ALFA

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What time in April roughly will ALFA be up and running again?

Also, is there any way of finding out why your character was rejected?

 

No, but I'd imagine it would be early. We'll announce it here when it happens, right Tal?
Again no, they don't do inquests. Like I said before, bad spelling, lack of imagination, evidence of a desire to 'powegame' count against you.
If at first you don't succeed ...

 

I'm still waiting for ALFA to open and allow charactor submissions in April. Curses for finding out too late!

Does anyone know if they require characters to start at lvl 1?

 

Yes, everyone starts at level 1 with 0xp and only the gear you can buy with your starting cash. That, plus the points buy system for stats. means a completely level playing field for everyone. You can't even claim that your uncle is a Lord of Waterdeep so you get free lodging.

 

I completely agree with the level playing field idea, but I do have one concern. I guess this is for you and Syl; will DMs award XP for role-playing? I mean if some fighter goes out and kills a bunch of creatures at the start he'll get a quick jump on XP. If I role-play real good but do little fighting will I get screwed? Are we rewarding role-playing or hack & slash?

 

If NWN is released with the ability to award experience for those who role-play their character, then yes ALFA will fully support it.

Syl...

 

I hope it does. But even if it doesn't you will still share in the xps for any 'puzzles' the group solves, quests the group completes and combats where your cleric takes part whether that be by spellcasting, stone slinging or mace cracking.

 

It good to know that all character will be rewarded for their efferts. I wonder how they will work the XP for killing creatures. Normally it's divided by the number of PC in your 'party'. So if a bunch of PC kill something do they all have the XP divided? Will any PC on the screen receive some XP? Any PC that hurt the creature?

 

I'm glad and yet not so glad that there will be Human DMs. The upside is that if you are pretty close to killing a tough foe but you either have to retreat or something, they can still give experience for trying; or if you come up with a great idea for a trap but just by chance it didn't work, you can still get a few XP.

The only thing I'm not quite sure about (and I know everyone has thought of this already and have probably metioned it before) is that not all the DMs will be fair.

Erran: Do you know what kind of questions the DMs are asked when applying for a position?

 

Vile,

I think that these are more good reasons to have a live DM than you listed. I think the most important is dynamtic adventures. The DM and run an quest for your party, give hints, control NPCs and speak diologue.

I agree that some DM might be unfair but hopefully with 3 or more DMs (a lead DM and two Assist DMs) on a server things will work out. If a DM is unfair all the time I assume ALFA can remove their server.

On the DM app. ALFA asked about role-playing values, what are the qualities of a good DM, and a bunch of other stuff. I read it a few months ago but I don't remember all of it.

 

Voltric: Well, that kind of comes with a given. I figured that they would have to create exciting enough adventures to keep the players happy; and that includes their own little quirks that will make the players enjoy it even more so. I do agree that the tools sound quite awesome and will give the DMs much freedom to do their own thing.

To the second point mentioned, I guess it would be best to say that some DMs like a more hack-n-slash adventure while others like a more role-playing environment. (I know this has been brought up before.) I'm just hopeing that they will award the same general amount of experience. (provided that it's good role-playing or that they kill enough monsters.) I just don't want an unbalanced world. I'm hopeing that their will be some safeguard against this.

 

I know they have monthly DMs conferences where they discuss stuff like this.
Even so, the DMs are all 'human' so will have different styles; some run IWD hack and slay dungeon crawls with maybe high mortality rates, others more plot based and political.
Maybe we will have to create our own Volo's guide to the DMs!