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Going to post some stuff that I come across that is particularly neat. I've always enjoyed watching things as they unfold, and EFU rarely disappoints.

Artharrok the Withered at work with his dark magics. (Thanks to Talir! At least I think it was Talir...)

Has anyone recently had issues with screenshots taken not appearing in their screenshot folder, even if it is empty to start?

Also, does a sort of blank file called "EFU" appear when you try?

Given the rather large size of the EFUA module, I wanted to open up discussion for the possibility of it being split into two separate pieces. Essentially the server would be divided into areas of the surface or near surface and the areas devoted to the Underdark.

I know not all of the previous Underdark areas are still in the module, but definitely a good number of them are. These areas are rarely used and even when they are used, it is sporadic and for a limited amount of time.

I think some time ago, the talk of the functionality of portalling between servers was brought up in reference to huge server systems like ALFA. But this is intended for just 2 modules.

All of the Underdark areas and perhaps the entrance to the Way would be put on a second module, and if possible, be run on the same box/server as the main EFUA module. I know the hardware used for the server is much better than we have had in the past, which is awesome, and was curious if this was possible. There would also be a portal that allowed you to save data and login to the EFUA server once you had reached the entrance to the Way or some other alternative to traveling between surface and the Underdark. (and vice versa)

Given that the 2nd module would be sparsely populated, maybe the strain on the server would be very minimal. Also, is it possible to make a module only 'load' when someone actually logs in?

There are of course a number of issues related to this. Hardware efficiency, data transfer, server population, etc. The goal of this would be to allow for the creation of more surface areas and potentially limit the amount of lag during peak playtimes. I think dividing things up would allow for more space/resources and still give an opportunity for those who wish to reach the Underdark and the challenges that await.

So the core questions:
- Can the current Hardware being used run 2 modules and remain stable?

- How difficult is it to set up a portal system?

- What are the issues related to sharing a database between 2 modules/servers?

- Are there currently enough areas in the Underdark to make this a worthwhile effort?

Have been unable to use this on any crystals I have come across. Wasn't sure if I was doing it wrong, but always get the message "You cannot use the elixir on this object"

A number of animals/monsters have a howl that can cause fear, but even though I get an intiative check from the howl, I never have to make any kind of save and I've never been feared by the howl.

Was hoping to get some more information from players and/or DMs about an increase in lag they might have experienced in the past week. Also please mention times you experience this lag and your general geographic location.

I'm on the East Coast in the US and am about 3 miles away from the server. The lag is consistent in spurts every few mins. Opening inventory can take six seconds or more, and in combat 2-3 actions can go by during a "pause" of lag.

There are times these bursts of lag are really bad, and I thought it was attributed to multiple DMs on at once, but then I tried to play with no DMs on and only 12 players. Lag was still there.

Any thoughts or comments are welcome!

I turned in some antlers to Raffelaen and got neither the gold promised nor any xp for completion. :(

Howl has stated that the perk is currently bugged. Please do not take it!

Personal Guard Dog Victor has the appearance and portrait of a regular dog, but the description of the spiked collar doberman. Was hoping to have this fixed please so that it has to the doberman appearance and portrait whenever you have a moment to spare.

While I was having a go at 9 rings on the pillar quest, the rings suddenly reset and 5 rings were stacked on the first pillar. Then in walked another PC...and something inside me screamed and then died. :(

There's no protection to keep one, or likely more than one, PC from being in the quest area at the same time as they can take the quest as well.

And only the person actually completing the final pillar solution gets xp.

[WARNING:]

Bit more free time on the hands lately, so I have been playing around with portraits and overrides again. Found some neat stuff on the vault and was just messing around with possible overrides for default content like PC heads. Thought I'd share for people to have a look, comment, and make suggestions if they wanted.

Also, I would like to point out that the files here are from the KotOR Heads pack at NWvault.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Hakpaks.Detail&id=7796

Created by Estelindis

UPDATE: Since I picked this back up, I will repost the download links as soon as I finish editing the files.

EDIT: Thought it would be good to list the model numbers for each.

021 and 021 alt (039), 001 and 001 alt (037)
005 and 005 alt (038), 006 and 006 alt (045)

[hide=First set of options][/hide]

013 and 013 alt (035), 001 and 001 alt (036)

008 and 008 alt (046), 018 and 018 alt (044)

[hide=Second set][/hide]

You'll noticed I posted one head twice, as I saw two options that might work. The 'override' heads are all taken from KotOR models.

016, 016 alt (047) and 017, 017 alt (046)
012, 012 alt (042) and 001, 001 alt (032)

[hide=Third Set][/hide]

005, 005 alt (049) and 025, 025 alt (028)
003, 003 alt (033) and 007, 007 alt (030)

[hide=Fourth Set][/hide]

008, 008 alt (043) and 009, 009 alt (048)

[hide=Fifth Set][/hide]
These next couple sets are from the heads created by Xaltar.

WARNING:[/color] The following NWvault link is NSFW !! Xaltar also included some adult/nude material on this page as well.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Models.Detail&id=38874&id=434

009, 009 alt (022) and 032, 032 alt (025)

[hide=Sixth Set][/hide]

013, 013 alt (017) and 022, 022 alt (016)
002, 002 alt (018) and 015, 015 alt (019)

[hide=Seventh Set][/hide]

[Lord Marytn Greywood]

I take a lot of screenshots, though not always the ones I want. I won't say any of these are especially spectacular, but I will say each was from a moment that was rather memorable and enjoyable during the character's lifetime.

Really had a lot of great great interactions with players and DMs, and really restored my drive to attempt to involve others and collectively work with them towards goals while of course trying to make EFU as fun for as many people as possible.

I might add captions later, but for now, here they are.

[hide=The death of Martyn Greywood][/hide]

[hide=She says..."Should I step on it..?"][/hide]

[hide=Dragon! can die happily after seeing one][/hide]

[hide=Friendship Festival, was always neat to have a number of the faction on together at once][/hide]

[hide=Debut of the House Uniform][/hide]

[hide=Patricians Council Days][/hide]

[hide=One of the many many many chats...][/hide]

[hide=The beginnings of a mystery...][/hide]

[hide=Time for some PVP][/hide]

[hide=Preparing for a speech...expecting to be ganked][/hide]

[hide=Just before the speech, really glad Boritz wasn't paying attention][/hide]

[hide=Where is it she says...][/hide]

[hide=Further down the rabbit hole][/hide]

[hide=That keep is so fucking awesome][/hide]

[hide=Eat Drink Man Woman][/hide]


Lord Marytn Greywood






Was a blast, to all who played with Martyn, friend or foe or indifferent, thank you.

SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO THE MAN THEY CALL DANGEROUS DAN...He was the inspiration for it all.

Some fun shots from todays fight between Stygians and Ixpadians

[hide=Marius suffers a devastating Harpoon blow!][/hide]

[hide=Again...Marius being stabbed][/hide]

[hide=Burkden shows off some slick moves][/hide]

[hide=General chaos...][/hide]

[hide=Burkden really brought his A game][/hide]

[hide=It was all started by a single arrow...][/hide]

Come back to me. I miss you.

With the addition of the EFUSS system, craft trap no longer serves a purpose in the general workings of the server. There are a number of items that still give a bonus to the craft trap skill, such as tool belts or tinkering items. While I know it's probably low on the priority list, I was suggesting that either these items to be modified to boost skills in some  other manner, or craft trap be assigned to some new purpose.

Another alternative would be to keep craft trap a part of the engineering skill rolls, just a minor part/bonus.

I would actually like to see the return of true trap making, and just create tool kits, craft items, and recipes for that purpose. That way it would be just like herbalism or alchemy, where rogues and rangers could find 'parts' and designs/schematics for trap devices.

Here's some shots from the recent Patrician's Council and Grand Tournament

Wilderness survival could apply to the animal skinning check.

Just witnessed the time warp forward a whole day in a matter of minutes. It turned to hour 6 and it was day, and about 5 mins later the sky shifted to the setting sun/evening and it was hour 20.

I believe this needs to be updated, according to Snoteye

A change I would like to suggest is some sort of skill check for identifying how many times a plant can be harvested before it dies. Currently the system allows for druids to know automatically, and for rangers to know when the plant is on its last legs. All other classes are clueless.

I believe that a skill check upon clicking on the plant would be more beneficial to the crafting system and still allow for interaction among druids/rangers and those others who use the planting system.

So for example, Druids would continue to have complete knowledge of the status of a plant. Rangers could make a check and if they succeed they get full knowledge of the status of the plant, but still retain their ability to discern when the plant is near death. And finally, non-druids/rangers would have a check to determine if the plant would die from being harvested.

The check could be lore based and be relatively high, say 25+ or so. A lot of times players will kill plants that are newly seeded, even if that is not their intention. This change would allow for some chance for experienced planters/healers/alchemists to avoid unintentionally killing a plant. However, this still allows for the Druids and rangers to be present in order to better manage the life of said plants.