Level 1 Start - The Poll

[Mick]

There is no such thing as roleplaying Alone in the D&D format alone.

I would disagree with this. While there are no solo RP opportunities that involve high adventure (or shoudn't be, anyway), there are some things that can be done while alone. Weapon training, rock climbing and crafting of some sort (for RP purposes, not for cash necessarily) are possibilities that can be used to justify improving certain skills when you level up. Are they ideal? Certainly not. But there are RP options when no one else is around. Plus, they give you something to do that is more involved than jiggling your toon to reap the rp xp script while waiting for someone else to show up.

Slow the leveling rates.

Really? Slow them further? Toward what end? If it is to force people to work together, then I would counter with the fact that most people do try to get together if they can. If this is not true and your perception is that once people reach a certain level they stop being team players, then increase the challenge level of the spawns and encounters. Most people who solo are going to solo no matter what level they are.

[Veilan]

Reduce the things that are distracting players from playing with each other.

No, forcing people to wander alone over spread-out empty servers is the way to go!

[CloudDancing]

IF a tree roleplays in the forest alone, does it make a sound?

[Rotku]

This all can be solved in doing something Viigas, El Cad, and Sand have proved as very very releveant and organized solution. We must focus on dedicated DM faction or party based sessions that happen three times a month at least with scheduled times.

I don't think we're ready to become a campaign world quite yet. NWN1 naturally progressed that way, in its dying days, but I think NWN2 still has a bit of mileage to be drawn out of it yet.

[fluffmonster]

This all can be solved in doing something Viigas, El Cad, and Sand have proved as very very relevant and organized solution. We must focus on dedicated DM faction or party based sessions that happen three times a month at least with scheduled times.

I don't think we're ready to become a campaign world quite yet. NWN1 naturally progressed that way, in its dying days, but I think NWN2 still has a bit of mileage to be drawn out of it yet.

If nwn2 ever had any, and its definitely a case of mismatched priorities regardless. We want to be DMed as in PnP and we want a world where RP and relationships emerge naturally from ad-hoc play. If we had the numbers we did in the early days there would be no tension, but we haven't had those numbers since well before nwn2 came out and the fact that we have fewer servers hasn't done anything to alleviate the problem. It thus comes down to priorities...will we design an ad-hoc world and try to fit DMing into that, or will we design a campaign world that allows for ad-hoc play? We've essentially chosen the former. However, the result given low numbers is that it can be a struggle to connect with other participants and we end up with not much of anything we want, in particular DMs. We need to switch it around and think campaigns and groups first and ad-hocing second. Put the emphasis on getting people connected. Even if the DM shortage cannot be addressed, at least people can still party up. Most importantly though, we need to recognize that we cannot have all of what the "PW" concept once promised.

[oldgrayrogue]

I could not disagree more with the last few posts that say static content should be eliminated and we should move to a pure campaign server style of play. I think what you will end up with is less players, not more. Essentially a small PnP group that you play with a few other people on the internet once a week. I don't want that. I want to play in a living breathing persistent world. There is so much very, very good RP that happens day in and out in ALFA without any DM involvement at all. To say it doesn't denigrates the RP of those players and the experience. And RPing solo is absolutely possible and not at all inconsistent with a D&D PW style of play which is what we are. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't spend my whole life with my 4 closest companions around at all times. Time alone lends realism to the experience aspecially in a PD environment. Exploration can happen alone. Training, as Mick says can happen alone. Robbery and murder, usually happens alone. Casing out that noble's house you want to burglarize should happen alone. The experiences your PC has when alone can also help to shape them and serve as a jump off to RP in a group. The static content is an aid to this not a hinderence. Nor do I see level rates or wealth as a problem. It took over a year I think to get Corio to level 9 before I retired him and I don't think his wealth was ever beyond average. And for ALFA he had quite a lot of nice gear. In short, more content and options are needed for players, not less.

[dergon darkhelm]

I could not disagree more with the last few posts that say static content should be eliminated and we should move to a pure campaign server style of play. I think what you will end up with is less players, not more. Essentially a small PnP group that you play with a few other people on the internet once a week. I don't want that. I want to play in a living breathing persistent world. There is so much very, very good RP that happens day in and out in ALFA without any DM involvement at all. To say it doesn't denigrates the RP of those players and the experience. And RPing solo is absolutely possible and not at all inconsistent with a D&D PW style of play which is what we are. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't spend my whole life with my 4 closest companions around at all times. Time alone lends realism to the experience aspecially in a PD environment. Exploration can happen alone. Training, as Mick says can happen alone. Robbery and murder, usually happens alone. Casing out that noble's house you want to burglarize should happen alone. The experiences your PC has when alone can also help to shape them and serve as a jump off to RP in a group. The static content is an aid to this not a hinderence. Nor do I see level rates or wealth as a problem. It took over a year I think to get Corio to level 9 before I retired him and I don't think his wealth was ever beyond average. And for ALFA he had quite a lot of nice gear. In short, more content and options are needed for players, not less.

+1 and then + another 1!

I do NOT want ALFA as a campaign server. This is a D&D PW!! I rarely get worked up about things here anymore....but this is a redline issue for me......no f*cking way!

[Lucifer]

I too have to chime in some the best most satisfying RP I have done in ALFA was without a DM..A Young Dwarf Standing up to a Dark Scarred Long legged comes to mind. Another couple Dozen experiences a Half-elven Bard had with a Young Aasimar Paladin..spent a lot of Un DMed time..Also an experience with a Certain Cleric of Helm and a summoned Celestial Boar..Golden.

Much time spent in the Oak..or moongazing and sparring with friends. Doing patrols with others in the Silverwood.

Doing statics around Rivermoot with companions.
All good times.

Also many good times with various DM's both in TSM and BG

We truly have a good miix of Both in ALFA..dedicating it to a One or the other style would bve hurtful

[danielmn]

I've been remiss from posting here for a reason....

My question is...

How did we get from Starting at level 1 being optimal to weather ALFA should be ad-hoc or campaign? Seems a bit off coarse to me. *uses the prybar to put the tracks back on track*

[Dorn]

/me bursts in through the door only wearing a party hat over his nether regions and wielding a cabbage in one hand and a scroll in the other

WOOHOOO Wo WO WO WOOHOOOO!!!

/me runs around in circles a moment dispersing dergons redline anger and drops the scroll

WOO WOOP WOOP WOOP!!!

/me runs out the door again

Scroll reads: if you MUST, change level 1 start to level 2 (because you are teh lame and clearly didn't take enough points in SURVIVAL ...L1's worked for the last 7 years just fine). But that's all. Dont change the whole structure/purpose of alfa just yet. Walk before running people. One issue at a time. PS - i just spent ages getting to L2. I want 1000exp if you do change it to L2 mmkay? However I probably wont die if you say no . It IS just a computer game afterall.

*people hear the shocked sceams of godfearing women on the road outside as a discarded party hat sails past the window*

[Mick]

/me bursts in through the door only wearing a party hat over his nether regions and wielding a cabbage in one hand and a scroll in the other

With this post, it's possible this thread has run its course.

[Rotku]

I've been remiss from posting here for a reason....

My question is...

How did we get from Starting at level 1 being optimal to weather ALFA should be ad-hoc or campaign? Seems a bit off coarse to me. *uses the prybar to put the tracks back on track*

Very good point. Let's get things back on topic. Feel free to start an ad-hoc vs campaign thread if people want.

And Mick, thread is open another twelve-ish hours. I don't want to shut it down before hand, because the poll still has a bit of time to run. Page 10 is in sight.

[Magile]

I've been remiss from posting here for a reason....

My question is...

How did we get from Starting at level 1 being optimal to weather ALFA should be ad-hoc or campaign? Seems a bit off coarse to me. *uses the prybar to put the tracks back on track*

Very good point. Let's get things back on topic. Feel free to start an ad-hoc vs campaign thread if people want.

And Mick, thread is open another twelve-ish hours. I don't want to shut it down before hand, because the poll still has a bit of time to run. Page 10 is in sight.

There's nothing left to discuss about this poll, Rotku. While it may run its final hours, it won't have much of a topic to remain on. The poll shows exactly what the last thread showed -- people are for and against it, with no outstanding majority on either side of the water. If Exodus and ALFA actually bridge the servers (this is looking rather vague/not happening from onlooking perspectives in chat), I could see the increased level creation working out... without that bridge from server to server, it really doesn't strike me as a necessity -- as people have said, works great on <x> server/community, but this is <y> server/community, and it's not <z> yet.

[Veilan]

Read what fluff said. He said a campaign and DM focussed style that allows for ad-hoc play. I don't think he ever mentioned the elimination of static content.

I'm in full agreement with his attitude. The focus on static persistence is less useful and enjoyable than a weekly campaign is. I do like to be able to go out and see static content, but I like playing DnD more. DnD involves a DM and some other players. "Build and they will come" has failed us as a philosophy, it's time to acknowledge that.

[Veilan]

I've been remiss from posting here for a reason....

My question is...

How did we get from Starting at level 1 being optimal to weather ALFA should be ad-hoc or campaign? Seems a bit off coarse to me. *uses the prybar to put the tracks back on track*

Just proving the point I made to you earlier:

Level 1 simply is considered a drag disabling them to roleplay by some because our numbers are low. With more DMs (and players), almost all of ALFAs ills would be resolved, and this would not be much of an issue.

(Of course, I still consider "it hinders roleplay" a bogus argument that can be applied to other pillars a lot more easily, that doesn't have any validity here.)

What's a given though is that most people want to be able to play together, and being level 1, granted, is a lot worse when you are alone in that inn / on that server.

Sadly, some ALFAns actually seem to think we need to force situations like this, for instance, people who demand even more strict handlings of our spread servers, despite us having a fair compromise hard-coded rule for that.

Heaven's forbid people meet up and play together, after all!