Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

[Narsil]

Shevarashian roleplay...... it can be a lot more deeper than a mindless excuse to PvP. There was quite a serious Guild back many years before I joined here. It can be done, and well. But I have my .....uhmmm.... doubts about it working well in the current environment here. But seriously, don't knock it 'til you've tried it.

[Cretus]

I am all for surface, and underdark interaction.

[Hawke]

I feel it should remain supervised contact. There is a reason why nearly every player race is +2 or more ECL.

[Pimple]

I am all for surface, and underdark interaction.

+1 this. Very much, like a lot of a lot!

[grymhild]

I feel it should remain supervised contact. There is a reason why nearly every player race is +2 or more ECL.

I disagree

[Hawke]

I feel it should remain supervised contact. There is a reason why nearly every player race is +2 or more ECL.

I disagree

Ok. I acknowledge your disagreement.

[Dreme]

I feel it should remain supervised contact. There is a reason why nearly every player race is +2 or more ECL.

Pretty much agree.. but not because of the ECL.. Just because every drow I have seen so far on the surface has forced me to face palm so hard I got a concussion.. I want to just pretend they aren't on my screen.. Luckily the concussion helps with that.

Edit: I take that back i remember having a pretty good interaction with a drow on the surface during the war between DA and the black orcs.. But there have been so many others between then and now I forgot about it.

[DM Galatea]

In my estimation, speaking personally:

It is unlikely that the nature of the surfacer underdark interaction will change any time soon. However, we do talk about plots allowing crossover. Just don't expect it to be moon dancing dark elves. Expect it to be bloody, in character surfacer raids on NPCs you like.

I personally am keen on reducing the number of surfacer drow sympathisers so those few who do run around claiming drow heritage have a true experience So anything I do, expect it to make the lives of surface drow even worse than it already is.

However, I can't speak for other ADMs or DMs.

[Legofsalmon]

I'm not taking into account whether the current entrances between the surface and the underdark are good/bad/correct lorewise.

Strictly speaking from personal experience I have encountered very few Drow on the surface or heard of those who have. The fact this happens infrequently enables the threat to seem more alarming and dire when it happens, and enables my characters to roleplay an appropriate amount of respect and fear which I think is appropriate to the setting, the fact it happens infrequently is because of something which is perhaps not as canon (Having to navigate extremely difficult passages, magic and dangers) is a seperate discussion. As a surface player the foray into the Underdark is still something dangerous and to be feared and even as a player it's exciting to think of going down there and would be an achievment if we made it, let alone survived the Drow once we'd made it.

This level of challenge and fear is something I enjoy and would be in favour of keeping. I'm not opposed to seperate entrances or exits but keep a fairly high difficulty thresh-hold to do it (perhaps requiring a ton of roleplay, in game quests? skill challenges) even providing a logical reason for the surface and underdark such as a mutual threat would be somewhat engaging, but I don't think it would be the same feel if it was an easy journey.

[Cubicle]

While many other UD races do in-fact travel to the surface for varying reasons, according to lore, most players seem to have issues with seeing Drow on the surface.

Anyone have any proof of Drow travelling to and from or even living on the surface (not including Drow raids)? Do followers of Vhaeraun and Eilistraee live on the surface?

[Nyeleni]

Yes they do. There are drow in Cormanthor, the Elven Court (15,000 living on the surface [Lords of Darkness, p.28 ff]). Mostly of the House Jaelre worshiping Vhaeraun.

One of the reasons why the elves will return from Evermeet is precisely Myth Drannor and the drow.

There is even a kingdom in Dambrath following Loviatar of halfdrow ruling over the barbaric humans who had the misfortune of starting a war with a UD drow city [Forgotten Realms, p.198].

And I'm pretty sure there are Eilistraeen cells as well.

[Aspect of Sorrow]

Whenever I roleplayed in the UD, I have noticed that a large number of drow PC's have a desire to interact with the surface...

Typically due to the regurgitated themes. With the rare occasion that I end up online with a surface character, most of my play time has revolved around what the UD typically consists of, which becomes a chore more often than not and the variety isn't plenty as it is on the surface, and the variety that does come in the UD is only due when a DM is known to be in the UD areas; however brief that actually is.

Open the chance of death having a more significant role when in a location not designed for the character. Rather than just losing XP, you start losing levels and gear and the players can come to terms with whether or not they want to sacrifice that much for whatever opportunity they're after.

[Cubicle]

Hidden: show

Cormanthor and Baldurs Gate are actually pretty close.

Even though there is proof according to lore that there are Underdark races on the surface, even Drow, some players still would prefer not to interact with them. Sshamath was specifically chosen/created for interaction between various races, meaning the creator(s) had a bridge in mind, not a wall (a bazaar open to everyone and a passage leading directly from the city to the surface).

For us to say we don't want UD races on the surface because it's how we feel personally (they're too strong or I dislike the Drow and that's all that matters) and to purposely ignore/outcast them when it comes to major events is kind of messed up.

I'm not saying everyone in the UD should just stroll up to the surface to RP instead of in the UD, what I am saying is that if we were allowed to RP how we wanted without walls, players wouldn't be so starved to do things they normally couldn't do. Then again, if a Drow wants to say they're from Cormanthor, then they should have that right as well.

Well, if any UD players reapply for DM, BCC me!

[Steve]

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Underdark

Geography

World Above
The surface area of Toril. The name those who live in the Underdark give the surface.

Upperdark
The first three miles below the surface. It was here where the surface dwellers and those in the Underdark most often met.

Middledark
Located three to ten miles below the surface, this layer was where most of the Underdark cities were located.

Lowerdark
Ten miles or more below the surface, the Lowerdark was where even those who knew the Underdark loath to go.

Domains

The Underdark was not one giant cavern under Faerûn, but rather, many giant networks of caverns and caves. As a result, it was not always possible to travel from one end of the Underdark to the other. The Underdark was divided into several domains that were similar to continents of the world above. While it was possible to travel from one place to another within a domain, separate domains tended to have very few passages linking them. The major domains of the Underdark were the Buried Realms, the Darklands, the Deep Wastes, the Earthroot, the Glimmersea, Great Bhaerynden, the Northdark and Old Shanatar.

How about an Upperdark? This concept was what the Middledark Effort from past Builders and DMs was all about.

[Cubicle]

Xuat eszak, Steve. Udos orn jal inbau vel'bol udos ssinssrin..