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Post by DM Sauron on Feb 8, 2022 14:17:06 GMT -5
Hello FRCers, Before we begin to work, we probably should take into account feedback for this one. Please vote and share your thoughts or ideas for a potential second starting location.
- Only 1 option so choose the one you like the most.
- The settlements of the list are the easiest ones to convert, balance and are the ones that would be ready sooner.
Edit:
Hard No locations are below. The logistics involved for converting those are beyond the build team scope.
Immersea Arabel Tyrluk Dhedluk Waymoot Shallybrook
Espar Eveningstar Hilp... lol High Horn
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Post by Sioladuil on Feb 8, 2022 14:18:23 GMT -5
'mon the Marsember
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Post by LightsInTheSky on Feb 8, 2022 14:31:42 GMT -5
Marsember
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Post by ShadowCatJen on Feb 8, 2022 14:32:13 GMT -5
There's a little fishing town in Cormyr called Moonever. 2nd edition from Volo's Guide to Cormyr and it's the nearest town to Marsember. It's situated in the East so it can cover for new PCs coming from that direction. So here's the thought: Just like GG, level 1-6 for Moonever, then expand -to- Marsember as the 7-12. Goodness knows Marsember needs more leveling content and I think it would fit better as a mid range as opposed to a starting location.
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Post by Sioladuil on Feb 8, 2022 14:34:38 GMT -5
There's a little fishing town in Cormyr called Moonever. 2nd edition from Volo's Guide to Cormyr and it's the nearest town to Marsember. It's situated in the East so it can cover for new PCs coming from that direction. So here's the thought: Just like GG, level 1-6 for Moonever, then expand -to- Marsember as the 7-12. Goodness knows Marsember needs more leveling content and I think it would fit better as a mid range as opposed to a starting location. Seconded.
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Post by DM Grizwald on Feb 8, 2022 15:38:26 GMT -5
I clicked Marsember before I read Jen's post about Moonever. An idea I super duper like.
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Post by DM Sauron on Feb 8, 2022 15:42:37 GMT -5
I actually was thinking that town msyelf as something new to add, but instead of Sam's stew, there would be...
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Post by EDM Deliverance on Feb 8, 2022 15:45:51 GMT -5
I actually was thiking that town msyelf as something new to add, but instead of Sam's stew, there would be...
I'm convinced you wrote season 8! Also, my vote is for Moonever. Good stuff Jen!
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Post by vulpes on Feb 8, 2022 15:53:57 GMT -5
Suzail fo sho! It’s the capital of Cormyr and has a port and connections to all over the place. It’s also big enough map wise to be interesting. Somewhere newcomers would go for sure, then wander off or stay depending on city or country preferences.
If you are making “another GG” just as a new spawn area seems a bit “samey”?
“Suzail (pronounced: /suːˈzeɪl/ soo-ZALE) was the capital of Cormyr and the seat of power. It was named after Suzara Obarskyr, the mother of the first king. It was originally the farm of Ondeth Obarskyr, the father of the first king.Suzail was a large port city on the shores of lake Dragonmere. The capital had a direct link to Waterdeep via the Waterdeep portal.”
Why leave some backwarer town to go to another backwater town in Cormyr? Some people have aspirations, others have Greatgaunt 🤣
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Post by malclave on Feb 8, 2022 15:56:09 GMT -5
I actually was thinking that town msyelf as something new to add, but instead of Sam's stew, there would be...
Ummm... I guess that's the new Molly Malone?
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Post by brygun on Feb 8, 2022 16:01:38 GMT -5
What are we trying to solve with this?
New players have a hard time as it is making up teams of even 2 or 3.
That said I 2nd stage area... like level 7 to 12... seems like a good idea. For that the Capital and thus seeing the history of kingdom make much more sense.
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Post by grivel on Feb 8, 2022 16:16:03 GMT -5
I picked a new one, but I would have picked Shallybrook. Manus needs the business.
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Post by ShadowCatJen on Feb 8, 2022 16:18:38 GMT -5
I actually was thinking that town msyelf as something new to add, but instead of Sam's stew, there would be...
Hopping off of that, have the "lead in" quest between Moonever and Marsember be taking a shipment of fish from one to the other alla Garrot to Bron. ... and maybe even an "in town" quest of fishing up four or five raw fish to be boxed up for shipping? Maybe even a sort of tutorial for the fishing system? Dunno, but lots can be done with it.
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Post by Runa Rothgar on Feb 8, 2022 16:44:05 GMT -5
There's a little fishing town in Cormyr called Moonever. 2nd edition from Volo's Guide to Cormyr and it's the nearest town to Marsember. It's situated in the East so it can cover for new PCs coming from that direction. So here's the thought: Just like GG, level 1-6 for Moonever, then expand -to- Marsember as the 7-12. Goodness knows Marsember needs more leveling content and I think it would fit better as a mid range as opposed to a starting location. I like this idea. Actually hermit's wood is so open too for adventure and cool adventuring tidbits/lore that isn't too detailed. I actually ran a quest in Hermit's Wood for the fun of it during my EDM days. Hermit's wood the new Bramblewood.
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Post by lovedbyyendis on Feb 8, 2022 17:15:35 GMT -5
Tickled by the "hilp... lol"
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Feb 8, 2022 18:34:23 GMT -5
There's a little fishing town in Cormyr called Moonever. 2nd edition from Volo's Guide to Cormyr and it's the nearest town to Marsember. It's situated in the East so it can cover for new PCs coming from that direction. So here's the thought: Just like GG, level 1-6 for Moonever, then expand -to- Marsember as the 7-12. Goodness knows Marsember needs more leveling content and I think it would fit better as a mid range as opposed to a starting location. I like this idea. Actually hermit's wood is so open too for adventure and cool adventuring tidbits/lore that isn't too detailed. I actually ran a quest in Hermit's Wood for the fun of it during my EDM days. Hermit's wood the new Bramblewood. Marsember received a wonderful facelift many years back, I did some of the conceptual work for how it needed to look, Leve took that and did an amazing job on the entire city. The Marsember Interiors though didn't receive much attention, nor did it get a full window dressing with fake shops etc like Suzail. I would like to see that happen. I would also love to see it play out this way, Marsember is wide open for new quests, and I would love it if they retained a little of the lawlessness so common on Marsember streets.
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Feb 8, 2022 18:36:06 GMT -5
I clicked Marsember before I read Jen's post about Moonever. An idea I super duper like. I think a vote for Marsember and a vote for Moonover are kinda the same since one would expand right into the other. I voted Marsember because moonover isn't on the list but I love the idea of a small village/big city combo like that for a new starting area.
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Feb 8, 2022 18:40:05 GMT -5
Also, add Hilp to the list you weakling.
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Post by DM Sauron on Feb 8, 2022 18:50:23 GMT -5
I clicked Marsember before I read Jen's post about Moonever. An idea I super duper like. I think a vote for Marsember and a vote for Moonover are kinda the same since one would expand right into the other. I voted Marsember because moonover isn't on the list but I love the idea of a small village/big city combo like that for a new starting area.
Seeing the results so far, it is likely going to be a combination of Moonever as the starting location + new Marsember content and maybe Hermit's Wood. Hermit's Wood is not as dangerous as the Hullack, the Bramblewood, the Mistwood or the Kngsforest though.
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Post by styxxbone1 on Feb 8, 2022 18:51:13 GMT -5
Turnip Ville's Keep on the Border Lands. Farm lands teeming with starry eyed farm children dreaming of becoming famous adventurers... After finding their fathers old sword hidden in the barn, they catch the first Turnip Wagon to Cornwood... Die horribly in the wilderness and become another random bone pile...
styxx
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Feb 8, 2022 19:32:12 GMT -5
Just seeing this talked about is pretty refreshing. The same old single starting area has become so stale over the years. Even through the eyes of a new PC it's unbearable for me LOL
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Post by Yendis on Feb 8, 2022 20:21:22 GMT -5
Jester's Green, north of Suzail.
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Feb 8, 2022 20:53:25 GMT -5
Jester's Green, north of Suzail. In the past I was a big proponent of Suzail, or nearby Jester's Green as starting locations, after lots of thought though I determined Marsember would be better on the whole. It would be easy to either insert some areas when leaving Marsember, before reaching the Steel Fields, and otherwise anything branching from Marsember is open game. No areas or encounters in other directions to worry about. Suzail is far more established and rife with encounters to redo for lower levels. I suppose Jester's green could be built and have low level encounters surrounding it, but they would be separated by a hair from what are much higher level encounters. It was all but decided at one point that Suzail would be the start in the mod at a distant point in the past, but I think when the build team looked at the task, it just wasn't doable with our build team/resources at that time, perhaps thats still the case or perhaps not.
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Mehangel
New Member
Acolyte of Rillifane Rallathil: The True Oak Green
Posts: 88
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Post by Mehangel on Feb 8, 2022 20:54:48 GMT -5
I voted for Marsember, but like others, I want the actual start area to be Moonever, with Hermit's Wood and Marsember expansions.
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TrueBlueOriginal
Old School
Kira Pashar Divine Temptress of Sharess 💋
Posts: 414
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Post by TrueBlueOriginal on Feb 8, 2022 23:15:53 GMT -5
I voted a new one in Cormyr. There's still a lot of Cormyr along the southeast coast that doesn't exist in the module. Cormyr runs all the way to Battlerise on the Way of the Manticore south of the Vast Swamp so I'd love to see places like Nesmyth (village), Bogbrook (village), Moonever (town), Blustich (hamlet), Wheloon (small city), Dreamer's Rock (hamlet), Monksblade (village), and Battlerise (hamlet) added to the module.
I voted for a new location as the second starting location so the new location can be built with the level content for the location.
I'd personally recommend Battlerise. It's a small hamlet that's just on the Cormyr side of the border with Sembia.
Of course there's a cluster of small villages northeast of Marsember and south of the Way of the Manticore that could be used as staging locations for adventures in the Hermit's Wood. These include Moonever (southwest of Hermit's Wood, on the coast), Blustich (southeast of Hermit's Wood, on the coast), and Bogbrook and Nesmyth (both between the Starwater River and Hermit's Wood).
Anyway, that's my thought. I plan to keep playing my existing characters, but I'd love to visit a starting location that's used to expand into some of these potential new locations.
Hermit's Wood might not be the best adventuring site though, as, supposedly, no sentient creatures dwell there. But, you know, maybe there's a reason for that.
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Feb 8, 2022 23:32:58 GMT -5
I voted a new one in Cormyr. There's still a lot of Cormyr along the southeast coast that doesn't exist in the module. Cormyr runs all the way to Battlerise on the Way of the Manticore south of the Vast Swamp so I'd love to see places like Nesmyth (village), Bogbrook (village), Moonever (town), Blustich (hamlet), Wheloon (small city), Dreamer's Rock (hamlet), Monksblade (village), and Battlerise (hamlet) added to the module. I voted for a new location as the second starting location so the new location can be built with the level content for the location. I'd personally recommend Battlerise. It's a small hamlet that's just on the Cormyr side of the border with Sembia. Of course there's a cluster of small villages northeast of Marsember and south of the Way of the Manticore that could be used as staging locations for adventures in the Hermit's Wood. These include Moonever (southwest of Hermit's Wood, on the coast), Blustich (southeast of Hermit's Wood, on the coast), and Bogbrook and Nesmyth (both between the Starwater River and Hermit's Wood). Anyway, that's my thought. I plan to keep playing my existing characters, but I'd love to visit a starting location that's used to expand into some of these potential new locations. Hermit's Wood might not be the best adventuring site though, as, supposedly, no sentient creatures dwell there. But, you know, maybe there's a reason for that. I agree with most of this, my one feeling is that enough new module has been expanded into, but there is still an existing major city that is pretty light on content. Marsember has few businesses worth visiting, and no quests, and the interiors are largely outdated in many of the buildings you can go in. Those are my reasons for wanting to see Moonover/Marsember/Hermit Wood as the new starting area. The whole Marsember area feels, and has always felt, unfinished to me. Since it's where my character lives, Alizarin is there, and the Leering Lecher, my three primary areas of interest are all in Marsmber so I have a bias, probably one shared by the entire membership of Alizarin though...which is fairly substantial with something around 12-14 very active members.
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Post by Luckbringer on Feb 9, 2022 9:45:21 GMT -5
I'm a fan of Marsember because I really enjoy the updated version of it & there could also be a lot more added to/around it. However, something to keep in mind is player density for the server & for new characters. IMO, FRC already has too many towns that aren't differentiated enough or used enough to consider adding a new one: what would be lost if one of Dhedluk or Waymoot disappeared and the quests were aggregated to one town? I was tempted to do that myself at one point, but there just wouldn't have been support for that change at the time Only 3-4 towns have ever been much of a meeting spot for players & GG has really been the only consistent one, despite a number of module changes to try and lure higher levels to congregate elsewhere. Adding another town just dilutes this more & makes it less likely to randomly come across others. This is particularly important for low levels and new players. Likely the two most important factors for new player retention are how easy it is to find RP & how easy it is to find someone of similar level to make a party. If there are two spots for low levels then you are halving low level density and making both of these things harder. That's not to say don't make a new starting experience at all costs, but if you do, I strongly suggest considering ways to mitigate the above issues. You could make the two low level towns easy to go back and forth between. This could be a direct caravan route (and at reduced cost for < level 6?) This could be a low level only quest (deliver messages?) that pays gold to go from one starting town to the other, so it's not a net negative to go look at the other town. You could even add OOC mechanisms to show character locations (but opt-in and only show in towns, not wilderness or dungeons).
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Post by DM Sauron on Feb 9, 2022 9:59:04 GMT -5
I'm a fan of Marsember because I really enjoy the updated version of it & there could also be a lot more added to/around it. However, something to keep in mind is player density for the server & for new characters. IMO, FRC already has too many towns that aren't differentiated enough or used enough to consider adding a new one: what would be lost if one of Dhedluk or Waymoot disappeared and the quests were aggregated to one town? I was tempted to do that myself at one point, but there just wouldn't have been support for that change at the time Only 3-4 towns have ever been much of a meeting spot for players & GG has really been the only consistent one, despite a number of module changes to try and lure higher levels to congregate elsewhere. Adding another town just dilutes this more & makes it less likely to randomly come across others. This is particularly important for low levels and new players. Likely the two most important factors for new player retention are how easy it is to find RP & how easy it is to find someone of similar level to make a party. If there are two spots for low levels then you are halving low level density and making both of these things harder. That's not to say don't make a new starting experience at all costs, but if you do, I strongly suggest considering ways to mitigate the above issues. You could make the two low level towns easy to go back and forth between. This could be a direct caravan route (and at reduced cost for < level 6?) This could be a low level only quest (deliver messages?) that pays gold to go from one starting town to the other, so it's not a net negative to go look at the other town. You could even add OOC mechanisms to show character locations (but opt-in and only show in towns, not wilderness or dungeons).
Thore are very good points and suggestions. If it ends up being Moonever + Marsember, maybe a ferry to Valkur's Roar will work better and make more sense than caravans.
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Post by Animayhem on Feb 9, 2022 10:52:45 GMT -5
I'm a fan of Marsember because I really enjoy the updated version of it & there could also be a lot more added to/around it. However, something to keep in mind is player density for the server & for new characters. IMO, FRC already has too many towns that aren't differentiated enough or used enough to consider adding a new one: what would be lost if one of Dhedluk or Waymoot disappeared and the quests were aggregated to one town? I was tempted to do that myself at one point, but there just wouldn't have been support for that change at the time Only 3-4 towns have ever been much of a meeting spot for players & GG has really been the only consistent one, despite a number of module changes to try and lure higher levels to congregate elsewhere. Adding another town just dilutes this more & makes it less likely to randomly come across others. This is particularly important for low levels and new players. Likely the two most important factors for new player retention are how easy it is to find RP & how easy it is to find someone of similar level to make a party. If there are two spots for low levels then you are halving low level density and making both of these things harder. That's not to say don't make a new starting experience at all costs, but if you do, I strongly suggest considering ways to mitigate the above issues. You could make the two low level towns easy to go back and forth between. This could be a direct caravan route (and at reduced cost for < level 6?) This could be a low level only quest (deliver messages?) that pays gold to go from one starting town to the other, so it's not a net negative to go look at the other town. You could even add OOC mechanisms to show character locations (but opt-in and only show in towns, not wilderness or dungeons).
This I have experienced on another world. You arrive at the starter town. You are instructed to see a specific npc who will give you quests to do so you can earn gold and xp. It also had random npc's who would give quests, guilds and temples as well.
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Post by Animayhem on Feb 9, 2022 10:56:03 GMT -5
I voted for Suzail. It is the capitol and is a springboard to get to other areas. Suazil market place is already a second gathering hub for players.
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