September 2019: Chimp Caverns - Revision history

Sunflash at 18:14, 5 November 2019

2019-11-05T18:14:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:14, 5 November 2019
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	'''Player: Otto (War/20)'''		'''Player: Otto (War/20)''' --Token'd

	'''Sept 28, 2019 (and a zillion other visits, but for review, I brought this guy. ed. I'm Kaze) '''		'''Sept 28, 2019 (and a zillion other visits, but for review, I brought this guy. ed. I'm Kaze) '''

Kaze: Mentioned my main. D'oh.

2019-11-05T18:14:07Z

Mentioned my main. D'oh.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:14, 5 November 2019
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	'''Player: Otto (War/20)'''		'''Player: Otto (War/20)'''

	'''Sept 28, 2019 (and a zillion other visits, but for review, I brought this guy.) '''		'''Sept 28, 2019 (and a zillion other visits, but for review, I brought this guy. ed. I'm Kaze) '''

Sunflash at 22:14, 15 October 2019

2019-10-15T22:14:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:14, 15 October 2019
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	'''Player: Abaril (Level 100 Vampire)'''		'''Player: Abaril (Level 100 Vampire)''' --Token'd!

	'''Review Date(s): September 30, 2019 '''		'''Review Date(s): September 30, 2019 '''

Kaze: forgotten note about the Crankster

2019-10-08T01:10:02Z

forgotten note about the Crankster

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:10, 7 October 2019
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	I think I see the intent and I pretty much agree with it, but implementation is more annoying than fun. Honestly, I think the route it occupies now could be better served by a more consistent mine theme or opening into a more "raw cave" vibe. If doing this, I'd keep Chimp Caverns, but relegate it to an optional branch off of that path that leads outside to a sheltered box canyon with a jungle ecosystem and a strong DKC theme. If that canyon contains some fun challenges, the Chimp Caverns would seem like a gauntlet for admission, and I'd like it a lot more. (Said canyon could exist a bit northerly, near the swamp, or southerly in the Luon mountain ranges. There's plenty of space for it undefined.)		I think I see the intent and I pretty much agree with it, but implementation is more annoying than fun. Honestly, I think the route it occupies now could be better served by a more consistent mine theme or opening into a more "raw cave" vibe. If doing this, I'd keep Chimp Caverns, but relegate it to an optional branch off of that path that leads outside to a sheltered box canyon with a jungle ecosystem and a strong DKC theme. If that canyon contains some fun challenges, the Chimp Caverns would seem like a gauntlet for admission, and I'd like it a lot more. (Said canyon could exist a bit northerly, near the swamp, or southerly in the Luon mountain ranges. There's plenty of space for it undefined.)

			Cranky is one of my favorite NPCs. He's up there with Booster for an NPC I truly enjoy talking to in-game. I'd love his notes to be kept updated for content as it comes in. First, because this would keep him useful, and second because the guy is fun to talk to. Come to think, I'd love it if he had some sort of qskill interaction befitting his elder status.

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Abaril at 01:40, 1 October 2019

2019-10-01T01:40:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:40, 30 September 2019
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	'''Player: Abaril(Level 100 Vampire)'''		'''Player: Abaril (Level 100 Vampire)'''

	'''Review Date(s): September 30, 2019 '''		'''Review Date(s): September 30, 2019 '''
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	Other than that, well, why bother? "defeated Master Necky" and "rescued an animal buddy" are both appropriate quests for a low-level zone, but they are uninteresting and mostly not worth the visit.		Other than that, well, why bother? "defeated Master Necky" and "rescued an animal buddy" are both appropriate quests for a low-level zone, but they are uninteresting and mostly not worth the visit.


	'''Connections: 1/10 (but it would be 6 if there were no debris/10) '''		'''Connections: 1/10 (but it would be 6 if there were no debris/10) '''

	It's on the shorter of the walking routes between Truce and Viorar, so that's a plus. The debris blocking your path combined with a sizable number of potentially aggressive mobs, however, make that path the one less traveled by far. Pretty much everyone I know would prefer to walk the long way around on the Luon Highway instead of bothering with the mostly pointless debris-filled pathways of Chimp. The lesser known connection doesn't play enough of a role to impact my grading of the area.		It's on the shorter of the walking routes between Truce and Viorar, so that's a plus. The debris blocking your path combined with a sizable number of potentially aggressive mobs, however, make that path the one less traveled by far. Pretty much everyone I know would prefer to walk the long way around on the Luon Highway instead of bothering with the mostly pointless debris-filled pathways of Chimp. The lesser known connection doesn't play enough of a role to impact my grading of the area.


	'''Personal'''		'''Personal'''

Abaril at 01:39, 1 October 2019

2019-10-01T01:39:41Z

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 I think I see the intent and I pretty much agree with it, but implementation is more annoying than fun. Honestly, I think the route it occupies now could be better served by a more consistent mine theme or opening into a more "raw cave" vibe. If doing this, I'd keep Chimp Caverns, but relegate it to an optional branch off of that path that leads outside to a sheltered box canyon with a jungle ecosystem and a strong DKC theme. If that canyon contains some fun challenges, the Chimp Caverns would seem like a gauntlet for admission, and I'd like it a lot more. (Said canyon could exist a bit northerly, near the swamp, or southerly in the Luon mountain ranges. There's plenty of space for it undefined.)
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 [[Category:Area of the Month]]

Kaze: Tweaking my summary)

2019-09-28T09:00:49Z

Tweaking my summary)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:00, 28 September 2019
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	'''Personal'''		'''Personal'''

	I think I see the intent and I pretty much agree with it, but implementation is more annoying than fun. Honestly, I think the route it occupies now could be better served by a more consistent mine theme or opening into a more "raw cave" vibe. If doing this, I'd keep Chimp Caverns, but relegate it to an optional branch off of that path that leads outside to a sheltered box canyon with a jungle ecosystem and a strong DKC theme. If that canyon contains some fun challenges, the Chimp Caverns would seem like a gauntlet for admission, and I'd like it a lot more.		I think I see the intent and I pretty much agree with it, but implementation is more annoying than fun. Honestly, I think the route it occupies now could be better served by a more consistent mine theme or opening into a more "raw cave" vibe. If doing this, I'd keep Chimp Caverns, but relegate it to an optional branch off of that path that leads outside to a sheltered box canyon with a jungle ecosystem and a strong DKC theme. If that canyon contains some fun challenges, the Chimp Caverns would seem like a gauntlet for admission, and I'd like it a lot more. (Said canyon could exist a bit northerly, near the swamp, or southerly in the Luon mountain ranges. There's plenty of space for it undefined.)


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	[[Category:Area of the Month]]		[[Category:Area of the Month]]

Kaze: My $0.03---KazeOtto

2019-09-28T08:44:16Z

My $0.03---KazeOtto

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:44, 28 September 2019
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			'''Player: Otto (War/20)'''

			'''Sept 28, 2019 (and a zillion other visits, but for review, I brought this guy.) '''


			'''Descriptions: 7/10'''

			The room descriptions are generally quite good: Evocative of the games they are aping. The secrets are less clear, but work fine, given their status.

			Descriptions of MOBs is far less clear because, as aggressive as they are, the short descriptions need to do almost all of the explaining.

			One element in particular is the debris. It's not clear from description that they are attackable, which should probably be the case.

			'''Balance: 4/10'''

			This place feels frenetic and dangerous, but also cheap. The enemies aren't amazingly strong for the level range, but they still hit pretty hard and they show up swiftly to attack and with some serious debilitating abilities. (and, importantly, frustrating ones to deal with.) The debris fields and things trap you in with monsters which increases the difficulty, as well, unless you have some means of preventing fights. (sneak/invis being the obvious examples) Regardless, that also makes it irritating to navigate.

			At or below the level range, you need a pretty significant edge to survive the place.

			Not sure of any good rewards for the kills, so it's mostly a place to avoid until you can trivially mulch the things or sneak past.

			'''Attractions: 2/10'''

			It's one of the routes twixt Viorar and Truce, so that's an attraction, yet many go around, which tells you something about the attractiveness.

			The biggest draws inside the area are [Redacted] and Cranky Kong, but these are not strong draws very often.

			The biggest draw is what it links together.


			'''Connections: 5/10 '''

			Connected on the west to another cavern and on the east to mines makes some sense. Connecting [redacted] doesn't really matter. From a geometric standpoint, it makes as much sense as anything.

			Themes are a bit weird, really. Seems to me that it really ought to connect to a jungle area, though, not the temperate stuff nearby. Some more water would be fitting, too. Why chimps are living past the Vioraran and Arlian mines isn't clear.


			'''Personal'''

			I think I see the intent and I pretty much agree with it, but implementation is more annoying than fun. Honestly, I think the route it occupies now could be better served by a more consistent mine theme or opening into a more "raw cave" vibe. If doing this, I'd keep Chimp Caverns, but relegate it to an optional branch off of that path that leads outside to a sheltered box canyon with a jungle ecosystem and a strong DKC theme. If that canyon contains some fun challenges, the Chimp Caverns would seem like a gauntlet for admission, and I'd like it a lot more.


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	[[Category:Area of the Month]]		[[Category:Area of the Month]]

Sunflash: Added Vashka's review

2019-09-23T14:46:38Z

Added Vashka's review

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:46, 23 September 2019
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			Player- Vashka, lvl 15 Knight, lvl 16 by end of Review. (Remort 16) - Token'd!


			Review Date 17-09-19

			'''Descriptions: 8/10'''

			It's Descriptions are one of the high lights of Chimp Caverns, well-made, well-crafted and well-fitting to the otherwise somewhat gloomy surroundings. Not perfect in that not everything that might lead to a closer look actually bears out an extra-desc, but enough does that it doesn't feel entirely sterile and lacking any interactivity, just relegated to actual intractable things rather then scenic dressing.
			The mobs themselves also continue the trend, amusing well-fitted descs, more-then-basic interactions in the form of their combat progging and they also got amusing talk responses, admittedly, mostly this results in them attacking you, but as they are hostiles, very fitting.

			'''Balance: 6/10'''

			For the most part, they are somewhat on the low-end of the weight-class, but this is made up for by the fact some of them, like the Slippa can get very nasty if their status-attacks succeed.
			The Rockkroc at the other end of the scale, is almost overpowered having access to up to 3 physical attacks, but this is countered by the fact they come with a mechanic to evade them alltogether. Though counter-counter to that, the likelyhood of facing 2 on 1 is somewhat high, since they are highly mobile in their area and one of them can take a beating to beat before another might wander in.
			The main area boss could use a bit more hp to make them feel more boss-like and allow their unique running battle tactics to occur more often, but otherwise feels right for the level-range.
			There is not an over-abundance of loot to the place, if anything it is very sparse loot-wise. But what there is, is quite nice. It definetly could use more drop-items to make the place more appealing, but what there is makes thematic sense. Also, the possible reward in the 2nd area-quest is quite nice for the lvl-range.

			'''Attractions: 4/10'''

			While it makes an okay-leveling range diversity wise, the area lacks the mob-density to really be considered for that purpose. It makes sense, a mine shouldn't be horribly crowded and overrun by hordes of beasties, so it gets a pass for that.
			Primarily, the zone, personally atleast, gets used as a short-cut through the Myrkur Mountains to get too, or from Viorar and evade the long-walk around said mountains. And even in that use, the fact nearly each movement is accompanied by a fall of inevitable, annoying and possible exit-blocking Debris to clear, is a major downside.
			So, it feels very transitory; you pass through, and barely linger or think about the area. Which, given the nice desc-work, is somewhat sad.

			'''Connections: 9/10'''

			It's a Mine, and it's in a Mountain, further, it connects visibly to another-Mine on one and, and a Mining-town on the other. Connection wise, pretty much as good as it's going to get location-wise.
			Further, it is, untill the advent of Housing Portals or other movement related shenanigans, the quickest way to get to or from Viorar to the rest of the main-land, so quite valuable connection-wise. Could use further connections, more mines, more dug-to-deep shenanigans, but what's there as-is is near perfect so leave it as-is

			'''Personal'''

			I like Chimp-Caverns overall, despite the low mob-density and lack of loot, but what I do not like, and wish to condemn to the deepest hells imaginable, is the constant rain of debris.
			It does not add anything thematically, unlike the clouds of miasmic-fog, it just annoys, delays and gets in the way of killing actual mobs.
			At the very least, make it rain debris less frequently then a sure-thing anytime anything including the mobs themselves most, or preferably get rid of the mechanic all-together, it is a nuisance and a pain.

Sunflash: Created page with "Area of the Month for September 2019 is Chimp Caverns! A template format for your review is below; click 'edit' at the top of the page, copy-pasta from the..."

2019-09-06T15:01:14Z

Created page with "Area of the Month for September 2019 is Chimp Caverns! A template format for your review is below; click 'edit' at the top of the page, copy-pasta from the..."

New page

Area of the Month for September 2019 is [[Chimp_Caverns|Chimp Caverns]]!

A template format for your review is below; click 'edit' at the top of the page, copy-pasta from the <nowiki>----</nowiki> to the next <nowiki>----</nowiki>, and fill in the gaps!

('''''Yes,''''' a wiki account is required to edit the page and therefore post your review, but take heart: The wiki is hosted by the Cleft itself, not a third party!

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'''Player: You!(Class/Level)'''

'''Review Date(s): '''

'''Descriptions: X/10'''

How does the area's room descriptions(descs) work for you? Do they give you a good idea of the area? Do things that stand out in the desc and NEED explanation GET that, either from flavor text(extra-descs) or NPCs in the room or anything?

What about mobiles(mobs) and their descriptions? Can you get a decent mental image of who or what this NPC/monster is? Do they respond when you talk or interact with them?

Some areas have interact-able objects like fountains. Do they stack up well also?

'''Balance: X/10 (OR N/A)'''

(NOTE: combat will be most accurately gauged when your character is in the area's suggested level range.)

If this area has combat, how does it feel? Does anything jump as horribly overpowered and impossible to deal with? What about the flipside, anything far too easy to beat?

Are purchased or rewarded items at the appropriate strength levels? Is the effort required to obtain rewarded items reflected in their usefulness (or uniqueness and fancifulness)

'''Attractions: X/10'''

Why would you suggest someone come to this area?
Is it just a good place to grind experience(lots of mobs)?
Does the area provide a chunk of good gold and loot?

What about the quests? Does this area's quests feel properly done, or is there some part of it that you feel needs work?

For towns, are the shops good? Any other non-combative attraction for the area?

'''Connections: X/10 '''

How easily and well does this area connect to its nearby areas?
Does it make sense thematically to be connected to the areas it is?

'''Personal'''

Any comments you'd like to make that you don't feel apply to the other sections can go here!

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[[Category:Area of the Month]]