Help the nature folk / gazers just a bit.

[Gwydion]

I think the server does a great job with numerous activities and Fed Ex quests to give XP  and gold to Lowbies for zig based PCs.

There are a few things available for lowbies outside the zig, but they are very sparse.  Two of the notable lowbie quests outside the zig still require the PC to go INTO the zig to complete.  A very nice lowbie quest in the Starwood Village requires a druid to take.  Meh.  

Before anyone tells me "it's supposed to be harder for nature types" - pfftt.  I've seen very little advantage gained in surviving the extreme difficulty during or after leveling up outside the zig.  The spawns just one screen beyond the main gates range from KD sneak attack panthers, Shargass Disciples, stealthed Orc Guerrilla Hunters to werewolves.  It's sheer murder to L2-L3 characters to range anywhere in an IC fashion.  

I think its now considered "accepted" for stargazer PCs to hang out in the zig, but it shouldn't have to be necessary to give new PCs a fair shake at leveling.

And if there are low level quests out there to be found with some searching - it's simply not practical for said lowbie to wander around - even in parties to "randomly" find them - without OOC meta-knowledge.  

My suggestion is to create a couple more lowbie quests in the starwood village, Exile Camp and perhaps around Castle Blackhearth.  It will still be much harder to level for nature types than the zigbots, but they will be able to do it a bit quicker (though still far slower than those doing the zig gauntlet).  

Personally I'd LOVE to see a couple more wilderness "village/camp" areas like an elven camp or maybe some various stargazer tribe villages for some more server flava if anyone gets a creative urge.  

And if you think it might easy to level outside the zig you either haven't tried it, or are a very good player who may not quite grasp what its like for the other 90% of the players.

[Caddies]

Maybe some fedex quests will be added to the Stargazer village in the future. I can honestly say it is amazingly low priority though. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Gwydion]

I do understand that DM time is limited, and that something like this might be considered pretty low on the hierarchy of priority.

But if we are trying to attract new players to replace those that leave or go on to DM, this might be something that could help.

Thanks

[Gwydion]

Heh,

I posted before I saw Caddies' response.  


Out of curiosity, what would be considered High Priority for the DM staff?

[putrid_plum]

I agree on this, it is extremely hard at times... boring, and frustrating.  A few lower level quests out there would be nice.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

It is extremely difficult to stay true to a concept when the only possibility of survival is to stay to the ziggurat.

I am not saying its impossible- but a new character with little to no loot and is not an optimized stealth build will run into trouble.

[Portal Rat]

Maybe I just got extraordinarily lucky, but I'm playing my first nature PC and I am having a blast. I would like to see more low-level quests for the nature types, but once you get over the hump, it's definitely good to be one with nature.

[Germain]

Out of curiosity, what would be considered High Priority for the DM staff?

Keeping the module up to date, correcting broken links, and ensuring the server is generally maintained.  As Caddies stated, suggestion heard and noted.

[Gwydion]

Thanks for considering this, and for all you guys do.

[putrid_plum]

Awesome.

[Box]

Problem : Hard for stargazers to start out due to difficulty of environment at low level.

Time consuming, low likelyhood to happen any time soon solution : Add new ways for stargazers to reach levels where they are able to travel safely and acquire loot to enable them to do so.


Easy solution : Give all stargazers level 4 and some invis potions right off the bat. Change the quest 'Medicine for elder ' to reward two potions instead of one.

[Caddies]

BTW, no DM is going to rouse on you just because your Stargazer comes into the Ziggurat sometimes to finish a quest or run a quick fedex or two. We appreciate its a Ziggurat-centric server and we obviously make allowances in PC behaviour regarding this. Which isn't to say, you should spend massive amounts of time there if your PC theme is 'wilderness'.

[Mort]

One of my idea in the past was to play a Drow that roams the Underdark.

I never got past level 2 until I decided to break my concept a bit and go into the sewers of Sanctuary.

What I'd be interested , maybe , in seeing is a distinct way to level-up for these characters.

Like when I made the Nightrisers, I tried to came up with a way for them to level up without having access to the Ziggurat. Then, ok, they should drain people of their life essence, and so on..

Something original and distinct like that, that isnt exploitable and wouldnt result in having an army of super-druids would be nice. So you can suggests out-of-the-box ways to help the druids that dont revolve around quests, etc.

[derfo]

I think it'd be cool to have maybe random-spawn plants/animals/areas that gazers/druids/nature inclined could desire to AE/harvest/kill for XP or loot or whatever. Maybe something similar to how the nightrisers needed to destroy larval eggs to an extent that is easily implemented, but finding a way to not make it as grindy and somehow more conflict inducing.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

Random placablesfor nature characters, such as a blight in the woods, sick animals, etc...are all excellent ideas. Having discussion how to best handle these things, do we let it spread, or do we cure it now? Perhaps you need to be wanded by a demon to even interact with said things to prevent exploitation by non-nature crews...

btw, Demon=dm