Post by kalbaern on Apr 14, 2013 15:19:28 GMT -5
During recent updates, a new feature has been added to some areas.
What is it? Interactive doors.
Where is it? Only in updated maps in Llorkh right now. (Arena & Gallows Map and most of the Southern Section).
What does it do? It provides random interactions with nearby NPCs and sometimes ... it also enables you to access brand new areas.
How does it work? Doors not connected to Shops, Inns and other normally accessable areas are still "locked". However, when you tug on them (attempt to open and fail), a new script set will fire and one of the folowing will occur, randomly.
- A nearby NPC (Gaurds and Commoners) will emote or say something to you.
- The door itself will emote or say something to you.
- A conversation will appear that allows you to attempt to gain entry by either picking the lock or forcing the door open. Attempting to pick the lock is pass/fail with no DC displayed. Forcing the door is pass/fail as well with no DC displayed. Picking the lock references your Open Lock Skill and forcing a door references your Strength. Both checks include bonuses from spells and items. When you succeed, an option to open the door is revealed.
What kind of new areas await us? Good question. You can get an idea of the area "type" by first examing the door itself. Most new doors have names like "Military", "Residential", "Business" and others.
Are there level restrictions on these areas? There are no level restrictions per se, however ... the minimum DCs require at least 10 points in Open Lock or a Strength of 16 to "break into" these new areas. These minimums limit how early you can even gain access to many areas. Increased DCs on some further limit your chances of success, although ... this is mainly to prevent instant defeat at the hands of certain foes that would overwhelm lower level PCs.
Do the encounters scale at all? Most, but not all do scale. Commoners generally however do not scale. Guard dogs and many other creatures scale, but never so much that higher level PCs will be seriously challenged by them. A barracks full of "Zhents" or a secret shrine with a cleric will likely provide a challenge for folks well into epic levels.
Can I pick the locks without first tugging on the door? You can attempt it, but ... you'll fail, so don't bother.
Can I just "bash" a door down? It is possible, but very, very, very unlikely that you can. Bashing on doors will elicit a not too friendly response from nearby guards and sometimes even from commoners. Unless you desire to have most of the town out for your blood suddenly, don't attempt it.
What kind of encounters will we find inside these areas? Encounters are mostly random, however ... some are thematic. I.e. you might find a warehouse crawling with undead, you might find a wizard's home ... and he'll not likely appreciate your intrusion, you might find an unknown shrine or temple ... or you could find that you've entered the home of a commoner who is not hostile ... at least at first. You can also find that the home of a commoner you entered last week is now the hideout for a band of muggers or thieves. Randomness abounds. Prepare for the worst.
Can we "steal" things? Yes, but ... be careful. Commoners will initially be friendly/neutral to your "invasion", but ... there is a chance that if you disturb their belongings (loot their placeables), that they will take note and defend themselves. If no commoners are found in the area(s) you explore, there are no repercushions for "stealing" however.
Will other towns have this feature? Yes. Orlbar will soon have this feature, however the doors found there will have lower DCs and a max level capped at 6th. Loudwater and other towns will have similar features as we update as well.
Will just towns have this system? Mainly, but there is the possibility we'll use it as a template for "random" access to mini areas in places like the underdark and sewer systems at a later date.
Won't all these new areas just bloat the module and make it laggy? Nope. It's exactly the opposite infact. Once "Llorkh" is completely updated, the new areas added are being moved into a serverside only hak. This means that the module will shrink in size and that these new areas will only exist when accessed initially. Both the overall module size as well general CPU overhead are being reduced most updates, even as we expand.
What is it? Interactive doors.
Where is it? Only in updated maps in Llorkh right now. (Arena & Gallows Map and most of the Southern Section).
What does it do? It provides random interactions with nearby NPCs and sometimes ... it also enables you to access brand new areas.
How does it work? Doors not connected to Shops, Inns and other normally accessable areas are still "locked". However, when you tug on them (attempt to open and fail), a new script set will fire and one of the folowing will occur, randomly.
- A nearby NPC (Gaurds and Commoners) will emote or say something to you.
- The door itself will emote or say something to you.
- A conversation will appear that allows you to attempt to gain entry by either picking the lock or forcing the door open. Attempting to pick the lock is pass/fail with no DC displayed. Forcing the door is pass/fail as well with no DC displayed. Picking the lock references your Open Lock Skill and forcing a door references your Strength. Both checks include bonuses from spells and items. When you succeed, an option to open the door is revealed.
What kind of new areas await us? Good question. You can get an idea of the area "type" by first examing the door itself. Most new doors have names like "Military", "Residential", "Business" and others.
Are there level restrictions on these areas? There are no level restrictions per se, however ... the minimum DCs require at least 10 points in Open Lock or a Strength of 16 to "break into" these new areas. These minimums limit how early you can even gain access to many areas. Increased DCs on some further limit your chances of success, although ... this is mainly to prevent instant defeat at the hands of certain foes that would overwhelm lower level PCs.
Do the encounters scale at all? Most, but not all do scale. Commoners generally however do not scale. Guard dogs and many other creatures scale, but never so much that higher level PCs will be seriously challenged by them. A barracks full of "Zhents" or a secret shrine with a cleric will likely provide a challenge for folks well into epic levels.
Can I pick the locks without first tugging on the door? You can attempt it, but ... you'll fail, so don't bother.
Can I just "bash" a door down? It is possible, but very, very, very unlikely that you can. Bashing on doors will elicit a not too friendly response from nearby guards and sometimes even from commoners. Unless you desire to have most of the town out for your blood suddenly, don't attempt it.
What kind of encounters will we find inside these areas? Encounters are mostly random, however ... some are thematic. I.e. you might find a warehouse crawling with undead, you might find a wizard's home ... and he'll not likely appreciate your intrusion, you might find an unknown shrine or temple ... or you could find that you've entered the home of a commoner who is not hostile ... at least at first. You can also find that the home of a commoner you entered last week is now the hideout for a band of muggers or thieves. Randomness abounds. Prepare for the worst.
Can we "steal" things? Yes, but ... be careful. Commoners will initially be friendly/neutral to your "invasion", but ... there is a chance that if you disturb their belongings (loot their placeables), that they will take note and defend themselves. If no commoners are found in the area(s) you explore, there are no repercushions for "stealing" however.
Will other towns have this feature? Yes. Orlbar will soon have this feature, however the doors found there will have lower DCs and a max level capped at 6th. Loudwater and other towns will have similar features as we update as well.
Will just towns have this system? Mainly, but there is the possibility we'll use it as a template for "random" access to mini areas in places like the underdark and sewer systems at a later date.
Won't all these new areas just bloat the module and make it laggy? Nope. It's exactly the opposite infact. Once "Llorkh" is completely updated, the new areas added are being moved into a serverside only hak. This means that the module will shrink in size and that these new areas will only exist when accessed initially. Both the overall module size as well general CPU overhead are being reduced most updates, even as we expand.
