under water zones

[Ruadin]

I was curious if underwater zones were going to be
implemented. Not that these zones would be paramount to
proper enjoyement of the game but it would certainly add
an element of diversity. Note that I'm not necessarily
promoting the creation of an aquatic race. If it makes
sense for them to exist with the game's history then by
all means, let's have 'em.

Having asked this question, let me go ahead and ask a
somewhat related question which is of a more general nature.
How closely will the game mimic a true physics model?

[Rolfe]

Underwater zones likely won't be in at release, but will be added soon after. Physics will be pretty basic.

[Dyson]

Ruadin- the physics model issue is already addressed on the webpage. The answer to your question is "Not very."
Personally, I dislike games that go for realistic physics models. Anyone remember Trespasser? "Isle of the Rubber Boxes" is how I think of it...

[triangle]

i enjoyed EQ underwater areas.. swimming is cool in EQ. i did not like AC treatment of water...

i think exploring an underwater ruined city or shipwrecks would being good enjoyment to the game.. the ability to swim in the moat of a castle and get eaten by the moat monster. :)

just need to make the waters edge destroy any magic cast and make most all missles miss when shot from above and you wont have much abuse. or make it so water creatures just need to swim lower if hit from above.

i also believe that special skills should go with underwater combat. spellcasting. and special weapons would be needed for underwater missles. skills such as holding breath. water resistance balancing, underwater attack skills :)

[Slitherrr]

Fighting underwater is piss-hard, I know from experience... And shooting a bow from underwater is pretty much impossible (and shooting through water from out of it isn't that great either, but people fish like that, so it must work somewhat). Ha, I remember the ol' EQ days, underwater throwing daggers, underwater bows, underwater underwater underwater.... Ok.

[Cynycal]

it'd be cool to be a ranger, and like have a pet dolphin =P

[KirosBlade]

underwater would be pretty cool, as long as it wasnt a huge part of the game, i would wannna pet giant squid or something like that

[Wrentia]

I don't see what the big thing is with underwater zones. I have no problems with them but it seems this is a "must have" for some people. I think there are a couple options here. Theres a town sewer system type option that would have dry and wet areas. There is also the full blown underwater dungeon (sank beneath the lake/sea sort of thing) Then there is the option of underwater areas that are part of the whole....A whole big normal dungeon (in an old mine system) that has wells in various parts that allowed the formal inhabitants to get water....any way of the 25 or so wells in the place, one has an underwater secret passage at the bottom that leads to something. I think there is room for all three options in the game. Evntually you could even get an underwater city somewhere through expansion if there's enough clamour for that sort of thing....

-Wrentia

[toray]

I agree.. I couldn't care less about an underwater zone. I'd never go there...

And a water-born race seems too limited, as well (Horizons is doing one). I'd much rather see more focus on socio-political content.

Cheers,
T

[Kymeri mac An Iolar]

Underwater areas just adds another aspect to the game. I think EQ handles it pretty nicely and makes it work well with the rest of the game. I agree in that I do not like how AC handles water at all. A water race is not limited if you make it so it can walk on land.

[BelDragos]

There could be spells that allow breathing and underwater movement. The duration could be the balance and remember just because you can breath underwater it doesn't meen tou can talk.