC. "Good dwarf RP about dwarf stuff," I think was the compliment. Loved it. Encouraged me to keep RPing a lot. I'd like to see that more, to encourage good RP and somewhat keep pace with players that do 4 scripted quests in two hours. That's not a bad thing necessarily if the RP is good during, but some balance can be achieved as well.

I don't want to be needy, or try to spread the DMs out even thinner, but from my perspective, even a little of this goes a long way. In fact, I'm fairly content from what I've been fortunate to be a part of recently, but I just want to give some feedback about what drastically changes a player's enjoyment with minimal effort from a DM.

Thank you for listening, and hope it is taken constructively. Just trying to give some food for thought, and make a great thing greater.

It really is the little things. You make some good points, and I'd definately like to see more of these things! Like you say, it feels good, and is a lot of fun, when DMs take time to just add little things to make quests a little more varied. Good suggestion.

I'm not so sure, every time a DM hijacks a monster I'm near - my character seems to end up in a really brave party, the kind that all die at least three times and want to press on anyway. I groan in my head when this happens. I know that it's supposed to be difficult and add a little flavour to it, but sometimes the invisible Goblinoid commanders barking out strategy are too much. The winged Chosen slapping us about, or the 'hyper-chosen mage' or whatever in the sewers screaming out my certain death. The werewolf plot I really liked, I even asked the DMs if my character would end up a werewolf from being wounded by them - I was just kidding either way.

Basically, I enjoy scripted quests as scripted quests with no great surprises, but taking part in DM quests that are completely new to everyone is the most enjoyable experience by far within EFU. Just my thoughts for today, on this topic, I agree with the guy. :roll:

Personaly i think people take to much to heart with character levels and dieing in general. I often see (and yes when i first started was one) people that create a character go to 8th or 9th level and stop playing that character and make a new one. I think some think the server as something that can be "beaten" or completed and it just isn't so. What gwydion says is true and getting that pat on the back does make a player want to sully forth into the breech over and over again and constantly strive to do better things. It doesn't mean that they have self-esteem issues or are jealous at all but rather that their character is contributing to the server and that they do indeed mean something. The reason i keep playing here is the reason most of us do. The d.m. staff is awesome, the world is secluded and contained enough to keep you enthrulled, and the player base is far superior to any else on the internet. Players such as dangerous dan,halfbrood,scalebane,mort,and winston are awesome players and the competative edge on the server is healthy to all whom play. Sorry i am full of love today. :D

King Creeper,

I used to feel that way when I died. Every time. I used to get so mad at myself, the DM, the stupid player that charged/didn't heal me/ran away or the general fairness of the spawns/trap/whatever.

I've realized that the DMs and the players BEND OVER BACKWARDS to hook you up somehow when you die. If there is a party wipe, the DM will let other players in to save you if there is a shred of IC reason why they would. Players are usually VERY good about picking up the 258 lbs of gear you have scattered over your 6 screens with only one large bag, as well as the 1232 coins and giving almost ALL of it back to you. Even the empty bottles, feeble torches, sinews and toy tops.

Sometimes you can't get your gear back, and that blows - but think of it as a challenge. If it pisses you off that much and you don't want to start over, just be graceful and permadeath the character. If they have important things to do, they can be done at 4th level. Obviously kicking the shit out of the Dirty Nancies gang by yourself isn't going to happen at 4th level, but it just takes some more patience.

I daresay the DM staff has had more negative feedback from character deaths than all other gripes combined. And from their POV, it's just XP and you can get that back. The real slam is on your time that you have to reinvest to get back where you were, but if it wasn't fun getting there, why are you playing that character? Or why are you playing EfU?

Life's a journey not a destination. Developing a character is supposed to be fun. RPing with other characters can still take place, and ICly they don't care if you can't "pwn clowns" anymore.

But I used to be where you are. I think I've died on almost every quest there is now, especially the first time I've went through it.

Damn....I must suck. :?

Seriously, hang in there and don't fret about deaths. It sucks more fun out of the experience than anything else.

I certainly appreciate the suggestion, and fully intend to in my own DM'ing concentrate on the "little things" as much as I am able.

However, I do want to address one misconception I think may exist -

Obviously awesome RPers who are getting non-stop DM attention are doing a great job. That's not why I called. And seriously, I'm not griping or airing jealousy, because I understand the reality that DMs HAVE to spend more time with intricate plots because that's what AWESOME requires.

There are no players or characters on this server who are getting non-stop DM attention. Characters that are actively going out and doing things, leading factions, entertaining other players, engaging in meaningful RP/conflict, etc. will likely receive MORE attention than you average PC that logs on for 40 minutes every evening and wanders around for a little bit but it's probably less than you think.

I'm not so sure, every time a DM hijacks a monster I'm near - my character seems to end up in a really brave party, the kind that all die at least three times and want to press on anyway. I groan in my head when this happens. I know that it's supposed to be difficult and add a little flavour to it, but sometimes the invisible Goblinoid commanders barking out strategy are too much. The winged Chosen slapping us about, or the 'hyper-chosen mage' or whatever in the sewers screaming out my certain death.

My advice is to either realize that that kind of thing is excellent fun and that you should embrace it, or if it truly is not your cup of tea just go ahead and retreat IC'ly. No one on the DM staff wants to spend our valuable time in trying to bring the entertainment and excitement that so many in our playerbase desire to players who are not interested.

The werewolf plot I really liked, I even asked the DMs if my character would end up a werewolf from being wounded by them - I was just kidding either way.

All recent werewolf activity I can think of (unless I am mistaken) has just been PC werewolves, entirely PC driven.

I will just come right out and say it. If you enjoy doing things that have no surprises at all, EFU is not for you. NWN is easy, and as such, the mechanics are as much a part of questing as anything else. A beautiful mesh of colorful roleplay and mechanical rushes are what make for the most fun on quests. I know not everyone is capable of roleplaying in situations like these, I know some people freeze up, and I understand that some people think combat should not even really be as big of a deal as it is on EFU. This is exactly what makes it so amazing and fun. It's difficult to get that kind of fun out of any other game, in this humble DM's opinion.

Quest angst taken care of and put aside, I do love to do the little things when I log in. Mostly I just roll with whatever PC's are doing lately. If you are doing something that I think will be fun, I will probably port to you and possess a NPC and make things silly/funny/scary/whatever. I'll try to do more of it when I'm on the client.

I'd like more FEAR. I have not been scared for a while, or creeped out. I want to feel alive again!

Heh. It's true that the little things are great. I remember playing a character who was doing some research at the library- I was typing a post in the forum while doing so, but when I alt-tab back up- I see that the Watchman guarding the library had spoken.

Nothing magnificient, but a few words that made me crack a smile:

"[sighs] Library shift... I hate my job."

Mort voiced my feelings spot on.

I don't even mind if the NPC /sound /etc is even anything we would react to at all. It just makes me repay attention to the fact I'm not me aiming for a goal, but a character walking around in a city. And that Rocks.

Thank you Efu Dms for spoiling us all.

**In the back of the crowd reading this thanks post, every time someone reads "little things" you can hear: PICK ME! PICK ME! **

Yeah encouragement to RP is great! xp is a small part of the process but a congrats for a nice RP is the best thing a player can ever have that will keep him playing EFU rather then a scripted quest xp.

Also I'm one of those workers and married so I have little time to play, except when I'm making my wife mad ...

Nice post.

You don't have to be so condescending, all I'm saying is that when I'm in a group that's being overwhelmed by huge numbers the last thing on my mind is the kind of RP that a DM is looking for, I usually cut it down to "Oh look, that *monster* seems to be talking. I think I'll shoot at it like the rest of them." ; I get very bland when I'm busy, being the typical male I find it hard to fully concentrate on more than one thing at a time. An example is when we were running through one of the Chosen quests and some beggar with a double-axe ran up "Have you seen my rat?"... My PC didn't have a magical weapon so I was doing like 1 damage IF I hit at all, I could've stabbed the rat-lover there and then for being so annoying in the middle of that. Then his rat runs out the door in the middle of yet another overwhelming fight, not that any of the PCs knew it was his rat being the place that it was. So thats fine, rats gone the guy is gone too, we continue.

Already hard enough since I don't have any kind of weapon enchantment, those winged Chosen spew up out of nowhere and knock me down three times (I didn't die so I'm not that bothered), it's just so annoying personally when I'm trying to accomplish something else. It's not going to make me stop playing but sheesh, stop picking on my PCs! :roll:

I feel unappreciated when I do some awesome RP (or when I feel like I got screwed by lack thereof and still get RP XP) the exp is just making us feel <3ed! :P

You are not being picked on. Monsters try to kill things that attack them.

I don't understand why people always blame the DMs for picking on them, when all they are trying to do is bring a little variety to your playtime. Cut them some slack, they're not out to get you. They're out to make your experience on EfU the best it can be.

I'm not blaming people! I'm just saying that when some people (me) are busy with other things then something springs up from round the corner they (I) get a little freaked out. Not so far as to panic but when my whole party ends up dead and I'm hiding in a corner (laughing at them) I have to wonder if it's really worth it. I know I keep going back to Goblins, but most of the people going there are not prepared for high level Goblins who seem to be perma-blurred spewing all kinds of weird high-level magic on them. So forgive me if I feel like I've been picked on. :?

It's a challenge, which is what EfU is all about.

Credit where it's due, it does give the kind of diversity you wouldn't see on another game, but there's challenge and then there's rewardless annoyance. I think I got 50xp and some Goblin loot from the rest of the quest. And most of the good stuff that was found was already used by another party member :x which I hate OOCly and ICly and ABCly! And since I'm spinning off into a rant of my own as soon as I walked out of the quest area I got killed by a spider, I survived a DM Goblin to be killed by a spider! :evil: *groans in his head*

IBtL!