This humble site houses an archive of news and announcements from Simutronics Corporation's text-based massive multiplayer online roleplaying game GemStone IV. The most recent announcements are on the entry page and a more comprehensive archive can be accessed through the links on the right sidebar. You may also narrow the focus through the various labels on the lower righthand side of this page. Click on the title of each post for the original post in the official GSIV message boards. Keep in mind, however, that if the post had been pushed out of the official boards, the link will take you to the GemStone IV announcements folder.
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Changes to New Player Drop Points

Author: GS4-BERNT
Date: 5/22/2008 4:04:27 PM


We have implemented some important changes in how starting towns for new players are determined. These changes were designed to address concerns that the current system (1) overloads Ta'Vaalor with new characters and (2) undermines role-play generally by putting new characters in places where it is implausible for them to start, based on their race. We're also hoping to give a boost to smaller communities, like River's Rest, by making them available to some new characters. The changes are:

1. Free trial characters will no longer be treated differently from other new (non-Premium) characters.

2. All new non-Premium characters will start in one of the three established "drop" towns: Wehnimer's Landing, Icemule Trace, and Ta'Vaalor. Although there is a degree of randomness in the placement, the starting-point likelihood is heavily influenced by the character's race. For example, no dark elf will start in Ta'Vaalor, while pure elves are very likely to start there.

3. New Premium and Platinum characters may choose to start not only in the three established drop towns, but also in Solhaven, River's Rest, Cysaegir, or Ta'Illistim. They are given a warning that these other four towns may not be as newbie-friendly as the Big 3.

Cheers,
GM Bernt

This message was originally posted in General Roleplaying, World and Roleplay Improvement. To discuss the above follow the link below.

http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=9&topic=2&message=4429