We appreciate all constructive criticism. Bear in mind, from the perspective of a new player with limited knowledgeof what we are doing, not all observations are equally useful. To paraphrase: we adopt requests based on viability as judged by the builders who have the whole module in mind.
Evelath wrote...
A bit of constructive feedback if you don't mind:
1) The starting areas are very cumbersome; there are numerous text messages popping up, which can be hard to keep track of when first starting off. I eventually started skimming over the initial information on the basis that the random CAPS LOCK made it simply difficult to maintain interest.
RANDOM caps, not at all. CAPS are used for EMPHASIS especially as there is no bold or italics we've found in the text that NWN delivers.
The starting areas are,
A) entrance with three signs to read, two more if you want cleric/deity info and an exit. There are two 'pop up texts' that are fired by trigger.
the DMFI DM Start Room - the FIRST room of which has a pop up text in it instructing that if you are here for a scheduled event you should wait in the foutain room beyond, if not, talk to Haggis McSnarfer (the only NPC in the room) to proceed directly to the game by the PLAYER choice of PRACTIAL (the tutorial area or NOOB U as we call it) or DRAMATIC (which places the PC on board a ship at sea, with a lump on the PC's head after two 'dream sequence areas' - meant to be nightmares imparted via a fall on board the ship) entrance.
I'm at something of a loss here as I cannot fathom what is 'very cumbersome' in that, perhaps you could provide detail on your perspective?
Evelath wrote...
2) "NOOB U" is a grand idea, but needs to be re-fleshed to work efficiently. There are far too many message boards that require reading throughout the initial tutorial; again, the random CAPS makes it hard to even want to pay attention to what information is presented.
There are no RANDOM CAPS. We use CAPS for EMPHASIS.
Please give us examples of what you feel are RANDOM CAPS among these signs? There is no substitute for reading these, we have gone to great lengths to provide information for those who wish to absorb it. This info is provided first in Noob U., second in your JOURNAL, thirdly in an item called Krag's Notes in your inventory. We provide multiple ways to avail ones' self of the information but have yet to perfect the 'absorb by osmosis' method in a script. *shrugs*
Evelath wrote...
3) Inventory is way too jam packed; new players (typically) don't want to have to push through around 100+ items in their backpack to figure out what's what. Not to mention that really outrageous number of items encountered throughout the NOOB U area(s).
Your PC starts this adventure on a long ship voyage. Your PC has ALL THEIR WORLDLY POSSESSIONS ON THEM, this is totally IC. It is further ruled that, especially as your PC starts on a long ship voyage where there are NO merchants on the ship to sell you goods (tho there are a few crates a PC could steal from that does not suit all classes obviously) we provide the PC with all the gear we think they may need. Again this is in keeping with the PC being on a long sea voyage. It is deemed easier to allow the PC to discard what they feel they will not need, than it is to deprive them of needed gear and dump them on a ship where gear options are severely limited or in a strange city there to search for items they quite likely have never seen or have no knowlege of (as a new player).
Noob U., Krags Notes, and the Journal DO illuminate what these items are used for, but if you choose not to read, you are free to experiment with them (though I consider the latter far less effective).
The gear in Noob U is all mundane gear, and meant to give the new PC a choice of items, control of their PCs start equip, with minimum effort and no cost. It is also a lure to bring new PCs and PLAYERS to Noob U. where they can get gear they desire FREE and even avail themselves of up to lv 4 by use of the lever found there.
Evelath wrote...
4) Came to a corridor with 2 stones blocking a door; selecting these rocks awarded some XP, but did nothing to move the boulders.
They must be moved or destroyed to access the door, which I thought would be rather obvious as they block the only door through which a PC may travel. I'll ponder adding a text clue there (even though the coughing sound on the other side of the debris was meant to 'urge the PC to dig through' perhaps that is not sufficient.
Evelath wrote...
5) The slow effect aftering encountering a 'vern/vine' to climb lasts a significant amount of time, also the damaging effects are irritating since it has nearly killed my PC.
The SLOW effect comes from A) falling during a rope climb,
falling from a swinging vine/rope, C) falling from a freeclimb. The damaging effect you refer to may be the COLD WEATHER impacting your PC. Try putting on the warmer clothes we thoughtfully provided in your inventory. Dying in Noob U has NO lasting effect on your PC, this is meant to allow you to 'learn and explore with abandon in Noob U.' when your PC dies in the tutorial, you port to the start of the tutorial near MC OOC ("That's M-C-OH-OH-Cee!").
Evelath wrote...
6) Came to a point near the Resource Gathering tutorial that doesn't allow any further progression.
Perhaps you can give me a better idea of where that was - I really don't have enough detail here to surmise the spot. Regardless, several of the 'side' tutorials are cul-de-sacs that you leave by the door you entered.
Evelath wrote...
7) Lots of script/errors running in the 'non-chat' window throughout my time playing.
The server is in late BETA TEST and we do run our essential debug texts through that window as we often test them ourselves logged on as a PC. When BETA test is completed that window will be much less crowded.
Evelath wrote...
In any case, it is clear there has been SIGNIFICANT amounts of time and effort put into the module. I can tell that anyone that goes 'all in' to this server will really enjoy it. I'll check back in occasionally; but tbh it involved a bit too much 'preparation' before actually getting into the module for a new player.
THANK YOU - yes, I've been building this since NWN came out, my 'partner in code' has been with me for three years on the project - I cannot even guess how much time went in so far, but it is a labor of love to be sure. I would be interested in getting more detail on your points above if you should be of a mind to, perhaps we could walk the tutorial area together to get more 'contextual' reference?
I look forward to hearing from you.
