New player questions

[Clockwork]

(Couldn't see an appropriate new player forum for this - please point e in the right direction if there is one).

Hello, I have been looking at this server in the last few days and have some general questions.

What opportunities are there for players to become major influences in the game world? Or is the setting dominated by uber untouchable NPCs at the top of all organisations dictating events?

Is there a spread of players role playing at all levels, or are most concentrated at higher levels?

Is there any activity (player or DM) during GMT hours?

Thanks for your time.

[Mac]

What opportunities are there for players to become major influences in the game world

Lots

Is there a spread of players role playing at all levels

Yes

Is there any activity (player or DM) during GMT hours?

Yes

Couldn't see an appropriate new player forum for this - please point e in the right direction if there is one

Here you Go
http://www.bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=48900

[Uther3867]

players to majorly influence the game, i have to say with the last years server plot there was alot of player manipulation to the story line so i thought so yes there is better to try in a guild than lone wolf. as for becoming supreme overlord i wouldn't tell you no i would say inadvisable if you want to live.

RP can happen from level 1 to level 30 a good mix of them are in there teens i find there's always leveling parties and most go for a pint later on, hang around outside meeting places and rp may find you.

i've never had a issue finding DM's online or players this is actually one of the highest populated servers ive ever seen

[AlwaysSummer Day]

You can become a major influence in the gameworld but it takes a lot of RP and remember that you may not get what you want or expect. Leading a guild is a lofty goal that can take a year or more to reach. NPC's are often very powerful characters in their own right. Don't expect to simply kill a king in a few months however do not rule it out either. DM's will work with you and events will unfold taking into account your characters actions, the other hundreds of characters actions, and the NPC's actions.

The player spread is large enough that while most probably are epic you can find a few your level most times of the day anyways.

This server is active mainly in the euro timezones and seems to peak as Europeans are going to bed and americans are getting off of work. Honestly you are set for lots of events if you live in GMT and work a normal 9-5 type schedule.

Welcome to BGTSCC and remember the only thing better than an elf is a dwarf. . . or even the boots of a dwarf. Actually anything relating to dwarves is better in all aspects when compare to knife ears.

[Nomster]

Welcome, Clockwork! I would really advise you to read the thread which Mac posted the link to.

What opportunities are there for players to become major influences in the game world? Or is the setting dominated by uber untouchable NPCs at the top of all organisations dictating events?

Some guilds have an NPC at the top, mostly it is the lore guilds which do. That NPC (or NPCs) cannot be removed... or well, they can in some cases but a new one will take the place. A player for example cannot become the sole leader of Candlekeep, maximum player rank is Guide. But even with this system, players can influence a lot as these NPCs rarely meddle.

I do not equal a major influence to necessarily being a leader of something. I know a few characters who other people look to IG but they are not the leaders of their organizations.

If you want your character to be respected (or feared) and be an influence, do not focus as much on being a leader in some organization. I would say, focus more on the RP itself. I have seen many player start guilds or become leaders in established guilds but the influence is not there if there is no respect (or fear).

I always recommend to join an organization/guild of some sort... as it can help with such goals. But even if you do not strive for such things, it immediately gives you a handful of characters your character suddenly has a reason to RP with.

This server is active mainly in the euro timezones and seems to peak as Europeans are going to bed and americans are getting off of work. Honestly you are set for lots of events if you live in GMT and work a normal 9-5 type schedule.

It was not too long ago people complained there were too few euro timezone events and that US people got 'em all

[Clockwork]

Thanks for the response all. Interesting reading in the linked thread.

Some guilds have an NPC at the top, mostly it is the lore guilds which do. That NPC (or NPCs) cannot be removed... or well, they can in some cases but a new one will take the place. A player for example cannot become the sole leader of Candlekeep, maximum player rank is Guide. But even with this system, players can influence a lot as these NPCs rarely meddle.

I do not equal a major influence to necessarily being a leader of something. I know a few characters who other people look to IG but they are not the leaders of their organizations.

If you want your character to be respected (or feared) and be an influence, do not focus as much on being a leader in some organization. I would say, focus more on the RP itself. I have seen many player start guilds or become leaders in established guilds but the influence is not there if there is no respect (or fear).

I always recommend to join an organization/guild of some sort... as it can help with such goals. But even if you do not strive for such things, it immediately gives you a handful of characters your character suddenly has a reason to RP with.

(No particular reason I quoted this response except it was the most recent one).

What I meant with the question was that Forgotten Realms as a setting is somewhat notorious for being dominated by unkillable NPCs with uber powers, with players relegated to errand boys unless there's a justifiable reason that Elminster hasn't shown up to solve the problem with a click of their fingers, etc. I don't mean this as a criticism of BG in any way (any nwn2 server which has persisted this long with a player base that BG enjoys has something to be rightfully proud of), but it's a concern I've always had when playing FR.

For instance, I've been reading up on the recent events and note that there was a siege of the city. From what I gather, NPCs weren't really involved and it was mostly players ("adventurers") defending the city? What role did they play in the final victory? On that note, was there any opperunities for the players to join the bad guys if they so wished (goals or motivations aligned, or whatever)?

Actually, I couldn't find much on who was behind this siege, other than that they were undead, or why they were assaulting the city. I haven't digested all the lore yet though.

[Nomster]

The DM behind the siege posted a "reveal" with a lot of OOC info to aid players understanding events. Subject: 1351 Metaplot Ending and reveal

Why they assaulted the city, there could be several theories about. I would suggest that if you want to know, that you go around the server and ask other people ICly. It is a finished plotline by the way but people have been very happy to share at least the basic information. There are IC rumour threads in the Elfsong since last year but these have been unstickied so you would have to dig them out.

I think on this server, what player characters do can matter. The DMs are reluctant to use characters such as Elminster or any other powerful one to save the world whenever there is a crisis. It is pretty much up to player characters to think of ideas and try to make things happen.

Player characters came up with the idea to use sun cannons and some other things at the siege. There were lots of NPCs but they were never really seen. There were several Lords' Alliance soldiers from all over and also Greyfox tribe members as well as militia 'pups' in training. It is difficult to have fights with PCs, allied NPCs and hostile NPCs in an event where there is already much lag. But I still believe negotiating for these allies mattered in such way as to how long the walls would hold, how the defence lines were and so on... but it was not the NPCs who shone but the player characters.

Some characters did join the NPC's side, or at least aided them. Read the "reveal"!

Oh, I saw that the Dukes called forth some charge or whatever in the siege but I suspect the DM added it in afterwards cause I did not see any of the Dukes? Nor do we know what happened to Lady Alustriel and her flying carriage...? I saw one post about it and I guess she was forgotten!

While what player characters do can matter... I feel the DM team is quite torn on exactly how much player characters themselves can matter. Now and then there is a discussion about some people and some DMs viewing all player characters as half their actual level (which I disagree with, cause "play what's on your character sheet" and how do I explain an epic spell, even a 9th lvl spell if I am supposed to play as a lvl 15 char? No do not answer please. Make a new thread if you must, veterans.).

Some DMs also do not want player characters to be distinguishable from the masses, which I also disagree with... because it is possible to do deeds on this server which really singles your character out. Or your character can simply gain a reputation... but it seems like, for the most part, reputation only matters between player characters. I would be baffled if an NPC in Baldur's Gate had not at least heard of my character... because she is rather infamous *twitch* but also very good as a performer on stage where the Dukes even attend (and she has ungodly charisma).

So you can experience different levels of how your character is perceived depending on the DM really. But NPCs saving the day... nah, not really. They are just lazy and ask adventurers to do it most of the time


I have only seen Elminster once during the time I have been playing, he told some story or something at a Candlekeep fair. I cannot even remember what it was... I have seen Fzoul Chembryl once and he basically sat on a throne and told the Zhentarim that failure was not an option. ...I have probably seen more deity avatars than important lore NPCs. So you can worry more about deity avatars stealing your thunder rather than important NPCs.


Lastly, I would recommend you to make a character if you have not already. Best way to understand and experience the game is to play it. You will soon discover it is very different from a PnP game and while the base is in FR lore, there is a fair deal of server lore as well as deviations. And of course, the play style differs. Majority of the time, you do not have a DM following your every move.

[Clockwork]

Thank you for your response, it was very informative and welcome to hear. I've played on a few PWs but most have been custom settings; I havent really touched FR since NWN1 days/early NWN2.

I think that I will dive in shortly once I have been able to flesh out a character concept in more detail.