[SentaiPink]

Lastly. We do welcome suggestions and ideas for this new setting. Don’t be shy but don’t expect all your suggestions to be met with a ‘yes’. Creating a setting might seem an easy task in one’s mind but after being there for a whole of 7 times by now I can tell you it’s a delicate art. For example: why a setting should not be placed underground have at least 3 reasons that I can pull from the top of my head without even trying to analyze. Don’t let it discourage you, but keep in mind that the coolest idea you’ve ever had may not be feasible with the tools and circumstances at hand.

With the announcement of the intended map change our great and powerful leader Zark encouraged input from the players. As Lore Keeper and Server Builder I want to open up a dialog about lore sites, do you like them? What kind do you like best? Do you have suggestions for the sort of wonders you'd like to see on the new map or future ones? What didn't you like? Sadly most of Alroc's more elaberate sites were lost before completion so we may see a revisit to a few of those ideas, for those of you that stumbled across the sites in the last map before they were completed.

[Michelle]

I like lore locations because they give life to the map outside of town, which is pretty damn important to map longevity and general RP--it gives characters something to do outside of the usual motions. I don't think there's much reason to not like them--after all, if you don't like them, you generally don't need to RP with them.

That being said, I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who has seen about one or two lore locations in character. I think this is because 1. I usually know about these lore locations OOCly due to staff involvement, and I guess it sucks the fun out for me, and 2. My characters aren't suited for them. I usually play people who are tied to their workplace, who have some form of anxiety, and have little combat skill. If they're not cowardly, they have a hard time leaving town.
So overall, I want to see a few things:

1. More things closer to town. Not everything needs to be super close, but at the same time, everything has been pretty far out on the last two maps. Most of the lore sites, I have only been to via warping, and haven't been able to find just walking around. The path on the Alroc map was nifty, but also too convenient because it was the only path. Just would be good to see some things close, and some things far.

2. Less reliance on combat characters. I know it's not really adventure when there's no risk, and I know the danger = characters have to bring others with them, but that's kinda the problem--these things force non-combat characters into "damsel in distress" positions (regardless of gender, just using the trope name). Take Chathra, for instance. She doesn't mind adventure if she can find time for it, but she has limited combat skill. So if she wants to go, she's got to take someone, but if it's that dangerous, why go at all? Her being there just makes it harder for whoever she gets to come, because they have to look out for her.

I think you can get around this issue the way they do it in games. In co-op games, everyone's got a special skill that makes them necessary. Maybe some lore sites require a tall person to reach something, or a small person to crawl through a hole, or someone to pick a lock, solve a puzzle, mine something out, fix a machine. The other option, of course, is to just make a couple of other lore sites that are less risky.

3. Less "abandoned building" lore sites. I know this one might be asking too much, because options are limited when it comes to lore sites. But what I specifically dislike about these is that... after characters have cleared it of danger, there's nothing else to do with it. It's just "cool, an abandoned building, let's look at stuff and go home". Maybe there's treasure to find, but that's a one time thing. Maybe the building can be restored, but why, if it's too far outside of town? I guess what I really want to see is more stuff to do at these places than battling dusk and having a look.

I want to emphasise that my problem isn't with what is being offered, it's just that nothing else is being offered. TL;DR: Variety pls.

Wishlist for new map:

Spoiler

- Inn/tavern with a commercial-sized kitchen and basement. Also, if it could be close to a water source again, that'd be realistic.
- Food trees around town. Not asking for orchards here, just asking for like, a sign on a tree trunk that says it's an X tree and it whatever looks ripe in Y season. Maybe the occasional sign saying birds ate everything.
- More houses with garden plots. Or maybe a communal garden? It feels too convenient when there's just the needed amount of gardens attached to homes.
- A beach, not just a port. With rock pools? I don't know, but a beach has been missing since Auria. I think they're a nice backdrop for RP, and rock pools just gives characters something to check out.
- An old training ground. I never really saw the one in Ravenna used, but I feel like that was an issue of placement. Would be nice to see another one; again, I think it's a nice backdrop for RP.
- Some old swings. Neat hang out spot.
- A giant bird nest, no bird or eggs absent, but a giant feather.