Free grand in plat for a newcomer

[Safon]

If any newcomers to the server want 1000 plat to get started (newcomer being like you are level 1 - 25 ish) just make a post saying what your favorite newb zone is and why, or share an interesting experience of your early journeys on the server. Include screenshots for bonus points, I am bored at work.

Detail is good when describing your favorite newb zone! Will pick a winner (possibly numerous winners) within a day or two, if only one person bothers to submit anything they win automatically.

[VesperianSorrow]

Back when I played live (Bristlebane server) my favorite newbie zone was Hollowshade Moor (omgz a Luclin zone, burn the heathen!). MOST of the reason being the atmosphere of the place, and because once I got to a higher level I spent a lot of time killing Owlbears for their pelts to make Rallic Packs.

On this server however I'd have to say my favorite newbie zone is Field of Bone. I've never played an Iksar before and now I regret it because this zone is amazing. Part of it is because the zone seems to be more in line with what one might expect from a newbie zone in a newer mmo; due to the fact that there are multiple item turn ins for exp, and there are drops that you can use to make armor with quests from NPCs in Cabilis. Makes the initial grind as a newbie much more bearable, because you have very clear cut goals you can aim to achieve that help your character, for both gear and exp.

Furthermore, unlike many of the other newbie areas you can also find a very steady stream of enemies for a good while, instead of having huge dry spells like in ECL, where mobs become either green or red very quickly. The spiderling caves have given me over 200 spiderling silks to sell whenever I finally decide to head to the old world, and the abundance of decaying skeletons has given me more bone chips than I'll need for a long time (I'm an SK). Having Kurn's - which is one of the best low level dungeons in the game - be a stones throw from Cab is also quite nice.

The best part about the zone though is that it actually feels organic and real. Places like Steamfont and the Commonlands come across to me as just large open areas that the devs deposited random trees and the occasional building in. FoB however has so many different terrain types and other features such as ruins, huge skeletal remains, and nice little flavor areas like the aforementioned spiderling caves, that just feel like some long abandoned little nook that had a purpose long ago, but is now only a home for spiders. It just makes the zone feel like it has history, and is lived in, making exploration feel rewarding.

As far as experiences go, since I'm only level 8 I really haven't had a chance to have very many, but today I did have the opportunity to help out another noob. Someone was asking where a good place to get exp at level 5 was in FoB, and people mentioned the spider warrens. The guy didn't know where they were, and I was in them and told him that I would escort him. Even though it was just a short run from the road leading out of Cab, it gave me the opportunity to do what makes this game the most fun mmo I've ever played, since I warned him about the nasty Scaled Wolf Hunter that paths near the caves, and gave him a spare Burynaibane Spider Fang and choker that I had on me, and he seemed very appreciative.

So basically the zone gave even someone as low level as 8 the opportunity to help another player, show them something interesting, and even pass on some gear that was useful. I can't really think off the top of my head any other newbie areas that would have allowed me to do that, and for that reason alone this is my new favorite zone. Afterall the thing that makes this mmo so much better than all of the others since in my opinion, is just how much it encourages, forces, and even rewards helping others.

Anyhow, back to killing sabertooth cubs. lol

[Soar]

This tale is told by a fellow gamer who is bored at work so sadly there won't be any screenshots. I'm handicapped by the fact that my gaming buddies dragged me away from EQ in 2001 so I could play a healer in DAoC and try to keep their asses alive while they killed other players. I'm further handicapped in that I lost everything in a house fire in August 2013; only now have I recovered to the point of having extra money to build a gaming rig. So I'm out of practice as well as pretty much clueless.

I made a high elf cleric and commenced hunting in GFay. This was after I'd spent five hours installing the damned game and another two hours trying to get the UI set up perfectly. My toon was equipped with a club and a cloth robe. I think the club made her OP though, cause I noticed she could actually kill something if she beat on it for a few minutes without dying herself. Then Tunare help my poor little cleric, an orc saw her and she was dead before I could spin around and try to figure out which direction I needed to run to get to Felwithe.

I had no clue where I was, my sense heading was zip, and I was pretty well screwed. After fourteen years away I really didn't remember the zone that well. I spent an hour running around looking for my stinking corpse. Cause when you're level one a chewed-up club and ratty robe are pretty precious when you have nothing else to call your own.
After an hour I noticed other characters watching me. I don't know if they felt sorry or were laughing at me (I suspect the latter). Totally humiliated, I knew I sucked cause I couldn't even find my corpse in Greater Faydark. I sneaked away, camped, and deleted that toon. Shame is a terrible thing.

I've since recovered and made another high elf cleric. I stripped her butt nekkid and stored her valuables in the bank, then Googled some maps and ran her happy ass to Freeport. I got a bind and commenced hunting in the newbie zone just outside West Freeport.

Things have been going better since I left elfland. My baby cleric is now level 9 and hunting the willowisps in East Commonland (I used to be lvl 10 but that's another story). I can barely kill them if they con white and I'm buffed out the hoohah. Luckily there's lots of buffs to be found up at the tunnel. I plan on staying here for a few more levels so I can save up for the next set of spells. Providing the damned wisps stop killing me, that is.

[JboxCSU]

Hi!

My name is Xlikx, and I'm a 14 year old necro! I like 3 things. I like dark, I like dentistry, and I like hate! For these reasons, Blackburrow is my favorite place!

First, I discuss dark. Blackburrow is dark. And since I like dark, I like blackburrow! Blackburrow is so dark that it has black in its name! Going down into Blackburrows dark with my skelly friend is always exciting. Every once in a while a fellow adventurer will shout "train to zone" and I get excited! I don't know what is really happening, but it looks like a game of tag. So one time I got on the back of the train and ran along with my new friends. But then everyone stopped running and screaming and I got punched.

Second, I discuss dentistry! My daddy is chief dentist at Court of Pain back home in Cabilis. He always say I should keep my teeth clean and practice dentistry at an early age, so I do! The gnolls in Blackburrow have great fangs I can pull on to practice dentistry! I have hundreds of fangs to share with my dad when I get home. Other kids in Blackburrow want to give to some sort of tooth fairy in Qeynos. Strange.

Finally, I discuss hate. I love hate! Everyone hates me, and everyone hates gnolls! Everywhere I go, I am hated. Everywhere I see gnolls, they are hated too! We both have hate in common. My favorite gnoll to hate is Lord Elgnub. He like deep dark place in Blackburrow too! I think he a circus gnoll...his fur is painted like a clown and he plays with snakes all day. I bet he has poor dental hygiene. I need to investigate...

With hate,
Xlikx

[Beldon]

My favorite “Newbie” dungeon is Najena.
I started my leveling/questing here after finding out about the Mage focus items. Someone in EC was gracious enough to gift me a Shovel. I researched the quest line and in no time had my Shovel of Ponz.

So off to Najena I went to claim my other three prizes. Immediately I was killed and back at EC. I play at erratic times and not very frequently (until recently) so soloing was usually my only option. I got past the skeleton guards and realized the depth I needed to reach to get the Focus items to drop was deeper that I thought. I love the mage, but they don’t have any good “Oh Crap” spells except Gate.
I am a hugely scared of dying and corpse running…especially since I need to hit a bank for gems just to summon a pet and be able to get my corpse again. So when I start dungeon crawling, I take it slow.
As I am killing my through the dungeon, I walk through a fake wall and straight into a Red Con Skelly. Pet attack – Heal – Heal – Oh Crap – Gate.
Start my crawl all over as trash has spawned. Get back to the same spot and learn from my mistake….I finally reach the “Crystal Room” where 3 magicians spawn. I tried all I could think of to split the camp with little success.

Had to gate and log out….on my next log in a higher level was in the zone messing around and had already broken up the magicians. Once he/she was done, they let me have it. I farmed those guys for a few hours and got a Shovel and Broom!

Logged in a few days later and crawled my way back in. I now know the first part of Najena really well :P Got to the camp and there was only one Magician up. Killed him and he dropped the Torch! I was so pumped as I play the Fire pet mostly exclusively and ran to do the quest turn in. A long run/boat trip to to Timorous Deep and I had the Toes needed form a nice merchant. Gated and ran to the turn in.
Some random player was cleaning out there bank one day and asked if I had the Stein. Then promptly let me purchase it for a nice discount.

I spent many hours merchant farming the materials and farming the Focus Items in Najena…..really a great time!

[Buellen]

Chance to win COF 2.o thread ?





sorry couldn't resist

[Azeam]

I play the game slowly, family and other commitments keep me from logging in daily. Azeam is now 22, but almost a year old. So it's been a long time since I was in Crushbone but I will almost always remember how awesome it was when our group was rolling on cloth armor, shields, and the mighty Legionnair's Bracer. Amongst us newbies this was HOT stuff and worth rolling on. I was like, "Now this is classic!!" Even at 22 some people are rolling on brass armor that drops, which I think is pretty cool.

Not sure what I would do with the 1,000P if I am chosen, save some for spells and maybe try to get my wis up a notch or two, and try to fill some of the empty slots. Thanks for the contest.

Azeam - 22 Cleric of Odus

[jakerees]

I would have to say that the swamp known as Innothule has always held a dear place in my heart. As my first character on live, I made a troll warrior. I recreated this character when I first started here, however I haven't gotten around to playing him much yet. Instead I have made a monk and have made the journey from Freeport down to the swamp a few times.

How can you not love a good swamp. The dark, dampness. The alligators. And oh my, the frogs! Which brings me to the next best part of Innothule Swamp, it is home to the dungeon of the froglok people: Guk. There is nothing like a strong adventure party raiding the frogloks in Guk. The less seasoned and veteran adventurers alike are able to test their skills in this sprawling cavern. Many hope to leave with the rumored treasures within, such as a Flowing Black Silk Sash, which is said to enhance the speed of whoever wears it.

Innothule is also provides its residents with close proximity to the Ogre neighbors by traveling through the Feerrott. This allows for a quick change of scenery and gives adventurers another dungeon to visit...Cazic Thule.

Finally, Innothule is in an ideal location on the southern tip of Antonica. For those travelers moving from one side of the continent to the other on foot, there are two choices: Make the deadly gauntlet run through highpass and a dangerous Kithicor in the night time, or travel south, and pass through the greatness that is Innothule Swamp.

Slagsmal, 21 Monk

[akmetal]

My first experience in live was in Freeport watching my neighbor and his brothers play. I would literally sit and watch them play because the game was so intriguing. Freeport seemed like a traditional fantasy theme city to me..

Then I saw Kelethin- it was completely different than anything I had ever imagined in terms of a city and fit the idea of "wood elves" so well. I managed to convince my mom we needed a desktop computer and started a half elf ranger (I grew up in Alaska- hunting is part of my heritage so that initially drew me to a ranger).

I loved the lifts. So cool to actually be able to activate and go up and down. And then fighting someone at the top or bottom for the elevator. It was literally a tree fort city and to my 9 year old self, it was amazing. Not to mention how much of a badass I felt like surviving a fall for the first time (that happened again on my P99 character recently- 22 druid). It just seemed like such a living city, with so many lowbies in the area and other people coming through, there was always an ooc discussion going.

Moving out from the city and fighting orcs and etc. was really exciting. Having an outside element/threat and learning to deal with KoS enemies at early levels was cool- especially with the level variance in centurions.

Crushbone next door was the cherry on top.

Kodiaak Beaar, 22 druid. (if it's any incentive, I just built a computer for my little bro and it will be his first experience playing a MMO and we will be duoing an iksar monk/shaman combo)

[Safon]

2 folks here have won prizes, I will let this go until Friday, at some point on Friday I will post here and end the submission period, and tell folks who won. I am debating making the winners journey to some cool place to meet me for their plat, but if that sounds just like a pita to you guys we can just do ec for your boring arses lol