New Players and Powerlvling

[Lythari]

I would like to start off by saying that I have been very impressed during my time playing on FRC by the caliber of its DM's, players, and overall emphasis on RPing. You all are doing a great service to the NWN community by being out there.

I play a variety of low-lvl characters on FRC and have noticed a few things in my time here. Please keep in mind that I am not trying to indict any specific people with this post and I will be mentioning no names. I am merely listing my observations and you are free to disagree.

First of all, as DM's and well established players, please have patients with new players. FRC is above and beyond many other RP servers in terms of RP content (Yes I know the server rules are posted at the entrance, but many servers do that and few enforce them with the same vigor as FRC.) Most new players are trying to have fun and add to the world as well, help them to understand how FRC is better.

Secondly, I would like to address powerlvling by new players. Don't get me wrong, this is certainly undesirable behavior, but there are reasons that it comes about. Many new players, through ignorance or design, end up partaking in what can be considered powerlvling (i.e. spending a majority of time systematically wiping out "dungeon" areas with few, if any, RP considerations, aka farming.) The reasons for this behavior are many. A majority of new players simply don't realize that there is a better way to play through RPing.

RPing a new character is also jaded by the examine button. Through the threat indicator, one can get and idea of how powerful a new character is in relation to their own. Unfortunately, many players, both old and new, allow this to influence RP conversation. To me this is metagaming and it makes it frustrating for new characters in conversation when they are referred to as "lad" or "lass" or otherwise talked down to. This motivates new players to build up their characters by any means they can.

Finally, for the new players who know about it, the series of clicks and DM plots on this server can seem like an impenetrable barrier to newcomers with low lvl characters. All of these factors come together and push many new players to powerlvling. I am not trying to excuse this behavior, I am simply trying to provide a better understanding of why it happens.

Please keep these considerations in mind when you deal with new players. They are just trying to have fun too and deserve the respect of not being called "newbs." New players are the lifeblood that keeps a server alive so please take the time to help them understand what FRC is. I will get down off my soapbox now, thanks for listening to my rantings.

[MithrilBlade]

As for the calling of lads and lasses I must say here that many do that unintentionally to say it as low comment, it's more that some people simply speak like that.

Personally I do not at least try to look down every low level character I meet, but it is natural that when you have been there for long time it means you won't get to know every single lv 1 character people make, still I have many friends with those who have just recently come in the server.

The problem with most low levels is that many do want to get certain ability to fight before they RP, I admit that even I (after roleplaying for 10 hours in a row first day here) adventured a bit before starting to seriously roleplaying my character.

So if you just RP around my characters I am 90% sure that I will talk to you in return.

[kenny26]

when i started jargo, i had a background in mind that he'd first been a street punk in his youth, no real purpose in life (i.e. he starts as a first level rogue) but at the same time i also refer continuosly to jargos father who had him go through tough training to teach him how to hold a sword and wear an armor.

i couldn't RP those traits in jargo until i had leveled and taken a level in fighter. only then could i start buying the armor, bow and shield that jargo had recieved training in from his father.

most new players will also speed through their first level because honestly, there is something intensely depressing about being level 1...

[soulfien]

Being first level means you are the new kid ont he block. You have no skills, no experience, a little more than rags on your body and a stick in your hand.

You are the aspiring adventurer, ready to make a name for yourself as either a villian or a hero. Motivated and care-free, you charge into battle to prove yourself.

Now, the seasoned veterans shake their heads at you convinced that you won't last very long. After all, you lack what they call common sense as you charge in with no fear.

Yes, they look down on you. They've seen it all and know it all and have seen many evils can never even imagine!

But, do not fret, for they were once a biginner like you, bright eyed and innocent and ready to take down the very Gods themselves!

And as they first set foot on the battlefield, those same veterans that look down on you, had others looking down on them convinced that they'd never last a week!

[Chris "C-Funk" Butler]

True,

Everyone starts there. But the only one's that I have ever talked down to are the one's who DO NOT role play they Vid-play (treat the game like a MMORPG, like the Anime .HACK, where it is exceptable to talk and act like you're in a Video Game)

Those people are kindly told that this is a ROLE-PLAYING server and if that is not an adjust ment they can make to thier gaming style then they should kindly find another server.

Also the line of (in best surfer impression) "Your armor looks cool, dude. " is most annoying.

Now before other begin to object to my opinion and say that I am to harsh, know that I have played on this server exclusively for almost a year, and on other servers for nearly 1 1/2 years, and I have played the Table-Top versions of just about every RPG, for more than a decade and I have never met anyone in any game who have acted like these NOOB's

sorry for venting...

[Lythari]

Sorry I should have been more precise in my original post. By "low-lvl" I am referring to lvls 1-5 (and a few more in some cases.) Just providing a clarification.

[Keetena]

It's easy to differ powergamers... they don't care that much about alignments, choose deites (when did this) based in wich offer the better options (like domains - but some roleplay this, like I'm a servant of Tempus so I need bash everyone I see in front of me for example - hey! Nothing personal Tempusites or something with a name like this ;p), ignores character feelings and even will freedom (like, I'll walk with that one cause I'll gain more xp, despises he likes a god that is opposite my alignment; or if he pisses off every one who can moves while I do like be gentle to everyone) but DMs aren't babysiters of course, they need care about a server with huge and original data (how wonderfull, I don't need play that Nordock ones - sorry, but to me Nordock is disgusting), and still keep an eye over all guilds and players to entertain the best ... *sigh* what I can say is that is hard and a pity see interesting characters wasted with powergamer players... even considering that they are their creators.

[soulfien]

A word on Clicks. Like Keteena touched on, all players do not get along. Those that roleplay their characters properly are going to find others who are playing a compatible personality to their PC's.

It's not about farming. It's about personalities. I walked into the Isinhold Crypt last night just as another player did the same. He laughed in a dark creepy raspy voice and his voice set spoke of "when the Silent Lord claims us". It creeped my character out and when that PC asked mine if he wanted to team up, my PC politely turned him down. He just seemed very evil.

My Pc didn't like another PC either when he first met her. He only traveled with her because his friend brought her along. Now he looks forward to her company after getting to know her. She always makes him laugh!

Yes, they may be clicks, but that's the point of an RP server. Clicks on a powergaming server (like Diablo, World of Warcraft, Everquest) may be bad, but here they make sense.

[Manshin]

People on FRC tend to act naturally to some extent. If clicks are forming, that is because thats what humans do. We should be happy that it mimics life somewhat.
One thing to note about low levels. They want to see the world. There is tons to explore in FRC. Who wants to be stuck in Isinhold? You can't blame Noobs for wanting to get a couple levels under their belts so they can go tour the beautifuly made world around them.

[soulfien]

This is true. As of yet, I have not had a PC above 7th level and the area of Isinhold is the only thing I've seen so far- aside from a few cities courtesy of the caravan.

[Foomanchu]

I have a noobish question what is a Click? you mean like a group of 'cool people' or a group of 'nerds' .. as in...Clique? or is it a term for games only? lol just wondering

[Orkid]

darnit foomanchu , you stole my thunder, yes im sure they mean "cliques" , and on this note , as far as established players not running with "newbs" , there is an IC way to judge a characters ability (in lieu of examining) and that is by their equipment , if someones walking around in simple leathers or other obviously "mundane" stuff , then you can assume the person either A.) is new to the land and doesnt have nice stuff yet or B.) they dont know how to manage their money , and i know this doesnt work for very long because most people will craft their stuff if they can or dye it and their are exceptions like Hrothgar who looked like a grey-headed match stick walking around for the longest time and he was always Impossible to me , but IC my character assumed he was a "green", poor newcomer (especially when he offered someone a free shot at him with a bow , and upon offering Hito the same thing, when Hito was fairly new himself, he stuck him square in the shoulder) , and another thing it's hard to deem a newb powerleveling , unless they're farming, because relatively it is so easy to level up during the low levels , what seems like someone is powerleveling could easily just be that they have 4 or more hours a day to devote to gaming and so of course they are going to rise quickly through the low levels, I myself have hit a brick wall at 10 , do to some deaths and my recent need for accomplishing some things that can only be accomplished through RPing about towns, and though I dont consider 10 "low level" I sure as heck dont consider it "high level" , though that seems flawed to me, maybe it's just cause I've been there so long, but once the newbs have what they find in themselves to be adequate power and ability , I'm sure they will start working more on the RP part, I felt like i needed some certain feats and abilities with my char. before I could adequately play him to the effect that i wanted. I felt exactly as Lythari when i started here and i have changed, and anyone else who is serious about RP or FRC will as well , and if they're not , they probably wont be able to stand it so I agree with Lyth, give it time and understanding , the rest will come.