Drow server idea

indio · Post by **indio** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:16 am

If there are more fanatical Rpers than the drow folk, I've never seen then. We should really be looking to capitalise on their zeal.

I've been thinking on Thangorn's idea about building a Drow server that is essentially accessible only through portals, which is perfectly logical as it suits the purpose of establishing a hub for all future underdark development.

However....I'm keen on doing something else, and I wanted some feedback, especially from the drow amongst us.

My idea is to build an Underdark/Surface server: two cities, essentially on top of each other, one above ground and one below.

Between the two cities would be a network of caves, dungeons and long-deserted temples, all of which were regularly trawled by adventurers (drow and surfacer). And it would be in this place where drow and surfacer might meet.

To me this represents some fun...rping between surfacers and drow is immensely enjoyable and is also a dynamo for interesting plotting and political machinations. In other words, it would be a place drow and surfacer could play and actually run into each other in what amounts to neutral territory.

I'm keen to build it, so I'd like some ideas on where it might be built, what to include (both for surface and drow races), what infrastructure...etc.

Finally, obviously Waterdeep possesses the aforementioned attributes, and I'd be happy to build Skullport if that was well supported by our players, but obviously there are some additional hurdles to jump to facilitate that....so what say ye.

Mord · Post by **Mord** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:55 pm

Leevoth · Post by **Leevoth** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:10 pm

*blinks* Is that guy going to punch an illithid?

I would be down with a surface/underdark server. It would be a good place to PvP for sure.

What kind of hurdles are you talking about?

Mord · Post by **Mord** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:51 pm

the logistical hurdles of actually realising Skullport without the much needed tilesets/placeables to do so properly. Not that I'm an expert at what's out there right now, but I don't think we have nearly as much material to work with as we did when Hordes of the underdark was released.

Cassiel · Post by **Cassiel** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:39 pm

I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:00 pm

Skullport is the best underdark city for mixed-race play, to be sure, as it has something for all races and religions of the 'dark. Skullport also links to Karsouthyl (dominated by Lolth-worshipping drow, in particular House Tanor'Thal) and to Waterdeep. So, you have a three-level system here - a drow city, linked to a mixed underdark city, linked to a surface city.

Sschindylryn is a city that is ONLY accessible by portals. There is no regular way out. It is described in some detail in one of the books in the War of the Spider Queen series. Sschindylryn, known as the "City of Portals" for obvious reasons, links to Lolth-only-knows how many places via its portals. It is known, for instance, that it has at least one portal that jumps all the way to the underdark near Menzoberranzan even though Schindylryn is under Cormyr. It may also have links to the surface, or at least, links to portal networks that lead to the surface.

The 'country' of Dambrath is one of the better places to have a multi-level drow set up, as it has three layers (sort of) given that deep beneath the surface you have Lolth-worshipping drow, then you have the passages that connect them to the surface, then you have the surface dominated by Loviatar and Lolth worshipping half-drow (called Crinti) who are in league with the drow below.

Menzoberranzan is by far the best detailed of all the cities, and the area of underdark around it is by far the best detailed as well. If you want a place with tons of starting information, this is it - unfortunately, as I found out, having tons of starting information can easily switch from being a great boon to a heavy burden.

And I love the idea Indio - as you are among the very best builders of NWN servers, the idea of you working on a drow-oriented server makes me want to ... um ... well ... stay in ALFA!

P.S. I am no builder, but I would happily assist on/with this project as much as I could, with the caveat that I would expect to eventually play here (or DM, at the very least, but probably play).

hollyfant · Post by **hollyfant** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:33 pm

Mikayla wrote:The 'country' of Dambrath is one of the better places to have a multi-level drow set up, as it has three layers (sort of) given that deep beneath the surface you have Lolth-worshipping drow, then you have the passages that connect them to the surface, then you have the surface dominated by Loviatar and Lolth worshipping half-drow (called Crinti) who are in league with the drow below.

A server with a border area of Dambrath/Halruaa or Dambrath/Luiren might be an option; those would cater to various different characters. The drawback would probably be a near-permanent state of war.

Rick7475 · Post by **Rick7475** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:45 pm

Sschindylryn is a city that is ONLY accessible by portals. There is no regular way out. It is described in some detail in one of the books in the War of the Spider Queen series. Sschindylryn, known as the "City of Portals" for obvious reasons, links to Lolth-only-knows how many places via its portals. It is known, for instance, that it has at least one portal that jumps all the way to the underdark near Menzoberranzan even though Schindylryn is under Cormyr. It may also have links to the surface, or at least, links to portal networks that lead to the surface.

I think this is the best idea and most likely the best for getting live and connected to a live server. Portals can be moved once discovered. A portal can be linked to any live server allowing drow easy access to the surface and once discovered by surface PC's can be quested to be destroyed (and then, of course, another portal can be built else where!). This would allow for very dyanmic PC interaction and great fun.

If we can get the map scanned (I have a scanner and can do it if I can find the novel at the bookstore) then we can build the city. But first all we need is a labrynth of tunnels and a few places before the city itself. This can easily be achieved with a few interior areas encompassing a massive labrynth tunnel complex for drow to get to know and live in until the city could be built. That could mean live status at or near the same time as TSM and a portal connecting to a live server.

Now, TSM has many places for a portal, hidden caves, secret towers, deep crypts even under Silverymoon itself (below the protective wards).

Anyway, my two cents.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:51 pm

There is no great map of Sschindylryn. I think there might be a cursory one in Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark that gives the basic shape of the place (its like the inside of a pyramid) but there is no map of the city on par with the maps that exist for Menzoberranzan, Skullport, Waterdeep, etc.

indio · Post by **indio** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:01 pm

Leevoth wrote:What kind of hurdles are you talking about?

The hurdle is Waterdeep. Gven the direct connection between Skullport and Waterdeep, WD is going to need to be up in some capacity. Now that's an alternative I'm considering, especially given the exteriors of WD exist.

As for there not being enough content....AL has already added UD content and my guess is that UD players would rather have something built with what exists than nothing because of what doesn't.

I'll get to the other posts later...got to run.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:11 pm

indio the perceptive wrote:

my guess is that UD players would rather have something built with what exists than nothing because of what doesn't.

True dat!

AcadiusLost · Post by **AcadiusLost** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:32 pm

In case anyone was curious, here are some screenshots of the underdark resources in the haks for an idea (reposted from the nov 7th post announcing their addition). It's a start, but maybe not suffcient to build a fullscale underdark city with.

and...

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:42 pm

Can't go wrong with giant glowing 'shrooms

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:46 pm

Underdark? I've seen giant glowing 'shrooms in Golden Gate Park! Hell, I think I even ate them ...

indio · Post by **indio** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:32 pm

Well, how about Skullport then Mikayla? I'm going to leave this call up to you if that's ok, and I will proceed with your recommendation.

Plusses for Skullport are that:
1. WD exteriors exist
2. It will motivate me to flesh exteriors out and create important interiors
3. It caters for drow, UD and surface adventurers
4. It's well documented (Joos once pointed out to me that this is actually a handicap for my style of building, and I agree. However, I think I can do Skullport justice.)

But I admit I'm excited about Skullport....especially given I could flesh out the Yawning Portal exterior quite easily and have it running in short time. Plus I could host.