Top modules gone wild?

[addicted2rpg]

What really shot a shiver up my spine today was some of the servers I saw rated. Howard's Lotr was ranked 5th. I was just on there today and it crashed like every other lotr I ever played, about four times per hour. Commoners and dumb npcs littered all over the places standing around sucking up memory and cpu time with their heart beat scripts. The only thing cool about it is they maxed the XP bar. It was totally out of the box + a couple of spell fixes (LOTR is like Nordock, its a mod you can download/public interest). How can that compare to a world like ours with so many dynamic systems, quests, crafting, persistant chests, slavery, jails and knights, the list goes on and on... And that is just system features. The culture is incredible.

So I gave them a vote that I felt they deserved (not out of malice or motive, it was just my true assessment of their game) and they plummeted about 15 ranks ;D

I was nice enough to back my number up though with some solid comments.

And here is a review I read about The #1 Server on NWVault: NWN The Resurrection
(It was in the comments area)

I wonder where and how this module got to be on the top of the list.

First off I just got my membership there. Very dead world. Their hak pak are all screwed up. I had to modify the name of one of them jsut to get into a bank vault building. Not just rename it I had to keep the original to or I couldn't get in the server at all.

Get this. Instead of saving your char it saves the game. It interupts your game play to save. On top of that I have been on and off all day and night. There wasn't Anyone at all on the server. But let me express this. If you walk outside of the one area "Neverwinter" and walk into say the Warehouse District it actually changes servers. How this will work for grouping I don't know. Infact if you go any direction from the one area it will change to a different server. Making me change my split window back to a single window everytime I walk into a different area.

Also the areas don't seem finished, there are no NPCs other than shop keepers. No population. No story I see and wow I got to talk to Nasher. Hmm, also too many map edge areas to lead you to think you can walk there but no active transitions notable.

My over all review after playing thus so far. This module is a disgrace to the NwN Online they cliam to resurrect. The map editing is the weakest map editing I have seen since most quick hack n slash maps to date. The scripts aren't much and the banking system is lame. Even Dragon Mountain a Action based PW is more DnD than this wannabe NwN Online. Also go just north of Neverwitner to fight these giant lizards for 175 xp each at LEVEL 1. Shees. Where is the HCR when you need it....What REALLY gets me is that there wasn't anyone other than me on the server and I was clicking on doors to find out I was still walking there. LAG and I am the only one!! Man is NWC/NWR on a 14.4 modem??? Forget it. I think 1-2 hours of seeing +blocked+ at it's finest is enough to say . Shame on you NwC www.nwnserver.net . You are a sham and a disgrace to the NwN community and how you got to be listed as #1 World out there is not right. I think NWVault needs to reconfigure their database table or whatever it takes to stop things like this from happening. I think the best MODs are being pushed down the list while people like NWC get their modules rated high. Talk about holding up stink and telling all that dinner is ready and Pizza is on the menu... Infact if you all at NwC say me not coming forth to say who I am makes me a fraud. I tell you what. Please take me off your membership list. You all suck.... Rudnoc

What am I supposed to think when I see this stuff? Disgruntled, perhaps? But really, he was iterating through a list of things. I don't think a person with a motive could be that detailed and lie about it all the way through.

So what do I make of it? Well, you can't put the server's self-esteem in what NWVault has. I know we're the best because I've done the legwork. Scooted my butt around gamespy and the web trying dozens upon dozens of servers, I was doing dozens before I even found Fredian when it started. So I know for sure It would be nice if we could get a better rating on there, but all in all I think the reviews count a lot better. I think 'Rudnoc' above makes a few interesting points about servers that play hard at list climbing but don't have anything to deliver. The frauds and the fakes become obvious when people login, and they'll work their way down to us real folks and stay

Oh well... so much for the vault

[CrunchX]

I've played on howards LOTR, and like you said, they maxed out the XP all the way... I think I was getting about 6,000xp for each boar I was killing at level 1... that's going too far. Also the items they made there.. it's so easy to get 100% immunity to slashing, piercing, bludgoning, then about 20/ resist on all elements, all on the same character at the same time. But I have to say they have made some really tough monsters, the hardest i've ever seen anywhere, even with those immunity items all over the place. But it's a small world with not that much to do except hunt for epic gear, I got bored with it too quickly.

BTW, I don't know how many people are like me and just look through the in-game server list and choose one that sounds good... but that's how I found Fredian.

[MitzaVolchenko]

On a related topic, I spent a bit of time on Vives which is the home of Shabba. I finally got a chance to talk with a couple of their DM's, and while I think they have a nice little group of players, they have got nothing on Fredian. The world is pretty, but it has none of the artistry that is evident in every area Makz gives us to play with. Their scripters could benefit hugely from ten minutes with any of ours (my insignificant self included).
I believe their DM's are going to determine who Shabba is and handle him, though. They apparently were not aware that they had a slanderer among them

[TheNaga]

I used to be on a server called City of Arabel it had it all 2000 custom scripts using No hack paks great rp factions ((gaurds, noble houses etc etc)) but it had 4 MAJOR problems even though its popular

1. closed groups ((e.g you are not in with a practicular group of players you will be unliked and will find character progression extremly difficult and also have little or no chance to get into a faction))

2. Dms either gave one word anwsers or none at all in some cases they kind of came accross as nasty ((exceept for one or two)

3. Prestiege classes required DM permission only

4. Stagnent level 4-7 for most players due to HCR rules highest level ever on the server was 17 before a recent wipe now its around 14

[addicted2rpg]

I tried Arabel as well before I found Fredian. It struck me as a really cool world, but the HCRisms drove me nuts. I would stand around and try to RP. I got a conversation or two going, but I just couldn't really get into their crowd. On Fredian, esp. if I play under a secret name, if I can't get into the RP crowd w/out spilling who I really am, I at least have the alternative to go bloody something up in the dungeons to keep me entertained until I am in the mood to try again later.

In a way, even early on Fredian's development, I've considered Arabel to be Fredian's opposite ego, sort of the "well-designed HCR gone mad." I still hold a lot of respect for Arabel, but a lot of those people still playing need liberating They also had some infringement on WoT with that whole Elaida's tower thing... cringe. They could use a little originality. They have some NPC quests, loads of them in the beginning, but not like the ones on Fredian (or as near as many, not even half as much). Most of their quests keep you in the same area; all the steps to solve it can be found in the same map even. IoF they are tools to get people exploring and introduce them to the island. They didn't turn out that way either by luck. Makzimia has told me time and again that one of the functions of his quests is to get people moving around. It is by design for sure. Its a wonderful way to get started to have a little quest string you along giving you good XP on the way while driving you by the places you are going to need to know.

Anyway, enough of that. I'm really shaking my head at the top modules listing. I think I've lost my belief in its credibility; there are just too many frauds mixed in with the real.