Smaller places of interest between the large cities.

[zanzibar]

Right now, we have large cities separated by linear expanses of wilderness.  You start off in a large city, you follow a long path that goes through areas devoid of civilization, and then you end up in another large city.

It might be better to instead have smaller sites of habitation along the roads between cities.  I’m talking about things like homes, trading posts, outposts, farmsteads, smaller towns of perhaps only a few buildings, taverns, and the like.

The advantages of this would first be historical realism.  Whether you’re talking about medieval Europe or ancient Greece, city-states were actually made up of one large city surrounded by many smaller towns and homes outside the city walls.

A second reason is that it would make journeys more interesting and more significant.  More would happen along the way between Hydlaa and Ojaveda or other cities.  The journey may be longer, which will make the Fortress quests more annoying (good or bad thing depending on how you look at it, once transportation is introduced to the game it will be less of an issue).

Also it will just mean another way of adding new places to the game without going to the level of detail and effort that a large city requires.

[Suno_Regin]

Sounds good to me.

[drah]

I was thinking about villages/settlements in the wilderness before but never thought about posting a suggestion for it... even a group of 3 buildings and 2 NPCs (don't have to do anything interesting, just stand there!!) would add a bit more life to the wilderness maps.

[Idoru]

Or even just a tent or a shack with a bloke stood outside.

[Rongar Elani]

* Rongar Elani wants a tavern on the way 

Yes, a few small locations between the cities would be nice, like the ruins on BDroad1, but there should be something interesting for to attract people to go there. Otherwise the npcs in these locations (like farms, shacks, watchtowers, ...) would share the same fate, like poor old Nyshyn. Or these locations will have to be directly on the way, without any need to turn left into the "unknown wilderness".

[zanzibar]

I was thinking strictly in terms of locations that are directly on the way.  A trading post, store, or tavern would have the best location near the road.

I don't want this thread to turn into "ADD MORE STUFS TO THE GAME ZOMG" because that's not what I was saying at all.  I'm just suggesting a different approach to the layout of places than what we've seen so far.

[bilbous]

You mean you weren't counting the number of starships you could land on a pinhead?

There really isn't enough there there yet for much in the way of en route attractions, perhaps a lifeguard/water merchant at the elevated pond or a shrine/farmer before the Bronze Doors. the winch looked to be fairly large. can't really say til I get on myself.

[Zan]

Personally I like the deviation from the gaming norm where everything needs to be nearby and as action packed as possible. I find long lonely walks through the wilderness far more realistic in the current settings. Of course that's just my opinion.

The tefusang and trepor herds roaming through the lands would also be an excellent reason as to why isolated buildings or temporary settlements don't survive. The lands of Yliakum are very hostile, far more hostile than earth has been in ancient or medieval times. This is reflected by only having walled and well protected cities thrive.

I guess that some areas would still be safe enough to be inhabited by these type of things .. but I'd also like to see areas which are too fierce and dangerous to be lived in without serious protection.

[zanzibar]

Personally I like the deviation from the gaming norm where everything needs to be nearby and as action packed as possible. I find long lonely walks through the wilderness far more realistic in the current settings. Of course that's just my opinion.

Oh, I've been to quite a few little towns that feel lonely and desolate.

The tefusang and trepor herds roaming through the lands would also be an excellent reason as to why isolated buildings or temporary settlements don't survive. The lands of Yliakum are very hostile, far more hostile than earth has been in ancient or medieval times. This is reflected by only having walled and well protected cities thrive.

I guess that some areas would still be safe enough to be inhabited by these type of things .. but I'd also like to see areas which are too fierce and dangerous to be lived in without serious protection.

A mix, yes.  It just seems to me though that there's a formulae being used, and I don't think it's wrong to break out of that formulae.

[Karyuu]

I believe the tons of empty wilderness we have is space for our tribe system.

[ThomPhoenix]

Hehe, the tribes are fun!
I like to blow them up once their big all the time

[zanzibar]

What is this tribe system you speak of?

[Suno_Regin]

On his own server, tribes are already implimented. He posted a few screenshots of them.

[zanzibar]

I can't load images from certain websites because my internet connection is too crappy.  It's on and off.  Presently, it's off.

So, can anyone give me a text-only answer?

[Suno_Regin]

Well honestly, I don't know much other than what I saw from the screenshots. They're really just another type of npc, with normal clothing as when you first make your character.

But like I said, that was from the screenshots. I'm sure the tribes they're implimenting will be more advanced than a simple dwarf model with a new name.