I started my krokani ur'Guard last night, reading some of the help files before I went to sleep. I believe there was a battle going on in the plane of Nil at the same time. However I got the impression that I needed to pass the Collegium before attempting or doing anything guild wise, initial training and all. Which I kind of like actually, I get to learn more about Magnagora. Once I learn about the city, then I can focus solely on learning what the ur'Guard guild does, like the whole Boot Camp bit, which seems interesting.

However, I did the CGHELP INDEX bit and read those scrolls and noticed several other scrolls referenced in those. Yet, they do not exist, especially the one involving the quests to pass the Collegium. I really would like to do them, but were they removed, or have they not put in yet? Did I show up in the middle of it being constructed? I would really like my character to be able to do those quests tonight when I logon again, but if they do not exist, then...

Also, I tried getting in contact with a couple of the professors of the Collegium, but one was busy/AFK perhaps and others were of course busy with the defense of Magnagora. Was going to ask them this, but maybe the forum is a better medium.

Yes, one must first 'serve' his time in the Collegium before passing onto guild business.

Unfortunately, the Collegium is very new (it's only been out for 4-5 days), so we're still writing the scrolls and finding the best ways to handle it all. You CAN do the quests, it's no big deal, CGHELP QUESTS will just list some basic instructions. Just go to the Collegium (from Megalith, 5E, D, N, IN) and talk to all the people in there. Each of them gives you a different quest. Each of the quests reduces your College time, so it's useful to do them. The Power quest, however, does not have a denizen to start it - read CHELP SPECTRES and do that to complete the 'Power' quest. Though, you should ask someone to help you beat the spectres, they're rather strong.

And regarding the Professors' lack of response, I'd like to think most of them were busy defending Nil. I hope you get better/faster responses in the future.

I will try that tonight, thank you. The CGHELP QUESTS file did not exist last night from what I saw, but maybe it is up today, if not, I will just go to those denizens. Thanks.

I doubt it will be up, but you really don't need it. The quests are awfully easy (you get HINTS which basically solve the entire quest for you), CGHELP QUESTS will, I believe, only serve to point students to the quests and explain the benefits of solving them... And maybe mention that the 'Power' quest is actually spectres. Anyway, good luck.

Yes, CGHELP QUESTS and few others referenced scrolls are not up yet.

I got distrated by the bardics deadline but I'll be back to writing the rest of the scrolls tomorrow for sake of anyone interested. And yes, they're rather easy in general, or perhaps just to us. I realise complete novices might find some of them troublesome which is why the scrolls for quests will be put in place too. I hope you found the other ones useful at least.

Also, Professors... GET TO WORK

I think CGHELP (guild name) could have that info too, although Sybl/Vath were still working on that last I heard.

on the Professor front, I dread to say more need to be appointed, but I hope the non Ur'Guard ones weren't doing that as well, if so we need to review who is appointed..

It just crossed my mind that fresh college novices have no way of solving Spectres on their own. These are people who should be running among finks and gnomes, and not duking it out with pentagram-breaking, freezing cold spectres. Sure - they just need to ask someone to help - but how many of them would think of this? A normal novice would expect normal quests set before him, not ones he needs help with from someone 30 levels higher... Hmm...

Well last night I did some of those quests. I will include my opinions if you all want, from the perspective of a Lusternia neophyte. Say, for perhaps improvements or pats on the back.

First one I did was the patrol of the city. I liked it, I could find my way pretty easily to all the correct locations, except maybe the Market since that was not marked on any maps I saw, at least saying "Market", but it had shops so I should have put two-and-two together. I might suggest a couple more areas. Most were located around the center, so you do not explore too much. The zoo seemed to be the farthest out. Perhaps one in the northwest, southwest, and far north section might help too, so they definitely get all over the city.

The second one I did was the planar one where you drop the bracelet. It was fun, but a total bitch to try and navigate those things, even with a map I was wondering where I was going. Like even after reading the help files about planar travel, all I knew was that I needed a gate to get to a certain plane, and you can only go from one to another, not just skip them willy-nilly and go straight to what you want. Especially when there is another plane above Magnagora, but it is not the Ethereal, Earth, or Nil one. However with some help from some people, Yrael especially, I was able to get to most of them and understand the concepts of moving between the planes. I did need an escort for the Astral plane since I do not believe I was able to get to it personally. I was told by Sybl lessons in Planar were pretty much needed, at least to Rift. After that though it was much easier.

The third one was the hunting of darklings. Other than an icewall making one decay that was easy, just tedious. The main reason being how weak my character is. However, it was a ton of fun, since they were close and took like 10 or more connected swings to take down, along with some weak little afflictions I had to counteract. Definitely liked it.

I will likely be doing the others tonight, but so far looks good to go, fun quests, engaging, not absolutely simple and easy like Newton Caverns, so you do enjoy completing them. Also, learn a bit about the city doing it, likely the reason they exist in the first place.

Bear in mind though that the collegium quests are NOT obligatory. They were created to give novices something that is in half an alternative to Newton and in half a great RP experience. You can totally ignore the College quests and do your regular Newton thing and then graduate within 20 hours from College without doing a single quest. However, those that do want to learn more and get immersed can pick up this unique opportunity.

It's also meant to require aid from others, meant to help the novice meet people. What else are the Professors for? All they get to do is speed up graduation but I cannot see many reasons for doing so. The bright ones will do the quests and graduate on their own anyhow, with no outside help. Some of the quests such as the Planar one is almost impossible to complete without assistance as I cannot see a novice taking out a ship to some aetherbubble in place of visiting Astral. Also the spectre one requires help OR is something to do once the novice hits 15-20th circle at least. So in my opinion the system is really good and when all scrolls are finally worked out, it will work smoothly - blending Newton and College whilst still not being obligatory.

Don't get me wrong, I think the system is awesome, I was just wondering about that one thing, but all your points eased my mind, thank you.

Thanks for your input. Regarding Geography (patrolling), I understand what you're saying, but there isn't much point to going to the northwest, southwest or far northern parts of the city, at least regarding basic geography. As you will see, History takes you to the significant places in the northwest (i'Xiia tower) and southwest (n'Lochli tower), and the only important thing up north is the Northern Gate, but that's pretty obvious.
It did cross my mind, however, that the Coliseum is an important landmark, however there is no denizen there who could sign the patrol report, so yeah...

Regarding Planar, it's basically just understanding how planar travel works and getting someone to help you out a bit. Never be afraid to ask over CGT.

And about darklings - I find them fun. They take an annoyingly large amount of hits, but in the meantime they show the new player some basic afflictions and show that it's not all monotonous damage-spamming. Far from it.

Anyway, I hope you like the other quests too. I've been living here for ages and I still learned a bunch of stuff when I went to solve History. Very interesting.

Personally I love the collegium idea. It gives a great alternative to just going to Newton Caverns and such and is truly helping me learn my way around. As for the asking for help, I'm glad I read this. I rather thought we were to do them pretty much on our own (though thank you Nariah for the lead you gave me to start the power one) and will need help doing the Planes and Power one as I spent a good day stuck in the Mountains of Madness totally lost trying to get to the archway! 75 out of 100 points and couldn't get the last 25 before I ran out of time. Oh well, another day another quest! I'm also kinda shy and don't talk much so I try not to bother people asking for help.

Awesome stuff though.

Sarie

First of all, Professors are people who are -obligated- to help you! It is their job! And most of them love doing their job, as they're also Secretaries/Undersecs in their respective guilds, in charge of helping novices, so you should NOT feel like you're 'bothering' people when you ask for help.

Secondly, oh dear. What were you doing in the Mountains of Madness? Good god, avoid that place like the plague. And for future reference, if you ever get seriously lost, just ask someone to come help you, it shouldn't be a problem.

Thirdly, I'm glad you like the Collegium.

One of the quests is -way- too buggy. The Influencing quest. I swear, its worse than the Newton Honours Quests, like one out of fifteeen of the people you can influence for the pieces actually have it, and then they decay lightning fast. Unless you expect novices to go through like fifteen vials of bromide, its going to be incredibly difficult for them to do.

It's a pity the channel suffers from the same.. inadequacies as newbie - Blah blah blah don't you DARE talk to novices whinge whinge you're not sanctioned by X Y and Z to do so!

Funny.. I've not heard anything like that on the Seren coll channel yet...

Note the title.

oh.. I thought you meant the CGT channel and collegiums -in general-. My fault!

If the Planes one involves dropping a serpent-shaped bracelet on several different planes, I'm pretty sure the game remembers previously-visited locations, and you don't have to revisit them when you get the bracelet back from Dhuggl.

By the way, I'd like to point out that we see Students on CGWHO even while they're still in Shallamar. This leads to unneeded greetings and instructions being given while they haven't even finished the tutorial. Fix please?