Low level areas deserted...

[Diamore]

Characters at low levels level up faster than those at higher levels. Therefore level 1 areas are used less by a character than level 2 areas, level 2 areas are less used than level 3 and so on. I hit level 3 in an hour and a half and I expect that might've been going slow for some builds.

If you have spent more than this time in and around the graveyard during your total low level experience, you are either enjoying the area too much to move on or are trying to gather gold from the quest.

Secondly, any increase in difficulty between areas is exaggerated at low levels due to limited resources and health. So if one area is slightly easier or more rewarding, you have no need to go anywhere else. Due to your limited time at these levels, it might even be unlikely for you to spend more than one play session in a given low level area. Moving on immediately once you level or find someone new to party with the next time you play.

Partying dramatically increases the range of areas you can participate in. Essentially "leap frogging" certain areas entirely. I for one almost never visit the kobold areas, often finding someone to enter the gibberlings with instead or meeting people along the tradeway while fighting bandits.

Finally, it is not easy to find areas. As a player who has been around for a while, I could not readily tell you what level low areas are for or the best way to get to them while at a low level. I would expect this problem is exaggerated for new players to our server. Limited time at each low level, difficulty changes that are hard to predict and partying up for new areas all mean that you will likely migrate to only a handful of areas at low levels and never actually feel the need to explore until much later.

[Calodan]

I don't think the outside are areas are abandoned at all. The city dungeon under the city is though. The mummy crypt in the FOD is because it is LOW CR compared to the area around it and by the time you can get past the skeletons you only get like 12 XP per mummy at that place. It should be on level from 16-21 instead of 12-16.

[Lockonnow]

it was a time when i belive but that time is over

[DM Hera]

Is the problem not that most lowbies never get to see the main rp hubs like FAI/Candlekeep as to get there you need a small bit of level on you, especially if new to game?

Seems the solution is having low level stuff around the main rp hubs to encourage new people to meet some of the older ones, who can speak with them, rp with them, even help with quests and such to get them to a higher level where they can take on more challenges/feel progression?

The server is called Baldurs Gate and one such hub should be Baldur's Gate it self.

I would not mind seeing the city and starting spawn points get a fresh face lift. though part of the reason why FIA is so popular is that it sits on the entrance to some of the best grind spots for loot and xp on the games. Be it you go to the trade way and raid those gnolls at level 10 or you grind the minetoaurs and haunted house to the east. Behind you have the Orc quest which has a good amount of chests and the gibberings for your level 4 toons.

The server center has none of this and the least amount of chests around.


Further FIA sits on the best spot to form parties be it for grind the above areas or going further out to places for epic content.


To help keep the RP Newbs, I would love to see our guilds step up a bit and even clean up IG info on them and make them more relevant, Group play is a dynamic some seek and would like to enhance that.

I do believe the fitting in is difficult, or finding your place here. I know when i was first trying NWN2 servers I popped on here and by luck found role play in the first 2 minutes at the campfire in BG. If I had to go looking, I would have logged to another server quickly. So by luck I am here.

[Calodan]

To help keep the RP Newbs, I would love to see our guilds step up a bit and even clean up IG info on them and make them more relevant, Group play is a dynamic some seek and would like to enhance that.

Challenge accepted! I have been meaning to make the HOV page a bit more new age and inviting. Giving the guild a theme song that plays at the page and other things. Just got a new Editor that is tons better than regular paint to do forum WORK (RP Cough)........

You are probably right. The keeping new players is going to fall on us vets getting out there and engaging them.

[Steve]

While not a proper Guild or Faction, all it seems to take is a few PLAYERS that wish to invest in their Character from Level 1: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=57859

The low level Areas are great—they just need people to not perceive them as a way to quickly level up, and instead, actually make use of them for RP development!

[Rask]

People are either in Gnolls or Xvarts for the majority of their leveling time on the server. You get to level 5-6, you are gnolling it till 10 ish, then its Xvarts till 20, then you either quit, RP, or bang your head against the wall trying to level more while gaining like 12 XP a kill.

Before 18-20, your RP can sometimes feel hollow, as most central plots and events revolve around Epic characters, so generally it's a mad dash of painful grinding to get out of the way in hopes of then being more effective and useful in RP events afterward. Nobody wants to play a knight who dies in 1 shot at the beginning of the event and spends the rest of his time in the Fugue waiting to be ressed at the very end after all the fun is finished.

If we want to change this, it is up to us older/returning players to mentor the fresh faces. Include them in our RP regardless of level. Epic wizards need to start taking on "apprentices" and epic knights need to take on some "Squires", show them that even unskilled, low level characters can have RP and that the low level is part of their RP "Journey".

Back in early 09 (before I signed up in these forums.) I went through a few character, couldn't get much RP and quit. Going back to my old NWN1 server. Then I came back a few months later, and ran into Myhun Kren (Flasmix.) who took my low level Sorcerer whom I RP'd as a nobody low-skill character with little to no power, under his epic wizards wing. Suddenly my low level BECAME a source of RP, and the level from 1-30 became a slow, but rewarding journey through adventure and joining a guild.

This^ Happens far too rarely.

It is also up to DM's to start doing more events geared strictly to lower level players that can make them feel empowered. Maybe even have a DM or two dedicated more toward this task. It would go a long way.

[DM Creo]

all it seems to take is a few PLAYERS that wish to invest in their Character from Level 1

In my experience their is a great deal of satisfaction in developing a character from Level 1. Even more satisfaction if starting with nothing but the gold you begin with. Yes it's a long road but it gives a lot of time for RP to develop and a character started at level 1 has a history. Savor the journey, it is not just about the destination.

[Laughingman]

I find it to be hit and miss. Sometimes certain builds really don't fulfill their RP prereqs until a few levels in. Also grinding from level 1 in the UD just simply isn't fun in my eyes.

[7threalm]

or just add a caravan from bg east to the fai, with signs saying it take this for fun and coffee

and vice version

or burn the fai down, but that wont happen

[CommanderKrieg]

I wish we had less maps, more condensed, and higher spawn rate on the ones we do. We have a lot of huge scattered vaccent unrestable maps.

[Steve]

I wish we had less maps, more condensed, and higher spawn rate on the ones we do. We have a lot of huge scattered vaccent unrestable maps.

Maps/Areas are vacant either because of poor design or lack of support to current Player needs, which drive the Server and RP.

[K'yon Oblodra]

I totally agree with that statement!

Do I care that my character is low level when I meet with higher level characters... No, I don't know they are possibly epic. Even if my character is weak in comparison he is much stronger than an average citizen.

all it seems to take is a few PLAYERS that wish to invest in their Character from Level 1

In my experience their is a great deal of satisfaction in developing a character from Level 1. Even more satisfaction if starting with nothing but the gold you begin with. Yes it's a long road but it gives a lot of time for RP to develop and a character started at level 1 has a history. Savor the journey, it is not just about the destination.

[flipside43]

The RCR bot is likely reducing the load in the starter areas. Most established players won't start from scratch when they can sack a toon they are not playing at start 10+.

[K'yon Oblodra]

More RP from guilds is always welcome and DM activities for low levels as well. Actually tried to get some stuff to pick up on but wasn't able to gain any attention yet.

Would be good if people would see leveling less as work and more as the RP journey it can be.