Zone-dependent roleplay XP

[Soren / Zarathustra217]

(This is something that actually came up very long ago, but I've suddenly came upon it recently and decided it was time to give it a go.)

By next update, I've updated the roleplay XP script so that it will not reward you XP if you are in a low level zone and are a high level character. To make this easy to manage, the system works by tapping into an already existing feature that tracks the average level of all who've entered an area. This new change will make it so that you will only get roleplay XP if no more than 1.5x the average level of entries in that area (though area average is always considered as being at least 5)

As you might have guessed, this is to encourage higher levels to hang out away from low level zones.

Enjoy! (and share your experiences below)

[airengale]

And with regards to those in a faction, such as a Vallaki Garda or ML faction member; is there some sort of exclusion to this system? Both faction members are typically anchored down to locations like Vallaki or the Village.

[APorg]

While I'm happy to see movement on this idea, the implementation means that "low level" is merely where low levels hang out; not anywhere intrinstic like, say, the Mist Camp being high level; or the Port.

It means that any influx of lowbies into a high level RP event will punish the high level characters by depriving them of RP XP.

For example, say I'm playing a level 20 PC and I'm in the Port for an event there... any influx of low level PCs that taeks the average level below 13 will mean I don't get RP XP.

I see this as a negative side effect. Not all high level interaction with low level PCs should be discouraged. Especially not scheduled events like a Port play, etc.

[Avatar6666]

Home faith Ezrites and 4th sect ezrites as welll...how is this going to work? No exp for rp?

[Soren / Zarathustra217]

While I'm happy to see movement on this idea, the implementation means that "low level" is merely where low levels hang out; not anywhere intrinstic like, say, the Mist Camp; or the Port.

It means that any influx of lowbies into a high level RP event will punish the high level characters by depriving them of RP XP.

For example, say I'm playing a level 20 PC and I'm in the Port for an event there... any influx of low level PCs that taeks the average level below 13 will mean I don't get RP XP.

I see this as a negative side effect. Not all high level interaction with low level PCs should be discouraged. Especially not scheduled events like a Port play, etc.

I don't think you'd care much for roleplay XP if you are level 20

But also, the value isn't dependent on those currently in the area, but the general level of entries since last reset. This means that even if a lot of low levels should come to Dementlieu for an event, it's unlikely they'll bring the total average down to an extend that it'll be an issue.

As for those factions that have their bases in Barovia, it's most likely that they'll still get roleplay XP around their base, but simply not in the western outskirts and low level dungeons.

[Lucadia]

destroys..mentor rp..wonderful.

and implying some of us are lv 20 when we are not..guh

[Soren / Zarathustra217]

destroys..mentor rp..wonderful.

Not at all. The low level still gain the XP through roleplay. And if the mentor wants to learn new things himself, he can simply bring his student with him out in the world.

and implying some of us are lv 20 when we are not..guh

?

[Haplo Nexus]

There are very many areas near Vallaki that have a constant supply of lowbies streaming through them. Inn rp, Outskirts rp, Church and even Degannwy are now rather senseless places for higher levels to visit. Why make a change that actively discourages rp?

[Lucadia]

sure, low level gets rp xp, but the high level dont for mentoring. Its a double wammie for any high level, they dont get exp unless they bring said student to..a dungeon . Funny thing if you bring somebody thats too low to a high level area and they dont get exp either.

[Apocrypha]

I feel especially bad for the Morninglord Faction.

[DangerousToGoAlone]

I think this actually discourages RP, and promotes cliques. High levels staying away from lowbies and to themselves, and no longer seeking out new people/lowbies at the Outskirts or other above mentioned lowbie areas.

While not everyone cares that much about exp, progression is still a natural part of the game, due to the dnd system used in nwn.

Solo-ing or dungeoneering is more appealing to many high levels with this than seek out people to RP with and meet, amongst the lowbie areas.

Or even some areas used by high levels like Degannwy, that is still closeby the lowbie areas, with lowbies travelling through.

[Legion XXI]

Yeah, I'm never a fan of anything being taken away.  I'd rather them have maybe gotten a small boost for meeting the criteria listed rather then get nothing at all if they don't.

[APorg]

I'd like to suggest that you implement a debugging option that reads the average level area and displays it to the player, then... that will at least help alleviate confusion. I still think it's not entirely to have such subjectivity because it will make it less appealing for high levels to encourage a migration of lower level PCs to "their" areas. I know for example that there have been several low level PCs migrating to the Port of late to revive RP there.

I guess there are two points on which this can be tweaked to make it more palatable:

1) tweak the number at which you stop getting XP. ( > 1.5 * average level doesn't seem unreasonable but I guess I'm not familiar with average level values in various domains)

2) half RP XP rather than reduce it to nothing.

Perhaps a combination of these ideas to make it tiered:

If you exceed 1.5 * the average level, you get half RP XP; if you exceed 2.5 * the average level, you get no XP, etc.

[airengale]

sure, low level gets rp xp, but the high level dont for mentoring. Its a double wammie for any high level, they dont get exp unless they bring said student to..a dungeon . Funny thing if you bring somebody thats too low to a high level area and they dont get exp either.

The hit on xp isn't due to who you are with, but as Soren had said "But also, the value isn't dependent on those currently in the area, but the general level of entries since last reset."

And the solution was that if the mentor wants to learn something, then go out into the world. Not necessarily a dungeon.

[Lucadia]

Rather enjoy rping with anyone I come across and have some benefit  instead of having multiple restrictions being placed on who or where your going get xp at, that might be the -only- source for said pc.

Really destroys some of the high level pcs that are more astrompheric in nature and bring enjoyment to everyone else when the log in, instead I see..this harm to low levels in the outskirts when such a pc comes into play now. Or factions..

[Norture]

This is really disappointing. The majority of my XP is RP XP. I feel like I'll be forced to dungeon now, I primarily RP with lower levels. I'm not in with any of the major cliques.

[Amon-Si]

Interesting. Can't wait to see how it works!

[Dumas]

I have to say, I really don't like this. I feel like it makes us forced to stick around characters of similar levels. Levels are not supposed to be considered in that way for RP XP gain. I mean, my principle is a mid-level character. What am I meant to do with him now? Not associate with new characters? Most of my XP comes from RP... I feel like this going to restrict me. Almost like telling me my time hanging out with new characters isn't that worth it.

I never had any bad feelings about the RP XP system before. In fact, I thought it was awesome and worked perfectly, and thought everyone else was good with it to. Why fix what isn't broken?

[HellsPanda]

I would suggest we test this for a week, then deliver informed feedback.

That we can also support with ingame data on our feelings regarding it.

[The Prophet of Misinformation]

While I'm happy to see movement on this idea, the implementation means that "low level" is merely where low levels hang out; not anywhere intrinstic like, say, the Mist Camp being high level; or the Port.

It means that any influx of lowbies into a high level RP event will punish the high level characters by depriving them of RP XP.

For example, say I'm playing a level 20 PC and I'm in the Port for an event there... any influx of low level PCs that taeks the average level below 13 will mean I don't get RP XP.

I see this as a negative side effect. Not all high level interaction with low level PCs should be discouraged. Especially not scheduled events like a Port play, etc.

Clearly the only reasonable reaction is to go to Sithicus and STAY in Sithicus.

[dutchy]

is it not simply better to implement this type of system for the low lvl areas thus the areas we use for ncw?
exclude the factions with this system.

then it would be "fair"   

you would then promote server exploration.
the factions are unharmed, thus guards,ezrites,morninglordians,vardo and such can still progress by doing what they should be doing.
it would prevent people from grouping up to much.
and you get less complains 

[APorg]

Clearly the only reasonable reaction is to go to Sithicus and STAY in Sithicus.

What happens in Sithicus, stays in Sithicus...

[Legion XXI]

So, if the minimum is 5, and you multiply it by 1.5, that will give you 7.5 rounded up to 8 in areas with high numbers of lvl 2-5 players.

Does that mean that there will never be a garda above lvl 8 unless they dungeon or do all their RP in the citadel with other lvl 8 garda or go outside of Barovia?   Sweet, time to roll up a rebel.

[Soren / Zarathustra217]

You guys surely know to whip up drama

I don't think you've actually considered the numbers. It is in fact quite lenient.

In far the most, if not all areas outside Barovia, the average level is above 12, meaning even level 19 will get RP XP there.

In the Western Outskrits the average has lately been around 7-8 meaning that only people above level 12 would not gain XP there.

And then, yes, we can adjust the numbers as we go. I did consider simply making it gradually reduce XP, but there can be certain technical aspects that'll complicate this.

[Soren / Zarathustra217]

Add:

Actually, I'm waiting for one of the other developers to send me an update before I upload this update to the server, so I think I'll try to possibly tweak it already - so that above 1.5x avg. level gives half RP XP and only above 2.0x is it reduced to zero. Perhaps that'll calm things down while we all test it.