Leaving the server

[Dwarflord]

To whom it may concern.
Due to issues with forced PvP and a rp style that is player justified yet i asked the dm to stop it twice and they did not. I am leaving the server. I had very high hopes and "was " having fun until the event that occured.

I wish you all well and hope to see some of you on other nwn servers.

I will say one thing.. when PCs dictate someone else "fun" then there is a issue.. especially if the DM backs them...

Anyways farewell and good luck to you all.

[morva]

pvp is apart of the server. No way to get around it really. Sometimes you are the winning or losing side. Best thing to do is take a step back...breathe...and make a new character. You could always reach out to a DM if you have questions about a certain decision.

Otherwise...Good luck!!

[Big Orc Man]

Hope you reconsider - it's an excellent server!

But in-game actions have consequences, and guards, even rude jerks like Sunderbee, do have the authority to punish disrespect.  This opens the door for rebellious characters to band together to mete out retribution, of course!

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

[PanamaLane]

Hey man, I would stick around, is all I can say on this. I don't know anything about the situation itself but I have been there, all of us have.

PVP happens and often when you least expect it. It can feel quite bad to lose these at first, but take it from a vet, eventually you will learn to enjoy it (if you don't bail). Most characters have a shelf life of a few months tops, sometimes dying well to another character becomes one of you most memorable experiences. Or, if PVP does not lead to death, it can also lead to the creation of nemesis, revenge plots, all manner of good things.

It can feel dumb to get beaten down for what you think is no reason. But PCs often do have reasons you don't know, or its simply in their character to behave aggressively. This makes it a dangerous world indeed.

As Rocky would say, the challenge is about getting back up. EFU is not like most games. Its hard to the point of absurdity...making the rare successes completely invigorating. But everyone takes their knocks now and again.

Hope you reconsider.

[petey512]

Hope you return dude- there's nothing I can really say that hasn't been said here already other than I enjoyed your character and that you were a pretty savvy guy whenever I spoke to you OOC. Feel free to throw me a PM if you do ever decide to come back.

[Jasede]

I feel your pain.

So many of my favorite characters have died because other PCs wanted to. Sometimes on a whim. Sometimes for who they were. Sometimes because I provoked it. Sometimes because I started it, and lost.

But, I will say this-

Despite all this, despite all the loss that is such a constant on EfU, despite all the forces that tug on your PC, vying for his life, vying for his support, vying for his death -

Despite all this, there's beauty in here. Behind all that anger, behind all that suffering, you can forge genuine stories, face characters and NPCs the likes of which are completely unique and be part of a plot that runs so deep that it might well be the vein through which the server's life flows.


So, I cannot tell you that the pain of losing your characters, or being forced into directions you are not comfortable with, will abide. I cannot tell you that you can avoid these situations. I can only say that in facing them, and in accepting such losses and moving on, you can begin to appreciate the great melancholy that slumbers in those modules.

Stick around.

[Merrick]

Yea, I feel the setting is a bit discombombulated. Seems at times "lawful" sanctuary characters have a pass to behave like anarchists... while getting exiled is a very large penalty that closes allot of rp doors. There are sadly not enough players and lower pcs are kind of a loosely knit group of exiles. There are some npcs with more compatible personalities in current lower who my char would hypothetically align with but they are still npcs. I feel like the qa system with invisible force fields and other things would be some of my complaints and divide the player base. The setting can be dark as well, can be bothersome to new players. Don't let it twist your ooc or ic soul though...

[Paha]

I am sorry to hear you are leaving. It is however the truth, that EfU is, and always has been, at the harder end of RP servers.

This means few things. PvP is a big part of it, as actions and choices have consequences. Often people agree or disagree with what you do, and the setting is by no means a fair place. World has come to an end, sun has gone out, and remainders of people are scattered, Sanctuary being old settlement in underdark where some survivors have huddled inside a shield, and the large ruins. It is desperate, and people can be really cruel to chase their own interests. This is a possibility for each character.

Lawmen/Spellguard, bandits and thieves, all can be corrupt, evil, good or bad, and they can use force. It depends of character itself. Naturally, if they are at wrong or cross their superior NPC's or other PC's above them, they may get punished all the same.

Efu is definitely not for everyone. It was made to be what it is on purpose, so players will often have to adjust to it, rather than it would ever change to suit their needs. Suggestions to make experience better for newer players are always welcome, but the basic ideals will never change in Efu, as long as it remains.

When it comes to player amounts, everyone can survive outside shield and have plenty of RP. Activity and actions draw people to you, but then again, we live in global world. Timezones are a real thing in fairly tight community such as neverwinter nights. It's old game, and never had that high numbers , even on global scale - not comparable to any modern game. At one time, there can be a lot of people available, sometimes less. It also waries what stand / faction / groupings or status most characters are, as people do different things. Just the way it goes.

Hope you the best of luck what ever you choose.

[Merrick4]

I feel like the amount of time spent with nobody even on is so high that it effects the balance of the game as well. If you don't want to hang out with the current group there isn't much other choice beyond walk around by yourself or hang out near upper waiting for people. Keep in mind you can't do this if you're a wanted criminal. Using OOC coordination is a good idea, but even then, you're stuck to an empty sandbox for the majority of the hours of the day.

You're forced to do repetetive and meta-ish QA's also, I personally don't know how people can stand that, but I can't hense i often take extremely long breaks and come to play for a few weeks. Doing these quests with different groups lightens it up a bit. I'm sure I've seen other comments similar to this before. On a positive note, the setting is well written, with interesting PC's and DM events, just saying.

This isn't really related to the original post though I think I sort of see where he's coming from.

[hedsik]

All I would like to add to this thread is that OOC courtesy and respect are still very important, even more so if you're going to play the type of character who Paha describes and I believe someone else mentioned.

As for the original poster though, i always felt he RP'ed well so i wouldnt like to lose him from the playerbase.

[cicafritz]

You guys are alright for the most part, but really, from a 'new blood' perspective: Everything Merrick4 and hedsik have said pretty accurately reflects my feelings about the server and the general atmosphere. It really didn't help to see the sort of ooc attitudes this post brought up elsewhere, and I can't help but wonder just how at fault this new dude is comparitively, with that in mind.

I can easily see why he wouldn't want to log in following the combination of ic and ooc attitudes. I really haven't either. And it's not a 'humbledump actions have consequences' problem because yes no one is ten and every server does that, it really does seem like an ooc atmosphere problem that I guess veterans have adjusted to. It just seems disingenuous and discouraging, to me.

[HalflingPower]

From my perspective the server has always thrived on an us versus them mentality, in the setting itself down to the small groups fighting it out between themselves as it gives more people something to work towards.

It starts with arguements, the middle can be political and or plotting  but that can often be skipped to go straight to FD in the street, woods, caves etc.

A major villain can expect no mercy if they lose a single PVP and most of us whom have played for a decent duration really don't expect to survive a loss (I personally expect to die if I ever lose a pvp) But sometimes new players are in the wrong place at the wrong time and become victims, if a new player finds themselves in such a situation - send a tell to your oppressor and tell them that you are in fact new and I am 100% sure they will be exceedingly merciful and maybe involve you in something cool.

PVP can also be a new beginning, giving you a new goal to work towards regardless of experience in the setting.

[Paha]

If someone feels they have been wronged in pvp or don't feel something is justified, they can always come to DM's, in forum or in irc.

When it comes to time when server is emptier or empty, that is nothing that can be helped, other than being lucky enough to get more people in specific timezone. Majority of people are europe and US, so the heavy weight is on specific timezones. That's just how it works as most players nowdays are young adults or working people. They play on evenings or when they can.

Otherwise, what OOC attitude there might be, I am not sure what you people mean, but you can talk to us DM's if something bothers you.

[Aethereal]

It's always regretful when misunderstandings bring an end to something that has so much promise, though such things can be overcome with confrontation and reconciliation.

I would urge the members of the community to remain as candid as many have been in this thread, issues are best resolved when out in the open. The joys of EFU are bountiful yet complicated (though I'm not much of a fan myself, I imagine it would be akin to cracking open a crab or lobster, for the much adored sweet flesh within--dedication is well rewarded) and Paha touched upon them, but I shall describe their nature to help some of the near-jaded perspectives remember or even discover them:

---

EFU is not just a game - though it should never be forgotten that it is, indeed a game - it is a very salient reproduction of an apocalyptic world, populated by survivors who by force of will, body or sheer luck have avoided their demise yet now walk with terrible burdens, eking out an uncertain existence any way they can.

We are all trying here to contribute positively to this salient experience, and I won't whittle away my words on the diatribe that 'actions have meaningful consequences' that is as others well note, a shared trait (a thoroughly marketed one at that) of most popular roleplaying games.

The ideal way to enjoy EFU is to know that bad things can and will happen, and just as in real life, the most positive outcomes arise from adapting to the situation and resolving the conflict, one way or another. Characters will evolve from these events and the story will go on.

I understand that not all players want this from a game, this is indeed why EFU is not for everyone, thus I make no attempt to coerce people to stay, you will know whether or not this is the right place for you--with that said, new arrivals need guidance and all the support possible to get enough time and experience to make a proper decision.

The MMO experience of a single, immortal character who goes on and on, triumphing over foes and endlessly overcoming challenges is not provided here. What is provided is so much more than the grind, however:

A conclusion.

All stories come to an end, that is after all the fundamental rule of good narrative as set forth by the ancients: there must be a beginning, a middle, and an end (not necessarily in that order, for the experimental ones.) Great narrative provides closure, a chance to experience all the facets of the character's tale that can later be reflected upon. Plenty of examples of this can be found in the Screen Shots & Obituaries where the community comes together to enjoy each others' tales. I'll include some of my favourites and the exemplars of each conclusion type for perusal:


PvP mediated death

• The Old Man and the Way
  

Ascendance to NPC status

• Baltaire Magnolian
  [INDENT]You can find this guy in-game.[/INDENT]
  

Part of a major setting event
[INDENT]You get a lot of DM love for these things, as you may note - an OOC courtesy, yes the DMs live as they preach:[/INDENT]

Tezzeret's Triumph, or the glorious REBIRTH OF MYSTRYL!

• Maleken Ten'gregnos, Camfret, Eldrinkness
  
  
  
• Vaszir Pharaxes and Izrabal Khrym
  
  
  
• Nuberius Bhallaruun - The Dervish
  
  
  
• Hydarum Leyph
  
  
  
• Balthasar Ehrenhas III, Coroner of Ymph, Sacrifice in the Rebirth of Mystryl
  
  
  
• Alphonse Ja Von - All your gold is belong to ME
  [INDENT]This one is noteworthy, because the player actually got a divine insight preparing him for his potential end--as I say, the best players (DMs inc.) always provide hints/build-up and ways out of permanent death, to allow you to find your ideal conclusion.[/INDENT]
  

Player chosen PvP death

• Claxtonian VIGILANCE
  [INDENT]This player made the potentially difficult choice of sticking to a persona even if it meant death, as I know that they were given a chance to continue the tale in a different path if they wanted.
  
  Commendable work - if you reach this level of dedication, you will thoroughly enjoy the immersive experience that is EFU.[/INDENT]
  

Player achievement through dedication and server involvement in pursuit of a goal:

• Axirios Hectaxius, The Herald of Structure
  [INDENT]If you haven't seen this one already, you better take a look. I might be a bit biased having played a supporting role along the way on two of my characters but it does not change the fact it is a glorious exemplar of what can be achieved when you are dedicated to a goal and work to get people involved in achieving it.[/INDENT]
  

Out-of-character (OOC) courtesy is a completely different beast to this notion of being prepared for potentially heated in-character (IC) conflict and death, which is somewhere the player always has the support of the DM team. The best players will always provide ways out, though the onus of being courteous is upon each and every player, not just IC aggressors.

This type of thread is lamentable, but their regularity is a function of unspoken rules which most regular players are accustomed to. I suggest stickying this thread, or preserving this message or a summary of it for new players.

When things are heated OOC. Then there is a problem. As Paha said, the way forward is to call in a DM for mediation. This will help you figure out what the essence of the issue was and either resolve it, or amicably part from our roleplaying community. This seems to be what is necessary for the original poster, so if anyone can contact Dwarflord or if they are reading this:

Open the channel of communication with the DM team and move forward; greatness awaits in this darkened realm of fear, hatred, pain, pleasure, fleeting joys and all kinds of achievement.

[Corrigo]

You missed one in your excellent summation of character endings: sometimes, if you want to retire your character, DMs are willing to give you a sendoff if you just ask for one.