A dissenting opinion

[Listen in Silence]

I'm loving it.

[Oroborous]

I'll come on record here and share some stuff.

Way back when EfU was getting started, I frequently harassed Howland about a pet peeve of mine. Campaigns that continue long after their should have died, like watching your favorite TV show jump the shark. Eventually, you long to destroy it.

EfU had gotten beyond stale. I really felt it was dead. I'd put together enough of the mysteries with my various characters that even if there was more to discover, much of the basic picture of Dunwarren's past, Sanctuary's early betrayal, the nature of the Appetite were at least fleshed out for the most part.

I could only take so many more "Sanctuary may be destroyed by so and so" type plots. They'd come and gone quite frequently. So when I became convinced a few weeks ago that Sanctuary was getting busted I became extremely hopeful that a new and fresh campaign would be starting.

What irked me at first about EfU: A was my fear that the backbone of EfU; mystery in a dangerous world type of feel was lost. EfU: A seemed to unfleshed out, too unformed, it looked a bit rushed. This didn't look fresh and new, it looked like "Island Survival" with no history and no factions.

I talked to many players and they all said "Well, no there is no mystery. Its just an island. The only mystery is how we got there and that's just because of an old Netherese thing." I asked if there were any factions or background material to look over and was told "No, its like a clean slate." Some thought this was great, some didn't like it.

Then, to my surprise I realized just how tightly woven EfU: A is to EfU. There are more than a few major surprises in store for players in this setting. Some of the mysteries in the Underdark can be solved only here on the islands. There is incredible potential for new stories to appear when new islands are discovered.

My only concern after logging in for part of a day to play is that these mysteries, this fantastically woven background story is entirely being missed by the players who are in a mad dash to gain levels. Some people couldn't even let dialog chat pass by slowly enough for me to read it when I did quests for the first time, other people rushed past clues about the nature of the island on a quest rather than slow down the pursuit for more monsters to kill.

I've got to say, while I'm very excited by EfU: A now; I'm really hoping that people will 1) give it a shot and 2) try to pick up on the story and stop just focusing on getting to a high level and gaining gear.

I think to help that, that at least the existence of some of the mysteries and riddles that exist to be solved in EfU: A are made slightly more clear. People got hooked into the mysteries of the Machine, Dunwarren's collapse, the "disappearance" of Frederick Bresley, and all these other things quickly in EfU because they were much easier to spot than the mysteries in EfU: A.

[Letsplayforfun]

It's a bit of complaining about spilled milk, but there goes.

Sanctuary is destroyed, but luckily, the Way is found in time. Most of those who prepare for the Way are slaughtered because, hey, it's the Way, not some casual quest. Not complaining here, i really think it was a nice transition, even if a bit brutal.

But then, poof, out of the blue, a hell of a lot of NPCs are transported unto some magical ark and reappear above. That just, well, dunno, doesn't feels right. That's one moment where the story telling as far as PCs are involved just dies, imo. It's maybe too strong an image but basically: NPCs get up, PCs get screwed. I'm not even primarily concerned, as my favorite pcs are still alive (for now...)

I've been trying to convince myself that there is so much i'm not aware off, my opinion is biaised and probably wrong, that there's some druidic plot going on i don't know about, but still, it's my point of view for now, so i thought i'd share it.

I dunno, maybe i'm still nostalgic, but i'm not so sure. I've still pcs i can play in the UD. Exploring a deserted UD is actually fun. I've lost a few cool PCs to the Way, which i really didn't mind, because it was a cool storytelling moment, all those desperate people trying their luck and skill on some escape route.

But that desperate moment, with all those npcs just making it so easily, seems a bit absurd, now. It certainly doesn't entice me to want to throw other pcs away on some suicide surface trip, too. Not like there's many pcs left to accompany above, anyway.

As i said, i'm just posting that to get it off my chest, not like there's much to do about it. The new module is still as awesome, with cool new pcs, cool plots, cool graphics, and whatnot. But when my pcs rcome into a room so full of Sanctuary refugees, i'm just, i dunno, disappointed ?

[Dilandau Kale]

To be fair the rescue was from what I can tell entirly Pc driven since a whole bunch went down to get them out and if they hadn't it wouldn't have occured.

[putrid_plum]

The NPCs were rescued by PCs that worked very hard to do it and I think saying that it is basicly 'stupid' or ruining the 'story' is very unfair to those who took part in going DOWN then BACK up when some PCs didn't even make it up one time.  If anything it is adding to the story and connection between the two places.

[Goblin Butcher]

It's a bit of complaining about spilled milk, but there goes.

Sanctuary is destroyed, but luckily, the Way is found in time. Most of those who prepare for the Way are slaughtered because, hey, it's the Way, not some casual quest. Not complaining here, i really think it was a nice transition, even if a bit brutal.

But then, poof, out of the blue, a hell of a lot of NPCs are transported unto some magical ark and reappear above. That just, well, dunno, doesn't feels right. That's one moment where the story telling as far as PCs are involved just dies, imo. It's maybe too strong an image but basically: NPCs get up, PCs get screwed. I'm not even primarily concerned, as my favorite pcs are still alive (for now...)

I've been trying to convince myself that there is so much i'm not aware off, my opinion is biaised and probably wrong, that there's some druidic plot going on i don't know about, but still, it's my point of view for now, so i thought i'd share it.

I dunno, maybe i'm still nostalgic, but i'm not so sure. I've still pcs i can play in the UD. Exploring a deserted UD is actually fun. I've lost a few cool PCs to the Way, which i really didn't mind, because it was a cool storytelling moment, all those desperate people trying their luck and skill on some escape route.

But that desperate moment, with all those npcs just making it so easily, seems a bit absurd, now. It certainly doesn't entice me to want to throw other pcs away on some suicide surface trip, too. Not like there's many pcs left to accompany above, anyway.

As i said, i'm just posting that to get it off my chest, not like there's much to do about it. The new module is still as awesome, with cool new pcs, cool plots, cool graphics, and whatnot. But when my pcs rcome into a room so full of Sanctuary refugees, i'm just, i dunno, disappointed ?

Getting them up "the way" was not an easy task by far, several pc's died during the perma death quest involving traversing the way, not once, but twice. These npc's being on the surface was part of the reward for succeeding in said quest for those of us who did survive it.

[ShiftingAllegiances]

Yeah, so where to start? Let's start with that easy portion. A group of twenty or more set out to travel down the way for the venture. Out of that, 75% died. Sound familiar? Once we got down there the PCs made the very real decisions of what to do with the PCs and NPCs that were still down there. The conclusion that we the PCs made was that the young and old would have their fates rest in our hands. Meaning- though you said they got brought up in this magical ark that you spoke of, they were very much dead if we had died in the Way. The PCs and the the remaining NPCs were then off to travel the way again. Once again, not easy as we split off. The original group survivors and the rest of the lingering PCs in one group, the NPCs in another. The PC group had about 50% casualties with a number of powerful buffs that we earned. The NPC group surely had casualties in which a DM can give you more specifics if they feel up to it.

Druidic plots, yes. There indeed are things that you are unaware of that made it essential to go down and really puts everything properly within the story of things. The only thing I could say is to hope for evil characters to be the head of these things next time and then none of this would be an issue :P

[Pup]

All this is driving me insane!  I can't hardly wait to get my new computer and check all the new goodies out.  Just two more weeks...  :(

Also, I had over 1000 posts.  What's up with the new count?

[Letsplayforfun]

I've been trying to convince myself that there is so much i'm not aware off, my opinion is biaised and probably wrong, that there's some druidic plot going on i don't know about, but still, it's my point of view for now, so i thought i'd share it.

I love this place! You just post up something and folks cheer you up by giving you proper feedback. Telling me that the thing was PC driven was just what i needed to hear! Cheers folks!

[JackOfSwords]

After having played the new EfU:A a couple of weeks, I can solidly say I am now enjoying it.  It is indeed obvious that a lot of work and love went into creating the maps, stories and quests, and the balance of magic/gold/XP/etc seems to be fine.
I still miss the old EfU, and still feel that the transition was rushed and the players ill-informed/unprepared for it, but I've decided not to let that spoil my fun in the new setting.  My advice to any others harboring ill feelings for the transition is to do the same.
EfU:A is as much fun, albeit different fun, as the original EfU...  hop on in, the water's fine!!!  :D