Good afternoon folks!
Just wanted to throw some ideas down. Roleplay is the reason I go anywhere on the server. If my character doesn't know about it or I wouldn't have a valid reason for going I simply do not go there, but there are areas I do try to avoid and Vallaki is one of them. Before the below is read I'm not making any demands or complaining. The server is great as it is, but just wanted to get some thoughts/feelings down. Some things would be easy to change and others would not even if there was an agreement that change would be needed.
For comparison I would like to draw attention to two places in a similar setting.
The Village of Barovia
It looks like I imagine a village to look like in the setting. The layout is interesting. There are little grassy areas within the village, there is some mystery with the hidden places etc that you can find, little farmsteads on the outside map, the shops are linked on the MAIN ROADS and on corners like you might expect on a thoroughfare. The shop is opposite the crafting hall which is ideal so there is a benefit to keeping things together so you actually use them. You can scale the vines to get illegally in and out on your own terms which is just neat. It just has a lot going for it but sadly no one goes because of where it is, but that's more a players problem than a server problem. It is a delight to visit even if small. It looks and feels like a village, kudos to whomever made. I go often just to walk about in character. For a village, everything looks visually better than the city counterparts and I would imagine such to be the other way around.
Vallaki
To begin, as the city that's perhaps the most seen and one for the first things a new player might see, it's unfortunately the most drab place on the server without a doubt, with not much going on except the garda walking through. I really don't mean that in offensive way, but when compared to the other areas and places added over POTM's history you can see that it looks outdated. I think it could do with a redesign, a bit of added elevations here as it's very flat looking, contains lots of old school NWN placeables. I see a distinct lack of 'Gothic' features and most of the 'districts' are just adding time between between getting through the zones and don't add anything to the overall feeling. Music is Icewind dale I think? I don't think helps as it doesn't feel as oppressive as you might expect Barovia to feel. I imagine lots of terrified locals in their small cramped terraced housing, staring at outlanders between their curtains and shaking their heads in distrust. So not necessarily needing to be made 'beautiful' but could be made to look more interesting. I'm surprised there isn't a hanging rope, some stocks etc, a town square in the middle of the city? This would be a place for the peasants to gather with their torches and pitchforks when a new witch is found or someone is being hung or there was a new public declaration from the Burgomaster/garda? When I go through I think the things I expect to see are just not there. In my mind, the public being complicit and witness to horrible events are what makes the city of Vallaki what it is in the Ravenloft setting because the people love a good public execution and harassment of non-natives. There are no NPC's in the alleyways at all either, no 'illicit' workers, scoundrels etc so once you head off the main street it feels empty. Port is full of these characters and even the cutpurses skulk out of sight at night ready to ambush when you come past. A lot of the details added to the creation of Port are evident as to why people enjoy to play there in the city itself. I think a small redesign could really help refresh that feeling for Vallaki, that it's both interesting and dangerous to be here. Instead as it is, you just pass through because you have claims to get. Everything is fake locked/doesn't lead anywhere where as in Port pretty much anything with a door can be entered/interacted with.
NPCs
Perhaps my biggest issue is simply that virtually no NPC's have no lore/gossip/personality to give. I would love an NPC when you accidentally click on them to be like 'Did you hear that the garda, arrested the Burgomaster's son on accusations of witchcraft?'. Just anything? Even a local would probably talk gossip with an outlander. I'm sure many of the players will help write meaningful dialogues for NPC's for review. I know I would love to contribute to such! Not really changing much here but adds much needed flavour to the Vallaki setting. I am happy to talk to NPC's that have tidbits to say and lore for me to learn. Give them names? 'Barovian Female Peasant'? Or you know, Susan works fine as well! Adds something to the feeling when you have named NPC's. Maybe Susan will be that iconic townsperson whom always gets in your way when you're passing through, like Dmitru the Beggar! Whenever he gets in my way or I bump into him not paying attention, my character gives him that gold piece when other characters are around to see it! Because why not?
Native Characters
An idea might be to allow perhaps 'Native' Barovian player characters to make premises on the main streets to add to the bustle of the city which it definitely lacks. We keep being told that outlanders wouldn't be allowed. I can certainly respect that but what about 'Native' PC's to have rentable/permanent residences? Most of these spaces are not used anyway just empty doors which can't be interacted with. I think if we can encourage people to actually operate more in the city zones then people might actually begin to play their stories in the zones and not just all pile in the outskirts.. I can't imagine when the server was made that anyone intended everyone would just move up 1 screen and stay there for 90 percent of gameplay? In my mind this happens because Vallaki is just not an interesting place to RP as it is today. Even the garda stay in the outskirts because no one is there to police/engage with. Not a criticism but role play can only happen where there are other players and those players need a reason to stay in a place to be present for roleplay to happen?
As it is today, I think I go to the commissions office right at the Western side then leg it through to the Eastern gates to get to the Warehouses and otherwise pretty much ignore it. And Barovia is my favourite setting which makes it more disappointing I think.
Feral