Post by sirac on Feb 2, 2006 2:45:06 GMT -5
This is a shameless plug for a simply amazing PW that I have been playing in since January 2004 and am still utterly addicted to. And now DM and Admin in also. If you would rather read a more impartial review, by a very respected reviewer for the vault, have a look at this link:
nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Reviews.Detail&id=427
It has an amazing community, and a decent sized player base, including some absolutely amazing rp'ers, but there is room for lots more so if you havent tried it read the following and then come give us a try if interested.
-Over 800 areas, this is a huge, beautifully crafted world with amazingly atmospheric descriptions for each area as you enter. The world design is visually stunning, of the absolute highest standard. And the areas really do provide challenge for all levels, including a huge new region specifically designed to challenge epic levels. Though it will take a -very- long time to get to epic levels...the world does still hold challenge for all levels.
-Very established, with a group of DMs and Admin that work very well together, have been through all the teething problems and Vives had been established for about four years now, and is still going strong. With lots of new players joining over the last few months. And a world where level is not the sole, or even the most important means of determining your role and significance in the world's events.
-Friendly. Whilst we are very RP focussed, we try hard to avoid the elitism and "attitudes" that can sometimes creep into such a RP society. We do not look to penalise so much as encourage, though we do have rules and will "enforce" them. But our first concern is definitely positive encouragement to RP, not penalise and police.
-Huge amount of history, politics and story to get immersed in. Plenty of DM's that all really love this world, and this includes DM's across all timezones. And fantastic rp'ers abound that keep the stories rolling all on their own.
-A very active community, whose views are listened to.
-Huge rp focus. While there is a huge amount of places to explore, creatures to kill, treasure to find, and these pursuits are fully encouraged, it is for the rp that our PW can be just breathtaking.
-A vast variety of unique creatures to get killed by.
- 99% of the items now IG are custom made, or at least custom named with their own lore. There are a lot of unique items. And the old bioware defaults are slowly being phased out.
-Its own crafting system, that requires a lot of time and devotion to master. By no means compulsory to enjoying Vives, but for those that love to craft, the opportunity is there. And items like bags of holding, potions of heal, etc can only be made by the most accomplished of crafters, and can virtually never be found by any other means.
-Builders always adding to and expanding the world and its denizens. Those players that find a home in Vives tend to do so for years, due to the ongoing immersion.
-Server is up 24/7. Resets take about 5 mins every 8 hrs, and there is plenty of warning when one is due.
-A website with a huge amount of info and a lot of friendly people ready to help answer questions. Same with the IRC community. And the website has some amazingly creative writers with great background stories...creativity definitely encouraged here.
Other facts that may put some off, but may also appeal to others:
-This is a dangerous world. There are a lot of areas too dangerous for any character to go alone, whatever level. Though plenty of static quests and safer areas to explore, along with the unique xp system, mean a careful and thorough player can achieve level 7-8 with little or no fighting. Not including regular xp granted by DMs for players seen RPing.
-It is reasonably slow levelling, and rp intensive. It uses a fairly unique xp system, where you get xp for each new area you enter the first time, each spell you cast or certain skills you use. But xp for spells, skills and kills all goes down the more you do them. So you can only kill a certain creature so many times before the xp gained becomes minimal, cast a certain spell so many times, etc, etc. XP penalties for partying up are less harsh than standard as well, as long as within five levels of your companions you will not suffer too badly.
-It requires time and dedication. You -can- really enjoy Vives if you have limited time to play...as long as you are patient. But the learning curve can be steep at the beginning.
-Death penalties for respawning from 3rd level onwards can hurt...lose 3% of total xp and 25% of gold. Can really hurt at high levels, especially with the xp system the way it is. But death is to be feared and avoided. Much smaller xp penalty if res'd fairly fast, and no gold loss. But if your body is left out in the wilds too long, then the res penalty will slowly increase until it becomes the same cost as respawning. This helps realism, and prevents some of the metagaming that dying can ocassionally provoke.
-It has some very large hak paks. Well worth it for all the custom content, but they are huge.
-Your first 10 hrs approximately you are free to wander. In that time you need to submit the application form from the website. This is just a means of trying to make sure its those with some genuine interest in RP that play Vives. The application forms are dealt with swiftly, there are about 15-20 active DM's and admin so you will not be waiting long for it to be authorized once submitted.
-PvP very restricted and rare, though not unknown. Good and evil do definitely exist in Vives PC's, and are both very supported. But PvP generally a last resort, consensual and / or with DM approval.
-It needs both HoTU and SoU. CEP not needed.
If you've got this far through my waffle, then come give it a try. I promise if you like quality rp, an amazingly alive world and a never ending list of places to visit and things to kill / be killed by...then you wont be disappointed. The website is:
vives.dyndns.org/vives/Default.aspx
Also worth looking at this link for the truly essential rules. We try not to legislate too much, and if you are interested in RP and a living breathing world we are sure none of what is contained here would put a player off:
vives.dyndns.org/vives/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=20814
And this link has some great screenshots:
vives.dyndns.org/vives/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=39165
If all the above appeals, then look forward to seeing you IG...especially you GMT'ers! Oh, and any questions...ask away, here or on the Vives website.
Cheers,
Sirac
nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Reviews.Detail&id=427
It has an amazing community, and a decent sized player base, including some absolutely amazing rp'ers, but there is room for lots more so if you havent tried it read the following and then come give us a try if interested.
-Over 800 areas, this is a huge, beautifully crafted world with amazingly atmospheric descriptions for each area as you enter. The world design is visually stunning, of the absolute highest standard. And the areas really do provide challenge for all levels, including a huge new region specifically designed to challenge epic levels. Though it will take a -very- long time to get to epic levels...the world does still hold challenge for all levels.
-Very established, with a group of DMs and Admin that work very well together, have been through all the teething problems and Vives had been established for about four years now, and is still going strong. With lots of new players joining over the last few months. And a world where level is not the sole, or even the most important means of determining your role and significance in the world's events.
-Friendly. Whilst we are very RP focussed, we try hard to avoid the elitism and "attitudes" that can sometimes creep into such a RP society. We do not look to penalise so much as encourage, though we do have rules and will "enforce" them. But our first concern is definitely positive encouragement to RP, not penalise and police.
-Huge amount of history, politics and story to get immersed in. Plenty of DM's that all really love this world, and this includes DM's across all timezones. And fantastic rp'ers abound that keep the stories rolling all on their own.
-A very active community, whose views are listened to.
-Huge rp focus. While there is a huge amount of places to explore, creatures to kill, treasure to find, and these pursuits are fully encouraged, it is for the rp that our PW can be just breathtaking.
-A vast variety of unique creatures to get killed by.
- 99% of the items now IG are custom made, or at least custom named with their own lore. There are a lot of unique items. And the old bioware defaults are slowly being phased out.
-Its own crafting system, that requires a lot of time and devotion to master. By no means compulsory to enjoying Vives, but for those that love to craft, the opportunity is there. And items like bags of holding, potions of heal, etc can only be made by the most accomplished of crafters, and can virtually never be found by any other means.
-Builders always adding to and expanding the world and its denizens. Those players that find a home in Vives tend to do so for years, due to the ongoing immersion.
-Server is up 24/7. Resets take about 5 mins every 8 hrs, and there is plenty of warning when one is due.
-A website with a huge amount of info and a lot of friendly people ready to help answer questions. Same with the IRC community. And the website has some amazingly creative writers with great background stories...creativity definitely encouraged here.
Other facts that may put some off, but may also appeal to others:
-This is a dangerous world. There are a lot of areas too dangerous for any character to go alone, whatever level. Though plenty of static quests and safer areas to explore, along with the unique xp system, mean a careful and thorough player can achieve level 7-8 with little or no fighting. Not including regular xp granted by DMs for players seen RPing.
-It is reasonably slow levelling, and rp intensive. It uses a fairly unique xp system, where you get xp for each new area you enter the first time, each spell you cast or certain skills you use. But xp for spells, skills and kills all goes down the more you do them. So you can only kill a certain creature so many times before the xp gained becomes minimal, cast a certain spell so many times, etc, etc. XP penalties for partying up are less harsh than standard as well, as long as within five levels of your companions you will not suffer too badly.
-It requires time and dedication. You -can- really enjoy Vives if you have limited time to play...as long as you are patient. But the learning curve can be steep at the beginning.
-Death penalties for respawning from 3rd level onwards can hurt...lose 3% of total xp and 25% of gold. Can really hurt at high levels, especially with the xp system the way it is. But death is to be feared and avoided. Much smaller xp penalty if res'd fairly fast, and no gold loss. But if your body is left out in the wilds too long, then the res penalty will slowly increase until it becomes the same cost as respawning. This helps realism, and prevents some of the metagaming that dying can ocassionally provoke.
-It has some very large hak paks. Well worth it for all the custom content, but they are huge.
-Your first 10 hrs approximately you are free to wander. In that time you need to submit the application form from the website. This is just a means of trying to make sure its those with some genuine interest in RP that play Vives. The application forms are dealt with swiftly, there are about 15-20 active DM's and admin so you will not be waiting long for it to be authorized once submitted.
-PvP very restricted and rare, though not unknown. Good and evil do definitely exist in Vives PC's, and are both very supported. But PvP generally a last resort, consensual and / or with DM approval.
-It needs both HoTU and SoU. CEP not needed.
If you've got this far through my waffle, then come give it a try. I promise if you like quality rp, an amazingly alive world and a never ending list of places to visit and things to kill / be killed by...then you wont be disappointed. The website is:
vives.dyndns.org/vives/Default.aspx
Also worth looking at this link for the truly essential rules. We try not to legislate too much, and if you are interested in RP and a living breathing world we are sure none of what is contained here would put a player off:
vives.dyndns.org/vives/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=20814
And this link has some great screenshots:
vives.dyndns.org/vives/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=39165
If all the above appeals, then look forward to seeing you IG...especially you GMT'ers! Oh, and any questions...ask away, here or on the Vives website.
Cheers,
Sirac