I feel like i'm beating a dead horse already, and i probably am.
I'd like everybody to discuss the possible pros and cons regarding the matter of low-level dungeons.
Currently the only ones we have is in Barovia. And becaue of this, the only domain we really have is Barovia. Yes, the other ones are still there. But almost all the time, they are empty. This is because the way the server is, we've been herded into Barovia.
All of our Factions are in Barovia, with the exception of the RVT in Port, but really that s just an expansion of the Barovian faction.All of our players hang out in Barovia, too. I mean, yes, we have our Mist camp crew but honestly? It's only about a hundredth of the size of the Barovian one and in my personal opinion the way things are laid out limits RP in very dramatic ways.
There are so many types of horror in Ravenloft. Unfortunately, the only one we really ever see is the Barovian flavour when it comes to MPC's.
It also limits the kinds of characters we have. Yes, we can all have characters come from Dementliuese or Paridon or Ryokushima Taiyoo or wherever the hell we want our PCs to originate from but rarely do i find that these sorts of PCs even fit in with the setting of Barovia.
There's a huge out-of-character discouragement to even attempt to relocate, because we as humans still retain a herding mentality in many ways. Sure, we can claim that this should just become the responsibility of the player to go and do, but I feel that after seven or so years of the server being active and dozens of players who have tried to create a permanent player presence in other domains... well, i think it's reasonable to assume that the issue isn't just with the characters, but the current mindset of the development team and administration. This is not an attack in any way, perhaps it's simply an oversight. That being said, i will get royally annoyed if one of our conservative this-is-the-way-it's-always-been players choose to recycle that annoying server cliche about eating dinner at somebody else's house.
Personally, i would love to see MPCs in other places. I would love to be able to create a Port character and not have to start my PC journey in the same blasted place we all do. It's getting old, really.
What i'm getting at? I would venture there's a good portion of the playerbase who wouldn't mind actually utilizing all the hard work and depth the developers have built into these domains. I would like to see Port and Har'akir given an on-par, low level dungeon with Vallaki. And the possibility of choosing to begin there. We have so many settings to choose from, but really the only one that's even getting close to being fleshed out is Barovia. Everybody comes to Vallaki outskrits. Why? because that's where everybody else is loitering. That same dungeon is empty empty empty because it was made when the playerbase was much smaller and now that our playerbase has grown i would say it's about time we increase our spawns on-par to match our playerbase.
Give these other domains a chance to grow and develop a playerbase. I can honestly say that if Port or Har'akir was given a newbie dungeon i would never go back to Vallaki. I know of many players who feel the same. It would be absolutely wonderful for the atmosphere of the server if there were simply less PCs all congealed in one area, and i'd love to be able to travel abroad ALONE and find companions along the way. Actually IN other Domains. Without having to shoot people a tell and go "Heyz, u wanna go Port it up?"
As though it's a vacation or something from Barovia. How about a permanent residency? Whenever it's NCW, there's a ton of players in other areas and it's absolutely awesome.
But this isn't going to happen unless a few things do first. And the first being, acknowledging that no single player is ever going to be able to influence an entire playerbase to relocate unless the Dms and devs give a helping hand.
So here is what i want,
I want everybody who just read through this to consider how much fun it might be to play a character who doesn't live in Vallaki. Consider the possiblities. Suggest the area you might want another low-level dungeon in. IF everybody does this, the Dev team will know which area is the most popular one.
Secondly, sometimes i worry that these posts are simply not taken seriously by the DMs and Devs sometimes. It's just so easy to ignore an idea, i don't realy blame anybody for it.
But what i really want to see? Is discussion here. Not just between the players, but the staff too. Please consider this subject.
I love it when you make me dinner, PotM. And it's always good.
But it's always Pancakes. Now i love pancakes, but let's have some waffles one of those times i come over.
Thanks, guys.