It is time to raise a bit more awareness for the denizens of the underbelly of the world; the various residents of the Underdark. Lately we have experienced quite a rise in activity, with many new characters joining in.
The drow of Nec'perya have been working on what we are calling the 'Academy Life Project', something I am hoping we will kick off in two weeks or so. The basic idea is that it will be run a bit like an alt-beginings plot, but instead of DMs overseeing it, it will be a variety of players with their characters. Drow characters will have tons of oppertunity to experience the academic part of drow society. Be it studying the mysteries of the arcane, learning tactics against the enemies of the drow race, or being instructed in the dark teachings of the Spider Queen.
If you are not too familiar with drow lore, you do not have to worry or be nervous about it. The 'Academy Life Project' will start with the very basics, to cover everything you need to know. It will be the perfect opportunity to start your drow warrior, wizard, or drowess priestess. The academy years will hardly consist only of lectures, but also of a number of interresting events.
It is also not only a great time to make your drow, but other characters of underdark races too, like goblins, kobolds, duergar, svirvneblin, shadow elves or orogs. This is because as the Underdark gains more overall activity, these will be able to find a good amount of roleplay as well. Perhaps you can even convince a few of your pals to join you, to start a duergar clan or a diverse mercenary company composed of wretched goblins, and savage orogs.
The Underdark also has a great DM overseeing a number of plots, as well as many of the player driven endeavors.
So forsake that ghastly burning orb that scorches the surface realms, and come down to join the fun within the underbelly of the world!
I would love to do more UD play but aside from some bad history with me and some clique drow, I just hate trying to navigate the UD not in many years of trying have I ever been able to get past the frustration of it and just quit and gone back to surface action.
_________________ Aggie AgethaWar Knight (much to the chagrin of certain players and character )
I'm pretty sure most of the clique drow are long gone ;3
And there's some new players/characters rolling around recently that can help with navigation. I've slowly learned some of the leveling progress in the UD as well, and I have some lower level characters (10-15, I think) that can help out. Other people would be glad to help as well!
_________________ Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play: Salema Nefahri::A penny for your thots Zrae'a'stra'fryn::That which nightmares are made of Khasir::From the East a storm is coming
Joined: 17 Dec 2013 Location: Just arrived from Korriban by Fury class Imperial Interceptor
nataliawinters wrote:
I would love to do more UD play but aside from some bad history with me and some clique drow, I just hate trying to navigate the UD not in many years of trying have I ever been able to get past the frustration of it and just quit and gone back to surface action.
Just for perspective, I've run into clique surfacers. So, back to the UD I went.
Yes navigating in the UD is different from Cordor. In order to find all the beginner quests to get to level 3, you have to talk to every NPC... everywhere in L'Obsul (Top, bottom, mines, half way on the other side). Which gets you a nice intro to the lay out. Then finding the correct cavern to go for leveling is dicey.
So if you are expecting to rush through in a few minutes it's not going to happen. That said the dev team did an excellent job with conversations, location of quests, other caverns (ie. Cave Pockets are beautiful) etc. It would be a shame to rush through. Also, drow (UD) RP is at a slower pace due to the non-verbal cues that need to be exchanged. Also, it's a tough place. I took notes and made rough sketches.
But not to worry nataliawinters, we need surfacers to capture so you're all good.
_________________
2015 Mr. AMIA with the Fabulous Estara ~ 2015 Best Developed SOB Character: Rith'tar
I'm a new player in the Underdark. My Character, Ulviir'aufein (Why the fuck did i choose such a weird name) is only a year old.
I understand what you mean with clique Drow. In the beginning i had to fucking steam-roll my way forward in the community, something that wasn't appreciated by many, to get some progress.
Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Location: In the land of liquid sunshine and coffee
Cliques are a relative thing, the one existing in drow affairs has never gone away. The only difference being, like any RP group, is that players communicating more effectively seem more inclusive as a result. The players are nice in the UD, except me of course, and any call for assistance will be met with whatever help can be rendered. You only need to steam roll if you decide that not communicating is the only way to go.
_________________ Thine taste in horrid footwear not withstanding, I did not say that thou were in fact an idiot, I merely implied that such things were self evident.
I would love to do more UD play but aside from some bad history with me and some clique drow, I just hate trying to navigate the UD not in many years of trying have I ever been able to get past the frustration of it and just quit and gone back to surface action.
Just for perspective, I've run into clique surfacers. So, back to the UD I went.
Yes navigating in the UD is different from Cordor. In order to find all the beginner quests to get to level 3, you have to talk to every NPC... everywhere in L'Obsul (Top, bottom, mines, half way on the other side). Which gets you a nice intro to the lay out. Then finding the correct cavern to go for leveling is dicey.
So if you are expecting to rush through in a few minutes it's not going to happen. That said the dev team did an excellent job with conversations, location of quests, other caverns (ie. Cave Pockets are beautiful) etc. It would be a shame to rush through. Also, drow (UD) RP is at a slower pace due to the non-verbal cues that need to be exchanged. Also, it's a tough place. I took notes and made rough sketches.
But not to worry nataliawinters, we need surfacers to capture so you're all good.
Can you be a bit more snide please?
Also my main is a level 30 War Knight and my UD char is an ogrillion so, yeah cordor not really the place he wants to be but thanks for playing.....geeze reasons why I take a break from Amia as exampled buy this guy...
The two reasons I gave for not mucking about in UD were navigation and clique drow, the rest you have added yourself in a weak attempt to undermine me, were I to hazard a guess I would say you are one of those clique drow trying to score a point because you have nothing with which to ~make~ a point.
_________________ Aggie AgethaWar Knight (much to the chagrin of certain players and character )
I hadn't really read any of the comments above as snide. Though I generally don't read things in a tone in my head that would come across as snide to me. I do really find it funny that a person in a clique that I have had trouble breaking into any rp with any characters of that organization is commenting on another areas cliques. I do agree that the drow are very closed into their RP groups also. I have had as much difficulty finding rp on the surface as in the UD. So this is a lot like the pot calling the drow black. In my opinnion a great deal of the factions or just groups of people that hang out in the various areas on the module are pretty much exclusive cliques that make it as difficult as possible to role play with.
This sounds like a high school cafeteria Where one student wants to move from a table that their friends sit at to another cliques table without putting forth any effort into getting to know the people in that clique. On Amia I often feel like the guy that sits at the far corner of the cafeteria in the table with kids that have given up on conforming to the others and just go on with their lives getting the sociol scraps falling from the other tables.
Here is a "Gamer" specific social experiment for any of you that think that any group on Amia is open to other players and easy to break into RP with. Make a new account, tell nobody of this new account while your experiment is running and try to get involved in your groups RP. You may find it is more difficult than you think.
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Somewhere on a tiny speck of a planet, in a tiny speck of a universe.
Na'bhe wrote:
Here is a "Gamer" specific social experiment for any of you that think that any group on Amia is open to other players and easy to break into RP with. Make a new account, tell nobody of this new account while your experiment is running and try to get involved in your groups RP. You may find it is more difficult than you think.
I really like this idea... alottttt.
_________________ When good wins the day, and evil is destroyed, then the movie is over ...and you do something else.
Levelling in the UD is quite hard compared to the surface. Even if you know where to go (and that's a big if and immediately deadly if you screw up), there are some challenging mobs waiting that are better designed than some of the usual hunting areas on A. (Might just be a variety thing, though. In the UD, there's an area for every 2 levels or so, so you have about 3 places to go to that aren't worthless or deadly.)
Plus, you're more likely to be on your own, which obviously is a death sentence.
Anyway, ask, and you shall be helped. I can show you around the UD and would gladly do so. I suppose at some point we could have an IC post that helps new UD players with some general guidelines where to look for easy or hard stuff. That might actually be a useful thing ... It takes away some of the excitement of dying constantly, but it might make up for the lack of player knowledge and the lack of players to pass on said knowledge even if they possess it.
Pony made the first sin! He complimented my DM work... Oh complacency! I hear your call! J/K. I work for props and microwave dinners.
To paraphrase the spirit of the OP: The more the merrier! There is a place for you, even if you choose to carve it out of the rocks themselves (yes, that is a possible thing).
The following year should see some updates to the Underdark in the navigation department. That is one of the largest and constant complaints and it is being worked on by an awesome Dev/Design group! In addition to that, the server-wide Rejuve project is looming on the horizon for the UD Region. That means we are looking at revamped areas and dungeons. If you want in on things, this is a great time to join in on the action!
_________________ Eli Hodgewall<{/,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X Sven<=={o===========> Qeelak\ | / ,
Here is a "Gamer" specific social experiment for any of you that think that any group on Amia is open to other players and easy to break into RP with. Make a new account, tell nobody of this new account while your experiment is running and try to get involved in your groups RP. You may find it is more difficult than you think.
There's a reason I reactivated my old account.
Also is this going to kick off before or after the hak update? (did that happen?) I want meh draegloth... (though that said, I'm looking at her gear and build now and knitting my brows. Oh the mobs were so much harder back then, the sheer shield brooch/rod of ghost/blahblahblah spam I have in my inv...)
_________________
Man, this account is over 10 years old. Where do I get my old man beard?
Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Location: In the land of liquid sunshine and coffee
kalcibone wrote:
._. b..but i can't build to save my life....
And you don't really need to, any of the standard fair works as a drow. If you're still unsure and can't find anyone, PM anyone that posts in the UD section of the forum regularly. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't at least show you around and get you started off right.
_________________ Thine taste in horrid footwear not withstanding, I did not say that thou were in fact an idiot, I merely implied that such things were self evident.
I hadn't really read any of the comments above as snide. Though I generally don't read things in a tone in my head that would come across as snide to me.
The comments I was referring to felt snide because they ignored what I had actually said and instead implied I was some noob having issues navigating cordor and suggesting that its my own fault for just wanting to "rush around and level" in the UD.
None of which I said, implied, suggested, hinted at or otherwise alluded too, and I objected to being made as if I had, if you don't see that or don't agree that's your prerogative.
Na'bhe wrote:
I do really find it funny that a person in a clique that I have had trouble breaking into any rp with any characters of that organization is commenting on another areas cliques.
So a faction ~you~ have had trouble with is a "clique"....right name your character as I would like to know if its one my War Knight has had any dealings with. Also if you have a problem with a faction i.e. an OOC problem feel free to pm the faction leader "Whispers" is his forum name. If its an IC problem well that's IC for you but again I direct you to the faction leader to see what's going on, but the term "clique" is generally used in a OOC sense about OOC behaviour not IC interactions.
Na'bhe wrote:
I do agree that the drow are very closed into their RP groups also.
Clique in this context doesn't mean "closed" it means down right hostile to those outside of the group.
Na'bhe wrote:
I have had as much difficulty finding rp on the surface as in the UD. So this is a lot like the pot calling the drow black. In my opinnion a great deal of the factions or just groups of people that hang out in the various areas on the module are pretty much exclusive cliques that make it as difficult as possible to role play with.
Really not sure what line of enquiry you are pursuing here but the clique of drow I was referring to were asinine beyond the telling of it and would regularly metagame encounters whilst breaking every letter and spirit of drow lore and pvping those that didn't break the lore with them.
I have not said that this is or is not how it is now in the UD and I have not said that other cliques don't exist anywhere else in factions and the server population at large so what "pot calling the drow black" are you referring too?
Na'bhe wrote:
This sounds like a high school cafeteria Where one student wants to move from a table that their friends sit at to another cliques table without putting forth any effort into getting to know the people in that clique. On Amia I often feel like the guy that sits at the far corner of the cafeteria in the table with kids that have given up on conforming to the others and just go on with their lives getting the sociol scraps falling from the other tables.
I think you have just fixated on one self proclaimed point that is in fact not that relevant to the point I was made about a set of in game experiences that have since given me pause with regards to the UD and wandered of into some fictional anecdote to give weight to your argument...sorry I think you may have missed the point of what I actually said
Na'bhe wrote:
Here is a "Gamer" specific social experiment for any of you that think that any group on Amia is open to other players and easy to break into RP with. Make a new account, tell nobody of this new account while your experiment is running and try to get involved in your groups RP. You may find it is more difficult than you think.
Been doing this since I've been in amia, I have long since had different account names to separate out my characters and RP, but I am still unsure what point you are trying to make (in relation to what I originally said that set you off on this path...) given that I referenced 1, that's one, uno, singular clique of drow from back in the day that have soured my desire to re-engage with whatever UD drow community exists now.
So what exactly is it I "may find more difficult than you think" if you are trying to make an entirely new point or argument fair enough, but if you are somehow calling me out base on what I have said I think you are barking up the wrong tree
_________________ Aggie AgethaWar Knight (much to the chagrin of certain players and character )
Wow this is not what this thread is for -_- People, please take the 'cliques' convos elsewhere.
_________________ Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play: Salema Nefahri::A penny for your thots Zrae'a'stra'fryn::That which nightmares are made of Khasir::From the East a storm is coming
@ Nataliawinters - YOU are the aggressor in this topic. Stop your flamebaiting and derailing the topic!
On topic: I'm looking forward to seeing this attempt of Academy Roleplay. I haven't quite understood the underlying reasoning behind it, but it does look cool. Hopefully I will be overwhelmed with evidence that it is kickass once things are set into motion!
It's meant to help introduce new people to drow RP, and to educate both players and their characters. It's a boundless route for RP, at the least.
_________________ Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play: Salema Nefahri::A penny for your thots Zrae'a'stra'fryn::That which nightmares are made of Khasir::From the East a storm is coming
@ Nataliawinters - YOU are the aggressor in this topic. Stop your flamebaiting and derailing the topic!
I am very sorry that I had my say and answered those who replied not sure doing so makes ~me~ the aggressor lol, my mistake for thinking this was an open thread in the general forum.
p.s. if you have a problem rather than derailing by calling me out for "derailing" use the pm function maybe?
p.p.s how is replying and engaging people in conversation "flamebait" I guess anything that isn't just agreeing with people without challenging them is flamebait.
_________________ Aggie AgethaWar Knight (much to the chagrin of certain players and character )
Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Location: In the land of liquid sunshine and coffee
There's no need to be sorry for having an opinion. However, it does take away from the awesome ideas that Pony has brought to the underdark and I would like to hear your constructive thoughts on that instead of taking offence to some slight past or present.
The academy is also an excellent opportunity to fill in one the gaps always present in the Underdark, and in a format that I prefer. One of the complaints in enticing new players is the learning curve of how things work down below. Having a place where new players and characters can learn about all things UD in an IC way is great for everyone involved and should take some of that trepidation away. As a player, I prefer to give information IC'ly rather than OOC'ly so this is a great idea.
_________________ Thine taste in horrid footwear not withstanding, I did not say that thou were in fact an idiot, I merely implied that such things were self evident.
To expand on my ideas regarding the Academy Project, there are five things I like to tackle specifically with it:
- The first is that I want to find a way to make the learning process regarding underdark lore easy and enjoyable for new players. That some found it too daunting has come up a few times. I would like to change that, so more players who might really enjoy underdark roleplay have a chance to do so.
- I also want to make sure that everyone has easy access to the roleplay that is going on. Basically, I want to tear down that barrier that some feel exists when being sorrounded by an already established community. With the academy project, I want to make sure new characters can get very quickly involved and do not feel like they have to quietly stand on the side lines.
- The third is to promote an additional and very steady source of roleplay. Like Winya Wednesdays or Dwarf Sundays, you can visit Academy Pending and know drow will be around. And after the lesson, there will be enough oppertunity to roleplay at the bar and the like. So it will not be exclusive partaking in the events, for the others benefit from everyone who is around after.
- The old ooc lore discussion on "this is how drow are supposed to be played" will be replaced by the very simple ic approach "this is what we teach in our city". That is flexible to the ic, accessable for everyone, and a very clear cut solution to that particular problem that has popped up in the past.
- Finally, just create roleplay in the theme of the drow academies. I always loved them in the novels, and enjoyed them immensely back in the days of Ultrinnan. Bringing that aspect of 'menzoberrazan' drow society to life in a way that fits Nec'perya is just something I want to do, because I enjoy it. And I hope others feel or will feel the same way about it.
Of course it is not going to be for everyone, and be primarily focused on the female priestess, male warrior and male mage types. But I think it is a good start in the right direction.
Ok fair enough lets be constructive and for the record my comment in this reply and others have been in regards to UD and UD relations so although some may feel that my comments may or may not apply to other factions/elements/things on the surface that's a chat for another day.
Navigation in the UD is for me frustrating there seems to be no clear path to places although I am sure there are it just feels more straight forward elsewhere than in the UD. If travel can be made more user friendly for those of us who cannot speak Drow IRL for me this would be a real plus.
Far from being a mere "slight" certain kinds of players and certain methods of RPing Lolth have for me put up social big fat signs saying
Quote:
"KEEP OUT!.....unless you are here to indulge in our slightest IC whim on pain of bundles of OOC PMs being sent to summon all available Drow here to help us pvp you to death upon which we will then RP dismembering you and doing nasty sexual things to your corpse (oh and p.s. what we accept as "lore" today will be tomorrow different so you in fact will never be able to join our group kthx)."
For me this has been a major source of staying the f**k out of the UD so ~if~ this is no longer the status quo then I ~might~ consider breaking out the Ogrillion and seeing what trouble I can get into with my old mercenary/bodyguard creature.
I don't know what he and I could contribute to some Drow school or whatever, probably nothing but I could be willing to try if nothing else once upon a time I was having some excellent RP with another group of UD Drow one of which tried to recruit my Ogrillion as a bodyguard using guile and intellect rather than mindlessly trying to overpower him with witty insults and pvp.....(*cough* default interactions with UD drow prior to this )
Of course I understand that if because I wish to offer my views and explain the experiences that have generated them so that a reader can understand if not agree with my point of view, I am not considered ~good~ enough for this, then so be it no hard feelings but I am not very good at bootlicking and pandering to bullish people. (side note anyone who has met Aggie will probably realise that RL side of me is central to her RP )
_________________ Aggie AgethaWar Knight (much to the chagrin of certain players and character )
On an aside, as I recommend (And has been recommended by others) to many players trying to get into a Lore intensive region, faction, or community-- Try playing a naive character as your first character in a new region.
I think it was maybe Opustus who used an example of entering the Elven city as a half-elf, someone who wanted to learn the Elven culture.
You can do the same with the Drow. Drow Slaves, or less lore-intensive subraces are both really great ways to get involved and to steadily learn. Within a month, maybe two-- maybe less, you'll feel fairly confident in stepping into your own shoes as a Drow. You'll learn how politics works down there, how factions orient themselves, and more. ~~~
My biggest compliment to the Drow world and its players, for those who are sitting on the fence-- is that consequences heeeavily matter, down there. I've seen members of the society permakill a character following an incredibly well-planned debacle. Assassinations, schemes, reputation. Having an Ego is a very dangerous thing below. People take death very, very seriously in the Underdark-- Because every action you do (or don't) affects you not just materially, but socially.
Its also a community and environment where evil is not only the majority, but it flourishes and shines. Which means that if you've got a goodly character, you've got to hide it (And enjoy all the fun that comes with that!). The Drow World is about concealing the fact that you've got real emotions. Fear, love, doubt, etc. How do you be real to yourself, while surviving? Or do you embrace the chains that bind you..
ALSO, because its such a rich environment for developing these kinds of 'human' emotions, I highly, highly, highly recommend anyone that is interested in playing an Eilistraeen, to start first in the Underdark. If you're feeling like playing a good Drow, you should definitely consider milking all the great RP that comes from hiding who you really are, and coming to terms with sin and wickedness-- and then escape to the surface. Or not! But then when or if you do, you'll actually have real enemies who you once knew that are hunting you down!
Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Location: In the land of liquid sunshine and coffee
Easily solved by starting neutral and making an adventure of learning why you think the world is so wrong in the Underdark and thus having the RP to request an alignment change to what you've found to be your true self.
_________________ Thine taste in horrid footwear not withstanding, I did not say that thou were in fact an idiot, I merely implied that such things were self evident.
If that's the case, yeah. I'd recommend starting CN. Or starting CG, and flagging down a DM to help throw you into Drow Town. Most people forget that the story of Eilistraee is a mid-to-end game plot tool in most cases, and that instead of drawing a whole backstory out of thin air, that you can actually play it out! And when you play it out, you can forge longstanding friendships, nemeses, and open up your whole formerly 'backstory' to rich development and surprises.
That's not to say that Eilistraee drow who haven't had that upbringing are any less rich, mind. But I feel like some people forget that there's such an opportunity when they're looking at Drow!
Heck until recently I think drow still don't have a 'homespawn' on A? I certainly know Jys needed a DMIG to attach her to a point on the planet (I got Kampos in a slot instead of my default waaaa)
_________________
Man, this account is over 10 years old. Where do I get my old man beard?
Underport should be the home starting point for drow on A
_________________ Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play: Salema Nefahri::A penny for your thots Zrae'a'stra'fryn::That which nightmares are made of Khasir::From the East a storm is coming
It's not about you. It's about the new players. A server have a VERY limited window in which you can get the attention of the player: putting him/her in an impossible situation with ZERO interaction and no help doesn't really make him/her want to invest time in our server.
Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Location: The Hall of the Mountain King
Just wanted to let you guys know I agree with Mr Hackums, I have really enjoyed my interactions in the UD. I have also thought about making a new character in the UD, but it has felt a bit unwelcome for low lvl characters (with unlikely hunting groups and a heavy lore requirement beforehand) and therefore I never engaged in much rp on my characters and never continued playing them. However, I feel like this is a great opportunity to make an UD character and I will certainly grip the opportunity and hope others will join as well.
_________________ I am not weird, I am limited edition
I used naive characters to introduce myself to Roleplaying as a whole and then to the Underdark as a niche. The Underdark can be more intimidating and chaotic in general, as it's intended to be that way for characters (and thus attracts those types of players), but it's also a joyful place! I would love to see more people down there as I adventure down, off and on, enjoying the lulls. It's great to try new things. Go for it, kids! I love me some nasty drowness sometimes...
Joined: 26 May 2006 Location: Down Under, calculating your demise with blunt expressions.
The Underdark is what you make of it: its a malleable sandbox with a DM who actively encourages players to steer its direction. As a new player to the scene you have far greater potential to leave your mark then anywhere else on the server.
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