>>It was, as I recall, even visible on the front page. Doesn't seem so with this.

It is on the front page. It then takes you to this page.

http://www.play.net/dr/news.asp?id=1220

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Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.

>>the First and Last Herald

That's here if you've never seen it: http://wrensnesttavern.com/category/news/herald/

Navesi and her team has done an amazing job at getting most of the events through the game with a focus on Zoluren.

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Salute a drowned sailor? You ought to brush up on your protocol, Kasto.

Hollow Eve has always had lead in events before it that are open to everyone, though the scale has differed from year to year. They stand on their own as fun plotlines that get lots of the people involved and they just happen to have a festival at the end (largely in celebration of Not All Dying).

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

This has been (and continues to be) a multi-month storyline that has (and continues to be) entirely accessible to anyone regardless of HE ticket purchase or not. I am very sorry if you do not like this sort of event (or at least the invasion portion), or if being linked to the time frame of the HE festival somehow degrades it for you, but it is in fact a very involved, very multi-layered event.

I do hope that everyone will take the time to actually see what the event is about, and can find something enjoyable in it.


-Persida

I'm just going to give the story.

Way back long go (as far as ingame time, it was probably well over a decade ago) a bunch of Dergati fanatics or at least some people who decided to hold a vigil for her got together in Therengia and prayed and offered and somehow a Chrysalis was made (I was around and event chased, but that type of thing isn't my characters thing).

Over time people came and visited the Chrysalis, it seemed to feed off the spirits of these pilgrims, vigil goers.

Some time later, (Out of game about last year this time, IIRC) Theren closed the place off. And had some people placed in charge of 'dealing with it'.

Very recently it was reopened after Theren Royal guards (I believe two of them) were found dead by the entrance, and the Chrysalis was open, a few items were there and an opening was noticed that wasn't there previous to that.

Bunch of Visions start happening, some seeming to suggest the fall of the Moon Mages. Others about what I believe were the first visions of the Akul'tiz.

Akul'tiz start spreading their form of Terror. Wanting to bring the realization of what their mother wants. That is Darkness, and pain and discorde and what not (hallmarks of Dergati).

They also seem to be trying to sever Peri'el.

---
"I think anything that forces you to do something no sane adventurer would do just in order to train is ridiculous."
DR-SOCHARIS

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Victory Over Lyras, on the 397th year and 156 days since the Victory of Lanival the Redeemer.

>>It was, as I recall, even visible on the front page.

There have actually been two news items about the current events on the front page. And we just posted another one!

You can read it here: http://www.play.net/dr/news.asp?id=1232

That's the summary you were looking for, pretty much. As usual, the best way of finding out about current events is just to talk to your fellow players. Word of mouth may not get it exactly right, but chatting over current events is supposed to be part of the fun.

Melete

---

We must expect posterity
to view with some asperity
the marvels and the wonders
we're passing on to it;

But it should change its attitude
to one of heartfelt gratitude
when thinking of the blunders
we didn't quite commit.

Yeah, you might want to try actually asking in game. Most of Zoluren would be happy to fill you in and you'd probably enjoy the talk. Discussing it IG might make you feel part of it more, which seems to be a major issue of yours.

BTW, I am absolutely loving these invasions and events. Best invasions in years, and the plot itself is awesome--a lot of facets to it and a lot of factions involved.

It feels old school to me. And my being old means it's a compliment.

Leucius

Never argue with an idiot, they bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

>>I'm surprised and disappointed to see someone complain about events, even if they culminate in a pay-festival. The perceived lack of GM events and RP opportunities is a frequent complaint and a common justification for long-term scripting.

This.

Loving the invasions and events. First thing in awhile to get me to stop the script and interact.

>>Out of curiosity, are any of these invasion critters in the 100 to 150 range, btw?

I'm not sure if you mean circle or skills here, but the answer is the same regardless: yep, and lower (and higher). This set of events has the widest range of critter levels/difficulties that I've ever personally seen.


-Persida

My biggest issue with this invasion is that, unless you carry around a cleric in your back pocket to cast Bless, you might as well not participate. I stumbled into a handful of invasion critters that app'd completely beneath my notice (50th circle bard). I killed a few, and then the ghosts absolutely destroyed me with special attacks that drained my spirit. My weapons couldn't touch them, and neither could fire (Pyre) or lightning (BoS).

Once I recovered from departing, I walked through a room with another invasion critter in it and was immediately hit with a special from range that left my character completely blind. Generic dark room descriptions everywhere, no room exits, nothing. Not a pleasant game-play experience, at all. I was able to use genie to get to a healer, got patched up, and logged out.

>>Teamwork is what works best with these creatures, so far anyway.

Just like to echo this. My thief is high enough that he's able to handle all the critters thrown at him, but can not take them down very quickly without help from others. I literally pecked away at some Dergatian spawn/behemoths for 10 minutes without doing much damage. I gwethed for some help and when they showed up we were able to crush them quickly and the critters that were riding them. The same with the totems (which I love the way they work, just wish we had some more time to run once the warning was given).

>>My biggest issue with this invasion is that, unless you carry around a cleric in your back pocket to cast Bless, you might as well not participate.

You don't have to have a pocket cleric, just gweth for a bless and there are plenty willing to come to you or give their location to bless weapons. There were plenty in the Empath guild and in triage too that were willing to bless weapons. I had to get my weapon blessed several times through out the invasion and never had a problem finding a cleric willing to help.

As for being low level, there were plenty of lower level critters, and actually seemed to be very well separated in where they spawned. Everything out the NE gate was very easy stuff and inside the gate a little harder while the very hard critters were limited to the temple. Once Xito appeared and the Fists blew it all kinda went to hell and we were completely over run.

I believe the GMs are doing a great job trying to involve everyone in this storyline. It's really sad to see the complaints over events happening after such a long drought of them. I think everyone needs to remember this is a multi-player game and things happen in the game around you that you can not control. These events are meant to get people to interact and be part of the world around them instead of mindlessly grinding ranks.

P.S. I too am finding this series of events to be the most awesome thing ever. I'm super happy that my lower level character can contribute in battle too.

I'm hoping that this year's festival gift are ghostbuster traps because being blessless with ghost respawns is the butts, hah.

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Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.

>>I didn't know about the blesses preventing ghosts, they just seemed random to me.

Oh I just meant I want to hit them at all. No idea if anything prevents the ghost part.

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Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.

It doesn't work with blessed brawling, but brawling being bugged is something of a tradition.

<<I'm surprised and disappointed to see someone complain about events, even if they culminate in a pay-festival.>>

It's the internet. Life is not right unless there is someone, somewhere unhappy with something others find nifty.

During this sort of event and depending on who is around I'll have Leucius throw up a lead and cover some random person with his shield. If you pass by him and he's in the lead feel free to join up and reap the benefits of groupage.

Leucius

Never argue with an idiot, they bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

Grr. My desire to participate (I could at least bless/buff, if nothing else) is conflicting with my desire to kill as many snoblins as possible to become slightly less dirt poor in preparation for the fest!

>>Grr. My desire to participate (I could at least bless/buff, if nothing else) is conflicting with my desire to kill as many snoblins as possible to become slightly less dirt poor in preparation for the fest!

For what it's worth, the invasion mobs drop decent loot. Also, viper and leucros near the Crossing are a decent snoblin replacement.


-- Player of Eyuve

Someone posted about the spirit drain..

Cast Lay Ward on yourself. Any magic user class can cast it. Any non magic user can have a magic user cast it on them.

These invasions have been really well thought out and the events team deserves a serious pat on the back for what they've done. Everything has a decent counter, teamwork is key and what-not.


--

In memory of Lisa/Martee. Passed 6/17/2013. A friend. A sister.