ImperialGenocide wrote...
*snipped all the details*
(TL; DR) All in all, I am not fond of this server, as I feel it is flat and has taken far too much from other servers and people without putting in enough work of its own. I also feel it is a social server, which is more used for SRP (sexual role-play), instead of the advertised role-play. I feel as though the server is too hard to get started in and too easy to level afterwards, from dying to overpowered spawns to being forced down a linier dialogue to near-instant leveling when just trying to gain a few gold pieces. The staff does not make enough of an effort to control their player base or the inevitable trolls and the players are unfriendly if their requests of private role-play is turned down.
I've taken a look at the server myself so here's my take on the points raised in this review:
OriginalityThe server has roots in a social server called Isles of Styss, and has a staff team hailing from various RP servers. So as far as originality goes, there will obviously be some inspiration taken from other places. Overall the server doesn't feel plagiarized, and I commend the use of custom PrCs and other customizations and the decision to draw from Warhammer rather than the usual D&D.
At the same time though, I don't find it particularly innovative for a 2013 server. Many character builds still go down the same path as they did back in 2005 when HotU was released. The cut-and-paste job is also quite obvious as there are some issues with 2das. For example, weapon buffs cannot be targeted on the offhand, but casting the spell on the character only buffs the weapon in the main hand. This seems to be an issue carried over from Styss 2das where weapon buffs were changed to buff weapons in both hands.
Social / SRPI actually haven't found the place to be overtly "Social" - certainly it has its roots in a social server and there are accommodations made for PCs to get it on. However, the very big turnoffs of Social that plagued the original Styss and currently plagues a certain very populated Social server today, like excessively sexual bios and various sexually themed creatures making overt advances in town, are absent. So there's a bit more discretion than the usual social server.
DifficultyHave to agree the start is very hard, then difficulty becomes trivial in the epic levels. This is more of an NWN issue than a server specific issue though - I started a
thread on this a year ago. At the start, characters are sorely lacking in options, but as they level, they can build for more instant win tools, and as long as they have a tool that works on the mob in question, the content will be trivial.
What might make it more obvious on this server though, is that levelling is so fast that something can be tough at first, but after 5 minutes of killing them you get a new spell or ability and can start farming them easily. And then they give good XP returns for the next 8 levels or so.
Requests for Private RP
Never requested for private RP, wouldn't know. However I will note that the main city area is very often a ghost town and it can be hard to run into people.
Other Issues not raised in reviewThe gear grind in this game is very very bad due to the loot system. Loot chests are the main source of good item drops, and you have to cross your fingers and pray that the stars align to give you a decent drop, because all loot is randomized - an item with 2 correct stat boosts may not give AC, an item that gives good AC might not have stat boosts, or boost the wrong stats, e.g. +6 Int and +6 Cha on a chainmail, which very few builds will find practical. Or not enough of the desired stat. This is exacerbated by the fact that loot chests are heavily farmed, and will more often than not be on cooldown by someone else opening it a few minutes before you.
My advice is to play a build that can self-buff, like Monk/Cleric, so that it can cover gaps in the flaky item generator.
ConclusionSo overall, I'd say at this stage the server is a rough diamond. It shows promise in some areas and does try to create a mature RP environment that is not overtly SRP-oriented and introduce some new ideas. However, its execution is not perfect, and it could use some polish in a few areas.
