Forest of Despair

Feedback relating to the other areas of Arelith, also includes old topics.


Moderators: Active Admins, Active DMs, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Aardra
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2020 7:25 pm

Forest of Despair

Post by Aardra »

Hi :)

I know a place called the "Forest of Despair" should invoke fear and dread in PCs, and I think the forest at nighttime is quite terrifying. But during the day Weave Eaters spawn, and there seems to be no counterplay at all (especially if you're a mage - your summons just go poof!). They do a lot of damage and just overall seem (to me) way too strong for the area.

But really, the "you have angered the forest" spawns seem to me strong to the point of unfairness and un-fun-ness. They spawn directly on top of you, and in some cases 3 or 4 of them at a time, and given NWNEE's horrible pathfinding it can be impossible to get out of them. They tear through stoneskin in seconds, and are basically a death sentence with no counterplay that I know of.

Finally, my PC was taking a shortcut through the forest and a random Adult Green Dragon spawned right on her head. Considering this (I think?) is supposed to be a 9-15 area, I really thought a DM was messing with me at first. Luckily she got away.

The "Forest of Despair" should invoke, well, despair! But the weave eaters and especially the friggin' trees feel way overtuned and more RP sessions through that forest than I can count have ended in frustration because of them.

Thanks for reading. :)
"I am wounded by my own incorrigible politeness."
Void
Posts: 1600
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 7:03 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Void »

Aardra wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:15 pm Hi :)

I know a place called the "Forest of Despair" should invoke fear and dread in PCs, and I think the forest at nighttime is quite terrifying. But during the day Weave Eaters spawn, and there seems to be no counterplay at all (especially if you're a mage - your summons just go poof!). They do a lot of damage and just overall seem (to me) way too strong for the area.
The strategy is to have a non-magical melee combatant in the party and outheal the eater's damage.

I've run into one of those weave eaters (accompanied by bunch of treants) with a level 10 char while having a druid roughly in the same range in the party. It was ridiculously fun encounter and very tough one too.

There are also other fun things spawning during the day in the forest.
Another forum ban, here we go again.
chris a gogo
Posts: 659
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:41 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by chris a gogo »

Honestly weave eaters are becoming far to common they used to be only down in the UD vault now they are everywhere.

The rest of the spawns are fine of course angry tree aren't to difficult and fit the setting.
User avatar
Baron Saturday
Posts: 2364
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:34 am

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Baron Saturday »

Aardra wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:15 pm But really, the "you have angered the forest" spawns seem to me strong to the point of unfairness and un-fun-ness. They spawn directly on top of you, and in some cases 3 or 4 of them at a time, and given NWNEE's horrible pathfinding it can be impossible to get out of them. They tear through stoneskin in seconds, and are basically a death sentence with no counterplay that I know of.
The trick to these is not to spawn them in the first place. They're more like a trap than a monster - pay attention to where they spawn, and you'll find them fairly easy to avoid.
Rolled: Helene d'Arque, Sara Lyonall
Shelved: Kels Vetian, Cin ys'Andalis, Saul Haidt
Playing: Oshe Jordain
User avatar
Sockss
Posts: 746
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:09 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Sockss »

The real trick is to spend no time in the forest.

Head to the mound / quagmires, or into the Malarite temple instead. You won't suffer because you're summon reliant there.
Thankfully this team is no longer being used.

Sockss#5567 for nwn mechanics questions.
User avatar
Party in the forest at midnight
Posts: 1458
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 4:55 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Party in the forest at midnight »

I really don't like weave eaters in the Forest of Despair, I like to get wood in the area and there's just not a good way to deal with them. Especially if a champion version appears. They are still very fast moving, I think I read somewhere their movement speed was going to be reduced? I haven't had a chance to test out area of effect spells to see if those work, because weave eaters run at me so fast.

The other random spawns of the forest seem fair in comparison. The angry trees hit very hard, but they're static. The zombie adventurer has absolutely wrecked a low level alt of mine, but it's slow moving and I can run away from it. The cloud of stirges fills me with terror, but I can cast invisible and run from those.

Weave eaters have unnerfed trueseeing and are very fast and are a lot more difficult than the other creatures in the area. They do a surprising amount of damage. They seem like an enemy with mechanics that you'd find in an epic dungeon, but, they're in low level areas.
Nitro
Posts: 2800
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:04 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Nitro »

It's almost like a creature that shuts down an entire class archetype isn't very fun to come across for anyone playing that class archetype. What a shocker.
User avatar
Aardra
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2020 7:25 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Aardra »

Nitro wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:46 pm It's almost like a creature that shuts down an entire class archetype isn't very fun to come across for anyone playing that class archetype. What a shocker.
Sorry, I just wanted to voice my concerns. If other people are comfortable with FoD right now, then that's fine. :D
"I am wounded by my own incorrigible politeness."
strong yeet
Posts: 292
Joined: Wed May 02, 2018 9:09 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by strong yeet »

Aardra wrote: Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:17 am
Nitro wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:46 pm It's almost like a creature that shuts down an entire class archetype isn't very fun to come across for anyone playing that class archetype. What a shocker.
Sorry, I just wanted to voice my concerns. If other people are comfortable with FoD right now, then that's fine. :D
He is agreeing you, just with biting sarcasm for the "benefit" of the one who implemented the change.

ironically, for a lot of builds, weave eaters are now way less dangerous that they don't have disjunction anymore
a shrouded figure
Posts: 402
Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2020 2:18 am

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by a shrouded figure »

It’s good that there’s something for casters you be afraid of... the list is already short.
Straxus
Arelith Platinum Supporter
Arelith Platinum Supporter
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2020 1:42 pm
Location: Illinois

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Straxus »

I killed that thing, twas the Panthers... always the Panthers.


I think the forest of despair is awesome, just wish it was bigger.
Arod (semi-retired)
Jacho Blake
Exordius
Posts: 558
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:42 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Exordius »

Dragon spawned
Dragons are becoming much more common now in both the old and new areas. Almost every one of the new areas has a dragon hidden in some off the road nook or cranny and if you are exploring these areas while low level and happen to blunder into one of them the result is often painful to say the least.
User avatar
Irongron
Server Owner/Creative Lead
Server Owner/Creative Lead
Posts: 4787
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:13 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Irongron »

I removed the Weave Eaters from all but one of these areas, and reduced the frequency at which they spawn.

Remember they have low perception ranges, so a careful traveler can avoid them.
User avatar
Party in the forest at midnight
Posts: 1458
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 4:55 pm

Re: Forest of Despair

Post by Party in the forest at midnight »

Thank you very much!
Post Reply