Ask the Staff!

[AlphaDelphi]

I think I remember a character who carried powder kegs in a Bag of Holding when I was playing Amir!

I was comparing the functionality between the NWN Shifter and the PNP Shifter. The addition of other classes into that comparison is a slippery slope and eventually you can get to the point that there's no need for any class except cleric since they can fill every role needed.

And, I can understand not allowing a class because of being overpowered or doesn't fit the flavor of the server. But to point at overlapping classes as a reason I can't understand. To say a choice is unneeded for the simple fact that there are other choices similar but not exactly alike isn't something I can understand. It's not as if you're saving resources by disallowing the class.

I currently have a PNP shifter on another server. Some of his current forms include a deer, a white stag, a falcon, a rat, a bear, a few different wolves, a flamingo, a commoner, a guard dog, multiple orcs, giants, goblins, and a shark... don't ask. He is also a shaman as his base class instead of druid, which instantly changes his story. No, he's not a protector of nature like a druid, he's a spirit speaker and skin walker and this connection with the spirits is what helps him learn these shapes.

This completely changed his character development from the beginning as NWN shifter can only be druid which pigeonholes the character into a defender or defiler of nature. Just the fact that more classes can qualify for the PNP shifter can change the development and RP of a character. i believe in playing the classes and that the classes your characters take should be based on who they are.

[Eldwen/DM Kallisti]

The harm in allowing 2 classes of the same name, with the distinction only being were they're derived from, would come in trying to make them different as far as they're roleplay. The difference with the Samurai classes are in which book/edition they come from. There is no way to roleplay a Samurai CW, because it just means the Samurai class comes from Complete Warrior.

It's the same case with Shifter, you can't roleplay the difference, because one in made by NwN, and one with "PnP" on it is from the PRC, as far as roleplay goes they're the exact same class. You can't roleplay what source your class comes from. We will not be allowing the PnP shifter, due to the fact that another class with the same name, flavor, and abilities exists in standard NwN.

We are, first and foremost, a Roleplay server. As such, it's in bad taste to allow 2 classes with the same roleplay flavor, but different mechanical benefits. With the case of limiting Shifter to only Druid, once again we don't control what NwN, and the PRC added, but between the two we know that NwN is both more "core", and more stable within the system.

With that said, we expect people to roleplay their classes, but we're not forcing you to only roleplay what is in your class. With the PRC we have a much larger tool-box to come up with more diverse character builds, but with characters the PRC does not add the ability to make them more interesting. Instead of building your character from the get-go with a set goal of levels, feats, skills, and classes in mind, try to make a character with traits and flaws that are real, understandable, and fleshed out. Roleplay comes from the player, not the classes they choose. As a personal opinion, I would say make an application for your shaman, and keep the basic personality, but let them experience an entirely new story, and as such traits, with a new server.

[Corsair]

You absolutely can roleplay the difference. The Samurai one is simple, although I wonder why anyone would inflict those awful classes upon themselves - they studied different forms of combat. You're quite wrong about the PRC not being a factor in making interesting characters, as the PRC provides for more viable options. Yes, in roleplay any option is technically viable, but this isn't a no rules or diceless game, and character builds do matter.

Your whole basis seems to be "Banned because we have an option that is more restrictive both in who can take the class and how the class can be used, and that should be good enough."Your logic would make sense if you were banning the crappy NWN version, but banning the new one on those grounds is nonsensical.

[Eldwen/DM Kallisti]

Hey guys, thank you for the input. We'll look into PnP shifter again.

I'd like to open this thread up to other questions people may have. If you would like to continue talking about the PnP shifter please send me a PM

[AlphaDelphi]

This isn't about the PNP Shifter but questions clarifications on some points and questions on others.

Oct 11, 2014 7:25:40 GMT -6 Eldwen/DM Kallisti said:

Instead of building your character from the get-go with a set goal of levels, feats, skills, and classes in mind, try to make a character with traits and flaws that are real, understandable, and fleshed out. Roleplay comes from the player, not the classes they choose. As a personal opinion, I would say make an application for your shaman, and keep the basic personality, but let them experience an entirely new story, and as such traits, with a new server.

This is the character I played longest on Moonsea/Deepingdale.

Amir Ra'id Sabir

I created Amir with an idea of his personality and his motivations. As you can see, Amir had weaknesses, a history, flaws, background, story, and his classes fit who he was so your lecture on how to make a character was really unneeded. Yes, I had a general plan of classes, feats, stats and skills to fit that concept. But as he developed, some of those plans changed and like a writer making a character for a novel, I watched him evolve from a combination of his backstory, his classes, skills, stats and in game experiences. I think it takes all of it to make a good character and planning is a part of that. I'm sorry if you don't see it that way. In my opinion, goal oriented characters, which adventurers tend to be, usually make plans. If your young elf has decided they are going to become a bladesinger because they have always idolized them and you as a player haven't decided on what feats/skills/classes he needs to get there, yeah. Good luck with that.

Further, some just like playing certain classes. What's wrong with that? Aalynar won't remember me but when I was on Myth Drannor, he played a bladesinger mentor. I played a novice bladesinger but he had a different mentor. Aalynar though taught my character more about the art because the player and character had a passion for it and he played that character very well. He played it so well that in my four months there before switching to Moonsea/Deepingdale, he was the only character I remembered.

I'd not make an application for my shaman here, that wasn't the point. I don't usually recycle characters outside of basic appearance because if I did, I'd recycle Amir.

So, the question comes, as staff, is it frowned upon that a person might come up with a character concept then based on that decide on what classes, stats, skills, and feats best represent that? Are players expected to happen upon prestige classes without no prior planning because that's unlikely that a person will just happen to have the right feats to qualify for a prestige class even on the list of non-app classes.

[Eldwen/DM Kallisti]

I apologize about my message coming off the wrong way. My intention behind that post wasn't to insult your, or anyone else's ability to roleplay.

is it frowned upon that a person might come up with a character concept then based on that decide on what classes, stats, skills, and feats best represent that?

What you posted is exactly what I want to have happen with characters; however, what we as a staff don't want is someone to decide on what classes, stats, skill and feats are the most powerful, or for another reason, then try and wrap their characters around this level 20 build concept.

When a character is made to fit a build, or role in mind based on their final level, the player misses out on the best part of this server. They miss out on progression, and interaction with other members of the community. They instead focus in on achieving that 20th level, which leads to grinding, excessive dungeon crawling, and usually a character where their defining traits are what class abilities they have, or substituting their character's personality with trying to get wings, tail, or another special feature to distinguish themselves.

the staff's primary goal is to facilitate a roleplay environment in the server. To this end we simply encourage players to develop their characters based on the events past and present that have happened in their lives, and then make a decision based on that for their mechanical representation of their abilities, personality, and class choices. We don't mind if someone has their build planned out, but don't forget that you need to play every level of your character starting from 2, and a lot will change from when you first step into the server.

[Corsair]

That's a nice sentiment Eldwen, and if we were freeform roleplaying it would work, but this is Neverwinter. Hardly anyone is going to deliberately hobble their character just because it goes with the RP. Nobody is going to take some worthless feat like Snakeblooded or Thug because it goes with the character, because no matter how good your RP is, well, if people just wanted to roleplay they'd use a chatroom. Take it from a guy who played a Rogue on a server where ninety percent of the enemies were undead, playing a crippled character is not fun.

[Eldwen/DM Kallisti]

All I'm saying here is to roleplay your character from beginning to end, and don't railroad yourself to being fixated on that last level. Let your character develop, and share that with the community. The best characters come with surprises, or changes in how they develop throughout their journey. This server is planning to be the most active between levels 2-15, not a bum rush to 20.

Let's get back to the heart of this thread. It's intent is for staff/player transparency. So, who else has questions about the server, staff, or other questions that we haven't answered.

[AlphaDelphi]

I have another question, though this time just from an informative point of view. What's the status of crafting, PRC version or otherwise, and the stance the staff is taking on it?

[Eldwen/DM Kallisti]

The current standing on crafting will just to conform to the server's standard of limitations for items. At this time I'm not certain exactly how crafting will play out, but there hasn't been any real talk about banning or allowing it. So the current and probably future status is it's open, as long as they don't exceed +2 enchantment, to include special abilities placed on them. I'll post a better answer here in the near future, with a list of does and don'ts once I talk it over with Stille.

[AlphaDelphi]

To keep down the continual discussion that has gone on so far, I'm going to ask a question that can be answered with a yes or no.

Are divine casters subject to needing spell components?

[AlphaDelphi]

Also, another question that will likely take a little more than yes or no.

What are the plans for DM quests and interaction with the playerbase? Are there plans to make these scheduled, regular events? Will their be more than one plotline running to accommodate different play schedules?

[Eldwen/DM Kallisti]

So first. Both Divine, and Arcane casters have spell components.

Second, our plan is to have an overarching story plot, with multiple sections to be done over time. During that time, we will also run smaller events that contribute to the plot. DM's will additionally run some smaller events. Players can request for a DM to do a plot for their character progression, but we encourage that this plot can also allow other players to participate.

[necrotopia]

Is the server down? I haven't been able to connect to it for the past 5 days or so using the direct connect information posted.

[fairymaster]

If this server is PRC 3.5 why don't the ranger is set by default rules?

Like 4+int skill points instead of 6?

I just wanna play the better ranger of 3.5.Is that really possible?