Arelith

Dalenger wrote: Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:48 pm "The epic-roll reward system is flawed" is a take as old as the forums. No one will disagree with you that, indeed, the current reward system most benefits players who have the time to run circles around the most optimal XP farm spots on the server for weeks on end until they (maybe?) one day get that sweet, sweet 5% roll. The current system doesn't exist because it is perfect, but because there are no alternatives. Basically the only two other options are: rely on DMs to hand out rewards, which opens the door to favoritism and punishes players in less-moderated timezones; or, remove the 5% entirely (which, tbh, I'm not entirely opposed to) but in doing so remove a bit of the flavor and magic from the server. Its not perfect, but it's what we've got, and it works.

Honestly, if you are a returning player who hasn't played in a bit, why focus on Yuan-ti or other reward races so much? There are 1001 different character concepts on the server, with a ton of start locations, tons of new classes, tons of toys anyone can play... what's wrong with all of that? Unique, interesting RP doesn't spring from 5% races, but from the quality of the players who make it happen.

A priest of Vhaeraun because I want something unique and dangerous to RP, keeping me on my toes

Xerah wrote: Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:00 pm My recommendation is to pick a character you have fun with and just see where it goes. Stop caring about what you don't have and what others have and just focus on being the best character you can be. When that story ends, you can roll that character and maybe you can do a unique race or do another more simple character. Yes, it's unfortunate to play a serious character for a while and only end up with a normal reward, but there are other chances to roll or other characters to play. I've been playing this game for 16+ years and still have tons of concepts to play that don't require rewards/requests/etc.

Xerah wrote: Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:00 pm First off, rewards are getting tweeked in the future, but keep getting sidetracked for other things. Also, there is a way to restore your old RPR if you want to take that route.

I've been here for 3-4 years and I don't feel anything has fundamentally changed for the worse. A lot of stuff has actually gotten significantly better when it comes to RP and systems designed to allow for RP.

That said, one of the common things that I've been creeping up since I started playing has been this focus on only wanting to play these rare/unique reward races. A rare racial concept does not make an interesting character and it seems to be common to let the uniqueness of the race carry the rest of the character. If you focus too much on only the rewards, you end up having a horrible time because everything is about what you don't have.

D&D is inherently a combat based game that also has Roleplay. Do people just do combat over the exclusion of RP (to a degree; they still must be in character)? Yes, of course, and no one is going to police that. The opposite is also true which is why we have spent a lot of time developing systems to promote this (i.e. writs, adventure RP and all the sources, etc.) Also remember that having a powerful character does not mean you can't also be a good roleplayer.

My recommendation is to pick a character you have fun with and just see where it goes. Stop caring about what you don't have and what others have and just focus on being the best character you can be. When that story ends, you can roll that character and maybe you can do a unique race or do another more simple character. Yes, it's unfortunate to play a serious character for a while and only end up with a normal reward, but there are other chances to roll or other characters to play. I've been playing this game for 16+ years and still have tons of concepts to play that don't require rewards/requests/etc.

Ebonstar wrote: Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:24 pm Just from that list of four, the two drow choices will first have you hunted down on one by traditionalists, and the other for trying to put yourself on the same level as a priestess of lolth. two very hard and in need of dedication to the rp to get anywhere.

Dr. B wrote: Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:27 pm Word to the wise: if you play a Cleric of Vhaeraun, don't reveal your nature to other players in tells.

source: personal experience

Reallylongunneededplayername wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:12 am time lock:

minor, 1 month old char
the rest: 2 months
Major, 3 months

Not fixing the solution but it will reduce it.

lvl 15 guldorand start: Not able to turn in a reward. (I mean this one is the quick to next grind award if I ever seen one)

Edit: Welcome back.

Watchful Glare wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 6:45 pm

Reallylongunneededplayername wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:12 am time lock:

minor, 1 month old char
the rest: 2 months
Major, 3 months

Not fixing the solution but it will reduce it.

lvl 15 guldorand start: Not able to turn in a reward. (I mean this one is the quick to next grind award if I ever seen one)

Edit: Welcome back.

This had not ocurred to me, but it's decent. The one that had ocurred to me was one where you could recommend people based on their RP. (Antagonistic, good manners, great writing, plot-creation, different categories) Giving DMs a way to easily pick on that and then stealthily verify without having to be relying on possessing the lamp-post at the right time, or narrowing it down to people they've had the pleasure (or displeasure) of actually RPing with. They are humans with limited time, after all.

malcolm_mountainslayer wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:59 pm

Watchful Glare wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 6:45 pm

Reallylongunneededplayername wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:12 am time lock:

minor, 1 month old char
the rest: 2 months
Major, 3 months

Not fixing the solution but it will reduce it.

lvl 15 guldorand start: Not able to turn in a reward. (I mean this one is the quick to next grind award if I ever seen one)

Edit: Welcome back.

This had not ocurred to me, but it's decent. The one that had ocurred to me was one where you could recommend people based on their RP. (Antagonistic, good manners, great writing, plot-creation, different categories) Giving DMs a way to easily pick on that and then stealthily verify without having to be relying on possessing the lamp-post at the right time, or narrowing it down to people they've had the pleasure (or displeasure) of actually RPing with. They are humans with limited time, after all.

Considering people would not even reach rpr 20 with the recommendation system, I think we have enough data to know we should not rely on the human factor in that specific manner/regard.


Apparently they have their own solution for a while though so let's just wait. I assume a time lock will have longer durations than 1-3 months though.

DM Rex wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:26 pm They can be boosted by 30 and 40 rprs. 20s can recommend but not mechanically raise.

Might-N-Magic wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:05 am The system as it is now promotes equality of opportunity, whereas what you're asking for is favortism, OP.

We had that system before the change, it was terrible. DMs are people and as such, fall into the same traps people fall into. They tend to watch the same people (they like) repeatedly. It still happens to this day, wherein I hear from the same players constantly about how they seem to "draw DM attention" when I've almost never had DM interaction once in my life since playing before the server split.

Even then, if you found the perfect and unbiased person to DM, you still invite favoritism of another sort. Do you know how many DMs are roving about at 4 am? About none. The system as it is now ensures fairness for everyone, even you.

You having to grunt it out (just like everybody else) is preferable to 99.99% of 16,000 active players (if stats are to be believed) being ignored because DM eyeballs are very few and far between. I couldn't even imagine how much more rare things in the reward system would be if we all had to wait to be noticed.