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And here's the screenshots from the crazy Endlude BOM and Calculor ran.

Gwyneth's Rage




Gwyneth's Guilt




Gwyneth's Hope




Getting Geoffrey to follow




Endlude

We'll miss the big dummy.

I wasn't actually complaining in my original post, only saying that there's no such bloat amongst dedicated Lower PCs. Sure some might get rich, especially if the right group comes along, but if a problem of Upper bloat were ever to be addressed it would need to be addressed while recognizing that the gold bloat isn't server-wide.

I don't see why anyone would roll to bluff another PC. Social skills are to be roleplayed properly, not rolled for when dealing with other PCs. When a DM requires it they tend to do it quietly themselves, and have NPCs react accordingly, or perhaps send a clue to a present PC.

I think it should be noted that the level of gold is far less for PCs that can't enter Upper. The quests in Lower, for instance, pay a much smaller amount of gold.

I believe the higher gold level is intentional in order to create more of an economy than we had in EfU:M where gold was almost useless because supply levels were high. That said, it might not be quite at the perfect level yet since I've heard of PCs who, within five days or so, have gathered enough gold to purchase high-end wands from crafters.

My worry in this is that there's plenty of gold for those with tons of time to play and spend it questing. But for those with less time, or those who spend most of their time plotting and spurring conflict, they're far less prepared. Whether this is actually the current situation or not, I'm uncertain. Certainly the time issue is something that can't be helped, but when big, dangerous events are run those PCs seem to shine more than those of players who are scraping by. As a result they're wanted around more because success in an endeavor can hinge on how fat their pack is.

As it is now the players can't see the roll. What you see is an indication of high how your skill ranks are via a descriptor (Average, Impressive, Legendary, etc.). This designation is not modified by the role, it's determined by how many ranks you have, so it's an indicator as to how proficient you are at a skill.

[Salvage Buyers:]

I mentioned the following before, but it got drowned out by this thread, so I'm reposting:

Salvage Buyers:
Scrapper NPCs who buy parts from animatrons and other things found within the Machine, so that Lower PCs can delve into the Machine with a greater purpose.

Rothe Meat Buyers.
Lower needs food, having an NPC who accepts rothe meat (as one does in Upper) would make great RP sense and be useful for PCs who can't access Upper.

Map Quest:
Rather like the Wyrm Watcher one in EfU:M where an NPC sends you to a certain area to map it. The NPC could be in the Cathedral of Ascension, since it fits the whole Seeker motif that’s present there.

Random NPC Merchants:
Similar to how Sis Liman used to be, where you’d have various merchants show up, different ones each reset. Of course these would have a EfU:R/Lower motif. Scrappers, Sewertown Folk, Causril Commune Traders, perhaps even wandering merchants from outside Dunwarren who decided to sell their unique wares in Lower from time to time.

The goal is to build up Lower to become a viable area to rival Upper Sanctuary. It's not up to the DMs to just hand it to us, so we mean to create fun things to do and let the additions follow. This means, no rubble moving roleplay, or other tedious things, but to defend the workers, and create an environment where our masses of unemployed millworkers can work in relative peace.

In other words, do fun, crazy stuff. Go places most don't go, get some energetic and colorful characters into Lower that really spice up the place. This is why the faction is so open, we're not looking to create some central authority that tries to control everything, just a loose militia of dangerous people who are united in one thing only, a desire to see Lower thrive.

The main thing, to my mind, with regards to Lower is there needs to be more PC traffic and things in place to encourage people to risk playing outside Sanctuary. It's hard to maintain conflict if there's not this traffic, since they provide the potential recruits. There's been some new PCs around, but most of the time once they outgrow the newbie quests there you never see them again.

Certainly, things are being attempted ICly to recruit, but currently players seem very reluctant because of the obvious difficulties they'll face. Some of the things suggested here are great, such as some colorful NPCs that provide some unusual entertainment, and systems like PanamaLane mentioned that are unique to Lower that can get you a small amount of gold, and XPs past the "starter" levels and can be done alone. It would mean more traffic, and more traffic means people to roleplay with, and potentially recruit to your cause. People need compelling reasons to come to Lower so that interactions can be initiated between character who might not otherwise meet each other.

As it's been when the outlaw PCs in Lower lose someone there's no new PCs to step in and help keep the group going, which is a distinct difference from the way Sanctuary works. It means that this kind of conflict can fade very swiftly, and that's discouraging to those looking to step out on a limb and play PCs who are unwelcome in Sanctuary.

Some ways to use the Archaeology skill with regards to all these ruins around Lower would be pretty cool, and fitting. The skill has no current use, and there's ruins everywhere where something could easily be done.

One thing I'd like to say, and this isn't really a cure but I still think it's worth pointing out, is that the server center, and the PCs in the factions that represent these, necessarily are somewhat high maintenance. Watchers and people in high status positions will often ask for DM oversight due to their standing.

There currently is no equivalent in certain other areas, so those PCs who pushed conflict and thus are now exiled or whatever, become somewhat DM attention starved. I certainly don't think this is in any way intended, but it's the result none the less.

One thing that I feel would really help the morale of the players outside server center is small things like random NPC possessions to add flavor, the occasional bit of XPs for RP, plotting, etc., and the occasional event just for those PCs who can't go into Upper Sanctuary to enjoy the "everybody in" sorts of events that sometimes occur there.

Again, I understand that this is in large part a result of necessity, and perhaps a bit lower DM activity of late. But just knowing that DMs are with us and lending a hand would make people feel better and stick with the difficulties longer.

Beyond that, there's this thread that was started to give little scripted things to do. That would also help relieve new PCs as well as those who've died in quests and are struggling to gain their lost XPs back, as well as the lack of gold outsiders also sometimes suffer from.

I very much enjoyed Caelun, especially since he was one of the only truly active and insightful PCs who focused on the lore of this newest chapter. He'll be missed.

Lower is the biggest sandbox in the PW right now. Player character actions have a greater effect there than anywhere else, because we're not bound by a central authority, like Upper, or even a group of Elders who give orders, like the Stewards. Sure, it's EfU on hard mode, but it's also rewarding for those who decided to be daring and stick with it.

No reprieve for the outlaw.

A shame there wasn't time to see more of him, but he seemed to be a very interesting fellow.

Fantastic job, Pentaxius. Not many characters can claim to have awoken a god.