I know this may be controversial but here goes.
I think that after a certain amount of time has passed IG it should be possible for PC's to get out of the Underdark and make it to the surface without having to do the Way quest.
The reason i say this is that many of us have PC's who whilst much enjoyed are never going to get strong enough to get out (given my Way experience with my well equipped lvl8 cleric PC), or even are unlikely to now find a party that they can arrange to get out with.
Rather than have these PC's all but forcibly retired maybe some way can be found for them to get out, possibly tied into the NPC's leaving and making their way to the surface? Who knows following in Bresley, Tiny and Cyrus's footsteps?
I doubt this will be all that popular and i know that some who have made it may feel it could detract from their achievement but well, its just my 10p.
The issue is, Look at Vandermark.
EFU was higher level then EFU:A. So level 7/8's are unbeatable and way better equiped.
Disadvantaging the surfacers further by bringing the sanctuarians up in -mass- is not a good idea, IMO.
With all due respect Hammerfist, the issue of disparate levels doesn't wash with me
I agree with elf999. I'd like a chance to continue a current character, but it looks like I'm not going to be able to get a party together any time soon to make a run for it with my surviving underdark character (whos' only 4th level anyway) as most have already fled or died and those left really aren't compatible with my play times.
You do have a chance to escape. Its just incredibly slim.
If you want to take a solid crack at it, I think an OOC post in the General Discussion or Off-Topic forum in which all the players with PCs remaining in the Underdark can coordinate a time for an escape attempt would be best.
After returning from my hiatus and attempting to get my main, Helen Wilks', goals moving again, and not being able to take part in the way quest, where she likely would have died anyway, I feel as if to start a new character would be to leave all my work with her behind. Some of you may know that Wilks is not an overly fighter-type PC, but rather a speaking character. I'd like at least another opportunity to get to the new Efu:A, instead of fighting along this intensely long "Way" quest, which a character such as Wilks would have a very little chance in surviving. Now, I'm sure many will disagree, because their PCs died on The Way quest, or at some other point during the events. However, another point I'd like to bring up is the temporary changes that also threw me off from logging on during the recent events, I had no idea something like this would happen, but as it was said in the old forum the changes are temporary, which led me to believe there would be another option to be involved in the main server plot once more. It may sound like I'm pleading for it, and I probably am in some way, because I really would like to continue Wilks, rather than make a new character.
I agree to original post at some level.
The Way quest (as I understand) supports only characters are really strong and maxed. There is no way for more diplomatic sort characters to wait and move as one big effort with NPCs currently... it would be realistic to think that less combat oriented ones would move with the big party that had remains of watch, seekers and heroes like Matterheim, undefeated Pit master of the Pissing Crone, Cyrus Doors and Bresley.
I mean, if these NPCs will eventually shop up above...why not PCs with them.
Quote from: Caddies;85503You do have a chance to escape. Its just incredibly slim.
If you want to take a solid crack at it, I think an OOC post in the General Discussion or Off-Topic forum in which all the players with PCs remaining in the Underdark can coordinate a time for an escape attempt would be best.
I'm all for that too Caddies, and there's a thread going right now to do this. It looks like I'll be missing out on it though as the time is just too late for me. There may be more opportunities, but there may not be. The majority of those wanting to leave have made the attempt now, and those left are effectively going to be trapped forever if nothing changes.
It doesn't hurt to ask anyway. :p
I'm against this, and I am actually hoping most of the NPC's don't come up, either. :p
Seriously, having been through just the -first- part of the Way, and dying, I can't imagine Cyrus making it. Maybe if he could have sneaked - but you can't. You either fight or die, there is no other option.
I have PC's I'd like to see get out of the Underdark too, but well - I'm abandoning them there. If I still want to play those PC's it'll be as someone "left behind."
Having explored EfU: A, I think it's best just to create a new character anyway. You're missing most of the experience by jumping in at a higher level, and there is no way a lower level is getting through the Way.
To make it through the Way you need one of two things, and in truth probably both: lots of luck and/or lots of supplies. The lack of luck is what got my PC killed. :p
I think its important to understand that with a switch to a new server, its intended you make a new PC.
Nobody wants kitted out Underdark PCs getting free passage to the surface despite it being entirely unrealistic ICly and hugely damaging in an OOC sense in terms of levels and loot, just because you want it like that. I haven't even heard a reason other than "well I don't want to risk my PC" for this suggestion.
Sometimes its best to just let go. Roll up a new PC on the new server, as intended!
In that case then. Is it frowned upon to make a very similar character, such as one with the same class scheme and RP goals.
Diplomatic people can go to Traensyr and convince the drow to escort them up.
Caddies is wrong, it is not intended for all characters to be left behind. Those who manage to escape, more power to them as far as I'm concerned. OOC concerns of unbalanced loot are a separate issue.
However, no one is going to get a free pass, and escaping certainly won't come through the efforts of making OOC requests. It is a major challenge, one worthy of being the server name for three years, and one that although I wish you luck on, will never be simple.
--
Remakes of characters are unacceptable, but a similar character is fine.
Let me be clear, I was never asking for a free ride. Simply some sort of way for characters left behind to have any sort of chance to make the trip when there is likely no possibility of putting a party together to even try it.
Just want to point out that in the future, people might return to the Underdark! Maybe your character can wait for an opportune moment!
From IG point of view first group that made it should have cleared the Way.
Not that the Way is now piece of cake. Corpses should attract carrion eaters, caves freed from big predators would be reclaimed by smaller ones in time, etc.
But now it looks like "We would gladly drop hellball on your group but have no time for this, so go kill yourself in our impossible scripted quest".
Yeah I just meant to say its intended that you take a crack at the Way, or create a new PC. No free pass, as per the initial suggestion!
Thanks DM's, although a bit dissappointed, that answers the question.
Quote from: Helge;85588From IG point of view first group that made it should have cleared the Way.
Not that the Way is now piece of cake. Corpses should attract carrion eaters, caves freed from big predators would be reclaimed by smaller ones in time, etc.
But now it looks like "We would gladly drop hellball on your group but have no time for this, so go kill yourself in our impossible scripted quest".
Isn't this reasonable?
Yes, escaping to the surface should be hard and all, but I have a problem: my once lvl 8 main, due to a crash, is now lvl 5 and has nothing but a helm and a dirty breastplate. I couldn't log in for the last days and don't know how things are in the Underdark area, but I don't think there is any way he could get enough gear from other players to have a minimal chance of succeeding, seeing how they need everything they have pretty badly themselves. So my former lvl 8 char, who before the crash could perfectly attempt to escape with some possibilites of succeeding, can't anymore because he "crashed".
So my suggestion is: seeing how many people won't be able to bring their chars to the new world, what about dm quests involving escaped characters going back to save those that still remain?
If escaped PCs (and even PCs that were made and leveled on the surface) want to try to go down the Way, they can organize and execute that plan without a DM.
The Way is kind of like EFU/A's first raid dungeon.
QuoteFrom IG point of view first group that made it should have cleared the Way.
Not that the Way is now piece of cake. Corpses should attract carrion eaters, caves freed from big predators would be reclaimed by smaller ones in time, etc.
But now it looks like "We would gladly drop hellball on your group but have no time for this, so go kill yourself in our impossible scripted quest".
Check your assumptions, everything makes perfect IC sense I assure you.
I don't really know what to think of this idea, really.
On one hand, if the Way had been cleared of the guardians, the whole camp would've been following the hour after, unless it takes a week IG to travel the way (which is quite possible). But perhaps we are assuming that the Way is just another questing area with creatures that respawn 'on enter', when maybe it isn't. I also get that feeling that the Way is some kind of disguised vault wipe, and that can be frustrating. I'd prefer a clear: we all start again, i suppose, and not linger on some hope that a pc i enjoy can still make it when deep down i'm pretty sure he can't. It's also very frustrating to miss out on groups making the attempt, like it will obviously happen for many.
On the other hand, EfU has given us 3 years to escape, and few have made it. Doing so now freely for all our characters in our vaults would seem a bit pointless. As much as i'd love Dalman to escape (and i've got one or two idea, actually), i'd feel pretty low having a lvl 10 pc fresh up in the new setting having done nothing to earn it. I'd also betting on the fact that the DM team as other things in mind than making the Way only accessible to higher lvl teams: perhaps there's more yet to discover (perhaps not and i'm deluding myself). DMs have always made thing ver fair for everyone of every lvl till now, i don't see that changing. But fair doesn't mean easier.
I'm also guessing that in the euphoria of the change, we are forgetting basic rp. Ex: Dalman would never go out on the hardest challenge ever met without folks he's sure about, so i guess he'll never go at all unless he's spend all his coins on wands (he he...). Eron would never abandon refugees down, so that's settled anyway. On the other hand i've more desperate pcs that have died right behind the portal. If little Tiger gets to the camp, he'll try the portal first thing as the pinnacle of a hunt. Whatever, each remaining PC should have an IC reason to go or not to go, and not just us saying 'i'd like to save my pc because ....' (although, hells, i'd really like to).
Basically, i'd advertise patience, because things have a way of settling IC on this server. If you've folks locked up in the underdark, log them on once in a while, so we can deal IC with the issue (cf. posts to find food, etc.) Perhaps in time there'll be some kind of rescue team. Perhaps we'll be wiped out by the Chosen or the Umbers that spawn right by the entrance. Whatever.
I'm also guessing the ways out of the underdark (remember: the MAIN PLOT of EfU) are still there somewhere. I'm not sure many of us have really given it serious attention, enjoying staying in the underdark. It'll only be a bit harder because our base of operations is isolated.
Whatever...I know i'll be playing EfUA and EfU, as long as my old pcs still can. And as it was mentionned several times: some areas of UD will remain... what can we make of it ?