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MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:25 pm
by shad0wfax
How about a reward for reporting broken quests and offering advice on how to fix them?
http://www.alandfaraway.org/node/2824
I'm kidding; I don't want a reward but I would like to see the server fixed.
Re: The Big Make MS Better Push
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:07 am
by Castano
shad0wfax wrote:How about a reward for reporting broken quests and offering advice on how to fix them?
http://www.alandfaraway.org/node/2824
I'm kidding; I don't want a reward but I would like to see the server fixed.
I'll trade you for the ones on BG j/k
example: the farmer gnoll one if you choose the diplomatic path never ends
let me know if you want a list.
Re: The Big Make MS Better Push
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:15 am
by shad0wfax
Castano wrote:shad0wfax wrote:How about a reward for reporting broken quests and offering advice on how to fix them?
http://www.alandfaraway.org/node/2824
I'm kidding; I don't want a reward but I would like to see the server fixed.
I'll trade you for the ones on BG j/k
example: the farmer gnoll one if you choose the diplomatic path never ends
let me know if you want a list.
By all means, post a list in the bug reports or even PM me with them. And I thought zelknolf fixed Desarin's Scourge long ago.
Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:18 am
by Castano
Ok I looked at your ticket. You bought the wrong ax, there are enough hints as to the type you need in the dialogue. Also you bypassed the closest shop to get it at.
As for modifying the quest to make it easier to buy the right ax, that would make it too easy and would put it out of line compared to BG's quests (several of which require cross server trips w/o any hint the do so - the infamous [redacted] and [redacted] and farmer's [redacted] come to mind

Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:21 am
by shad0wfax
Castano wrote:Ok I looked at your ticket. You bought the wrong ax, there are enough hints as to the type you need in the dialogue. Also you bypassed the closest shop to get it at.
As for modifying the quest to make it easier to buy the right ax, that would make it too easy and would put it out of line compared to BG's quests (several of which require cross server trips w/o any hint the do so - the infamous [redacted] and [redacted] and farmer's [redacted] come to mind

Okay, well take a look at the screenshot of the description of the axe I bought vs the description of the axe that the farmer wants.
If the one I bought is the
wrong axe, then the description of it shouldn't match what the farmer wants.
The merchants in Koart and Kingsbay do not sell great-axes. The merchant in Corwell does and that's where I bought the ax. It's definitely ambiguous in the module.
Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:24 am
by Castano
Buy the one with the double head in the name as opposed to the description, this appears to be the standard nwn2 description.
BG has a scythe quest that is like that too...you can keep buying scythes all over the server until you get the right one.
Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:27 am
by FoamBats4All
Castano wrote:Buy the one with the double head in the name as opposed to the description, this appears to be the standard nwn2 description.
BG has a scythe quest that is like that too...you can keep buying scythes all over the server until you get the right one.
Actually, BG's lets you buy any scythe. It accepts the NW_* default NWN2 Scythe, and the abr_* scythe.
Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:37 am
by Castano
Thanks Foam, I'll try it again.
As to the OP, the description of the ax excludes use by tree cutters (aka woodsmen).
"The double edged head is far more suited to cleaving opponents than trees"
In summary it's two headed ax, but it's the wrong two headed ax.
Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:04 am
by shad0wfax
Castano wrote:Thanks Foam, I'll try it again.
As to the OP, the description of the ax excludes use by tree cutters (aka woodsmen).
"The double edged head is far more suited to cleaving opponents than trees"
In summary it's two headed ax, but it's the wrong two headed ax.
"Entered dialog: Why yes, I needs a new axe, git me a big one and I'll pay ye wel
l. Make sure it be the biggest baddest axe around, that be how I like em, big a
nd bad - none of those fancy pretty-boy axes, just a good old fashioned classic
double blade!"
Nothing in there implies "suitable for cutting trees" at all. He specifically says he wants a big bad double headed axe.
The Journal entry:
You have agreed to obtain a new GREAT AXE with a classsic double blade for the crazed woodsman in Llyrath Wood.
Emphasis added.
Every indication of the quest is that he wants a double-headed great-axe.
You can not buy great-axes in Kingsbay or Koart. There are no "double headed" axes in Koart or Kingsbay either. So when you go to Corwell, the Great Axe is what you're looking for. There are no less than five greataxes with "double blade" in the name, and sure, one of them says "Classic" but it has the exact same description as any greataxe in the game.
The one with the right name works for the quest, but there is absolutely no reason that an identical item mechanically, with an identical description, would not be acceptable. My suggestion was to allow any greataxe to work, in order to avoid ambiguity and frustration.
Failing that, my suggestion is to have the NPC perhaps ask for a specific axe-maker by name (Calvin Hobbes) ((really?)).
The quest is, evidently, not broken, but the quest will likely continue to lead players to believe it is broken, because of this ambiguity. (This is precisely why I believed it to be broken.)
Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:35 am
by Castano
We'll just agree to disagree. no one else has ticketed this quest. classic works as the clue, otherwise these things become too easy...Cyrath is crazy he wants a classic ax and no other will do.
One of the strengths of ALFA is it is a multi server environment and different HDMs run their servers differently and have differing viewpoints about how to construct quests, DM players etc.
Thanks for the comments.
Re: MS Axman Quest Comments
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:47 am
by Veilan
The quest worked fine for me last week. I understand the potential for confusion, but the emphasis the NPC put on the kind of axe he desired made me think it was a feature, not a bug.