FAI

[thids]

Lately FAI became the central RP hub for the server again. While I have no issues with people RPing there, I do have a personal distaste for the area and the RP that occurs there.

Could we, as a community, perhaps put some effort to decentralize the situation? FAI will always be the main RP hub, but there is no need for it to be so central. Lately more often than not, when logging on at "primetime" the majority of people that are RPing in public places are around FAI. IMO it has nothing to do with the appeal of the place, it's just simple lazy "mob" mentality. A group of people attracts more people and so on. We used to have at least some things that drew people away from that place from time to time, and Lyrewyn managed to pull a lot of the RP to BG back when she played. I know it's an old topic that gets dragged through the mud over and over again, but there are so many taverns and other nice places around the server that are basically ghost towns 90% of the time.

[Hoihe]

I rather we have one guaranteed spot to find RP than having to hunt people with just 15 on. Lesser evil.

[thids]

But at times when there are 15 people online, people are fishing/questing/grinding anyway. If anyone wants to RP at those times, they will go to FAI anyway or pester one of the fishing people at Ulgoth's Beard. I'm mostly talking about times with 50+ people online.

The server has gotten too big, I get that there needs to be a RP hub people can count on. But maybe we can do some regular "player events" (that don't even have to be actual events, just causes for people to gather at different places) from time to time? I know it's OOC and feels artificial, but I don't have a problem with that as long as it gets RP going at other places.

[Steve]

This Server has a namesake, why not use it?!?

[flipside43]

I agree with you Thids. FAI makes a good hub because of the flow of the server (along major walking path, lots of low level leveling areas, quest path, loot seller, auctioneer). It does take some player effort and standing still for long periods to gain momentum elsewhere.

One idea ive wanted to do is gather some bards and play at the different taverns. Changing it up every day or two.

[mrm3ntalist]

Another point is that most players don't realize how close most areas from the Eastern farmlands. With the inclusion of the Northern Tradeway most areas are just a few clicks away.

Thids mentioned that the server has gotten too big. I think that's a fair point and should be discussed on a separate topic. Personally I would like to see some area merging, the same way that happened with the troll claws.

[Steve]

The FAI is the default "hub" because of convenience, something talked about many many times over. Plenty of suggestions of how to stop that, be removing the convenience...but it is always denied by the principle of "don't make anything more difficult or...inconvenient."

I dare say ANY place can be made the new "hub," it Players would simply go there often, regularly and consistently.

Bards playing at a Tavern on a regular basis is a great idea. A Faction bringing a keg to a campfire or tent-city any where else for story and song, also a good idea.

Why aren't evil minded PCs congregating at Darkhold? Or Roaringshore? Why are EDE elves often at FAI? Why are there NEVER any PCs in Nashkel, unless their resting to before grinding Giants?

Part of it is: RPing in the form of chatting and mouthing off at each other, doesn't "pay out," like grinding and looting does. Sure, like Hoihe says, there is the social aspect of the Game, the OOC part of "hangin' with my crew." And I guess it is better that that "crew" hangs in a public space, so others can join in—if allowed —over that crew in a closed off Guild Hall.

But it is also pretty funny how many players justify reasons for their PCs to not want or avoid others. You can't talk about an RP Hub without taking that into consideration!

[LISA100595]

I am currently Updating the FAI, to some of your chagrin, to include some very nice features both inside the Inn interior ( such as gambling hall and neutral conference room ) and outside within the walls of the inn... ( such as a roof top cafe' and on the ground a nice area of benches and small waterfall/floral centerpiece for RP. )

[Karond]

If one removes the auctioneer and the merchant, FAI would lose a lot of its attractiveness. BG is less desirable since it's further away from most decent areas at levels 4-20, and it takes 2 transition points and some running to even get to the Auctioneer.

[Xanfyrst]

It has sorta already been said, but I will mention it again:

If you want people to go elsewhere, make elsewhere interesting enough to go there.

And of course conveniency.


It's not rocket science, folks. Just takes commitment of a few people with enough drive to make it happen. Like the before mentioned Lyrewyn.

[Calodan]

FAI is the loot heaven flat out. One person can get over 60 chests within a couple of hours of play there. Want to make other areas more played? Start by making chests able to be looted by everyone in a party and make chests away from FAI have better drops on a small average over FAI. While the FAI could have more chests you would be better served to party up in the first place and go elsewhere especially if you are above level 21. This of course takes resource time that is not high priority at the moment. With some fixes that just went that broke a bunch of things like Holy sword, bless weapon and flame weapon spells I imagine a few people's complaints that too many people go socialize where the few people who don't like the area do not want to go is not exactly the most important thing on the server list. Why is it such a big deal anyway? Why can you not just send a tell and ask some peeps if they want to come RP elsewhere? It is really easy and honestly this is probably how Lyrewyn started out in getting BG relevant while there. So instead of just asking someone else to correct a problem why not correct it yourself? Pretty sure this is attitude of players like Lyrewyn instead of finding ways to treat people like cattle and herd them.

[Steve]

Yeah, at this point, Baldur's Gate would be better served by merging the 3 Areas down to 1.

Probably all areas north of the Fields of the Dead could be removed (few hunt trolls anymore, since the Quest was borked and could never get fixed). The Northern Tradeway map is HUGE, but the spawns there are few and far between. The Forest of the Wyrms is too hard to grind, and few go there more than once. The Area leading up to Darkhold is also too hard, which was the idea at first, but not with the Caravan service, it really is a dead area. South of Nashkel is only used for grinding Giants and to get to the Lizard Cave. Naskel Mines gets some use, but the Crystal Mines is a bust because it is too trap heavy and the Loot that was designed for it was far too watered down to make it worth the risk—do it once for the say, then never go back. Then, there are the Guild Halls that rarely even get used, since most of those Guilds have 1-2 Players, and those PCs are in other Guilds as well, which further spreads out the attention.

I could go on...but I think you get my point.

[mrm3ntalist]

Yeah, at this point, Baldur's Gate would be better served by merging the 3 Areas down to 1.

That would be huge if it can be implemented. BG should be one area, The farmlands, North and east one area as well

Probably all areas north of the Fields of the Dead could be removed (few hunt trolls anymore, since the Quest was borked and could never get fixed).

Many do hunt trolls. The troll claws is one of the best areas. A guild hall (KH), many caves and a variety of spawns and a place free of mobs to RP at. I wish all areas were like that.

Other than those, the amn foothills can be made into one area, especially the area the Frost keep is and the area with the lizard cave.

High moors north and south... one area.

Sharpteeth forest maps ... one area.

I think there are more areas that can be merged, if that is something the DMs and devs want

[Darkcloud777]

I am currently Updating the FAI, to some of your chagrin, to include some very nice features both inside the Inn interior ( such as gambling hall and neutral conference room ) and outside within the walls of the inn... ( such as a roof top cafe' and on the ground a nice area of benches and small waterfall/floral centerpiece for RP. )

And as soon as she finishes that then a new "old" place is going to be redone at the caravan stop. There will be a lodge placed there that will sell food and drink. In addition to the interior lodge there is still the outside campfire. everyone is all welcome to come to this new "open" guild lodge when it is complete. Dm's can have npc merchants stop in to have a meal. rumors can be spread IC that way. The rp potential is enormous. Until then the caravan fire is still a great place to rp. Hope to see you all there.

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[thids]

Why is it such a big deal anyway? Why can you not just send a tell and ask some peeps if they want to come RP elsewhere?

I did not ask for a mechanical "fix", nor did I call this a big deal. I asked if we as a community could do something about the current situation. So, stuff like this:

One idea ive wanted to do is gather some bards and play at the different taverns. Changing it up every day or two.

or similar ideas.