| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ALFA Public Relations |
Posted - 22 May 2009 : 12:59:18
ALFA May 09 Update
Welcome to the first of ALFA's monthly updates, this month I would like to introduce you to our DM staff and tell you a bit about how ALFA handles long term character development. After that I will talk about the major project that is in development in anticipation of the 1.23 patch release, and finally I will give an update of our server status.
Before I go any further I'd like to say a big thanks to Rob McGinnis from Obsidian for stopping by and saying hi. We at ALFA are happy to offer any and all insight we can on how to continue to develop the game, and we hope your Q and A thread is beneficial to both Obsidian and ALFA alike.
If any of you out there are asking ALFA: "What's so special?", well here is your answer. It is the dedicated staff that volunteer their time for the benefit of all the members. This month I will introduce our current DM team.
The way ALFA manages its DM team is through the use of Head DM's, or HDM. HDMs are the stewards of servers, entrusted by ALFA with the responsibility for their administration. Ultimately, HDM have the ability to shape servers in their own image, while operating within the broader context of ALFA; they have either discretion or influence over their team members and server design and content. This is a demanding and rewarding role, for HDMs will find that a significant amount of their time is spent on matters of management, be it supervising plot developments, overseeing DM training, or resolving disputes.
The HDM's are
Curmudgeon, HDM of The Silver Marches
Burt_Reynolds_Mustache, HDM of Baldurs Gate
Teric neDhalir HDM of The Western Heartlands
and last but not least Castano, HDM of Moonshaes.
Working under the guidance of the HDM's are the rest of the dedicated DM team.
Wynna
Vendrin
ayergo
Kalrenath
Regas
MorbidKate
Roekemoes
Aurum
and Heegz
Id also like to congratulate and thank oldgrayrogue, furtivefigure, and Coaan for crossing over to the dark side and taking up the reins as our newest DM's. That brings our total DM team to a staggering 16.
Character Development
All players in ALFA are encouraged to submit a character biography that goes to the DM-only forums. There, the DM's can update with important events that occur throughout the characters life. All DM's have access to each character bio so continuity is maintained across servers and DM's.
In Development
Earlier I mentioned an important project that was being worked on for the release of the 1.23 patch. ALFA is planning on implementing all of the pen and paper (PnP) skills released in the D&D core rule books (where possible). These skills will introduce the missing variations of "perform", the various knowledge skills and a large number of changes which include synergies to name one. As this is still in development the final list of changes is yet to be compiled.
Due to the volume of work involved in modding the skills, our overworked Tech department is looking for any assistance from those who may be interested and have the skills to help out with this project, or any other for that matter. So if you are interested, drop us a line at pr@alandfaraway.org we would love to hear from you.
Current Server Status.
The Silver Marches: Live
Baldurs Gate: Live
The Western Heartlands: Members Open Beta Testing Stage
Moonshaes: Members Open Beta Testing Stage
The current estimate on both the Moonshaes and The Western Heartlands is around four months until going live, and the teams working on both servers are hard at it to see it come through.
Come and see it for your self, right.... here
Mod edit: Added quotation marks to make the link pretty.  |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ALFA Public Relations |
Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 07:45:28
ALFA June 09 Update
Welcome to the second of ALFA's new monthly updates. This month we have a few exciting things to mention.
After ALFA's inception many years ago, a players manual was drafted to cover the details that all players in ALFA needed to know. Six years on has seen many changes to ALFA so, after a long and tedious process, the APM (ALFA Players Manual) has been updated and replaced with the New Player's Guide to ALFA. This new guide is set out to be easy to navigate and understand to make it as easy as possible for new players to get started in ALFA.
Shout outs
I will take this opportunity to give a big [size=150]Congratulations[/size] and Well done to Bartleby, who has spent countless hours creating what is known as ALFA Books. ALFA Books is the next step up from readable books and it truly ground breaking work. The ALFA community thanks you for your hard work and dedication to the project Bartleby.
quote:
The books allow PCs to read and write books in game in 27 different languages using 14 different alphabets each using their own individual font.
The Languages that are Currently supported include:
Abyssal, Alzhedo, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Chondathan, Common, Damaran, Draconic, Drow, Dwarven, Elven, Entish, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Halfling, Ignan, Illuskan, Infernal, Midani, Orc, Rashemi, Shaaran, Sylvan, Terran and Undercommon.
The books make use of the DMFI Language system to only allow PCs to read or write languages they are fluent in.
The books also include dynamic picture support. Players can display any .tga file located in their My documents UI folder as a page simply by typing the name of the picture and which page to put it on. This can be very handy for in game manuals and easy customization.
You can see screenshots and download a copy from the NWN Vault here. Don't forget to vote.
Our player Admin receintly sent out an email to existing members who we have not heard from since we updated and moved our website. We hope you decide to return to see what we have become. Below is a message to all former ALFA members who are thinking of returning.
quote:
Inactive Members
About half a year ago ALFA moved to a new website and many of our old records of who was/wasn't a member have since been lost. As time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to confirm that returning members, who haven't logged on since Dec '08, are indeed returning members.
Due to this difficulty, and the time spent searching through piles of old records trying to confirm each returning member, it has been decided by the current Admin to set a cut off date, after which any inactive members willing to come back will be asked to submit an application like every new member is.
This cut off date is 15th of July
If you are an inactive member, or know people who are, tell them to give us a buzz before this date. Even if you do not wish to play again straight away, there is no harm in having your foot in the door. Saves reapplying later on - however, in saying that I have no doubt that any old member would have no trouble completing the application form in a matter of minutes.
To give you an idea if you are counted in this group, if you can't log in to the website/forums, and hitting I Forgot My Password button doesn't work and you know for certain you were a member in ALFA, then it's probably you. If you're unsure, feel free to drop me a line.
In Development
With the 1.23 patch nearly here, our Tech department has been working away at getting everything inline for the new skills implementation. The Skills will be the same as the Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 ruleset, here is the proposed ALFA skill list below
Some of the skills above will only be able to be used with a DM present, but as our DM base is expanding there will be very little trouble on that front.
Appraise.............Gather Information.....Ride
Balance...............Handle Animal..........Search
Bluff..................Heal......................Sense Motive
Climb.................Hide......................Sleight Of Hand
Concentration.......Intimidate...............Speak Language
Craft..................Jump.....................Spellcraft
Decipher Script......Knowledge...............Spot
Diplomacy............Listen....................Survival
Disable Device.......Move Silently............Swim
Disguise..............Open Lock...............Tumble
Escape Artist.........Perform..................Use Magic Device
Forgery................Profession...............Use Rope
Due to the volume of work involved in modding the skills, our overworked Tech department is looking for any assistance from those who may be interested and have the skills to help out with this project, or any other for that matter. So if you are interested, drop us a line at pr@alandfaraway.org we would love to hear from you.
We are also looking for Builders of all types to help flesh out or expanding world, If your love of creating is stronger than your love of playing (or the same as), then you too can help, we have a small but very talented pool of builders who would love to add members to their ranks. There are many projects at various stages, so there is heaps of opportunity to get in on the action.
Current Server Status.
The Silver Marches: Live
Baldurs Gate: Live
The Western Heartlands: Beta Stage
Moonshaes: Beta Stage
The Far North: Alpha Stage
Cormanthyr: Alpha Stage
The current estimate on the Moonshaes is around three months until going live, and the team working on the server is hard at it to see it come through.
Come and see it for your self, right.... here.
Mod Edit: Fixed the URLs.
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| ALFA Public Relations |
Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 07:43:14
I am really glad to hear that. Stop by any time. |
| Moonlight |
Posted - 31 May 2009 : 20:14:10
quote:
Originally posted by Fillow
quote:
Originally posted by Moonlight
I'll definitely stop by as time permits.
In Sage's language, that means "never", or 'not in this life !" 
see the FR FAQ projest as a confirmation of that !
sorry Sage, I'm joking. I know you spend much of your time working for our benefit !
He is just perceiving time the way elves do :) |
| Fillow |
Posted - 31 May 2009 : 12:40:53
quote:
Originally posted by Moonlight
I'll definitely stop by as time permits.
In Sage's language, that means "never", or 'not in this life !"
see the FR FAQ projest as a confirmation of that !
sorry Sage, I'm joking. I know you spend much of your time working for our benefit ! |
| Moonlight |
Posted - 31 May 2009 : 11:05:16
You seem to put a lot of passion to what you're doing, that's great. I'll definitely stop by as time permits. |
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