33 réponses à ce sujet

[FireWraith]

Hi - I help run the site, so I can probably answer a few things, or at least explain the general philosophy behind why some things are the way they are (or at least, what we are aiming to do).

 

Our overall goal is for people to have fun.  This isn't an excuse for people to just run roughshod over their fellow players, of course, but we try and keep it in mind (because if we're not having fun, then why are we doing this again?).

 

Level progression is intended to start quick, and taper off - the idea here is that new players can catch up sufficiently to take part in plots, roleplay, and pretty much any other activities, but the longer term veteran characters still have something to look forward to.

 

As for Half-Dragons and other unusual races, we generally try to balance allowing people to play what they want (within things that are possible in the setting) with the disruptions those would cause for others.  Things like tieflings or half-dragons we figure would get weird looks, and might not be liked, but the primary city (Arabel) is noted as valuing coin more than unsuual origin in some of the old source material, so we allow it.  Something like a half-fiend would be allowed, but would need to use magic to disguise their full/true nature, et cetera.  Ultimately it's a balance, and one that we're tinkering with as we go.

 

Regarding forum registration, I'll see about tweaking the settings to allow some of the public information forums to be viewed without having registered.

 

As for the server layout, it did originate on a center-spoke design, although there are a number of interconnects that have been added.  Many are out of the way though (which is mostly a factor of the terrain of the setting in many cases), and most players tend to either use transportation magic, or hire some of the caravans at the major towns to move around.

 

As for areas, we do have a number of things in the works, and are still adding things (if a bit more slowly than I'd like).  I recently upgraded the machine the server runs on, so we can add a lot more stuff.  One thing we definitely have in the works are more higher-level dungeons to challenge players.

 

Anyway, if you do feel like taking a look, feel free to say hi, if I don't welcome you first.

[Vincent07]

Hello everyone!

 

Admin and builder/scripter lead here, thought I'd chime in.

 

Fixed the forums, you can now view the important bits (like how to find haks etc) without registering.  New system, still learning it.

 

I sill do regular updates and have a number of new dungeons on the way as well as a massive hak update that I've been slowly putting together for well.. far too long now.

 

As mentioned above, C/D is a High Magic server set in the Forgotten Realms, with a level cap of 30.  We are an RP server, and so there is a soft and hard cap along the way to that milestone.

 

We do not use CEP, though we've added quite a bit of extra content over the years (with more coming), including more than a few Prestige Classes and tons of spells.

 

We have a fully functioning ECL system for a myriad of sub-races, which we do require applications for.

 

 

I'm more than willing to answer any questions anyone has, either here or via PM on our boards, so don't hesitate to ask!  Hope to see you on CD some time!

[MagicalMaster]

Stopped by this for a few hours last night to look at it, a few thoughts:

 

1. the languages are...odd.  Decided to make a Fighter into a WM/CoT build with Torm as a deity.  Turns out I got two extra languages from 14 int -- but I couldn't choose any of the ones which seemed to make sense.  I might have been able to pick some things like Elven or Halfling but those wouldn't have made sense for that character (and I didn't want to risk getting "locked in" to an incorrect language).  Kept trying to pick a language and kept getting told "Nope, no good."  Some kind explanation/reason for what languages are allowed or not would be useful.

 

2. there's not much to do solo.  I explored the sewers for a while (every part I could) and found the fire breathing rat, also wound up getting a quest for a smuggler leader's head after that.  Happened to meet someone in the smuggler lair who I teamed up with for that quest.  Had to log for a bit and then came back a few hours later.  Wound up clearing out the ants in the warehouse.  After doing all of this I was still short of level 5 by a decent chunk.  So I went in search of the Abandoned Farmhouse listed here.  Cleared that out (only one level that I was able to find though I think I noticed a stairs down I couldn't reach) and kept exploring more.

 

Found some trolls which I could manage to kill...except I couldn't.  It wouldn't die at 1 HP, it fell to the ground.  So I thought "Maybe I have to burn it?" and equipped my torch instead of my shield.  No effect.  So I had to run because I couldn't kill the troll.  Beats me how that's supposed to work, clearly isn't normal damage or fire.  Did I need a source of acid?

 

Kept exploring and heading further west through towns and forests.  Even found an abandoned fort, walked through the gate, suddenly triggered 3000 traps and flopped over dead.  Respawned.

 

At this point I'm very much stumped -- clearly exploring is bad.  I'll run into stuff like trolls which...work in some weird way or I'll run into instant death with no warning.  And I've cleared out every dungeon in my area listed in the dungeon list.  And I'm still level 4 -- next dungeon listed is six.  There's also one other person online at the moment so it's not like partying is even a feasible option.  I go back to the ants and grind out some more XP to hit five...but I'm left with a definite sour taste in my mouth.  And very much wondering what players are expected to do -- am I supposed to go back and kill 5000/40ish XP each = 125 more smugglers to hit level six for the next dungeon?

 

3. I'm wondering about that soft/hard XP cap thing.  From what I saw from browsing the forums, a lot of people who have been there for years haven't even gone into the Epic levels?  I also read some stuff that indicated kills stopped granting experience in the teens and from then on out you could only earn 300 XP per day if you were active and doing stuff for at least 4 hours that day?  So to get to level 21 from 20 that would be 20,000/75 XP an hour = 267 hours over the course of more than two months since maximum of 300 per day?

 

I'm guessing there's DM given XP for events but not sure how much that is or how often that's given.  Just seems some of the things I'm reading seem rather excessive and it's not in an FAQ anywhere that I noticed.

 

4. On a positive note, a lot of the areas were very visually interesting and definitely show that NWN doesn't have to be old and bland looking despite its age -- definitely some cool tilesets, skyboxes, and area design.

[Vincent07]

1.  The idea behind the language bit was that the more exotic ones should have a good reason and to ask a DM.  Though that NPC likely needs updating.

 

2/3. CD has ever been a group oriented server.  And one more centered around story than gaining levels.  So our level curve tends to be slower than you may be used to.  Taking 8-12 months to get to 20 is not uncommon.  Participation in DM events can alter that of course. After level 7, a portion of your level must come from non-combat sources. That portion starts at 1k, and increases by 1k/level until only 7k of your level can be gained via monster kills. The rest must  be either from a DM or the 300/day fairy ticks that we have in place.

 

As to the trolls. You need to use fire or acid to kill them.  Bit of code I pulled off the vault years ago.  I want to say having a torch in hand works too, but it may not.  I seem to recall their being a problem with that.

 

4. Why thank you.  We do endeavor to keep the place looking nice, and I'm always working on more pretty areas.

[MagicalMaster]

2/3. CD has ever been a group oriented server.  And one more centered around story than gaining levels.  So our level curve tends to be slower than you may be used to.  Taking 8-12 months to get to 20 is not uncommon.  Participation in DM events can alter that of course. After level 7, a portion of your level must come from non-combat sources. That portion starts at 1k, and increases by 1k/level until only 7k of your level can be gained via monster kills. The rest must  be either from a DM or the 300/day fairy ticks that we have in place.

 

The thing I've found is that you still need to be at least a reasonable level with decent gear to effectively participate in events -- it's no fun doing an event as a level 7 with everyone else at 17-20.  I do get how you don't want someone new to hit 20 in three hours but perhaps there could be some compromise?  Maybe you could at least get to level 12-15 by grinding if you put in the time so you aren't a complete liability?

 

Seems like a Catch-22: in order to contribute reasonably in an event you need to be a decent level...but the only way to get to a decent level is to be useless in events.

 

And like I said, there was a whole one other person on when I logged on the the second time -- grouping wasn't a realistic option and that doesn't seem to change the basic idea that I would need to grind areas I've already cleared several times over to hit the level range for the next dungeon.

 

Take the feedback as what it is -- feedback from a new player.  Disregard it if you want but please consider it.

 

As to the trolls. You need to use fire or acid to kill them.  Bit of code I pulled off the vault years ago.  I want to say having a torch in hand works too, but it may not.  I seem to recall their being a problem with that.

 

Yeah, longsword in main hand + torch in off-hand definitely wasn't doing anything special.  I can confirm that.  And again, from a new player's perspective, it's frustrating to run into something acting differently with no explanation and something that seems reasonable (burn it with fire) doesn't work.  Even a note on the trolls saying "You need an actual source of fire or acid damage to kill these" would help because it seems like every server has trolls acting in a different way.

[FireWraith]

The leveling curve tends to deposit most people in the teens, and most activity tends to revolve around that.  A lot of events also aren't combat or mechanics oriented, so character level isn't generally too much of a limiting factor.  Also, there's a reasonably wide level range supported for groups, so it usually possible to tag along even at the high single digits.

 

Another place you could probably try at that level is the Goblin caves in the Hullack Forest, east of the city.  I don't know if there's anything in the city that points out that way, though there are NPCs once you reach the forest itself that talk about them.  (That might be worth adding)

 

There is a second level to the abandoned farmhouse - you have to use one of the emote commands to jump across the rubble (using the /leap command, which is listed among the emotes in the journal entries).

 

As for activity, the early mornings tend to be fairly quiet from what I've seen, whereas evenings US-time tend to be when large numbers log on (24 online as I'm posting this).  I'd prefer more people at off-peak times, but there's only so much I can do to alter schedules (especially when my work means I can only play in the evenings).

 

The torch thing is probably a bug with the tag of certain torches.  Most people that I've seen tend to go a different route, either with using magic (such as darkfire or elemental weapon), or waiting until 6th level when they can purchase a weapon with fire or acid damage from the stores (as the shops increase the power of their wares gradually as you increase in level, so everyone has access to a certain basic set of level appropriate things, etc).

[MagicalMaster]

Another place you could probably try at that level is the Goblin caves in the Hullack Forest, east of the city.  I don't know if there's anything in the city that points out that way, though there are NPCs once you reach the forest itself that talk about them.  (That might be worth adding)

 

There is a second level to the abandoned farmhouse - you have to use one of the emote commands to jump across the rubble (using the /leap command, which is listed among the emotes in the journal entries).

 

Thanks, I'll check both of those out.

 

As for activity, the early mornings tend to be fairly quiet from what I've seen, whereas evenings US-time tend to be when large numbers log on (24 online as I'm posting this).  I'd prefer more people at off-peak times, but there's only so much I can do to alter schedules (especially when my work means I can only play in the evenings).

 

Oh, I understand -- not blaming people for not being on, just pointing out that such a time would seem to be an ideal point to "catch up" in terms of levels since you can't group...but that doesn't work out so well.

 

The torch thing is probably a bug with the tag of certain torches.  Most people that I've seen tend to go a different route, either with using magic (such as darkfire or elemental weapon), or waiting until 6th level when they can purchase a weapon with fire or acid damage from the stores (as the shops increase the power of their wares gradually as you increase in level, so everyone has access to a certain basic set of level appropriate things, etc).

 

I had the basic torch, nothing special.

 

Interesting about the shop -- I was trying to explore and find stores with better equipment, but you're saying that the gear just magically gets better in the main town as you level?

[FireWraith]

Yes.  At certain points the merchant will start offering you better weapons, so where at the start they might only offer +1 weapons, once you hit say 6th level, they'd offer +2 weapons (or +1 with elemental damage), and a few levels later they'd offer better than that, and so forth.

 

The way it breaks down is that generally you have a chance (however slim) of finding better stuff than is available in the stores in dungeons set to your level, but you don't need to try and get a specific item to drop just to complete a basic set of gear appropriate to your level - the shops serve as a backup there.

[MagicalMaster]

Discussed/resolved/etc in-game.