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The Sword of Truth Series...

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:49 am
by midnight08_ns3
Ok, so i started playing a new server about 3-4 years ago, and i go to their donation box and find an npc selling a price guide... in it i see a few things that made the server a keeper. Darkan Rahl's Sword, and The Belt of D'Hara. I dont know how many of the devs have read the Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind, but its an awesome series... And thats where the concept for these items comes from (Darkan Rahl is one of the main bad guys, and D'Hara is the country he rules)... Also noted is th NPC Kahlan in Garagoth (Kahlan is another one of th main characters in the series)... I would love to see an area dedicated to this world. Possibly with areas leeding to Bosses such as Jagang and the Keeper of Souls... and drops that can include " The Sword of Truth", "Richard Rahls Battle Gear", and the 3 "Boxes of Orden" There are plenty of ways this area could go and since part of the world is already imbedded into NS it seems like this would be a great addition for those of us who have noticed teh connections ns has made with the series.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:54 am
by midnight08_ns3
would be nice to see this as either a post 18 area with gear around the level of other drops in that range (Dragon Realm, G1, etc...) with maybe the keepers realm (the underworld) being an area for higher levels...

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:38 am
by Jabronius_ns3
Although I appreciate the updates to NS and think that they were executed well, I don't think it's a good idea to borrow too much from other established works. To put it bluntly, if I wanted to play on a server dedicated to the Lord of the Rings, Sword of Truth or Star Wars, I would. Neversummer has its own flavor, which is one of the reasons it's enjoyable to play here, and that flavor is worth preserving. I used to play a MUD a long time ago that had original areas, but all the updates were cribbed from various fantasy or science fiction novels or movies. It ended up being a hodge-podge of confusing areas, rules and equipment - not worth playing. There's so much good about NS, there's no need to borrow from elsewhere.

Thanks again to the DMs and Pros for creating and maintaining a great persistent game world.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:02 pm
by Dr_Fangorn_ns3
Jabronius, you make some valid points. Midnight, if you've played on the updated version of NS3.5, you will have seen that D'hara already has an increased presence in the mod...the whole Bottomless Pits and DR's Chambers has been replaced by 4 or 5 maps with a touch of what you're asking for. This has been in the mod for months (heh)!

I thought I might as well throw in my two cents here. When Pros and I decided to update the mod, we agreed to stay as true to form to the original mod as possible. I think you all can appreciate this when using a critical unbiased eye. The decision to use a bit of D'hara was obvious, we have a bad guy named Darken Rahl with a bit of previously created itemry from that realm, so why not bring a bit of it in? I don't think its excessive, nor do I think the mod is in danger of becoming a hodgepodge of confusion.

Just explore and enjoy what Pros and I have made for you guys.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:29 pm
by Jabronius_ns3
Dr. Fangorn, thanks for the reply. I agree wholeheartedly with you and the other admins' updates to D'hara and the other existing areas on Neversummer. Prior to the updates it seemed D'hara (Bottomless Pit), the Enchanted Forest and Melencia got ignored by most players, including myself. There just didn't seem to be too much to do in those areas and no tangible payoff for visiting (yes, that's greedy of me). Now, though, those areas are much more intriguing to visit, even if your toons get whomped.
My main worries were about the brand-new areas. To be honest, the only one I've entered is Hobbitowne, and only for a brief look around. However when someone mentioned finding a light sabre in Starfall, I cringed. Maybe that was just that player's term for the item, but what the heck is a sci-fi weapon doing in a swords & sorcery world? A few odd relics make things interesting, but I'd be disappointed to see Imperial Storm Troopers running around in the future.
Again, I really appreciate all the effort put into keeping NS fresh, and fleshing out the existing areas only integrated them better into the mod. I'll take a longer look at the new areas when I get a chance.

Thanks again.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:04 pm
by midnight08_ns3
sorry, pac player here so havent seen updates yet... Cool tho im pretty sure i'll enjoy the changes. Thx for listenin

Mid

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:32 pm
by Dr_Fangorn_ns3
I'm an avid scifi/fantasy reader, and this has helped fuel the creative fires for all the updates without incredibly overt plagarism. Don't worry, the Lightsaber is just a name for a fancy longsword. We're non-CEP, so the graphics for this sword isn't any different, the name is simply an incredibly small homage to the "scifi" theme that Starfall fits. When you get the chance to explore this area, I think you'll be quite satisfied with what Pros and I aimed to do.

starfall base

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:50 pm
by hiro_ns3
i personally find an area where 35+ wizzy types get whomped bad and buffs last like snow in firestorm quite pleasing. Something to be said for a place where the lack of a cleric or mage in the party isnt a "run-killer".

since the monsters have not shown themselves outside of the area they are intrinsic to i have no doubts that having imperial storm troopers over run NS in anything but a DM event is unlikely at best...

i LIKE it, and i havent found a single "phaser" or "pulser" or what have you that would be completely out of game balance - just a nice set of not quite triton blades with some non (LotR type) fantasy names...and if u dont think jedis and "use the force, luke" is fantasy try that run on the death star yourself, but sub Iraq for the Deathstar and a F16 with no instruments but Mk 1 eyeball to target ....you'll see even in a simulator that its pure fantasy lol!!!
:shock: :roll: :shock:
my .02 bucks...

bless yall.

laotzo

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:07 am
by Jabronius_ns3
To expand on Hiro's observation, I wonder how many people would enjoy an area in which physical attacks were nullified? It's never been my experience that lacking a spellcaster has proved to be a "run-killer." In fact, there aren't many spell-casting toons on the server I play (West). The strength of the mobs prevents mass-kill or damage spells from having the devastating effects they can have on lower-powered mods. Couple that with spellcasting types' (usually) weaker melee abilities, and you can see that NS is, in my opinion, very friendly to melee-based toons.
And yes, I'm aware that sci-fi and swords and sorcery are both "fantasy" in that they create imaginative, impossible worlds. My main concern wasn't for game balance but for flavor or style. I'd be unhappy if NS became a knock-off of an established fantasy world of whatever kind. But Dr. Fangorn pointed out that's not going to happen, so I'll have fun exploring the new areas, too.

I just won't bring a wizard :wink:

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:44 pm
by Dr_Fangorn_ns3
The redesigned Melencia has casters that are mostly immune to all types of physical damage. This was done to encourage the absolute requirement of a mage to finish this area. The stuff that Felix Arcanus drops is pretty decent stuff for a casting character. Anyone want the monsters here made completely physical immune? ;)

Hmm. I still have that tower in the Perian Hills to finish.... *idea*

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 2:05 pm
by Acara_ns3
meh.. if most stuff were immune to physical everyone would have a mage and there would be a lack of tanks..

the felix arcanus set.. decent for what level ranges? 1-18? 18-23? 23+?

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 2:40 pm
by Sohl_ns3
1-18

And.. I will refrain myself to address the little "incident" I had with the Elemental Lord when I took my mage to fight him... :roll:
.. mumblessomethingaboutthosedamnfangtricks.. :lol:

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:34 pm
by DM Xero_ns3
The boots could easily be worn by a level 40 mage that wanted a couple more spell slots, they're quite good.

As for the elemental lord, he's the Elemental Lord after all, I'd assume you would want to choose carefully what kind of damage your mage is doing to him...

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:19 pm
by Dr_Fangorn_ns3
People have to explore the renovations more....there's a lot of good preepic (1-18th) equipment that has been designed to be quite useful well into the epic levels....its just a matter of habit that people tend to follow the same rote levelling pattern and equipping pattern (level 18 = G1 gear, then 23 = EC gear, 25th get your triton, then wait until level 40 for your NS armor...yadda yadda yadda). I've made the class specific stuff quite reasonable to wear into your epic levels. Or so I thought.

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:29 pm
by Sohl_ns3
Are you making fun of me? Are you? UH? Uh? uh?
*runs and screams* DM Xero is stalking meeeeeeeeee!
*A big thud is heard and the echo fades away, nothing left but silence*