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Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:41 am
by Flasmix
My cleric could make the trip and so can my Druid but I'm not standing and fighting monsters, I'm literally running through and not stopping for anything. The only reason my cleric could make it was because of gaseous form. Even then, I would die 1 out of 4 tries.
There is zero motivation to take that path when I can just go up via the Upperdark. Personally I'd rather see the Netherese ruins become a little toned down in difficulty by removing the dispels and see a boss put in. The UD has so few epic dungeons compared to the surface, it hurts now that the Oghrann Ruins are moved to the Upperdark.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:47 am
by NegInfinity
RamenKing wrote:Is it really that bad to have 2-3 areas on the server where one cannot solo?

Yes, when they connect two major realms of the server.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:49 am
by RamenKing
NegInfinity wrote:RamenKing wrote:Is it really that bad to have 2-3 areas on the server where one cannot solo?

Yes, when they connect two major realms of the server.
But if one doesn't want the challange because its out of their range, couldnt they use the easier access points? And save this one for group play?
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:53 am
by Flasmix
In terms of risk vs reward, why take the ruins when the reward is the same as the easier paths but the risk is insane?
I've never met anybody who liked taking the path, we just had to since it was all we had
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:53 am
by NegInfinity
RamenKing wrote:NegInfinity wrote:RamenKing wrote:Is it really that bad to have 2-3 areas on the server where one cannot solo?

Yes, when they connect two major realms of the server.
But if one doesn't want the challange because its out of their range, couldnt they use the easier access points? And save this one for group play?
There are no easier access points.
The only way to cross over from surface to underdark is via durlag's tower.
As far as I know a surfacer cannot enter ssshamath via upperdark. I might've missed a few maps, but I've spent 4 hours exploring the area, so I think I've seen most of it and talked to every svirf there. The Ogrannon(???) ruins are the only place I haven't visited because the boat wasn't reachable.
It is possible that I've overlooked something (I haven't noticed where the drow were coming from), but as far as I can tell, the entrances to the area are all locked for a specific faction. Entrance to sshamath and other camps was locked for me.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:06 am
by Storm Munin
Surfacers only reach the UD encampment through the upperdark.
They are banned from using the osquip caravan, so no Sshamath through the upperdark (unless you are a grey orc surfacer).
Else that easy run are in the vicinity of 10 maps out from the eastern farmland spawn point.
I read that the opposite route were recently fixed so UD toons can no longer make the troll claw exit (grey orc can), that was possible upon implementation unfortunately.
Teleportation has never been so easy as it is currently between the two realms.
/M
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:09 am
by RamenKing
Storm Munin wrote:Surfacers only reach the UD encampment through the upperdark.
They are banned from using the osquip caravan, so no Sshamath through the upperdark (unless you are a grey orc surfacer).
Else that easy run are in the vicinity of 10 maps out from the eastern farmland spawn point.
I read that the opposite route were recently fixed so UD toons can no longer make the troll claw exit (grey orc can), that was possible upon implementation unfortunately.
Teleportation has never been so easy as it is currently between the two realms.
/M
Aaaaaah

how clever
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:18 am
by NegInfinity
Storm Munin wrote:Surfacers only reach the UD encampment through the upperdark.
They are banned from using the osquip caravan, so no Sshamath through the upperdark (unless you are a grey orc surfacer).
Else that easy run are in the vicinity of 10 maps out from the eastern farmland spawn point.
I read that the opposite route were recently fixed so UD toons can no longer make the troll claw exit (grey orc can), that was possible upon implementation unfortunately.
Teleportation has never been so easy as it is currently between the two realms.
/M
Speaking of which, why only Gray Orcs and not for example, also planetouched? They live in both realms.
And regarding teleportation. Last Teleport DC I got was around 60, meaning getting there via scroll will probably require pile of teleport gear... AND you need to get there once in the first place.
-----------
By the way.
I think the much better way to utilize netherese maze would be to make, say, a small location on Plane of Shadows, and connect the maze to that. It would fit the location better. Then we could put something horrible in there. As a challenge.
I once participated in event where dm made a shadow copy of baldur's gate. It was quite amazing, and there was shadow wyrm in there (which killed most of our party). IT was lowbie event, by the way.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:39 am
by Storm Munin
I believe the powers that be deemed the grey orcen oppressed by not having their own realm and existing opportunity to start from both realms.
Fair being fair it could be argued planetouched (except tanaruhk), halfdrow and surfaceborn drow (daylight adaption) should be given the same courtesey.
Duergar, deep gnomes and imaskari are all UD born at this point in time afaik.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 10:49 am
by Valefort
There was some cool RP made about the way to the Underdark through Durlag's tower which becomes moot with the change, though it's possible to RP around it (passage collapsed etc). However if it is to find the exact same area elsewhere uhm ... do we have to temporarily shut down our PC's brain and say he never went there and that it's all an illusion ?
Personally I enjoyed the maze to the point I mapped it entirely, it made every trip to the Underdark dangerous and worthy.
Secondly there are no particular technical reasons like server bloat (which is why Vault of the Dead was moved from lake Weng to Fields of the Dead) to justify the change that was made.
And since apparently there is no way from surface to Underdark through the Upperdark this is another reason to bring that path back.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:25 am
by RamenKing
Storm Munin wrote:I believe the powers that be deemed the grey orcen oppressed by not having their own realm and existing opportunity to start from both realms.
Fair being fair it could be argued planetouched (except tanaruhk), halfdrow and surfaceborn drow (daylight adaption) should be given the same courtesey.
Duergar, deep gnomes and imaskari are all UD born at this point in time afaik.
I love this idea, except for drow. They should be kept in the UD.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:04 pm
by NegInfinity
Valefort wrote:However if it is to find the exact same area elsewhere uhm ... do we have to temporarily shut down our PC's brain and say he never went there and that it's all an illusion ?
A wizard did it!
It is a magical realm, things like this can happen sometimes. And seeing that nethereze maze is pretty much on the plane of shadows, it would be hardly surprising.
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:18 pm
by Valefort
Well, I'm not sure if you noticed it but the path just goes through the shadow plane because in the material plane there are gaps with lots of lava in between. However it's all in the same temple and the entrance and exit are in the material plane.
A wizard could still do it, granted !
Re: Durlag's UD connection
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 5:32 pm
by lilani
I think we need to be mindful that right now, the UD has an almost 0 playerbase.
No matter how much an UD player wants to RP in the UD, right now, it's a ghost town and therefore only natural that a player is going to want to seek somewhere, anywhere that they can RP.
Until such a time where the UD is more populous, I'd discourage anything that makes it harder for a player to achieve that, so i'd really encourage that a solution is found where travel isn't made any more difficult than it already is.
I'd also encourage anyone who disagrees to level up an UD character to see just how hard it is. While i appreciate some of you won't care for UD characters, please be respectful of players who do.