Geographical Landmarks

[Rhianu]

Honestly, SE just needs to have quest-related NPCs out in the wilds, rather having all NPCs congregate in the cities and camps like they do now. Having a unique visual landmark is nice, and helps to give a bit of flair and personality to the environment, but what good is it from a gameplay perspective if there's nothing to do there?

Going with the waterfall example, rather than simply building bridges around it, why not have an NPC who gives you a quest standing next to it? Say like the NPC was carrying a valuable wedding ring so he could propose to his one true love, but he tripped over a rock and dropped the wedding ring in the raging torrent of water, and now fears it may be lost forever. And in order to retrieve the wedding ring for him, the player must jump down the falls, plunging into the depths of the water below and look around for the wedding ring in the mud and silt at the bottom of the lake or river.

Redesigning the maps should be more than just a visual change. It should have an impact on the gameplay as well.

[Loony_BoB]

Honestly, SE just needs to have quest-related NPCs out in the wilds, rather having all NPCs congregate in the cities and camps like they do now. Having a unique visual landmark is nice, and helps to give a bit of flair and personality to the environment, but what good is it from a gameplay perspective if there's nothing to do there?

Immersion! Making you feel like the world is alive! However...

Going with the waterfall example, rather than simply building bridges around it, why not have an NPC who gives you a quest standing next to it? Say like the NPC was carrying a valuable wedding ring so he could propose to his one true love, but he tripped over a rock and dropped the wedding ring in the raging torrent of water, and now fears it may be lost forever. And in order to retrieve the wedding ring for him, the player must jump down the falls, plunging into the depths of the water below and look around for the wedding ring in the mud and silt at the bottom of the lake or river.

Absolutely! This would be taking it to another level. I would be delighted with this sort of thing.

Redesigning the maps should be more than just a visual change. It should have an impact on the gameplay as well.

A bit of both, really.