Winning, you know, its like, better then losing

[PanamaLane]

Ommadawn, you're too practical. I honestly don't expect anything to come out of this rant. It's really just a mindset I tried (and failed apparently) to express.

[The Crimson Magician]

noob.

I just had to get that cheap shot in and emphasize the point. Sarcastically, of course, but emphasizing it all the same.

[bob7el]

I know what you're saying, Panama.  I feel that EfU:A is a lot harder than EfU.  Invis is less effective, there's far more poison and dispelling, and generally the mobs hit much harder.  My deaths on EfU usually occurred because I held back in some way.  Where as in EfU:A, it's fairly common that you can't survive, even if you take all precautions, plan ahead of time, and play well.

Maybe I'm part of the minority, in this mindset.  I tend to gravitate towards frontliners, and I've also been on a lot of DM quests -- where the challenge can be expected.  

In some ways, I really like the bump in the difficulty level.  It makes success more valuable.  But in others, it makes it much harder for less optimized builds to work.

Either way, I think we can expect the setting to get a bit easier in time.  There'll be more bug fixes; we'll get more accustomed to the clunky collision size of our characters; more gold, and potions, and equipment will find its way into the player market; and there's already been a number of balance changes (e.g., Sewer Goblins and Scalemount).  And hopefully, the general player-base will become accustomed to the difficulty of the new setting.

So I think we can expect, in some ways, for the setting to become naturally easier in time.  Though, regardless, I hope the DMs will continue to remain open to balance suggestions.

[xxWhisperingWindsxx]

If I'm reading you right Panama ...
 
This isn't really about having the perfect optimized build (whatever that is, I sure as hell have never figured it out), or getting the uber-loot, or power-questing to umpteenth level ... It's about trying to feel like you're doing something without having to overcome every obstacle in the game to do it; including mechanics, glitches, bugs, lag, etc.
 
I've hit that same wall myself at times. Where you feel like no matter what you try, what level you are, how many goodies you may/maynot have ... you're still going to end up just as dead, and just as frustrated because you haven't been able to do whatever thing it was you were trying to do. There have been times when I could've sworn this was a lesson in dealing with seemingly insurmountable frustration. Which, when you hit that spot kinda feeds on itself, because this is a game. It's supposed to be an immersive fantasy where for a bit you can forget about RL. So when you have to face the same or worse here, it takes something away from it.
 
Honestly, the thing I've found that helps when I hit that wall is two things ...
 
Even if it's for a few hours, a few minutes, a day, whatever ... step back and take a deep breath.   Yeah, I know that sounds a little trite, but really it does help.
 
The second is to re-align my goals a bit.  Sometimes that means instead of looking at the BIG picture of what I want, look at just the next step (even if it's just a baby step of finishing "x" quest, or talking to "x" PC).  Sometimes it means changing the way I look at the game or my PC.  Sometimes it's a combination of those things.  It can be a variety of things.
 
I don't know if that will work for you or not.  But I think I hear what you're saying.  It can be a frustrating and discouraging spot to be in.

[Nihm]

I think bob made some good points.  The new collision behaviors brought by the patch are absolutely horrendous, you can nudge someone and suddenly they're on a trap 10 feet away that noone was even facing toward.  It's just awful and I wish it could get disabled, a blind gorilla slapping a keyboard could come up with a better system.
 
The Underdark seemed easier because there were more quests to choose from and most people went with the easier ones, which already happens to some extent in efua.
 
One thing that certainly has gotten more ruthless is certain AI behaviors.  Since the patch, monsters have consistently continued to attack pcs that are fallen and bleeding, even to the extent of ignoring threats that are damaging them.  This used to be the exception, now its the norm, and it alone contributes hugely to character deaths.

[PanamaLane]

Here is something to consider outside of the death issue. If my character wants to look really badass, I'll need to find dye for robes (since they can't be made by the seamstress). First off, you need to go about figuring out which colors you want, and where to get them, etc. Not easy! Then I have to quest a bunch to be able to afford the dyes at 100gp or so a piece. I have to apply them blindly and hope that they match the scheme I was looking for, which they almost do but not quite. Then you fiddle with this process over weeks to get it just right. When you've finally got it, the dyes are perfect, you die to PvP the next day. Thus begins a whole new process of going back to work for clothes.

Now, if I wanted to buy a suit in nyc I'd go through a similar process, earning the money, taking measurements and so forth. But that's real life. In nwn, can't we just have the stupid dyes we want? Why must we -work- for them? Its not even magical, its just a robe.

Sometimes I'm surprised I don't have to pay student loans in EFU.

[Jayde Moon]

Sometimes I'm surprised I don't have to pay student loans in EFU.

Should totally suggest that!

Student loans, then you go to wizard/fighter/rogue/cleric classes in the Zig.  You get XP.  Then you have a 10th level graduate PC.  But you gotta pay 90% of your quest earnings and findings back to the school.  Until you die.

I've found that the server is pretty tough, especially for the unprepared.  I've finally got a rhythm and flow going for my main and things have toned down a bit in terms of random violence ending her...

But there's still trouble spots... I don't know, I think it's how it should be... for now.

[Caddies]

Ugh this thread. So much emo waffling.

[PanamaLane]

What's with the attitude? Are we not cool enough Caddies? Your condescension is poison.

[9lives]

Thread just went epic.

[ZugThaEadBasha]

I am glad there is a responsible dm to oversee it.

[Vlaid]

I sense epicly locked shortly.

[Metro_Pack]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IiLZ0dvDWU

[Inquisitor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFjKFDvyJ80