[suggestion] Bringing the Underdark back to life

[Heimdallr]

Basically it's true. Events in UD are rare;x especially ones for low lvls.
Also It's hard to make events for more ppl in ud since there aren't many ppl in ud.
There aren't many ppl in ud cause there aren't many events in ud.
Vicious circle. New locations won't help at all.
I'm not a 100% ud player that knows everyone and every spot, but I did play on a lot of nwn ud servers. Talking to many UD people here in game i received same feedback - ud is pretty empty cause you can't do much things on 30 in compare to surface. Second thing was - you cant freely raid surface.

Ud would grow a bit or even a lot if there would be possibility to raid surface on our own.
Raiding without any clear rules wouldn't be a good idea.

I remember one server where connection between surface and ud was free but only for 16+ and it was full of enemies you had to deal with to get to surface/ud which was a great idea.
Surfacers were trying to get to ud to dig our adamantite so we we're forced to create militia and patrol the tunnels it was awesome. But one thing was bad about it - if no militia was currently playing, you could always die by some surfacer attack^^

I was thinking about something few months ago, a small system that could work:
Let's say that surface has 30 locations. 10 of them are low lvl(1-15) and they could not be raid by UD unless DM event would require so. 10 of them would be (15-20) and could be raid only by winning Battleground and last 10 would be for epic guys(20-30) and can be raided without battleground and dm permission. Of course locations numbers are random - I'm not sure how much are there locations exactly, just an example of locations by lvls. Also it's working vice versa - so same goes from surface>ud raiding. Since we are a RP 13+(if im correct) server, slavery on both sides or any harder actions would be against server rules UNLESS both fighting sides would agree to do so(i.e slavery) cause it gives a lot of rp fun at all.

Slaver of course would be only for week unless slaved person would agreed to make it longer, because its all for RP;]
Battleground - Idea of location Connecting Surface and UD without lvl restrictions(like I said before normally it would require 16+ to travel) and would contain 2 bases - UD and Surface fortifications, and a ruined castle/fort - something on the middle, that requires to be captured and fortified. So I.E surfacers kicks UD as*es and take over the settlement on the middle of battleground - they are able to raid mid lvl locations that require battleground. All surfacers that would go that way, not only the grup that captured Battleground. It would count as 3 days capture and after 3 days they will fight again to hold it or lose it;]
Also There would be NO perma death on battleground.

It's basically idea taken from WOW but it seems pretty cool.

[cobblecano]

I assure you that implementing yuan-ti as a playable race would be a terrible decision for this server; fatally so if they are an Underdark race.

Why don't you focus more on Sshamath mercenary roleplay?

[Nocturnus]

I assure you that implementing yuan-ti as a playable race would be a terrible decision for this server; fatally so if they are an Underdark race.

Why don't you focus more on Sshamath mercenary roleplay?

Do you have any evidence of this? Orcs and planetouched are playable still yet the server is as popular as ever. They wouldn't be that common in the UD as most people seem to want to play drow/half-drow. I find merc roleplay boring, even the mage schools really aren't my thing. People like to roleplay different things.

[NegInfinity]

Do you have any evidence of this? Orcs and planetouched are playable still yet the server is as popular as ever. They wouldn't be that common in the UD as most people seem to want to play drow/half-drow. I find merc roleplay boring, even the mage schools really aren't my thing. People like to roleplay different things.

There's no lore for yan-ti in underdark, as far as I tell. You're free to provide citation/reference of course.

Encountering cambion or alu-fiend would be more likely. That's opinion.

[The Whistler]

Shameless advertisment here.

I've been trying to get a UD adventuring group going but so far only 3-4 people have expressed tentative interest. The idea is to get a well-rounded party of drow and half-drow with a shared background story, under a single priestess of lolth who will provide them with direction and RP hooks. This does not mean players are prohibited from playing a heretic; they will simply have to be clever about it. Nor are they are exempt from coming up with RP hooks themselves, just because the priestess is the nominal leader of the group. I would expect people to put in a modicum of effort in their RP and their characters' backgrounds.

In short, I am envisioning something like Thids' adventuring party, only in the underdark and with more liberal leveling and muling rules. The group may grow to become an established faction, or it could disperse in a couple weeks. It'll all depend on everybody's mutual efforts.

I would like some input on this, particularly from the Underdark regulars. Do you guys think this is something that could work out and even possibly generate more interest in UD roleplay ?

[ctothep]

Shameless advertisment here.

I've been trying to get a UD adventuring group going but so far only 3-4 people have expressed tentative interest. The idea is to get a well-rounded party of drow and half-drow with a shared background story, under a single priestess of lolth who will provide them with direction and RP hooks. This does not mean players are prohibited from playing a heretic; they will simply have to be clever about it. Nor are they are exempt from coming up with RP hooks themselves, just because the priestess is the nominal leader of the group. I would expect people to put in a modicum of effort in their RP and their characters' backgrounds.

In short, I am envisioning something like Thids' adventuring party, only in the underdark and with more liberal leveling and muling rules. The group may grow to become an established faction, or it could disperse in a couple weeks. It'll all depend on everybody's mutual efforts.

I would like some input on this, particularly from the Underdark regulars. Do you guys think this is something that could work out and even possibly generate more interest in UD roleplay ?

Sure it could work! I think it would be great if you get something like that going. I suggest that whatever you may end up doing with that group that you set a goal for it. Something they try to achieve, a reason why they are in S'shamath. Then try to work something out with the players already playing there to get some rp going for you and them! Also dont put all that responsibility on the priestess who is leading you guys.

If you plan to mainly adventure through the underdark with it and not go for UD politics then keep in mind that the UD is not as big as the surface is and you will be somewhat stuck at certain areas that fit your lvl range. Like the goblins for lvl ~8-12 as an example. It might get old quickly and become weird if you revisit the same location over and over to adventure. Although if you go with a balanced group of five you will definetly have more options available sooner since strength in numbers and all.

Anyways, i would be up to join. Do you allow slaves in that group? Lets say a tanarukk meat shield / fodder?

[NegInfinity]

Shameless advertisment here.

I've been trying to get a UD adventuring group going but so far only 3-4 people

That's because you posted in gloria's wings. Try doing the same in General. You might get different result.

[Young Werther]

I've been trying to get a UD adventuring group going but so far only 3-4 people have expressed tentative interest. The idea is to get a well-rounded party of drow and half-drow with a shared background story, under a single priestess of lolth who will provide them with direction and RP hooks.

Only a suggestion: if you can come up with suitable RP hooks to take your party to the surface then do it to it. You'd need a high level "guide" to take you there and you'd also have to mind all the server rules about going up but I think it would be worth it.

[The Whistler]

Hey ctothep, you make a good point about areas in the Underdark but that's hopefully something that can be mitigated with creativity and a bit of patience. Like I said, players will be expected to pull their own weight; steering the group should be everyone's responsibility, not just the priestess'.

As for non-drow being allowed, Iunno. Personally I'm in on this to experience the dynamic of a group of (mostly) noble, (mostly) lolth-worshipping drow in which everyone thinks they are the center of the universe. If getting spat on and kicked around is your idea of a fun time, then I guess a tanarukk would be cool.

@Young Werther,

The surface bit is an interesting suggestion. Sorta like a rite of blooding. Definitely something to keep in mind.