Incoming Update

[The Whistler]

Do you have any idea how terrifyingly similar to the PC crowd you guys sound ? "I'm offended by this feature, therefore no one should be allowed to enjoy it." If the 100% RCR wasn't in, the server's numbers would've plummeted. Nobody wants to be a guinea pig for some convoluted new system full of bugs; not without an incentive at any rate.

[Calantyr]

We now have a plethora of new characters in the teens(some in the epics) running around, which sounds great at first, until you take a look down the scry and hardly recognize anyone, then realize the vast majority of these RcR'd mid-level characters will have offered zero to minimal RP that establishes them in our persistent world.

Simple explanation: They only recently arrived in the Sword Coast from somewhere else. RP continuity maintained.

"But that doesn't explain all the other characters disappearing!

Plague. All those undead corpses caused an epidemic. We grieve for their loss.

[Snarfy]

If the 100% RCR wasn't in, the server's numbers would've plummeted. Nobody wants to be a guinea pig for some convoluted new system full of bugs; not without an incentive at any rate.

Of course they don't, I'm just not convinced it's the right type of incentive. Conversely, if the 100% rcr refund wasn't in, and the servers numbers plummeted, that at least would be an accurate indicator as to how people really felt about the update(which is not to say that players aren't leaving already). Although that drop-off wouldn't necessarily be indicative of the state of/outlook for roleplay, which is something that players should be equally as concerned about as the mechanics.

In fact, I'd challenge anyone to offer one reason as to how 100% rcr xp is beneficial to the overall quality of role-play on the server. Then again, maybe that's a moot point because, if I'm being totally fair, the 100% xp refund clearly wasn't implemented with roleplay in mind. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what kind of consequences or lasting effects on RP it will have.

Simple explanation: They only recently arrived in the Sword Coast from somewhere else. RP continuity maintained.

"But that doesn't explain all the other characters disappearing!

Plague. All those undead corpses caused an epidemic. We grieve for their loss.

I don't know whether to or at this.

[metaquad4]

I'm just going to go against the flow here and say that I hope the 100% RcR feature gets turned off sooner rather than later. I mean, it's great that players get the chance to optimize( ) and try out new things, but this free XP refund is, IMHO, not at all good for server/character continuity. We now have a plethora of new characters in the teens(some in the epics) running around, which sounds great at first, until you take a look down the scry and hardly recognize anyone, then realize the vast majority of these RcR'd mid-level characters will have offered zero to minimal RP that establishes them in our persistent world.

That complain can already happen, in case you weren't aware of how the RCR system worked before, Snarfy (which, I'm sure you were. Which means you should very well know that). People could already RCR their characters and return at up to level 20, which would make a character dispensary. And plenty of people were planning to RCR (before they knew the DM team was going to do the 100% thing) when this update came out, you know.

Between this, and your "are you having fun yet" post, I'm getting the impression that you don't like to RP meeting new characters. That mentality (thank goodness you are the only one I have encountered who holds it) is detrimental to server growth. If players are unwilling to welcome new characters, then it just perpetuates the "oldguard characters forever and noone else" mentality. That mentality is damaging to people who might want to get rid of oldguard characters, and it is also damaging to new players/characters who are trying to integrate themselves into the server.

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As far as the 100% RCR function, I think that is one of the best moves the current DM/Dev team has decided to make. I was afraid with so little information on the updates that we were going to have to shoot blind on all of this stuff, which would have been awful for the player base (for quality of life, and you would have seen a lot more people just grinding). It also helps the DM team, as they can less time on character builds and more time on other stuff.

And for the updates, I've been actually playing the game for a while. The game doesn't seem to be broken by any means. Some new things were added, but everything seems to be the same. Some RP here, some hunting there. A lack of events, perhaps, but the DMs haven't been as active as they once were. Probably on a break period after the last event line, or some such. All seems well, though. People aren't running around like headless chickens (like they were in the initial "beta" release). The BG players are acting pretty normal IG, actually.

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Also, its worth bearing in mind that because of skills (specifically, knowledge), 100% rebuilds were going to have to happen anyway. By DM hands, or by NPC hands. NPCs hands happen to be more efficient for this.

[Calantyr]

Simple explanation: They only recently arrived in the Sword Coast from somewhere else. RP continuity maintained.

"But that doesn't explain all the other characters disappearing!

Plague. All those undead corpses caused an epidemic. We grieve for their loss.

I don't know whether to or at this.

Both! It wasn't meant entirely seriously.

[Snarfy]

That complain can already happen, in case you weren't aware of how the RCR system worked before, Snarfy (which, I'm sure you were. Which means you should very well know that). People could already RCR their characters and return at up to level 20, which would make a character dispensary. And plenty of people were planning to RCR (before they knew the DM team was going to do the 100% thing) when this update came out, you know.

I'm not convinced that the sheer amount of RcR's into new characters that have taken place since the 100% xp rebate went in would have occurred without it. So, I'm not sure I see your point.

Between this, and your "are you having fun yet" post, I'm getting the impression that you don't like to RP meeting new characters. That mentality (thank goodness you are the only one I have encountered who holds it) is detrimental to server growth. If players are unwilling to welcome new characters, then it just perpetuates the "oldguard characters forever and noone else" mentality. That mentality is damaging to people who might want to get rid of oldguard characters, and it is also damaging to new players/characters who are trying to integrate themselves into the server.

Whoa whoa whoa! Did you stop for a moment to consider why my(main) character might not like to meet new characters? Could it be that he's anti-social? And that I've always RP'd him that way? Did you bother to factor in his recent "social encounters"(many of which have been painful, quite literally), or even attempt to RP with him at all before you decided that his aversion to meeting new people somehow perpetuates whatever mythical mentality you're referring to? Didn't think so.

Not everyone plays a social butterfly, just so you know. And most of my other characters have no problems meeting other characters, just so you know. And now you know. Carry on.

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

This is why I think there should've been a JEG module update from the start as a chance for players to test the new stuff, and then window of one week of 100% RCR. But I understand that our devs are stretched thin as it is, so this is as good as it gets.

[Kanada]

I am completely opposed to removing 100% RCR until we have actual patch notes with a complete list of new spells and feats

[Theodore01]

I am completely opposed to removing 100% RCR until we have actual patch notes with a complete list of new spells and feats

+1
and most of the bugs are out.

[Duster47]

I am completely opposed to removing 100% RCR until we have actual patch notes with a complete list of new spells and feats

+1
and most of the bugs are out.

I can assure you the RCR thing will stay as-is until I get a chance to actually get IG and RCR my own PCs, who I never have time to play, to use the new Lore system and other trinkets I am yet to discover.

[roke42]

If the 100% RCR wasn't in, the server's numbers would've plummeted. Nobody wants to be a guinea pig for some convoluted new system full of bugs; not without an incentive at any rate.

Of course they don't, I'm just not convinced it's the right type of incentive. Conversely, if the 100% rcr refund wasn't in, and the servers numbers plummeted, that at least would be an accurate indicator as to how people really felt about the update(which is not to say that players aren't leaving already). Although that drop-off wouldn't necessarily be indicative of the state of/outlook for roleplay, which is something that players should be equally as concerned about as the mechanics.

In fact, I'd challenge anyone to offer one reason as to how 100% rcr xp is beneficial to the overall quality of role-play on the server. Then again, maybe that's a moot point because, if I'm being totally fair, the 100% xp refund clearly wasn't implemented with roleplay in mind. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what kind of consequences or lasting effects on RP it will have.

The current state the server is with all its bugs, it isn't at all benefical for roleplay right now. Even if there wouldn't be the 100% RCR refund. Can you come up with a valid RP reason why all of a sudden all divine casters of certain deities are suddenly unable to cast spells? RP will hopefull yreturn back to normal once we passed this buggy phase.

[Steve]

The current state the server is with all its bugs, it isn't at all benefical for roleplay right now. Even if there wouldn't be the 100% RCR refund. Can you come up with a valid RP reason why all of a sudden all divine casters of certain deities are suddenly unable to cast spells? RP will hopefull yreturn back to normal once we passed this buggy phase.

Indeed!

[Grimdark Hitman]

LET'S NERF THE RCR SYSTEM!!!

But seriously, so many shelved lvl 30 PCs are being RCR'd into builds simply to "try out" which is the most powerful, and capable to solo the most bosses possible on the Server, solely in order to gain mad lootz as quick as possible.

I am glad that we do have the RCR NPC—considering how many PCs I simply erased before it existed—but I also wish there was some sort of limit to its use, like 1 x per month, per CD Key.

I really do not believe that RCRing straight to lvl 30 with a totally new character concept—especially if it is solely to see how well you can game the Server for lootz—does anything to further/generate RP.

This is just my opinion, and I really don't blame anyone for doing this, since it is within the current rules/paradigm of the Server. But damn...

Objection! I vehemently disagree with the assumptive notion the Gentleman from Paradise propagates. Leveling up easier and even bringing the RCR XP reimbursement to 70 percent even after things normalize, and utilizing everyone's time and being more conscious about those with limited play-times ; be it through amping up the net gain of XP through teaming up with a party so we can all further our at-times existential existences together and tap into new character concepts is something that should be advocated for.

[Karond]

I like the 100%. Could be worth looking into keeping it, but adding a level cap later on. Like, caps at level 25 or something. Or the previous 20.

[Steve]

Of course...we all like the 100%. We also like 0% tax as well.

Going off the rails and thinking the 100% is going to be stopped early or short during the debug phase of the Big Update, is a reaction uncalled for, because it was already stated by Staff multiple times that it would stay available even after the bugs are squashed, for a time, for Players to make sure they have a window of opportunity to absorb the changes, and not be left with an unplayable Toon.

I was pointing out the difference between RCRing in order to test functionality of builds, RCRing in order to create a Toon that can more efficiently harvest loot from Bosses, and RCRing for the sake of a new Character that will stay in-game from this point on.

It's already difficult enough to hear about Characters being RCR'd into completely different Base Classes, as if a Character can just go from a Sorcerer to a Wizard to a Bard to a Warlock, then back again, all in the snap of a finger.

So yeah, for basic preservation of role-play, it would been nicer to see Server 2 opened up to more than just QC, while Server 1 maintained it's general RP vibe. But hey, that's just me talkin'.