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My observations are at this point likely to be riddled with inaccuracies but it looks like there is only 1 door per ring. If that is the case, perhaps consider adding more?

One of the limitations in this ringed city idea is the lack of interconnectedness across areas. I'm guessing there's probably some secret shortcuts between rings, who knows, I haven't found any,  but without multiple options for ring traversal I envisage it being very difficult to avoid gank-camping the gates if there's only 1 of them per ring when it comes to hunting down monster PCs, bandit PCs, outlaw types and big PC villains etc.

One of the strengths of area design in previous chapters was that most areas had multiple entry and exit points. Even the hub areas in ring 99 have basically only one way in and one way out which again makes PvP between factions a bit of a last stand if someone parks a squad on the AT.

Just something for you to think about.

When subbing someone, it is a cool thing to do to use the search inventory function to search their inventory and then request the items you want traded to you rather than immediately yank pack someone as they hit the floor and mess their entire inventory up.

On the flipside of this, if someone is magnanimous enough to use the search inventory player tool on you instead of just pulling all your belongings, DO NOT attempt to hide anything. Attempting to hide the contents of your inventory is for when you're frisked while not having been subbed. It makes absolutely zero sense for you to attempt to hide things after being subbed as someone could just yank your pack and see everything anyway. If you hide anything from the player that has subbed you, then they're well within their rights to bash you again and yank pack.

I am sure someone will say "but you can't see item properties when you use the search tool!". Deal with it/find a sensible way around this. Or "what if there's time constraints and yank_pack is quicker if you need to get out in a hurry". Yes, you can find any number of reasons not to do this, but it is the nice thing to do, and players that don't want to do something nice will find any excuse not to, and players who like doing the right thing will do it even if there's some minor inconvenience to them, to avoid a large inconvenience for others.

If you enjoy being inconsiderate you might want to reply to this thread pointing out that this isn't a server rule, just best practice, so you don't have to do this. But I would like to remind you that good PvP karma does constitute one of the two pillars of our PvP guidelines, so it would be good to see more of this.

Over the past couple of months I've observed an increase in the following:

• Taking only 1 level of rogue, barbarian, bard or sorcerer in a manner that is extremely convenient for your build. While this is not against the rules it is cheese, especially if there is NO conceptual rationalisation for doing this, and with astounding regularity (every single case) I have found that there is no discernible IC reason for doing so.


• Obtaining level 7 under 24 hours, and level 8 shortly thereafter (yes, it happens).


• Playing the same character/build over and over, or having alts with the same build as your main, with no discernible difference in concept or character or the manner in which you roleplay them. This also ties in with groups of OOC friends whose many different PCs all somehow know each other ICly and help one another out.


• Doing the same quest every reset/tirelessly grinding with no real purpose.


• While I've not personally witnessed this one, I'm reliably informed that people now say "Let's do ". e.g. "Let's do Shagga", in character. This also ties in with the increasingly brazen manner in which people organise quest parties ICly, with tanks telling mages what spells to prepare, as if they're some arcane genius themselves, when they usually have stats as mentioned below, which I definitely have witnessed.


• Creating characters with 8 INT, 8 WIS and 8 CHA (yes, this happens), and then not roleplaying those stats in a satisfactory manner.

Now, I'm more than happy to entertain the idea that certain aspects of the server have contributed to encouraging this behaviour.

Perhaps the drop in activity from the DM team as a whole has given you all less meaningful stuff to do and so you resort to grinding quests. I am launching a server-wide plot shortly to try to remedy this.

Perhaps it's because you want to get ahead of the harsh death penalty and you get a blinkered with the objective of beating it.

Perhaps it's because PvP has become overly competitive and you want to insulate yourself against losing your PC to someone else who decided to give themselves 2 more STR rather than 2 more CHA on their fighter.

Whatever has caused it, it has to stop. If anyone has any insight into why this is happening, please do let me know, especially if you have solutions for it.

If not, then it must be down to player choice, in which case I would like everyone to choose to stop doing this.

Thanks.

[they should not be regarded as useless OOC or IC.]

Some of you may already notice rare items beginning to appear in the module that have an unusual description and a coloured name. These are a new kind of plot item that will play a crucial role in the plot I'm rolling out, though they exist in the module in such a manner as to be available without DM intervention, through various means.

You will derive no immediate mechanical benefit from possessing these items and you will have to engage with other players and interest groups to make use of them. Although they have few mechanically useful stats, they should not be regarded as useless OOC or IC.

I reserve the right to strip these items from you at any time, if the server is not overall benefitting from you possessing them. This means do not uselessly sit on them or hoard  them for no discernible purpose other than to have the privilege of holding them. You should also not advertise the sale or trade of these items unless sanctioned to do so.

[STRICTLY NO COMEDY CHARACTERS (Thomas).]

Recruiting for a new plot that will focus initially on two groups of underdark native subraces coming into conflict, which will eventually drag the rest of the actors in the region (all other PCs that wish to be involved) into a war. Those of you that were around to participate in Howland's "War on the Dark Lake" will have a good understanding of what this entails.

One of the belligerents will be a force well known to everyone that has played EFU, the other will be a new powergroup you've not seen before that I'll be introducing into the setting as a potentially long term actor depending on the outcome of this plot.

The plot will be driven with a heavy emphasis on player action, with minimal DM intervention. I plan to give the players involved the tools and let them push things along at their own pace, with semi-regular DM checkpoints to consolidate players' accomplishments. The final outcome will be determined by the players in this plot, and those that get involved with those PCs IG.

I will only be taking on players for this that are looking to dedicate themselves to a long term, serious PC, are comfortable with conflict and PvP.

There will be numerous perks for those that are successfully approved for immediate participation in this plot, including use of powerful subraces and a lair.

PM if interested.

STRICTLY NO COMEDY CHARACTERS (Thomas).

Need a couple of logos designed, PM me for details.

If I use your logos I'll give you a perk or bonus in return.

Will need to be able to turn them around reasonably quickly as I'm looking to use them soon.

Thanks!

So apparently there's a new craze for investing highly in Listen skill and then just behaving as though you've spotted characters when the simplest glance at your skill sheet and at the h/ms of the other character reveals that it is not only highly improbable for you to have spotted them and highly likely for you to have heard them, but in most cases mechanically impossible for you to have seen them, even taking modifying factors into account (light, movement, distance, etc)

If you "see" a character that is translucent, you have only heard them, and yet I never see anyone roleplaying having heard anyone else, only spotting them.

Your deception becomes even more readily apparent when you consider there is nothing indicating that the PC hiding has been spotted or has simply dropped out of stealth. The only way to know someone is stealthing is if they are translucent and therefore only 'heard'. Thus, when you announce to everyone that you can "see" someone hiding and behave as though you have spotted them, you are showing me that you are cheating.

If there is any doubt in the matter I will ask you to produce a screenshot demonstrating that the PC you're claiming to spot was in fact opaque and not translucent.

I know who you are, you know who you are, stop doing this.

Looking for a few players to form a group that will help me push a plot I've been brewing for a while.

It's going to be super duper secret, but conflict driven against currently established organisations.

You will also be expected to actively recruit people IG.

No paladins, no dr00ds.

Contact me for more info.

I'm looking for people to play people to play Revolutionary PCs.

You would have immediate involvement in a server-wide plot that affects every PC's day-to-day lives (with the possible exception of nature PCs), will create frequent module changes, and can fill a variety of roles, from PvP to terse diplomacy and negotiations, plenty of plotting and scheming, spying and espionage.

You would likely be a worker from the mill, past or present, but you would not be permitted to say your character was a native of Sanctuary that lived there before The Shield was raised, without application.

You could also happily play a regular new arrival PC that just so happens to be incensed by what's going on and wants to help the revolution.

This is a long term character role and you won't just be expected to get yourself killed in a throwaway style, so unless you are highly unlucky or highly incompetent you'll have a good innings. It is preferred that you play a main, and not an alt for this.

I should also give a quick mention to Banbet in case anyone would like to contribute to the revolution from a more bandit, outlaw approach and act on behalf of Mad Marge more than on behalf of Thomas Blanqui, in which case you will be expected to hang much less around Upper Sanctuary than regular revolutionaries would and PvP way more: //www.efupw.com/forums/showthread.php?p=359543

Let me know on IRC if you have any questions, or send me a message on the forum.

Thanks.

EFU is a roleplaying environment, and generally I should say it's quite remarkable how consistently everyone roleplays overall, with some people roleplaying exceptionally.

One thing that I find extremely offputting, however, and which is likely only such an issue due to the generally excellent standard of roleplay we have here, is when people speak ICly in ridiculous, anachronistic colloquialisms, or overly Americanised vernacular.

I'm talking about saying things like "OK!" "Hey!" "Wait up!", calling someone "Buddy", or "Pal", or calling people "Guys!", saying "Wait a sec", gratuitous swearing (which is a separate but related issue) and other such things IG or on the forums. I have noticed that even some players I would rate as exceptional in their roleplaying ability and contributions to the community are guilty of this.

It's a small gripe but I often feel that very few people really truly, deeply consider what their PC should be saying and how they should say it, and just speak as themselves but with some limitations upon their behaviour and how they'll react to things e.g. because they're a cleric of a certain deity, or "whatever" (also not appropriate).

I would just really appreciate it if people "cut it out" (another one I don't want to see IG), because this kind of thing is never appropriate. I realise people may be doing it without noticing, but that's why I'd ask you to put a little more thought into what you're saying before you say it. Please speak as though you're writing dialogue for a novel set in Sanctuary.

While the denizens of Sanctuary enjoy the relative safety of life behind The Shield, the surface is becoming a desolate, bleak wasteland of perpetual night and unrelenting hostility.

Even so, be it because of difficult geography, discrete location or simply hard-bitten determination, surface holdouts do exist here and there. Some of Faerûn's most tragic, desperate and inspiring tales are still being written on the surface, and it is here where we begin our story...

This will be combat-heavy and your character will receive levels and equipment beyond that which they would normally start with during this prelude.

Any kind of PC is welcome, so long as they could feasibly be involved in the resistance movement on the surface and are flexible in terms of start location (if you want to play e.g. a Chultan they will have travelled a long way).

A familiarity with EFU:R's warfare mechanics/artillery weapons will be advantageous, but there will be a brief opportunity to get to grips with it in the OOC area before the prelude starts if you're unsure.

The start time for this prelude will be Sunday 29th at 8pm GMT.

[One sentence summary]

Those of you that have outstanding DM loot tokens to cash in with me, send me a forum PM with the following:

Account Name

Character Name

Race, Gender, Class, Alignment and any perks you've taken.

What weapon your character normally uses, if any

What class of armour your character normally wears, if any

One sentence summary of what your character is e.g. Psychotic Cyricist Drow Hunter with a penchant for cupcakes.

This will help me make loot a little more relevant to your PC.

Please don't make any requests or suggestions as to what sort of loot you would like or what qualities you'd like it to have.

Thanks!

Hi, Ladocicea here.

Some of you may remember me from such DM quests as "Kobold stole my baby" and "Bare back dragon racing".

Yes, it's true: I imagine many of you are too young to remember, but back in my prime I was actually a DM here.

Old habits die hard as they say, and I'm back.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, suggestions, or need help with anything, or even just want to say hi for old times sake. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks everyone!

Your own summons start beating you up if they walk into your AoE spell. Can provide more details on a one-to-one basis if necessary.

[real antagonism]

Okay, I feel I should cough up some suggestions to help out, even though they're half baked.

Monster Mercenary Faction:

As much as I want to see a PC mercenary faction (Is there one called Iron Crown or something?) do really well and take the fort in Lower, how about an opportunistic monster tribe who move in as the "lawkeeping" force? It could give PC kobolds or goblins (or something else?) a faction to join. Maybe it's not necessarily limited to one monster race but is more diverse.

Illegal Animatron Salvagers:

Really not au fait enough with the new setting to know if this is okay given the changes in the Spellguard relationship to the machine but maybe some resourceful outsiders who are trying to cobble together malfunctioning and frankenstein's monster-esque animatrons. They could be immediately in conflict with the Spellguard as an illegal salvage operation and as dangerous meddlers. Maybe they splice animatron parts onto their own bodies? Am I getting too carried away?

Church of Psionics:

A group of desperados and madmen, perhaps many of them fallen faithful of the silent Gods that have been traumatised by recent events, that think they can develop or already have mind powers on par with aberrations. They dabble and experiment dangerously with captured aberrations and it's unclear to what extent they've been overcome by thralldom.

Essentially I've tried to line up 3 interest groups that could provide real antagonism for the Watchers, Spellguard and Society of the Ordered Mind.

If you've marked your character with light weakness you continue to take 1 divine damage even in Fugue, although I didn't stick around to find out what happens when you actually run out of HP as I was worried it'd bug my character.

The problem of paying an assassin to do your dirty work while remaining totally incognito has always troubled me. You always end up having to meet them with a pot helmet on or something lame like that and people will OOCly know you're a bad fella, which is almost as bad as knowing ICly.

Maybe a system where you deposit a certain amount of money in the bank, kept for someone else, ready for them to withdraw would solve this problem? Can't at this moment suggest mechanically exactly how you'd designate who is allowed to collect it though. I think potentially the bank clerk could ask you to speak a password which is saved in association with the sum of money and then you just let the person know via forum PM what it is. Bit clumsy maybe. Bit impossible to script maybe?

I'm crashing too often to make the game playable in the long run, so I'm throwing it out there to see if anyone has any solutions.

Bit of info:

Was crashing as soon as I logged in without the haks. With haks I can play for a bit but usually crash in built up areas like Upper Sanctuary or the House of trade. Changing armour can also cause a crash.

Weirdly, if I make it to an area transition and go backwards and forwards through it 5 or 6 times I seem to gain some stability and can play for long(er) periods of time without crashing, so long as I avoid Upper and the trading house and other high stress areas.

When playing offline I immediately crash when changing armour, and also crash if I open certain doors into areas populated by NPCs, although I think if I make it to an area transition I can then avoid crashing from armour changes and opening doors, etc.

This is the same install as I've always had on my computer and it previously played NWN 1.69 flawlessly, windows 7 running in XP SP3 compatibility + administrator and running directly from the nwnmain.exe.

Tried disabling audio, tried windowed/fullscreen, tried running with no other windows open, tried fixing registry issues. None of them seem to have an effect.

Cheers.

Client crashes if I take 2 steps in the OOC welcome area, in any direction. Even if I take 1 step forward, then 1 step back to my original starting position.

Otherwise standing still enables me to enjoy the OOC welcome area indefinitely.

[outright]

Why aren't you joining them? What's wrong with the factions?

Apart from the fantastic reception the risen sun guys got when they first started (and possibly the archeological society currently), factions have been pretty slow to fill from what I can see.

Why?

I've heard complaints from players that there aren't enough NPCs around driving things, there's a lack of structure in conflict with too much random FDing and burning shit down, and that characters can often feel pointless or directionless. While I won't dispute that point outright, I will say that factions are there to be joined, and will remedy 90% of those problems.

People were practically clammouring to apply for most factions in Sanctuary, but EfUA factions have not been so popular.

So what's the deal?