Surprise Spawns

[dirsa]

Nope. I'm simply saying that if an existing game dynamic is already creating a problem in the status quo...

i'm not entirely sure what do you mean? there's a problem?

[mogonk]

Nope. I'm simply saying that if an existing game dynamic is already creating a problem in the status quo...

i'm not entirely sure what do you mean? there's a problem?

Oh, hadn't you heard? Yeah man, there's a problem. It's called slippery slope. It's one of the things you fight against as a game designer, because it makes games less fun.

See, if power acquisition becomes easier based on how much power you already have, the challenge curve graphs an exponential function, very steep at the beginning, very flat at the end. That diminishes challenge at the end, while making the beginning really frustrating. Game design 101 is to avoid that dynamic, because aside from a "sweet spot" in the middle, it's just not a lot of fun.

There are two ALFA's which share an overlapping existence. The PW ALFA suffers from extreme slippery slope. The campaign world ALFA doesn't suffer from slippery slope at all.

The #1 reason we lose new players (and we lose a LOT of new players) is that they are unable to become involved in the CW aspect of ALFA and they can't stand the PW aspect of ALFA. It's not that there's too little to do, it's that A) attempting to do anything can result in immediate and permanent death, and B) depending on PW features just turns ALFA into a shitty version of the dozens of MMO's out there.

Any time someone describes plans to enhance the PW aspect of the game, we should be really cautious, because it exacerbates an existing problem. Plans to expand the CW aspect of the game, on the other hand, address that problem. Enhanced PW features instead of CW features is the absolute worst idea imaginable.

Solution - MORE statics

Just stop right there.

[CloudDancing]

I agree, and mongonk, many a bushy-tailed young player with dreams of grandeur in his character bio ends up like poor Jim.

Instead of rerolling though, they simply leave. As a Dm it breaks my heart because one part of me is like "wow they couldnt cut it with permadeath" and the other part of me is, well, brings me back to the old "lets all start at level 2 or 3 argument because it works for Exodus" thing.

But I have a very soft heart for players. Orc with crossbow has ended many goodly characters on TSM. I hate Orc with crossbow but I know he has a lesson to teach.

Which is OMG play with a group ALWAYS. A group of four to six with a healer.

[danielmn]

*exits from further discussions on the overall build of ALFA*

[Swift]

Low lvl PCs have none of those advantages. They can only benefit from lvl appropriate encounters, and they are more likely to die in encounters they can't handle, as opposed to taking a few hits and escaping, and are therefore less willing to take chances or benefit from doing so.

Yet you had no hesitation in supporting movement speed penalties on anything above light armor, which would directly impact the survivability of low level characters

That snipe aside, The Silver Marches are dangerous. Very dangerous. The static spawns don't really reflect the danger, but it is. Outside of the cities and towns, the country is wild. ALFA has gone very easy on low levels since the old days of the community when finding a level 1 or level 2 characters body was a weekly (sometimes daily) event on some servers.

So, which group will do better? Which will benefit more from these encounters?

Both, presuming the low levels don't automatically expect that the encounter is tailored to them. Usually the type of mob and number is a good indication of difficulty. However, this is also why I asked if triggers that could 'say' custom text that could be set by the DM in game would be possible. If I were to do this, I think a description of the scene from a trigger would be great and a good way to warn lower levels of just how dangerous the encounter might be.

The #1 reason we lose new players (and we lose a LOT of new players) is that they are unable to become involved in the CW aspect of ALFA and they can't stand the PW aspect of ALFA. It's not that there's too little to do, it's that A) attempting to do anything can result in immediate and permanent death, and B) depending on PW features just turns ALFA into a shitty version of the dozens of MMO's out there.

Erm...this may sound harsh, but so what? We make it very clear that we are a hardcore RP world with permadeath and that our world is dangerous. We have always been this way. Its not like we have hidden these facts. If you did not know this coming in, well, we are sorry, but our traditional welcome is not "Welcome to ALFA, good luck on your second character" for no reason. Many of us that have been here for a long time and love this community accept the fact that the harshness of our world (which, in reality, is not really that harsh anymore) is going to drive some people away. Its just one of those facts that becomes second nature to accept. Our retention rate is low, yes, but then again, most mainstream MMOs only have about 10-15% retention rate from their trial players.

Any time someone describes plans to enhance the PW aspect of the game, we should be really cautious, because it exacerbates an existing problem. Plans to expand the CW aspect of the game, on the other hand, address that problem. Enhanced PW features instead of CW features is the absolute worst idea imaginable.

We have a DM App link on the side up there if you want to enhance the Campaign World part of ALFA. None of the servers have enough DMs. Outside of that, the CW part of ALFA can't expand. In the meantime people want something to do, so we try to give them something to do. This is another idea to give people something to do.

[Blindhamsterman]

+1 to everything Swift said

(yes I'm agreeing with you swift! )

[Swift]

+1 to everything Swift said

(yes I'm agreeing with you swift! )

[Blindhamsterman]

[Lucifer]

I agree with what Swift said and will add,,I had half a dozen Chars in ALFA before the first survived above 3rd level..I liked and enjoyed all..Loved 3 of them..would have been happy playing those three forever if they survived..My point is..you want to play this style of PW or you don't..If we are going to cater to those that don't..then lets be honest and Totally Change ALFA..I don't think that is what the core group wants..and if there is a group that want it different than what was created here..let them go do the work and create their own PW:D

[Brother Humphrey]

Another +1 to Swift's last post. I think he pretty much nailed it.

[Hyme]

I agree, and mongonk, many a bushy-tailed young player with dreams of grandeur in his character bio ends up like poor Jim.

Instead of rerolling though, they simply leave. As a Dm it breaks my heart because one part of me is like "wow they couldnt cut it with permadeath" and the other part of me is, well, brings me back to the old "lets all start at level 2 or 3 argument because it works for Exodus" thing.

But I have a very soft heart for players. Orc with crossbow has ended many goodly characters on TSM. I hate Orc with crossbow but I know he has a lesson to teach.

Which is OMG play with a group ALWAYS. A group of four to six with a healer.

hard part is finding 5 to 6 other low level players to group with.

[danielmn]

I agree, and mongonk, many a bushy-tailed young player with dreams of grandeur in his character bio ends up like poor Jim.

Instead of rerolling though, they simply leave. As a Dm it breaks my heart because one part of me is like "wow they couldnt cut it with permadeath" and the other part of me is, well, brings me back to the old "lets all start at level 2 or 3 argument because it works for Exodus" thing.

But I have a very soft heart for players. Orc with crossbow has ended many goodly characters on TSM. I hate Orc with crossbow but I know he has a lesson to teach.

Which is OMG play with a group ALWAYS. A group of four to six with a healer.

hard part is finding 5 to 6 other low level players to group with.

In responce, there are a few newer PC's about the server. Greesemang is playing a new PC, after retiring his old, Mick and OGR are playing relatively newer PC's, Joebri just joined us and has a new PC running about the server, KMJ's Alex should be relatively low in level as well. Those are just a few you can possibly hook up with that are lower level. Back to the scheduled thread.

[Blindhamsterman]

In responce, there are a few newer PC's about the server. Greesemang is playing a new PC, after retiring his old, Mick and OGR are playing relatively newer PC's, Joebri just joined us and has a new PC running about the server, KMJ's Alex should be relatively low in level as well. Those are just a few you can possibly hook up with that are lower level. Back to the scheduled thread.

Some of those above are certainly no longer in the 'low leve' category anymore.

On TSM however there was Ryo, an elf whose name begins with an E (played by lord psycho) theres another low level new elf, greases new pc. Which would be at least 4

[Galadorn]

I agree, and mongonk, many a ........

hard part is finding 5 to 6 other low level players to group with.

In responce, there are a few newer PC's about the server. Greesemang is playing a new PC, after retiring his old, Mick and OGR are playing relatively newer PC's, Joebri just joined us and has a new PC running about the server, KMJ's Alex should be relatively low in level as well. Those are just a few you can possibly hook up with that are lower level. Back to the scheduled thread.

...and there's even a few other lower level PCs on Moonshaes MUCH less important than those mentioned above also kicking around... ......or at least much less important and/or significant to mention of course...

[Blindhamsterman]

I agree, and mongonk, many a ........

hard part is finding 5 to 6 other low level players to group with.

In responce, there are a few newer PC's about the server. Greesemang is playing a new PC, after retiring his old, Mick and OGR are playing relatively newer PC's, Joebri just joined us and has a new PC running about the server, KMJ's Alex should be relatively low in level as well. Those are just a few you can possibly hook up with that are lower level. Back to the scheduled thread.

...and there's even a few other lower level PCs on Moonshaes MUCH less important than those mentioned above also kicking around... ......or at least much less important and/or significant to mention of course...

hehe, I was simply refering to the ones Hymes PC was likely to meet soon (he plays on TSM)