On the positive side...I've been using the new equipment  at Harnquist's to work on my metallurgy level for a couple of days, and I must say, I've found the experience very pleasant; Much better than it was before, in that putting a little distance between crafters and the first NPC that every  noob in Hydlaa needs to seek out to get started in game is a huge relief.

I say toss an anvil, quench tank, and workbench out there, too!     

The disparaging comments about the alpha state aside, it does raise an interesting point, as to what the purpose of the limits are, or what the correct limit should be. The way crafting was before, it was possible to craft a 1000/50 weapon by working your blade a silly number of times. When a rule was made that 300/50 was the limit, the explanations I heard (right or wrong, this was from other players, not GMs ) were either that 1) it was exploiting a bug to make anything more or 2) It was using too much of the server's resources to create. Either sounded like plausible explanations, so no problem there.

But now, things are different...as has been stated, one can make a 300+ weapon without doing anything particularly special. It can, in fact, be difficult to stay _under_ 300. It is very frustrating to walk to the NPC and sell your weapon for 40 tria,  when so much time has gone into making stock and mining. So, I wonder why have such limits at all, when they seem arbitrary now?

I'm trusting that soon^TM updates will address these concerns, so probably tis a moot point in the grand scheme of things...but I do appreciate Jonandtice's frustration.

I couldn't really pick out the sarcasm there.

Probably because my comments were meant to be more probative in nature than pointed.

Are you saying that We should in an RP way not mind going to the death realm on purpose? Please say your not.

And what if I were? Why would that be so awful? The MOTD when one logs in sometimes encourages us to try to complete the some quests. If there were a quest [and for non-spoiler purposes - I'm not saying there is] that required us to, say, present the Death Guardian with a pound of rotten meat and he then asked us to get some clacker meat and come back when that's done-- should we not try to do this quest because wanting to going to the DR is OOC?

In fact, I recall reading an interview with Talad from about a year ago, where he envisioned having a DR, once entirely built-out,  where some people could actually choose live their entire existence in the DR and have plenty of things to do. Should we then speculate that these damned souls should never be permitted to RP anything approximating fun?

What I'm asking is, considering that the DR is, in fact, a reality that most citizens of Yliakum encounter at least occasionally (though I suppose it is possible some might RP a character that never _ever_ has had a trip there, that does not seem to be the way it goes for most) why would they not view it as a normal, albeit  unpleasant, but clearly non-permanent, part of their life? Is it inconceivable that an athletic person wishing to demonstrate their physical prowess, someone desperate for the tria that a prize pot offers, or someone seeking to complete a task for a local merchant might actually desire to go to the DR intentionally? I think perhaps that it is very realistic that people would endure any manner of hardship or physical discomfort if the long-term payoff was sufficient to motivate them. No?

As Idoru correctly stated, asking in game is the way to go, but allow me to add just a bit to that. Right now, as Neko said, crafting, including producing weapons, is undergoing some upgrades and is not working at the moment, but should be back up and running soon. When it is, look for someone at a smithy shop working at the forge or anvil to ask.  As alway, tis always best 'to roleplay for it." For example:

okay:
Newcomer: How do I make a sword?
Master Craftsman: Well, first you make a blade, and then you make a handle for it, and then see, you assemble the two together.


better:
Newcomer: How can I learn to make a sword?
Master Craftsman: You need to train and get the right knowledge from the smithy first, then maybe you should join a guild and they can teach you the rest of what you need to know.

Best:
Newcomer: Excuse me, Sir Dwarf,  but I've sought the needed training to begin making swords, but need a bit more tutoring to learn the art. It would be both an honor and a privledge if someone as skilled as you would be so kind as to tutor an eager and willing apprentice, such as myself. a bit, so that I might better understand how to make a basic sword.
Master Craftsman: Err, sure, it has been a while since someone as worthy as yourself has approached me for such tutelage. I'd be happy to show you a bit.

It won't work every time, but your odds of getting a decent answer will improve dramatically.

G'luck

Vazsingh, I met you in the arena today and you did just the right thing by in character asking for help. Sorry you found your way to the DR, but it happens frequenty. As I said to you then, the path of the newcomer is a difficult one. I think this is by design. Stop to talk to people in character, build relationships, and Role Play. Gaining tria, weapons, and progression points for training should always be a second priority. Tis the way this world works. Everyone is happy to help, if you approach them the right way. G'luck 

Originally posted by Einhander
hehe look up i see....... If I do, Will i see a staircase?

You would have seen this or possibly
this

I believe I was the one guy down there with you. We were on the floor of the Death Realm. Had you looked up it would have been an awesome view. I got a couple of screenshots!

I quit, thinking when I came back I\'d be back on the usual stairway, but nope, still there at the bottom. Had to use spawn. But it was fun

As the crowd begins to disperse I, an aged gentleman who?s face is weathered with the quests of days gone by, but who?s eye still glistens for new adventure, step to the position previously occupied by Madame Mookie. Breathing deep, I gather my thoughts and slowly begin.

I am a traveler to your beautiful new world, not one of you, but a passerby. I?ve been told I show signs of the affliction of which you speak. Though I rarely have the urge to utter ?OMG, 1337, ubersword, or lvl?,? and I?ve yet to walk up unprovoked to a resident and challenge them to a duel, I do feel this urge to hone my sword wielding capabilities against sewer beasts big and small, as well as summon the occasional magic missile which I?ve conjured using a glyph which I purchased here, after 12 tiresome trips from your town?s dungeon to the local blacksmith, where I sold the ore I mined. Dodging those annoying ankle-biting Clacker critters the whole time, stopping to slaughter one only when I must.

Now, with a wave of the fingers I wait to see if my two silver falchions will be sufficient to cause the demise of the mighty tufa, so that I might gather his teeth. If the Gods are with me, I return to Harnquist to exchange my teeth for tria. Why? So I can study more of the Crystal Way here. If not, do my time in the death realm, only to follow the long winding corridors back to the Arena where I climb countless stairs, all to do it over again. All this I do, so that I might make the missiles I conjure more powerful. I am quite sure it must look like an obsession. Why do I engage in this behavior? Because, glorious as this world is, that is pretty much all there is to do here.

The benevolent Gods have provided us a beautiful world, stocked it with creatures, and given us these mindless drones the locals affectionately call NPCs. The Gods tell us this world is yet incomplete, and teach of the mantra ?Alpha.? But residents of any world need something to do to occupy their time. We have been given mining and creatures that we might toy with. Ah yes, we can walk to the next town and talk to more mindless drones in search of Falka Oil for the librarian?s lantern, in an effort to coerce the Holy Scripts from him that the Priest requires. Trying to carry on a conversation with these senile merchants is as frustrating as mining ore is mind numbing. So I practice with my sword and summon my missiles.

All the while I read the bible provided by the God?s and listen to the editorials of good people like yourself, trying to learn the local customs here. What have I learned? That I am a leaper because I do not yet engage in this past time I read so much about called ?role playing.? I?ve read it is quite fun, and I?ve heard tell that some engage in this past time at the local tavern.

Funny, it is always empty when I pass through. And passing through the local plaza I do not hear great tales of glorious campaigns, but see hordes of bewildered newcomers running about in circles calling out ?Can you help me? I?m new here? as they try to get Harnquist to speak to them, figure out how they might earn a living here, or arm themselves. The only examples of this ?role play? I see is written in the forums by residents who profess to be disgusted by the likes of me.

I also read a horrid tale of a new resident who was cast mute by the Gods for trying to auction his sword by shouting out in the auction channel that he would sell it. The explanation? The God?s don?t want auctions in this world to be like they are in other worlds. So I read my bible, only to find it is silent on the subject. There is guidance for buy items, selling them, and exchanging them, but not auctioning them. Yet this poor man found himself mute for displeasing the Gods.

The Gods spoke to us again recently, proclaiming that we will no longer be able to use the spawn magic to return quickly to the plaza. When I inquired of a local as to when the transportation spoken of by the Gods might be implemented, I was told I was lazy and suffered from a malady she called OOC. I wonder if she knows that often when I run through the lush valley?s of the outer lands I see these visions of ?.5 fps? as I run with legs of rubber, the landscape flashing from mountains to trees, to stalactites. Seconds later I will be told that I?ve fallen and died. So, this stranger suggests that as a newcomer, I learn to walk down slopes, instead of running. Is it so unreasonable that I might inquire about purchasing a winged beast that might fly me back to town when my rubber legs won?t carry me?
 
So, good people of Yliakum, I ask you, where in this world do you ?role play? that I might join you and learn the ways of this land.

Until you show yourselves, I will content myself with fighting, mining, and wait for the God?s to mercifully implement more ways for us to learn skills and craft items. I?ve been told that I had a bug collection as a child?maybe I?ll go strike up a conversation with the Kran at the library about bugs and herbs in the meantime. Good day to you all.