Ravenloft: Prisoners of the Mist

Suggestions, Feedback & Bug Reports (OOC) => Module Feedback and Suggestions => Topic started by: k_moustakas on August 13, 2017, 08:31:14 AM

Title: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: k_moustakas on August 13, 2017, 08:31:14 AM
I wish that the vistani at Tser Falls could also take you to the ones at Vallaki outskirts... The walk back from Barovia gets tiring after a while, especially if you are just going for a dungeon run and back (10 times worse if you go to pal bank and back)
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: peps on August 13, 2017, 01:02:28 PM
It's to deter high level players sticking around Vallaki IIRC.
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Iridni Ren on August 13, 2017, 01:13:20 PM
As someone who has a very slow PC (no haste, no expeditious retreat, exhausts easily), I don't enjoy the trip at all unless with company. By myself, I cast greater sanctuary and then just bear through. Still, I understand what I think is the reason for it: low-levels need to be discouraged from going to the high-level areas when they're not ready and then being twinked up. In the reverse, high levels should be discouraged from coming back to Vallaki all the time. You also mention the Pal Bank. Powerful items stored there probably don't need to flow back into Vallaki.

None of this is being prevented currently, though--not in my experience. I think the cost of the elixir should be greatly increased. It's meaningless at 5 gp, except when you forget to buy it and have to run back.

I would like to see the Village of Barovia active, so that there is something for mid-level PCs to do when they don't fit in with Port and would rather not become Mist Camp grinders. I feel kind of over-powered already for Vallaki, unless a DM or AMPC is afoot!

Perhaps after the hak pak and NCE :)
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: peps on August 13, 2017, 01:39:11 PM
I agree. I wish VoB was utilized more. It feels like it has a richer, deeper background.

If anything, maybe a new area similar to Tser's Pool near hills where the Terg ruins are? Just close enough to be utilized, but far enough to be abused by high level players that roll through those surrounding dungeons.
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Iridni Ren on August 13, 2017, 03:00:38 PM
I wish VoB was utilized more. It feels like it has a richer, deeper background.

Very much so, in terms of the setting. Day-to-day, Port often seems driven by political intrigue and sort of historical "re-enactment" more so than traditional fantasy and horror.

The Village always feels terrifying just from the sound effects alone :P
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: wildflame on August 14, 2017, 12:51:21 AM
Build it, they will come.
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Nemesis 24 on August 14, 2017, 01:38:51 AM
Wildflame is very correct.  VoB is much like any of the locations of the module - they are active because players go there.  All it really needs is a concept to create a gathering.  I will also say, that unlike Vallaki which is a place of commerce and activity, Village of Barovia is a place of dreadful secrets.  It's the core reason for the difference in atmosphere, but there is absolutely openings (and a fantastic amount of buildings) that can be used for motivated groups.
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Darkside of Heaven on August 14, 2017, 04:24:21 AM
It's to deter high level players sticking around Vallaki IIRC.

Pretty sure its to stop the low levels from getting to mist camp or other locations.

At the end of the day players will take their characters over the long walk not matter what. As a high level character the long run is just annoying. And wont stop them from heading to vallaki.

Maybe have the caraven go to vallaki from mist camp but you need to be over a certian level to go to mist camp. Or even just a caravan from VOB to Vallaki
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Iridni Ren on August 14, 2017, 06:57:15 AM
Build it, they will come.

Announcing the grand opening of...

Iridni's Moon-on-a-Stick Emporium

(Two-for-one to the first 100 customers)

Quote
At the end of the day players will take their characters over the long walk not matter what. As a high level character the long run is just annoying. And wont stop them from heading to vallaki.

What if drinking the Vistani elixir drained XP?

:twisted:
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Iridni Ren on August 14, 2017, 07:28:24 AM
wildflame: I hope you know that was a joke because of what you said in chat. Sometimes it seems people mistake my goofy sense of humor for condescension or sarcasm, no matter how many emotes I use :)

Generally, I like to support what other PCs are trying to do more than feel I have to be at the center. So I go to things like the Gaping Wound, for example. Or Rich Fest (which was really Brianna's idea). Or do someone's wedding service.

If someone did do something in the Village of Barovia, I would certainly try to be there :)
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: wildflame on August 14, 2017, 11:37:13 AM
I'm busy in Vallaki as you might know, and I'd hold that goofy joke against you far less than, say, suggesting the Vistani elixir drain xp....
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Iridni Ren on August 14, 2017, 12:08:57 PM
I'm busy in Vallaki as you might know, and I'd hold that goofy joke against you far less than, say, suggesting the Vistani elixir drain xp....

You is doing enough :)

I don't think there's any chance of the XP cost suggestion being implemented, so please don't revoke Iridni's Gaping Wound VIP pass.

But!!

I would make it scale like respawning XP :P

High levels in Outsmirks problem solved!
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Darkside of Heaven on August 14, 2017, 02:47:20 PM
I'm busy in Vallaki as you might know, and I'd hold that goofy joke against you far less than, say, suggesting the Vistani elixir drain xp....

You is doing enough :)

I don't think there's any chance of the XP cost suggestion being implemented, so please don't revoke Iridni's Gaping Wound VIP pass.

But!!

I would make it scale like respawning XP :P

High levels in Outsmirks problem solved!

This wont be implemented. Dropping exp isnt the awnser. And that would cause alot of issues for characters in factions like the drain, ezrites, ML, kinship, RVT who all travel back and forth alot.

Also were getting a little off topic and drifting towards the realms of high lvls in vallaki
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Tycat on August 14, 2017, 03:06:28 PM
What if caravans time were extended? So it's not fast travel, but it gives you time to rp on the journey instead of hold W. And possibly, more expensive ? I can see the Vistani wanting more money seeing how fat outlander purses can get.

I think if you have an option to take a 15 minute walk our a 15 minute caravan, it would be a decent alternative to running the entire trip like an Olympian. Also, if it were say, 500 gold, it would divide the rich and poor creating resentment rp opportunities.

Other things are the cost of the Vistani elixir. 5 coins is too little. Also, could it be required for both directions? It's always seemed like it should.

During non winter months, you have the ferry, which is pretty op considering you can get from the Fisher lodge to midway in an instant. It cuts travel time down significantly, almost in an unbalanced way. I would be willing to do more caravans and no ferry at all, if I an honest. That includes to krezk, the lodge, and other places the Vistani might take you on a slow, bumpy wagon instead of a time bending instant ship.
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Iridni Ren on August 14, 2017, 03:20:20 PM
Quote
Also were getting a little off topic and drifting towards the realms of high lvls in vallaki

It's not really off topic because an argument for not having a caravan stop near Vallaki is the belief that such would facilitate high levels being in Vallaki. Obviously it would. The question is whether the lack of one actually deters anyone or just makes for an annoyance.

Quote
What if caravans time were extended? So it's not fast travel, but it gives you time to rp on the journey instead of hold W. And possibly, more expensive ? I can see the Vistani wanting more money seeing how fat outlander purses can get.

I think if you have an option to take a 15 minute walk our a 15 minute caravan, it would be a decent alternative to running the entire trip like an Olympian. Also, if it were say, 500 gold, it would divide the rich and poor creating resentment rp opportunities.

Other things are the cost of the Vistani elixir. 5 coins is too little. Also, could it be required for both directions? It's always seemed like it should.

During non winter months, you have the ferry, which is pretty op considering you can get from the Fisher lodge to midway in an instant. It cuts travel time down significantly, almost in an unbalanced way. I would be willing to do more caravans and no ferry at all, if I an honest. That includes to krezk, the lodge, and other places the Vistani might take you on a slow, bumpy wagon instead of a time bending instant ship.

Making the caravan expensive and take a long time would be an alternative at least that makes some IG sense. I bet most players would not RP it, though. They'd use the opportunity to go AFK and make tea or something :)

(Iridni virtually never takes the ferry because she considers it a luxury and an extravagance! She might if Medea was with her and bullied her, but otherwise, it's too self-indulgent :P )
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: booksarefun666 on August 14, 2017, 04:26:21 PM
Can we actually just get rid of the elixirs? It's really annoying to forget one. I'm partially joking because there's canon significance to that, but making it more cumbersome transfering between counties just to find RP really makes it less fun to play and by the end of the day, there's really no point in playing it if it isn't fun. At the moment? I think it struck a nice balance on travel time, especially with the ferry that's around most of the time except during winter and that makes sense.
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Daboomer on August 14, 2017, 08:45:40 PM
Making a vistani elixir drain xp is a horrible idea. I don't think punishing people from travelling around is a good idea in general. I don't think we can demand that people over lvl 10 simply leaves valaki and the outskirts. If they want to be around that area they should. I do think there is to be a certain responsibility to not interrupt low level activities and such. Don't wreck plots by running your very much higher lvl characters into them. Try avoid standing around the outskirts in the middle of the night etc. But this is up to the players themselfs and i feel wanting to make travelling back and forth harder is a bad idea in general. As for making it easier, i do not believe it is necessary the current system works rather well.
Title: Re: Vistani caravan destinations
Post by: Nemesis 24 on August 14, 2017, 09:32:49 PM
I admit I dislike fast travel in general.  I know I'm a loner in this, but I actually wish it was harder, not easier, to get between domains sometime.  The current ease of managing it is purely for convenience sake - and it 'is' much easier than it probably should be.

Also banishing high levels for the temerity of existing is kinda silly.  At many times, the only place anything is happening is areas such as Vallaki.  Recently it was the only place to find people.  Would you demand that players can't come there purely because they put significant time, energy and effort (years and years of it in most cases) to get where they are?  That doesn't really make any sense.