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Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:07 pm
by DarkFuneral209
Do you find they are useless and you would rather travel by foot?
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:15 pm
by Good Character
Super useless. Given the time you need to wait, you could just walk.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:31 pm
by thimblegiant
Rarely do, but there have been a couple of occasions where I've found myself out of my league (Arelith forest), and needed a safe way home. I see there is a new one up by the Radiant Heart, presumably to allow low-levels to travel safely up there.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:31 pm
by Johnsmith
I lens around like a boss.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:37 pm
by Xerah
Only instant travel ones.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:44 pm
by DangerDolphin
Good Character wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:15 pm
Super useless. Given the time you need to wait, you could just walk.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 11:11 pm
by chris a gogo
I use them to get to places a character is to low level to fight there way to.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 4:53 am
by Drogo Gyslain
It depends on the caravan.
The one I use the most is definately the one now to get to Soulhaven from guldorand. Instead of having to fight through Rocs and all the nonsense requied to get back to soulhaven, or spend 150g to get to the docks at sib, the portal is now just 25g away. Most of the time there are people to converse with as well.
As a low level character, I use them alot around cordor to get inital portals and such more safely, and especially when visiting Myon as a low level carpenter like Ronaldo is. Commoners just can't fight wolves that well apparently...
So in effect yes, they serve their purpose, and they are used.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 12:40 pm
by FILMORE GRAVES
I use them...I find its great. I buy a ticket, then hang around and RP or shop or whatever....then poof, I'm where I need to be. Gives me more "relaxing time" doing the small things and chatting with other nearby.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 4:09 pm
by matheusgraef
I've used them. I like them. My barbarian character didn't have to use them, but when I tried playing a wizard I found myself using them, specially at low levels.
Plus it gives a little RP opportunity for the "Ah, just waiting for the caravan." bit. I like mundane stuff like that. To be honest I kinda wish the boat rides worked the same but I understand a lot of people don't have time for that.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 2:04 am
by Aeralad
Yeah. Although sometimes I want to hurry so I walk or lens or whatever else, sometimes I take the caravan out of pure laziness. The Guldorand one mostly.
It's definitely handy to just go yes yes, wait and then appear there. Also thought it was a clever use of cutscenes mode, although I can understand why that isn't for all travel.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:24 pm
by Party in the forest at midnight
Good Character wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:15 pm
Super useless. Given the time you need to wait, you could just walk.
This has been my experience with them as well. Even when I want to use them, by the time I get to one the caravan's already left most of the time. The places the caravan visits are usually much faster accessed with other methods.
If the caravan left once every hourly tick, I'd be more inclined to use them.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:36 pm
by The GrumpyCat
My Hot Take
I like them in principle.
I rarely use them, except at low levels, or especialy weak characters.
The cut scene is irritating, and sometimes buggy
Their leaving times are highly unhelpful.
I remember the Dark Days, before a boat was added to Guldorand, when we if you logged in at the wrong time, on a low hp character, you were basicaly stuck there for up to a RL hour whilst you waited for the caravans to start running again.
Caravans are neat in theory but I'd like them to
a) Run more often - or at least run at night.
b) Not use the cut scene. Maybe you could actually 'enter' the caravan and sit there whilst it traveled - like a boat? Or something like that, at any rate.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:59 pm
by Archnon
It would be fun if they could generate random encounters with some reward based on the level of the characters in the caravan. Then you end up traveling inside a caravan per grumpy's suggestion with total strangers and suddenly, bandits on the road. Would make for good rp too. Honestly I might wait around for a caravan for that chance.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 6:25 pm
by Straxus
Eventually I will try them out, most of my travel to places I haven't been is by foot, because I am carrying a warded package...
I have died almost everytime by the way.
Maybe give them a try today.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:00 pm
by The GrumpyCat
Archnon wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:59 pm
It would be fun if they could generate random encounters with some reward based on the level of the characters in the caravan. Then you end up traveling inside a caravan per grumpy's suggestion with total strangers and suddenly, bandits on the road. Would make for good rp too. Honestly I might wait around for a caravan for that chance.
I like this idea in principle, but it takes away from caravans as a 'safe' means of transport too.
How about if there were two options?
1) Travel as a passanger (costs gold) - you get there safely.
2) Travel as a guard (is free, or maybe even gives gold) - You travel there but stand a chance of a random encounter, in which you must defend the caravan.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:02 pm
by Exordius
1) Travel as a passanger (costs gold) - you get there safely.
2) Travel as a guard (is free, or maybe even gives gold) - You travel there but stand a chance of a random encounter, in which you must defend the caravan.
Sounds good... *Captain Picard voice* Make it so.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:55 pm
by Archnon
The GrumpyCat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:00 pm
Archnon wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:59 pm
It would be fun if they could generate random encounters with some reward based on the level of the characters in the caravan. Then you end up traveling inside a caravan per grumpy's suggestion with total strangers and suddenly, bandits on the road. Would make for good rp too. Honestly I might wait around for a caravan for that chance.
I like this idea in principle, but it takes away from caravans as a 'safe' means of transport too.
How about if there were two options?
1) Travel as a passanger (costs gold) - you get there safely.
2) Travel as a guard (is free, or maybe even gives gold) - You travel there but stand a chance of a random encounter, in which you must defend the caravan.
This is cool, though I will say that the caravans don't get used because there are so many safe alternatives out there that are instant.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 8:00 pm
by Straxus
The GrumpyCat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:00 pm
Archnon wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:59 pm
It would be fun if they could generate random encounters with some reward based on the level of the characters in the caravan. Then you end up traveling inside a caravan per grumpy's suggestion with total strangers and suddenly, bandits on the road. Would make for good rp too. Honestly I might wait around for a caravan for that chance.
I like this idea in principle, but it takes away from caravans as a 'safe' means of transport too.
How about if there were two options?
1) Travel as a passanger (costs gold) - you get there safely.
2) Travel as a guard (is free, or maybe even gives gold) - You travel there but stand a chance of a random encounter, in which you must defend the caravan.
I love this idea. You could easily add a recommended level for it, like the writs
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:03 pm
by Babylon System is the Vampire
The GrumpyCat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:00 pm
Archnon wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:59 pm
It would be fun if they could generate random encounters with some reward based on the level of the characters in the caravan. Then you end up traveling inside a caravan per grumpy's suggestion with total strangers and suddenly, bandits on the road. Would make for good rp too. Honestly I might wait around for a caravan for that chance.
I like this idea in principle, but it takes away from caravans as a 'safe' means of transport too.
How about if there were two options?
1) Travel as a passanger (costs gold) - you get there safely.
2) Travel as a guard (is free, or maybe even gives gold) - You travel there but stand a chance of a random encounter, in which you must defend the caravan.
I was just thinking this would be the way to go as I was sitting around waiting for a caravan the other day, and here you are posting it around the same time. I would even take it a step further and have a small chance of finding some dungeon along the way to adventure through, but I know even just changing it to the way you suggest is going to take some work which means finding someone who is interested to do it.
As far as an easy fix for right now though, I would make them all run on the hour every hour except at night, since I like that flavor of not wanting to travel at night and that still gives you the whole "waiting for the caravan" RP if you want to. The cut scene is useless, and probably taking up far more resources then the value it gives which is next to nothing.
At the very least, you could add the times it is leaving before it takes your gold. As it stands now you have to pay for the privilege to find out that its 8 game hours away and you are far better off walking. Sure, its only 50 gold or whatever, but its the principle smokey.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 10:20 pm
by Void
The GrumpyCat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:00 pm
Archnon wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:59 pm
It would be fun if they could generate random encounters with some reward based on the level of the characters in the caravan. Then you end up traveling inside a caravan per grumpy's suggestion with total strangers and suddenly, bandits on the road. Would make for good rp too. Honestly I might wait around for a caravan for that chance.
I like this idea in principle, but it takes away from caravans as a 'safe' means of transport too.
How about if there were two options?
1) Travel as a passanger (costs gold) - you get there safely.
2) Travel as a guard (is free, or maybe even gives gold) - You travel there but stand a chance of a random encounter, in which you must defend the caravan.
I'd LOVE this, but if waiting time was shorter.
The issue si that random encounter would require scripting and "off the map" areas. Currently the only area being used is that "autumn forest" location with circling npc.
However, while beamdog were patching the game, I think they introduced a function which allows the game to create an instanced area:
https://nwnlexicon.com/index.php?title=CreateArea
Which could be used to implement random encounters without multiple caravans ending in the same spot.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 2:48 am
by Best Rich Face
Can't RP during the cutscene.
Cutscene is buggy.
New graphics mean trees block most of the cutscene anyways.
Why don't boats have cutscenes? (Please don't, I'll quit)
Have to sit around and wait for the caravan.
Nope, I'll just walk.
Or -teleport.
Or spend 2500-3500 for a lens.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 3:13 am
by Marsi
The GrumpyCat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:36 pm
b) Not use the cut scene. Maybe you could actually 'enter' the caravan and sit there whilst it traveled - like a boat? Or something like that, at any rate.
This is how POTM's caravans work, and I liked them.
I believe they ran on a schedule, and to "travel" you actually had to go inside and wait inside while it left. Inside was just a new area that simulated travel with sound effects. You could walk around, and chat with any randoms that happened to be going to same way as you. If you didn't feel like talking it was just a couple minutes to alt-tab or re-organise your inventory. Pretty comfy.
Public boats would be fun like this too. Though the immersive aspect should never outweigh the convenience otherwise no-one will use them.
To answer the OP's question, in 8-9 years of semi activity on arelith, I've never used the caravans seriously.
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:39 am
by Kuma
Marsi wrote: ↑Tue Apr 14, 2020 3:13 am
The GrumpyCat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:36 pm
b) Not use the cut scene. Maybe you could actually 'enter' the caravan and sit there whilst it traveled - like a boat? Or something like that, at any rate.
This is how POTM's caravans work, and I liked them.
I believe they ran on a schedule, and to "travel" you actually had to go inside and wait inside while it left. Inside was just a new area that simulated travel with sound effects. You could walk around, and chat with any randoms that happened to be going to same way as you. If you didn't feel like talking it was just a couple minutes to alt-tab or re-organise your inventory. Pretty comfy.
Public boats would be fun like this too. Though the immersive aspect should never outweigh the convenience otherwise no-one will use them.
To answer the OP's question, in 8-9 years of semi activity on arelith, I've never used the caravans seriously.
i'd really like this, there's precedence for it in how ships work, more or less
Re: Do you use the caravans?
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:43 pm
by the grim yeeter
Good Character wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:15 pm
Super useless. Given the time you need to wait, you could just walk.