[suggestion] Bringing the Underdark back to life

[Nocturnus]

In the Yuan-ti thread I had discussed how empty the Underdark has become. I mentioned that the pureblood race being enabled could bring some players down there (I'm aware they are more of a surface race but their bonuses and the cosmopolitan/racial diversity of Sshamath would make a good fit.

I have been enjoying my time playing in the UD, but it can get boring due to the low population. I'm aware that It always had a smaller population but since I started playing again I mostly see a couple players regularly, and a few other players only on the day the quests reset or a DM event. A lot of work had been put into the Underdark and it's a shame that it's so unused.

I have a few other ideas to help this situation and I'd like to hear your ideas. Let's use this thread to brainstorm a solution to this. I will list a short summary of them


-A few more underdark specific classes (Cave stalker is a good example), I know creating classes is a lot of work but it's just a thought. A bigger variety of UD classes could make people more interested in having a Underdark character.

-More UD races might help, Yuan-ti would be the easiest and fastest to implement. Although I would create a poll and see what races/classes players would most likely play, in the hopes that it doesn't end up like the Tanarukk race (rarely played).

-for a limited time, perhaps a small XP bonus when you choose the Underdark as your starting location?

-More underdark events/small DM interactions. I know the DMS's have lives, but I think people stop playing their UD characters because the surface gets a lot more of this (due to the surface having way more players of course). I'm not talking about major quest lines like 1352 (which are really fun) but I mean more minor events an example would be:

a small party is hunting lesser displacer beasts but a large group of them surround the players, fortunately a small group of Conclave soldiers on a regular patrol spot them and aid them. Afterwards they talk for a few minutes and then they Continue their patrol.

Just an example but im thinking just small DM interactions.

thanks for reading, I'd like to hear your ideas.

[freekender]

In the Yuan-ti thread I had discussed how empty the Underdark has become. I mentioned that the pureblood race being enabled could bring some players down there (I'm aware they are more of a surface race but their bonuses and the cosmopolitan/racial diversity of Sshamath would make a good fit.

I have been enjoying my time playing in the UD, but it can get boring due to the low population. I'm aware that It always had a smaller population but since I started playing again I mostly see a couple players regularly, and a few other players only on the day the quests reset or a DM event. A lot of work had been put into the Underdark and it's a shame that it's so unused.

Yes, it's true that the UD population is always much less then the surface. Even lately, I have noticed a huge decrease in the players around there; but I think it has gone back to what it uses to be some time ago, as a noticeable increment of people played there in the last months.

I have a few other ideas to help this situation and I'd like to hear your ideas. Let's use this thread to brainstorm a solution to this. I will list a short summary of them

Good idea. Let's see if something useful can pop up from this thread!

-A few more underdark specific classes (Cave stalker is a good example), I know creating classes is a lot of work but it's just a thought. A bigger variety of UD classes could make people more interested in having a Underdark character.

-More UD races might help, Yuan-ti would be the easiest and fastest to implement. Although I would create a poll and see what races/classes players would most likely play, in the hopes that it doesn't end up like the Tanarukk race (rarely played).

Some new classes and races can surely aid, but I'm not completely sure about Yuan-ti Pureblood. As I stated on the thread you mentioned, I think this race (if implemented) should be application only, as the RP should fit the lore (maybe other playable classes and/or races already around should be app only too, but...). My reason to state this is that one of the main characteristics of the server is that is lore based. Also, because of this, I'm not sure if it's lore based to suddenly have a bunch of yuan-tis living at Ssamath. Maybe another city could be done?. And I mean as starting area. The same could be done for the Deep Imaskari; it has been always weird to me to have this race and no city for them.

-for a limited time, perhaps a small XP bonus when you choose the Underdark as your starting location?

Could be of aid. But the real problem with the UD is that is no friendly with begginers. It's hard to play and the first levels are a pain in the *** until you can equip a regeneration cloak (and even more if you play a mage or a char that it's not full-melee or close to it). At the surface you have plenty of areas to choose, and more now with the Soubar expansion, which is really good. Maybe the same can be done in the UD.

-More underdark events/small DM interactions. I know the DMS's have lives, but I think people stop playing their UD characters because the surface gets a lot more of this (due to the surface having way more players of course). I'm not talking about major quest lines like 1352 (which are really fun) but I mean more minor events an example would be:

a small party is hunting lesser displacer beasts but a large group of them surround the players, fortunately a small group of Conclave soldiers on a regular patrol spot them and aid them. Afterwards they talk for a few minutes and then they Continue their patrol.

Just an example but im thinking just small DM interactions.

Oh please, yes yes yes! That would definetly aid A LOT. Not my intention to make a bad critique, just a constructive one, but the DM presence in the UD has been a lot less lately (and I talk about the casual interactions, the UD plot continues). Maybe the reason is that there is less people (?). I think it needs some players' initiative (like this). And to try to organize some RP plots by ourselves (School of Invocation and Evocation thread is a good example).

I really hope this aids to the UD RP.

[Boddynock]

I have always felt that a large portion of the problem is the isolation from the surface. It is, for all intents and purposes, two servers. I understand that underdark treks in lore are supposed to be challenging, but no more so than the other ridiculous treks PCs make in the span of a loading screen.

The argument I often here in defense of this is that drow PCs would then conduct PVP focused surface raids... Well they should be doing that as it is lore appropriate, as it stands now too many PCs are accepting of drow and other "evil" races. Give us a reason to hate them. BUt more than that, give us the opportunity to interact before late epic levels.

If the two sides were more like one unified persistent world, there would be more people willing to play down there because they wouldn't have to give up intersecting with the vast majority of the player base.

[Ivan38Rus]

History shows that if someone generates good RP, it attracts people to the UD

It could be DM plot, or players themselves.

Also,

I understand that underdark treks in lore are supposed to be challenging, but no more so than the other ridiculous treks PCs make in the span of a loading screen.

what

I mean

what

[freekender]

The argument I often here in defense of this is that drow PCs would then conduct PVP focused surface raids... Well they should be doing that as it is lore appropriate, as it stands now too many PCs are accepting of drow and other "evil" races. Give us a reason to hate them. BUt more than that, give us the opportunity to interact before late epic levels.

You may be right, I also think UD-surface may be more "in touch". But players who are here since some time ago know what happens when the surface-UD interaction discussion comes out. Please, I ask for the next posts to try to be constructive and don't fill pages with posts and posts that lead nowhere.

[TheKai]

A variety of different races can be beneficial. Almost all races able to play in the UD have an ECL penalty which can make it hard. The only ons that don't are half drow and imaskari but that has a favored class so you risk a xp penalty if you multi class outside of wizard. Speaking from experience, playing a wizard in the UD is definatley not as easy as on the surface unless you're aelcar, Storm Munin, Mentalist, BMD and a few others. I was able to get to level 17 in a fairly quick amount of time but i had a HIPs wizard so that helped tremendously. And if you play a non drow or half drow, the RP penalty is even harsher than that! From an RP stand point, yes the UD is harsh and races had to adapt to survive so they became stronger hence the ECL and it makes sense, but it may discourage some players though.

I'd say one of the ways you could draw more players is to have a starting city other than Sshamath for those who want to pursue other kinds of RP besides drow (or being around drow and having to force that subservient RP). I mean the surface has BG, the pirate city whose name is eluding me atm, also you can start in Soubar i think? And even the orcs i believe have their own starting point. So four surface startinh points for a variety of RP vice just one for the UD.

Additionally, and just being real here, there are alot more opportunities for phat lootz on the surface than there are in the UD because of more chests and dungeons.

Sorry for the grammar typing from my iphone

[Lux]

Hi, I unfortunately haven't had the time to read the entire thread but I just wanted to chime in

-for a limited time, perhaps a small XP bonus when you choose the Underdark as your starting location?

Only for drow!

I want to add more mob diversity and more (as in more of them) challenging areas for all levels to suggestions, as well as more quests.

Mind you, I don't have an UD toon past 20 myself. I'm mostly just going on what I've heard, though I already never want to set foot in the fire goblin caves again.

And if anyone feels inclined to do some beautiful maps.. More server map % to the underdark!

There's one map in the lower level zones that I really love and that was a wonder to explore, but I don't recall the name of right now (right exit in the starter mushroom cave). Unfortunately I found this map a bit too late for it to be a challenge but it was fun nonetheless.

[The Whistler]

No matter what flashy new content gets added, the Underdark is doomed to languish if it is not treated as an organic part of the server.

[duracele]

let the drow roam free! if a dm is annoyed he can always kill them off and send them back. no need to hand out goodies though. gaining levels has just got so much easier in ud with the extended compound.

[Aeb Ankor]

How about evil race clerics getting Gods for Animal Domain, so they can use Monstrous Companions...

[roke42]

I want to add more mob diversity and more (as in more of them) challenging areas for all levels.

This!

Let's make a comparison:
Places to go/loot in late levels on the surface, which are actually fun:
- Cloakwood
- Frost Keep
- Elder Lizard Cave
- Durlag's Tower
- Gullykin tombs
- Nashkel Iron Mine
- Troll Claws
- Serpent Hills
- Greypeak mountains

What there is in the Underdark:
- Duergar Compound and below
- Ruins of Ohgrann
- East of Mistlake
- (Underdark Crypts)

[Planehopper]

It seems like these same arguments are recycled every year, maybe two. We need more areas, more classes, more DMs. If only _____, then the underdark will flourish.

Aside from a few brief spurts, the UD has always suffered, and I don't see any light at the end of those endlessly dark tunnels.

My suggestion to "fix" the underdark would be to turn things on their head. Use Sshamath for DM events. Drow and Duergar for DM spawns. Use all of the areas, quests, and hours and hours of work spent on development for the good of the majority.

Use the areas and quests that are existing in the underdark to expand the surface realm. Use them as through-areas similar to the kobold-to-gibberling through cave. Fill in some empty doors (like in High Hedge). Use them where they will be used.

If anything, create an upperdark-ish area, one less removed from the surface..but that only works if removing those ud-specific races.

I know that isn't likely going to be embraced by the handful of active players in the underdark, but I think its the most logical course of action after this years-long experiment.

[roke42]

How about evil race clerics getting Gods for Animal Domain, so they can use Monstrous Companions...

I want a monsterous spider companion!

[Nocturnus]

I'm curious has any of it been actually attempted?

If they did what you're suggesting I would leave for another server. I've made surface characters and it's not my thing. If the Devs are fine loosing a chunk of their player base it wouldn't be a bad idea.

[NeOmega]

The entire auction system needs to be changed. Underdark and surface should be separate.

What?

Yes.

Then..

..the underdark needs to be "accessible" to level 15+. As mentioned before, an in-between city, that then has the big maze beyond it to get to, so Sshamath requires level 24+ or whatever it is.

Then the quests simply need to be given flags where people who started surface can't do UD quests, and visa versa.

I really don't see what the big deal would be if surfacers went grinding in the underdark Crypts or underdarks in the xvart village. I really don't. More easy auto PvP.... cool.