Greetings and well met!

[M.C. Menestrelle]

My name is M.C. Menestrelle. I am new to the server as of last night - 03.01.05

I want to say thank you to Froim (sp?) for saying hello and offering to show me around. I apologize for not being able to stay longer.

I am scouting the server in preparation for a move en masse of about 6-8 Players. We're looking for a new place to call home.

I have many questions (just because I ask doesn't mean I'm in favor of it):

1. How much of an RP server is this? Are players expected to stay IC and use OOC: at all times?

2. I noticed quite a few shouts while I was on. Is this normal and accepted?

3. (I did a quick look) Is there a thread on rules?

4. Can someone clarify body looting on death?

5. What are the penalties for death?

6. The forums don't seem well patronized - or am I mistaken?

7. What is the author's/DM view on powerleveling?

8. Does the server contain many IMMUNITY or RESISTANCE items?

I'm sure I'll have more. Thanks in advance.

MC (emcee)

[Terragen]

I am no emmissary for Higher Ground but I spend most my waking time on this server, and no others.. I have come back through to vault purges (of which there WILL BE NO MORE) !!
That being said, everyone has a different playing style and some people will hate this server, or just be too ignorant to enjoy it. Either way I'd bet you will want to stay despite occasional lag or bugs issues, which I think pale to the amount of quality adventuring that is constantly available here.
Now to my own thoughts on your questions, by no means an exhaustive or correct answer merely my opinions:
1. Light to no RP although there are some fun times playing half-in character, but nothing hardcore like OOC or (()) all that crap.
2. Shout is ok in spurts but superfluous shouting is advised against, and sometimes pointed out by DMs so keep it to a dull roar. Its a fun server tho so no big deal. DO NOT curse in shout ever.
3. Dont know
4. Depends on the party usually people divvy it up or bank, just discuss with your party.
5. Death sucks of course, losing cash is the worst and sometimes you lose an item from your inventory so we try to stay together and rez eachother. This is a party server more than anything (not that soloing isn't allowed) and you lose XP so that sucks.
6. I dont come to the forums or post much cuz I'd rather be playing the mod!!!
7. I cannot speak for this..
8. Fair amount, but items are level-restricted and there are always foes that can kick your butt no matter what immunities, but mind, KD, death, crit, sneak, many immunities exist.

Its primarilly an action party server, heavy on strategy and mixed parties with varying skills, and its MEGA-FUN and pretty well balanced for the most, and its updated regularly. And the lag has really slacked off!! I really hope you can bring in some fun new characters, we're all friendly here... mostly

Terragen
Jonny Damon
Karl Bulhulk
Lyrra Celestrana
Space Fantesia
Roll
Norrin Radd

[M.C. Menestrelle]

terragen,

Thanks for the info.

I read a thread on losing an item on death from looting. Is this automatic? Non-retrievable? Can anyone loot your body? Other PCs?

Also, what are the rules on PvP? Pickpocketing?

Um, ... oh, and treasure isn't evenly split? Honor system?

Thanks

MC

[FedExUPSPacMail]

If the party runs out of res scrolls, I might could deliver some to your group. In fact, we have a discount on Next Day Air right now.

[Argon]

Terragen did a great job answering your ?'s, I think. I'll try and add/elaborate on a few....

I'm not sure what your definition of "powerlevelling" is, but as long as what you're doing is legal, then it's OK. There's a level restriction on groups in the server... all members have to be within 6 levels of other members in the group. (So you can't take a 40th lvl out and powerlevel a 1st level.) But if you get a group together that has a bunch of good players, and hit high-exp areas, you can get a lot of levells pretty quickly. You actually get MORE exp if you're in a group than you do if you're solo.

When you die and respawn, you'll lose a set amount of exp per level (I think it's 50 exp per level or something mild). The exp loss isn't burdensome, personally I think it's too mild. *ducks tomatoes and rotten cabbages thrown at me* You also lose either a bit of gold (depends on how much you're carrying, but there IS a bank you can deposit money in and keep it safe, so if you lose a lot it's your own fault, really). Sometimes, you'll lose a random piece of equipment from your inventory or what you're wearing. Not often, but it definitely happens. You can't "get it back" any other way than going out and buying another piece, or killing monsters and getting it again as a new treasure.
Noone can loot your corpse. When you're dead, you lie there until you get rez'd, or you respawn. But noone can take your equipment.

PVP and Pickpocketing are basically forbidden. You CAN do them, but #1 it should be in character (paladin's don't pvp unprovoked, etc.), and #2 it's always best to privately let a DM know before hand, so they can watch and make sure it's done right. No killing folks lower lev than you.
Honestly, it's very very rare to see any of this here. It's much too friendly a server for that kind of stuff. The only times I've ever seen PVP is when someone gets on, acts like a major jerk, then the whole server gangs up on them and drives them out. The players do a good job of policing themselves.

Same idea with treasure. There's no "auto-split" function. Most groups either assign one player to be the "bank", who picks up all the loot then sells & divides evenly, or folks just pick it up on their own and it all balances out. Again, most players are very reasonable, and I rarely run across a real treasure hog. When someone is acting like a hog, we point it out to them & request they share, & they usually comply.

Not only is this the best server out there, it has some of the nicest players (& DM's) you'll ever meet, and so if you're good yourself, everyone else will take care of you and all the concerns you mentioned above really become irrelevent.

In closing, don't come here, because the server's too good and I'm afraid if we get too many players I won't be able to log on. (Kidding!)

[M.C. Menestrelle]

Argon,

Thanks for the info. That all sounds wonderful.

You've both answered all my questions.

Thank you.

MC

[themonk]

Welcome M.C.
You should read my thead about dieing and losing items...
"My most expensive day on HGPOA".
Even bad days are fun here. Give a 'Tell' if I am on (which I seem to be every day) and I will give you Shur-Lee Wan's Tour of Ascension's Sewer System....Fun, Loot, and a little xp for everyone....
Shur-lee Wan
Furgus Darkpool
;D

[M.C. Menestrelle]

Monk, I did read your thread. It was the reason I asked about dieing and looting!!

I'm terrible matching character names to player log ons but I'll try to send a tell if I'm on.

[M.C. Menestrelle]

Okay, it looks like our group has set up a regular party on Friday and Monday nights.

(Lag permitting. We're pretty spoiled by lag free servers ... one member is particulalry agitated by this. Please let us know how we can help reduce lag.)

I've brought over new blood (logons/char names):

• M.C. Menestrelle / M'Seela Meloncho Merrigold
  
• De'Sade / Poncho Merrigold
  
• Draxx Darksaber / Fell or Rowdy Redbeard
  
• Makin Larin / Amula Larin
  
• Magnum Pryde / ________
  
• ScarecrowX / __________

Don't help us out too much. We like to scrape and dig to earn every item. Thanks in advance.

MC

[FunkySwerve]

Just a few remarks:
1) We are working on reducing lag, it has gotten considerably better of late, believe it or not.
2) All the DMs are in favor of increasing the bandwith by either upgrading our account with Dungeon Server or switching providers. We are waoiting to find a good one before broaching the topic with the server owner, who has been ensnared by WoW as I hear it.
3) Pick pocketing is NOT forbidden! If someone pickpockets you, thats justification for an attack, but no more. We'll be implementing guilds soon, to add some structured PvP for those players who want it. You will not be exposed to unprovoked attacks unless you join a guild at war with a rival, so those who want to just play as usual will be able to do so without interference.
Best,
Funky