Will some one please tear these ideas all apart.

[KIELBASEE555]

i'm in the aggroneses? madar server. kielbasee if you know me.

i've been on the game since it first came out. but i'm not a bata person.

these are some idea's i have for improving the game.

1: after the starter tutorial dugeon, you wind up in the wavecrest inn. Before you get sully's barrel, I want the evil cleric jakobey lurking in the back of the barr. i want you to be able to talk to him and get evil rantings about the royalty of the coin lords, and various houses.

2: in the leaky dinghey after you have done the butchers path, there should be a weathy well todo dwarff by the gambler. He is looking for a good lauph. if you give him a NEW grim tavern tail (there will be a sound affect). He and others will give out a manly men round of lauphing.

3: i have seen people trying to get a better solo expantion.... how about this?? If you are in the harbor at lvl 6 or higher. you can get a solo job to go back to the harbor slayers area and clean it out. but the experience pay out will not be equal to your lvl. you would have gotten the right amount of exp IF you had done it at lvl's 1-4. if you go back as a higher lvl you'll get a trade off payment of a chest randome loot and a special loot bag of 100 harbor collectables. 5 sets of 20 harbor collectables. REPEAT this idea for the market, house P D J K GiantHold slayer areas.

4 In various places in the markets and houses there is a wall paper graphic showing a make shift bulliten board. a bounch of papers on a wall.
I would want a new kind of random quest to be added to the generall quest system. Just as the randome monsters and chest, you need a kidnapped damsell in dirstress. at random where the rare monsters could be, can be a woman or child chained to a wall. click on the kidnapped NPC and you'll release them. as soon as they are free they will be able to get out of the quest on there own with out your help. as soon as the quest is done you'll have a letter in your mail. the letter will direct you to various house in stormreach. I would want you to have to see reall royalty IN the house where you will get PAID!!! for your heroisum.

[jwbarry]

1: after the starter tutorial dugeon, you wind up in the wavecrest inn. Before you get sully's barrel, I want the evil cleric jakobey lurking in the back of the barr. i want you to be able to talk to him and get evil rantings about the royalty of the coin lords, and various houses.

Problem is, that's a public area for many players. Those who have finished the quest and are back in the tavern would still see jacoby and be able to speak to him. We've got the ability to have him say different stuff based off of your state, but not have him show up or not based off of your state. The disadvantages of a multiplayer game and area.

2: in the leaky dinghey after you have done the butchers path, there should be a weathy well todo dwarff by the gambler. He is looking for a good lauph. if you give him a NEW grim tavern tail (there will be a sound affect). He and others will give out a manly men round of lauphing.

Again, he'd have to be there before you did butcher's path as well, which isn't a big deal. Main challenge here is the time it takes to get the entire tavern to behave that way, and the overall impact it makes, and the expectation it sets. If that happens here, it's expected that something scripted of the like in every tavern or setting with multiple NPC's. It's a cool thing, but the time it takes is prohibitive, I'd rather get another quest for another new dungeon done personally than have some NPC's cheer (and yes, that's literally the type of time choice that has to be made, there isn't time for both, and I haven't figured out how to clone myself yet).

3: i have seen people trying to get a better solo expantion.... how about this?? If you are in the harbor at lvl 6 or higher. you can get a solo job to go back to the harbor slayers area and clean it out. but the experience pay out will not be equal to your lvl. you would have gotten the right amount of exp IF you had done it at lvl's 1-4. if you go back as a higher lvl you'll get a trade off payment of a chest randome loot and a special loot bag of 100 harbor collectables. 5 sets of 20 harbor collectables. REPEAT this idea for the market, house P D J K GiantHold slayer areas.

The better solution is to make the landscapes that are level appropriate more solo friendly, so you get full rewards and benefits at the right level and appropriate challenge in a newer space to you. This is something that we're looking at as an ongoing polish pass, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the drow in searing heights unlearn some spells at some point.

4 In various places in the markets and houses there is a wall paper graphic showing a make shift bulliten board. a bounch of papers on a wall.
I would want a new kind of random quest to be added to the generall quest system. Just as the randome monsters and chest, you need a kidnapped damsell in dirstress. at random where the rare monsters could be, can be a woman or child chained to a wall. click on the kidnapped NPC and you'll release them. as soon as they are free they will be able to get out of the quest on there own with out your help. as soon as the quest is done you'll have a letter in your mail. the letter will direct you to various house in stormreach. I would want you to have to see reall royalty IN the house where you will get PAID!!! for your heroisum.

Things are coming with 7 that you'll like.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

Problem is, that's a public area for many players. Those who have finished the quest and are back in the tavern would still see jacoby and be able to speak to him. We've got the ability to have him say different stuff based off of your state, but not have him show up or not based off of your state. The disadvantages of a multiplayer game and area.



Again, he'd have to be there before you did butcher's path as well, which isn't a big deal. Main challenge here is the time it takes to get the entire tavern to behave that way, and the overall impact it makes, and the expectation it sets. If that happens here, it's expected that something scripted of the like in every tavern or setting with multiple NPC's. It's a cool thing, but the time it takes is prohibitive, I'd rather get another quest for another new dungeon done personally than have some NPC's cheer (and yes, that's literally the type of time choice that has to be made, there isn't time for both, and I haven't figured out how to clone myself yet).



The better solution is to make the landscapes that are level appropriate more solo friendly, so you get full rewards and benefits at the right level and appropriate challenge in a newer space to you. This is something that we're looking at as an ongoing polish pass, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the drow in searing heights unlearn some spells at some point.



Things are coming with 7 that you'll like.

I like Searing Heights, but it is labeled as lvl 2-7.......when it is really "lvl7, full elite group".......at least now the shrine resets.

[Yaga_Nub]

I like Searing Heights, but it is labeled as lvl 2-7.......when it is really "lvl7, full elite group".......at least now the shrine resets.

SH is fine with a level 4 character.

[moorewr]

I like Searing Heights, but it is labeled as lvl 2-7.......when it is really "lvl7, full elite group".......at least now the shrine resets.

I keep seeing this.. but I go in with level 5 pick-up groups all the time .. with tactics and prep it really isn't that tough...

[Zenako]

Problem is, that's a public area for many players. Those who have finished the quest and are back in the tavern would still see jacoby and be able to speak to him. We've got the ability to have him say different stuff based off of your state, but not have him show up or not based off of your state. The disadvantages of a multiplayer game and area.

Life in the big city of MMO's I guess vs how things would play out in a personal PnP Game

Again, he'd have to be there before you did butcher's path as well, which isn't a big deal. Main challenge here is the time it takes to get the entire tavern to behave that way, and the overall impact it makes, and the expectation it sets. If that happens here, it's expected that something scripted of the like in every tavern or setting with multiple NPC's. It's a cool thing, but the time it takes is prohibitive, I'd rather get another quest for another new dungeon done personally than have some NPC's cheer (and yes, that's literally the type of time choice that has to be made, there isn't time for both, and I haven't figured out how to clone myself yet).

I am sure we can point to you some cloning sites if that would help...

The better solution is to make the landscapes that are level appropriate more solo friendly, so you get full rewards and benefits at the right level and appropriate challenge in a newer space to you. This is something that we're looking at as an ongoing polish pass, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the drow in searing heights unlearn some spells at some point.

I actually like the challenge of Searing Heights as it stands, however you might want to revist the recommended level range on the low end. Making a 2-7 set kinda unrealistic hopes about the challenges in it. If it was at least a 3-7, then you would know that it was expected for some casters to already have 2nd level spells. As it is, a bunch of level 2's goes in and pretty soon they are gonna be soulstones, unless they REALLY know what they are doing and are kinda twinked.

Things are coming with 7 that you'll like.

Regarding explorer zones, there are a few things I think would be nice to add and probably not too hard to do.

Revisit the slayer intervals once past things like 750. I think the interval should be no greater than 1 or 2 times the expected population of the area. Apportion the experience accordingly. So if going from 750 to 1500 slayer would get me a 7500 EXP award, then divide it into 3 chunks. 2500 at 1000, 2500 at 1250 and the last 2500 at 1500. This helps support the idea of getting rewards for using the explorer zones, and helps to reduce the incentive for banking EXP in the upper zones for capped characters. You need to do the same amount of work to get the experience, it is just handed out more incrementally. I know when I see the next gap is over 1000 kills away, that is a pretty big DISINCENTIVE to use that area for solo killing for experience any more. I also find that on the mid range areas, that you also run the risk out outgrowing them if you do much other questing. It kinda hurts to leave a lot of EXP on the table in someplace like Sorrowdusk or Tangleroot when you just leveled out. FOr example, at 1375 kills Tangleroot and you have the chance to advance to 8th level, now shutting you out of gains. You recieved nothing for the 625 kills you have made, and now will not get a chance to add to that if you level. Sucks. IF I had already picking up award points at smaller intervals 1000 and 1250 kills, the remorse would be a lot less. If you are running solo or in small groups, the EXP in the Explorer areas is a very valuable aid to leveling up and being more able to handle various quests.

Regarding Exploration sites in the Explorer zones. Make them more diverse and able to be achieved in different ways. By this I mean how about giving sneaking a viable chance for many of them. As it stands now, too many require a martial conflict to ensue in order to get to those spots. CH is pretty good for this. A patient sneaker can hit them all I think. Searing Heights has a few where I found sneaking to be impossible given the way the mobs start positioned. (This is with a level 7 Rogue and good twink gear). Like the bridge near where you exit the lava tunnel that you need to cross to get to the spot to jump to the Lone Tree. I am not sure you can jump to the tree from the ledge below, I know I never quite made it.) Fire Critters in the corner of the map their seem to have some sort of life sense on them as well. Now killing the rares is an entirely different matter, no real gripes on that.

You could also introduce another class of location, the Hidden Sites or Hidden Caches. Similar to explorer sites, there are a handful of these locations on each map whoch need to be spotted or searched for. Apply some logic to the locations, ie not just randomly popped under a rock, that would be too much like some other computer single person games. One time awards like Explorer, but you need to find the 6 hidden messages or whatevers and then give them to the NPC person near the gate to the area for a small award (EXP, a Potion, perhaps an Explorer Merit badge...who knows.) String them all together and you might get an EXPLORER of the realms certificate and get some actual boost like a +1/X to Spot or Search perhaps. Kinda like an Inhernent Bonus to a SKill. You get to choose from a drop down menu from a few skills related to exploring. (Jump, Balance, Spot, Search, Hide, Move Silent, Concentration, perhaps.) (CH, SH, TR, Sorrowdusk, Axtarias, Desert, GH, Orchard, Vale...)

Just some thoughts...

[trptim]

SH is fine with a level 4 character.

I agree
My fighter mostly soloed it between 3 and 7
It was just really expensive
I spent a lot of money on resist potions and healing potions and the Candy Cane's helped
I also had a shield clicky

You just have to take it slowly
House P buff's also really help and reduce the cost, which is why I'd recommend Tangleroot (both slayer and the actual quest) first.

[Zenako]

I like Searing Heights, but it is labeled as lvl 2-7.......when it is really "lvl7, full elite group".......at least now the shrine resets.

Seriously? Not the same experience here. A full group of level 3 and 4s can do it...IF they know what they are doing and have a small amount of good gear between them. You just need to take things slowly and not wake up the whole map at once. Pull back a few of the Suratar elves, hit them with COLD weapons, not fire (since they have Fire Resistence), things like that. Charm a bunch and make them do the work for you.

Are the mobs easy like in CH or Tangleroot, nope, but they can be dealt with....

[VonBek]

Regarding explorer zones, there are a few things I think would be nice to add and probably not too hard to do. Just some thoughts...

Second item - I've been able to sneak/run/invis/jump/featherfall explores from CH to Ataraxia's, on any character that has any business doing so. Were you looking to make them accessible in some other manner?

Third Item - this would tie in well if we had some kind of "badging" or bragging system system. Like floaty accomplisnment icons, or somesuch.

[moorewr]

I strongly second this. I would really like to see the overall XP stay the same, but many more milestones along the way. That '1501 of 3000' business really gets me down. If the maximum increment were in the 250-500 range I'd spend a lot more casual time in the zones.

Regarding explorer zones, there are a few things I think would be nice to add and probably not too hard to do.

Revisit the slayer intervals once past things like 750. I think the interval should be no greater than 1 or 2 times the expected population of the area. Apportion the experience accordingly. So if going from 750 to 1500 slayer would get me a 7500 EXP award, then divide it into 3 chunks. 2500 at 1000, 2500 at 1250 and the last 2500 at 1500. This helps support the idea of getting rewards for using the explorer zones, and helps to reduce the incentive for banking EXP in the upper zones for capped characters. You need to do the same amount of work to get the experience, it is just handed out more incrementally. I know when I see the next gap is over 1000 kills away, that is a pretty big DISINCENTIVE to use that area for solo killing for experience any more. I also find that on the mid range areas, that you also run the risk out outgrowing them if you do much other questing. It kinda hurts to leave a lot of EXP on the table in someplace like Sorrowdusk or Tangleroot when you just leveled out. FOr example, at 1375 kills Tangleroot and you have the chance to advance to 8th level, now shutting you out of gains. You recieved nothing for the 625 kills you have made, and now will not get a chance to add to that if you level. Sucks. IF I had already picking up award points at smaller intervals 1000 and 1250 kills, the remorse would be a lot less. If you are running solo or in small groups, the EXP in the Explorer areas is a very valuable aid to leveling up and being more able to handle various quests.

I'd love to see some sort of badging added to the bio screen - little icons for completed raids and favor... with an option to turn them off if you chose..

Second item - I've been able to sneak/run/invis/jump/featherfall explores from CH to Ataraxia's, on any character that has any business doing so. Were you looking to make them accessible in some other manner?

Third Item - this would tie in well if we had some kind of "badging" or bragging system system. Like floaty accomplisnment icons, or somesuch.

[Zenako]

Second item - I've been able to sneak/run/invis/jump/featherfall explores from CH to Ataraxia's, on any character that has any business doing so. Were you looking to make them accessible in some other manner?

Third Item - this would tie in well if we had some kind of "badging" or bragging system system. Like floaty accomplisnment icons, or somesuch.

I am thinking explictly about the one in Searing Heights. Was trying that one, and with both the number of mobs on the bridge and what they were, it was not possible to get past them "sneaking" even when invisibile. I found I needed to get out there to get the angle to hit the explorer spot "lone tree". You can sneak up to the ledge below that peak with the other spot by just using the cliff ramps, but I was unable to get enough trajectory to hit the Tree site from that point. I was not using 30 point House P buffs for jump, just 10 point Pots, and that might have been enough of a difference there.

[DrAwkward]

Problem is, that's a public area for many players. Those who have finished the quest and are back in the tavern would still see jacoby and be able to speak to him. We've got the ability to have him say different stuff based off of your state, but not have him show up or not based off of your state. The disadvantages of a multiplayer game and area.

Just have Jacoby say "Duh! You killed me next to a Res shrine, N00b." after the fact.

[MysticTheurge]

Things are coming with 7 that you'll like.

[jkm]

Problem is, that's a public area for many players. Those who have finished the quest and are back in the tavern would still see jacoby and be able to speak to him. We've got the ability to have him say different stuff based off of your state, but not have him show up or not based off of your state. The disadvantages of a multiplayer game and area.

the chick from the lighthouse is in there (dalsamira) and don't get me started on giles goodman. you could also just put jacoby in the bar on the trainer island with a quest to talk to sully...

[VonBek]

I am thinking explictly

Thanks - I adjusted my perspective.

[malnon]

Third Item - this would tie in well if we had some kind of "badging" or bragging system system. Like floaty accomplisnment icons, or somesuch.

That would be cool. My pally is working on all current explorer/slayers in the game. (WW is a super pain)

I believe LOTRO had something like this.

[moorewr]

I am thinking explictly about the one in Searing Heights. Was trying that one, and with both the number of mobs on the bridge and what they were, it was not possible to get past them "sneaking" even when invisibile. I found I needed to get out there to get the angle to hit the explorer spot "lone tree". You can sneak up to the ledge below that peak with the other spot by just using the cliff ramps, but I was unable to get enough trajectory to hit the Tree site from that point. I was not using 30 point House P buffs for jump, just 10 point Pots, and that might have been enough of a difference there.

Hmm.. I've always jumped down to it. Never tried to see if you can jump up the slope.

[Arianrhod]

Seriously? Not the same experience here. A full group of level 3 and 4s can do it...IF they know what they are doing and have a small amount of good gear between them. You just need to take things slowly and not wake up the whole map at once. Pull back a few of the Suratar elves, hit them with COLD weapons, not fire (since they have Fire Resistence), things like that. Charm a bunch and make them do the work for you.

Are the mobs easy like in CH or Tangleroot, nope, but they can be dealt with....

The problem is that the (apparent) purpose of the explorer zones is to give the (non-elite) folks something to do when they don't have a group, or don't have time for a group. Searing Heights is just awfully resource intensive for anyone who can't actually cast resist elements, and most solo characters have a hard time even getting the explorer points, never mind trying any rare but Guck. If it were designated as a raid quest, with raid rewards, then sure, keep it tough for level-appropriate characters. But as a time-killer between "real" quests, it definitely needs some adjustment.

[sigtrent]

Searing heights is interesting in that certain characters do well there and others do not.

My paladin/ranger easily soloed it at level 6. Cleared out the whole instance with a couple of cure mod wands and not much else.

He can cast resists and has the little reist boost so that helps with a lot of issues. He has a good AC which helps with the rogues and dogs. Spot lets him avoid being ambushed by hidden monsters. Ranged attacks let him soften up or kill most things before they close in and easily out shoots the archers in the zone.

I have a barbarian sorcerer of the same level and he just can't handle the rogues. His AC is just too low and they tear him appart if there is more than one.

Other characters can't handle the drow/elementals due to the spell damage.

I've actualy found it easier for my ranger to solo there than duo or trio because others will pull in all the stealthed mobs at once causing chaos as where solo I can carefully pick things off a few at a time.

[Zenako]

But it also gives players a chance to explore more of the characters facets. Examples:

Ranger was able to use Animal Empathy to get a wolf on his side for a while, made the early parts a lot easier.

Rogue was able to sneak up to an isolated sentry, pop a surprise attack, get flat footed (ie sneak attack bonus hit and damage) and take down the sentry. Pop back into sneak mode and almost nothing noticed...

Wizard got to try out other spells like Charm Person. Get a whole team on your side, makes it a LOT easier.

Fighter gets to work on Trip and things like that, especially when faced with a handful of foes at once. Often times in groups, the time spent doing special attacks is almost wasted since many mobs die so fast anyway.

Cleric - Hold Person...other CC. SUmmon Monster Allies I or II or III or even IV depending on your level and part of the Heights you are in.

Too many people don't effectively alter their tactics out there, I know, I have seen how some people play in explorer areas and in quests and they do the same thing all the time. You can brute force the issue, it works, and it will be a bit of a resource hog if you do not have spells available. It is also real easy to recall to the Phoenix Tavern and recharge and run back in once all your clickes or spell points are dry and the shrine has not reset yet.