Starting Over -- It's a hard knock life

[Magile]

Hello,

I have a sinking feeling that this thread will degrade into a rather horrible one that will require locking due to the way some individuals respond, but considering a question I have still seems vaguely answered isn't good enough; therefore, I come to you -- the people of ALFA, who don't always lurk the #chat, to answer!

What options does a newly made PC have in the community these days? At the moment, the glaringly obvious option is the Dwarf Group whose thread still remains on the front of this board. It has allowed new and old players to join and mingle with people who have similar interests, both player and PC-wise, while (as I have been told) not being exclusive and not being there simply for one session a week and ending. This is a great start for people, there is no doubt about that, but it leaves me wondering... what else is out there?

The player group forums are quiet. Eerily quiet. I have been told that many groups aren't even active (last post in August or later), so "applying" to a group for RP and joining in with a fresh PC would be difficult, and also creates the level discrepancy issue (this is not a place to argue whether this is a true issue or not -- take it elsewhere). I guess my attempt with this thread is to see if anyone is planning to create a new, fresh-ish group, similar to the dwarven crew, to bring more PCs new or players starting over back into the fold without feeling like the only weak link on a server. I have heard some players will be rerolling, do they happen to have a social/adventuring crew in mind with like-minded individuals to play with? Are there rumours of a DM taking in lowbies to create a new campaign?

This isn't a complaint thread -- if you're seeing it as such, I won't be able to change your mind, as you're just being cynical towards either the topic or the poster out of spite. This is a thread for me, and others, to see if there's options out there that are willing to make it public (or even go to PMs about it) for the sake of finding something fresh and new. We don't all want to create a PC and do mail runs. We don't all want to leave a high-level PC only to have no one to play with that doesn't feel awkward. At least, I know I don't.

Input is welcome. Flames can go elsewhere.

[gonz.0]

I've seen the three rivers company in TSM be not only welcoming but very supportive of new player to ALFA and taken under wing, several times.

It's not all a barren world.. get out there and rp.

[Stormbring3r]

Come to TSM.. Where RP is in abundance and the Players are friendly. We welcome new and old players

[Ronan]

I would also recommend TSM. I think you'll find it much more welcoming than BG, where every PC has their own agenda. Yeah, your PC will suck. Non-dorf TSM has rangers, rogues, mages; I think everything but a tank? So its unlikely you'll even find a niche. Such is D&D; it was not designed for level discrepancies.

Its weird for me to start again on TSM, due to how well I know the server (my last PC explored nearly every inch of it). And I do want to play a dwarf - just not with a massive dwarf group (contrast ftw).

If you end up staying on BG I will DM you with Lou and Nuran. My DMing often tends to be combat-light, where PCs of any level can make a big difference simply by virtue of good ideas. Though what combat there is tends to be challenging, so if the PCs end up in a fight a lowbie is likely to get splattered. I'm trying to make a concerted effort to maybe-knock-off a highbie before splattering 100 lowbies, but its often hard without multiple DMs.

If you end up starting on MS for some reason I might join you.

If you want a reason for your current PC to travel to TSM or MS, I can provide that (travel reasons during lulls is really something all DM teams should provide if they're able).

[Rumple C]

Bah, just posted a lengthy reply which disappeared into the ether.

I am started a new pc in WHL with the oceania group. Though I suspect we share different time zones Magile, as I live in Western Australia.

I do feel we can do better as a community with matching -regular- dms to player groups. Where did they all go?

If cant do regular, mini campaigns can be a lot of fun as well. They keep players invested in the project.

Also, a consideration is the upcoming MS open server month. There could be new pcs coming in to ALFA, fresh meat. It'd be good to have somewhere to steer them. It is also a chance for players to jump into MS as a dm and have a play around. You never know, you might just love it.

There were discussions about starting player groups based upon region/time zones similar to the oceania group in the thread below. Food for thought.

http://www.alandfaraway.org/phpBB3/view ... 8&start=15

[Rumple C]

Also,

I applaud you for re-rolling Magile.

New PC birth is good for ALFA.

Level gaps can be tremendously difficult to DM, and all to often players of low level pcs can feel overshadowed by their superhero like party mate(s).

[wvincenti]

Tanks and clerics are always welcome.
Ok, so are lockpicks, mages and scouts. Heck, we won't even stick our noses up at another scout even though we could write up a depth chart for that position.
Check your Banites and other sociopaths at the door, though if you don't mind the heat, a good foil can be fun in game.

The Three Rivers group is more active evenings EST (GMT-5) with Penrose and Arizma showing up regularly around 9-10pm at night.
Gwindor, Merry, Olin and Horatio are active in the group as well.
Alas, the group's kindly benefactor, Marcus Wands, is traveling far afield, but he was kind enough to leave us the keys to his tower, if not his mad scientist's workshop. With luck he's back in game soon. *crosses fingers*

The dwarves on TSM seem to have a wide variety of hours in game.

A couple of Players I just met in game in the last week or two are making appearances as well.
I'm forgetting login names, but the PCs are Lennie and Rolland.

The high level PCs aren't all dead yet either.
Alyra and Keren are still about and the hunt for Maeredhel-NPC is on. What a great retirement exit!

-Bill

[Brokenbone]

I guess Magile's looking for options.

- make a LFG type post with a little bit of detail on times, intentions, couple ideas either bringing to table / waiting to hear ("Hi I desperately want to play Thursday Eastern evenings with a warrior type concept, somewhere in the neutrals through goods, but no religious nuts")

- see if someone like Heero can help with LFG type efforts - - I think he took on some matchmaking type mission from Regas on that point, though maybe it's really just "see point above"

- check out this forum: http://www.alandfaraway.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=357 .... although I'd recommend "group dudes" go and either make their own posts, or update existing posts. Example, the Burning Shield post was made just before a big dwarf influx, I bet players could edit that one up. The Rivermoot Irregulars post has arguably morphed into Three Rivers group. Swords Edge I guess I could update to say yeah, sure, any rare souls on BG lately, welcome to try linking up for occasional fun. Basically that's an advertisement forum that no one is using too effectively to describe "options that are out there", even if members don't have edit powers on the opening post, a "bump" with updated contacts etc. cutting and pasting previously good information cannot hurt.

- particularly if you have your own unique concept, consider asking a DM contact or two on preferred server if they think they might see a "match", or an upcoming "inroad" type of thing. Like if someone desperately wished to play an Underdark PC, there might be a way say, Ronan would know of how that concept may link up with a group who travels down below. Or if someone had the idea for a band of say, Luskan dirtbags, maybe a TSM DM could get a group off to a running start somehow with a Northern caravan all arriving at some spot in TSM at a certain time. Never know if a group of DMs has been dying for a noble or a secret Gargauth worshipper or a Thayan or someone aiming long away at Harper-status, sometimes asking will reveal a lead. Can't hurt to do so in private, someone else may also have asked in private, and all of a sudden you've got at least a pair of people, maybe able to attract a 3rd as well.

Good luck with it. Mixing things up a little is also what temp retirement is there for, put a stalled concept "on ice" with the hopes a different go at it will generate some fun.

[Blindhamsterman]

a while back, when it had looked like we might've had Sshamath, as well as the Underdark server there was a group of us thinking that rolling up a decent sized group of drow could've been fun, believe that group was Burt, Myself, Keryn, possibly Heero and possibly Ronan? But neither server or location came to be and the idea was discarded. A shame really, as with a good number of players, such a group would have actually been fun (whereas playing a lone drow is a bit lame)

[Heero]

The best way to go about this is to do so EXACTLY how the dwarf group got rolling. That group got started with a player simply asking if anyone was interested in playing a dwarf. Id say just think up what you would like to play, make a post, and see who shows up.

[oldgrayrogue]

Swords Edge welcomes new members on BG. Yes, we are all getting up there in level but Ronan is good at killing us off (at least my PCs! Hah!) Mags, should my current PC die I won't be seeking a rez and will be rerolling so who knows you may not be lone lowbie for long.

Cudos for the reroll. Rerolls are good for the community.

[wvincenti]

I'm not familiar with what's available in the way of Underdark areas on TSM, BG, MS and WHL, but could some of the areas from the Underdark server be imported into one of the other modules?

-Bill

a while back, when it had looked like we might've had Sshamath, as well as the Underdark server there was a group of us thinking that rolling up a decent sized group of drow could've been fun, believe that group was Burt, Myself, Keryn, possibly Heero and possibly Ronan? But neither server or location came to be and the idea was discarded. A shame really, as with a good number of players, such a group would have actually been fun (whereas playing a lone drow is a bit lame)

[Heero]

The current UD areas are generally setup for high(er) level adventuring parties. The problem with starting a drow group in current ALFA is the infrastructure for a UD-based playgroup just inst there which leaves the only real opportunity for group play involving anything aside from tavern RP to be solely dependent upon DM availability. It will take a lot to expand currently represented UD area to include a sandbox for low-level UD group play that is even remotely close to size of sandbox available to low-level surface groups.

[wvincenti]

Gotcha, thanks.

-Bill

The current UD areas are generally setup for high(er) level adventuring parties. The problem with starting a drow group in current ALFA is the infrastructure for a UD-based playgroup just inst there which leaves the only real opportunity for group play involving anything aside from tavern RP to be solely dependent upon DM availability. It will take a lot to expand currently represented UD area to include a sandbox for low-level UD group play that is even remotely close to size of sandbox available to low-level surface groups.

[Adanu]

MS is in hiatus for the most part. The BIg Plot has been on hold for a while due to CNS disappearing and DMs not being about for it after. The rest of the groups I can't attest too.

BG ot TSM would be a new PCs best bet. TSM the most if current trends keep up.