I need directions (Read First)

[Ilirion]

I started the game and went around thinking: What will I do now? I got a weapon and went hunting. But where? I asked. Someone told me there were rats on the way to the next town (forgot the name). I asked where. They gave me pretty simple directions: follow the tunnel, always straight, go through a passage in a conical mountain, cross the river. I followed the tunnel and saw every conical mountain there was and checked most of then. Unfortunately, something killed me. Now I would like to ask: would it be possible to have a map you could check which showed the location and names of cities and other important things?That map could be bought or given to you in the tutorial. Maybe there should be a cartographer job and blank maps where you could draw what you thought there was in the area? Or maybe buy detailed city maps/ directions from NPC's and players? Because I'm getting pretty bored wandering around without going out. I don't go because I might get lost again. I did ask someone to lead me to the other city, but they refused. After all, they have other things to do. Any ideas? 

[neko kyouran]

there are maps in game.  player made and bought from npc.

[Ilirion]

Great! Where can I buy then? And I still have the opinion that you should be given a map on the tutorial so you know the paths to other cities.

*edit*

I found my way luckily and I'm starting to make money. Thanks for the help

[Caarrie]

I dont think ever will there be a map just handed to players, this game is about talking to others and working as a team, as well as role playing. If we just hand out all items in the tutorial [as in more then you get now] no one will be willing to work as a team or even role play as they will have no reason to talk to others.

[Ilirion]

I agree with you, but with the the low amount of players we have and the problem related with weapons and the death realm It gets difficult to go around without a guide or map. I found 2 more players who were going my way and made some friends too anyway.
 The problem with the Death Realm is about the difficulty of escaping it. I saw games that when you die you go to a ruined chamber and the exit is just at the end of it, which is, indeed, too simple. I think this game is the game of games... under development    but I like it and I can't wait for the complete game.

[Caarrie]

I can't wait for the complete game.

You might have a few or several years before we get to a completed game.

[Ilirion]

Oh well... I'll wait all the same 

[alison22000]

I agree also, you wouldn't believe how difficult it is when you are a new player and no one will stop to help you to find somewhere and unless you are lucky enough to get into a guild quickly, then you can get very lost which has happened to me so many times. The only way you can learn about the other town like ojaveda or the fortress is by getting another player to take you there and i have found that most players have their own way of getting to the other towns, so you can get very confused when you go by yourself.

I know they have a generic map you can buy to mark places or do something with it, but I have never understood how to use it and i haven't found anywhere that explains how to use it. I understand that the game is about learning things for yourself, but when you tell us to ask others in the game for help, what's the difference in asking them for help and asking the forum for help, you are still telling us where to go or what to do, so what's the use to tell us you can't help us. I feel the games more about working it out alone without any care from admin.

They are so busy to keep the server running correctly without any problems, that they don't care or have the time to help us when we need it and when they do help it's very rare to get a sensible answer that you understand. I am sure a lot of people can relate to what I am saying as to all the questions I have asked, like where do I find a character, I get told sorry we can't help you with that, ask someone for help in the game, which if i am mistaken is the same way of asking you.

The other problem is that 90% or more of the people in the game have things to do, they don't have all the time in the world to keep taking new players to this place and that place when they are trying to finish a quest. The answer is simple and so is the action behind it, make us a map of the towns at least so we know where things are. I know you can get a town map of hydlaa from the librarian, but that is practically a sketch and it doesn't tell where north is, or things like the winch or arena.

When I ask for help to find a place I get told to go through the north gate, but which is the north gate, nothing tells you where it is and that map of hydlaa only has pictures of around 5 buildings like the temple etc, it doesn't show you the gates or where important places are like major characters. In essence, it should have all the above.

[Parallo]

Point by point;

"I agree also, you wouldn't believe how difficult it is when you are a new player and no one will stop to help you to find somewhere"

-I'm fairly sure we were all new at once, so yes we would believe what it is like.

"unless you are lucky enough to get into a guild quickly, then you can get very lost which has happened to me so many times."

-Getting into any guild you can get into fast is a bad idea. Said guilds tend to neglect members and exist solely for the sake of a name tag.

"The only way you can learn about the other town like ojaveda or the fortress is by getting another player to take you there and i have found that most players have their own way of getting to the other towns, so you can get very confused when you go by yourself."

-Last I checked there are paths on the ground. Walk on them if you are on your own.

"I know they have a generic map you can buy to mark places or do something with it, but I have never understood how to use it and i haven't found anywhere that explains how to use it."

-The map is straight forward. When you leave the mouse over on of the buttons in the corner it will tell you what it does. Then you're set.

"what's the difference in asking them for help and asking the forum for help"

-The difference is one is IC, the other is not. You don't need admin care, you need player care.


"The other problem is that 90% or more of the people in the game have things to do, they don't have all the time in the world to keep taking new players to this place and that place when they are trying to finish a quest."

-When faced with the choice of helping or doing a quest any player with the slightest bit of moral character will help. others aren't worth the oxygen they consume.

"The answer is simple and so is the action behind it, make us a map of the towns at least so we know where things are."

-Lastly, learn how to make maps and make it yourself or pay a player to do it. Don't ask admin.

[Velh Krome]

Getting into any guild you can get into fast is a bad idea. Said guilds tend to neglect members and exist solely for the sake of a name tag.

I want to highlight this one, because its a very important point, and because same said guilds may cause players to forget to roleplay at all, due to several reasons.

Take your time for developing your char! Get into roleplaying a bit, and you will get to know all the ooc-knowledge from others, that you want to have so eagerly in the beginning. Instead of joining a guild of said nature and seriously never get to know the real one of the whole game: the excitement of roleplaying.

Sorry if that may have been offtopic, but in my eyes it should be said way more often anyway..

[Ilirion]

Ok.... I understood, I think. I'll ask around how to make maps and where to buy them. Thanks.

[Zhaxor]

Ah guilds, they are useful in some ways, but......to many people join them for the wrong reasons.

I have been invited to join 4 guilds, I turned them all down because I simply didn't know enough about them or them about me. One made me laugh, a character (a complete stranger) came up and said to me, "would you like to join our guild, it's a secret guild." Yeah right, big secret now friend, haha.

I have now developed my character to a point where it might be worth looking for a guild and asking to join, but up till now I have spent all my time as an individual and had no problem moving forward. Part of my early development was spent with other newcomers who joined around the time I joined, I knew they were newcomers because they were down in the sewers killing rats with me :-) We talked, discussed problems we had, compared notes on areas and quests, it was a good time. Many of those newcomers joined guilds, most are now gone, I am still here.

So do what what the game is about, RP, get a group of friends about the same level and travel in a group, explore the lands and watch out for danger, if lost find the nearest road and follow it, it's bound to lead somewhere.

If looking for a NPC character RP it to a more experienced player, yes it's true some of them won't respond, I ALWAYS do, even if it is to apologise for not being able to help them, you will soon build up a good idea of which players are happy to help and which playes aren't. Good luck.

[Zan]

Joining guilds is simple ... If you want to join a guild as a player, because it would make things simpler in whatever way, you're doing it wrong! Only if your character would be interested in joining a guild for IC reasons, then you're giving our roleplaying guilds who actually have a purpose a chance.

[nude0007]

Not having maps of some sort hurts this game a LOT.  As discussed here, many players simply do not have time to stop and tell a noob where something is, and since nothing is labelled, they would likely have to take you there anyway.

Having maps does NOT diminish roleplaying!  Every successful game out there has had some sort of map ability.  People roleplay if they WANT to.  You can't make them by denying them basic tools.  Besides, if you REALLY consider roleplaying important, wouldn't your character know where most of the cities are?  When he passes the city gates, wouldn't he think "Aha!  Here are the city gates"  and be able to remember that and find them again?

The best games make playing easy, this leaves TIME for roleplaying if you want, and game designers and player characters dont have to spend a lot of time answering questions about how to do what SHOULD besimple actions.

I liked a map function that I have seen in several games that works like this: there is a map that sections are uncovered by having your chr travel trough them.  Important sites are either marked by the game designer (easiest for both of us) or the player can make a mark on the map and label it themselves.  Some games even allow sharing of map areas, so if I meet someone and they want to share their map with me, the program mutually uncovers areas on both our maps that we have been to (including labels).

wandering around lost all the time is a certain way to lose players.  Having to rely on the good graces of others is nice, but unrealistic.  If we all had unlimited time to spend in the game world, it would be ok, and only if there were plenty of people playing.

Mapping is also a basic function of the game.  The game must know where thigs are and your relation to them to work, so making a map function is not hard. 
Maps make gaming more fun and reduces endless questions about how to play, allowing people to do something more desireable, like ROLEPLAY.  If players weren't so troubled about where things are or how to do things, they would have TIME to just walk up and chat about their character, or where they've been, or tell tall tales, strike up friendships, etc. (roleplaying)

This game has a lot of potential.  It looks good.  Just needs a good deal of tweaking.  I have more, but those comments do not fit this topic.
Thanks for listening!

[Zhaxor]

I liked a map function that I have seen in several games that works like this: there is a map that sections are uncovered by having your chr travel trough them.  Important sites are either marked by the game designer (easiest for both of us) or the player can make a mark on the map and label it themselves.  Some games even allow sharing of map areas, so if I meet someone and they want to share their map with me, the program mutually uncovers areas on both our maps that we have been to (including labels).

Hmmm, no, don't like at all. Seriously, this is about roleplaying, not uncovering maps.

Yes I have played thiose games also, Diablo 2, Dungeon Seige and etc, and the map idea fitted in because the game is about exploring and killing everthing in sight that looks nasty, there was no roleplay. PS is more about the players and how they interact. At the moment it's relatively easy to find your way between the major towns and locations in PS so I don't see a need for a map.

Having a map system like you suggest would, in fact, end up with everybody having a god like lnowledge of the entire world of PS, that sort of knowledge should be reserved for people who put in the time to explore and either draw their own maps or remember it themselves.