[Gwydion669]

We all appreciate everything you've done.

Now relax and enjoy your anniversary.

If it turns out to be $1500 to salvage the old ... a reboot won't be so bad. Sure, some of us will whine and kvetch, but we'll still be happy to be here.

I believe the majority of us won't leave until you pry the keyboards from our cold, dead fingers. :D

[Balanor]

I just returned from my vacation hours ago and as I was unpacking, I called the Best Buy data recovery center since their online tracking site had not been updated in 5 days. They apparently were able to run a diagnosis in about a half hour (dunno why they couldn't have done that days ago), and informed me that there is a power supply failure on the drive and the circuit board was fried. This requires their 'Level 3' attempt to recover the data. Which is $1550.

The amount in Thay's vault is at $573.50, with an estimated ~$250 more coming through snail mail, so we are well short of that outrageous amount to recover data through Best Buy. If they can't recover anything, they charge 'only' $100 (in addition to the $49 that is already non-refundable), if they can recover *some*, but not all, they still charge $1000 (un. real.). So unless there is some guardian angel(s) who come through with more than double of what the rest of this generous community has already given, I will be forced to abandon the data recovery effort and I'm willing to refund donations to people who gave only to try and get some type of data recovery done.

The only good news I can give at this time is that I should be receiving a new drive for the server tomorrow, as well as my new home computer. I plan to work on both and have the NWN server up hopefully by late tomorrow, or Friday to at least give people something to play in the interim. BUT, the data recovery option is now most likely not going to happen, which means either 1) some type of server reboot or starting anew (again) or 2), either using the February backup as either a base or putting a pretty steep burden on our DM team to try and rebuild a main character for each currently active player to where it was 2 weeks ago.

There are probably variations of either option, and while I am a bit hesitant to open the flood gates wide open to try and get everyone's opinion on what should be done, if you do have a great suggestion, or feel pretty strongly about doing something one way or the other, feel free to post. As I am jet-lagged right now, running on little real sleep in over a day (after having had a strenuous hiking/walking final day in Hawaii), and not had a shower in ~24 hours, I need some time to decide what to do long-term and will check in again tomorrow.

[Bertram Anders]

Looking. into it I have found a few websites offering a price less than $1,500 for a clean room recovery. This being one of them. http://www.1stdatarecovery.com/data-recovery-rates.htm

[Miscr3ant]

As for the money, you need a new HD for the server anyway; Best Buy can pound sand in their arse for that bald attempt at cashing in on others misfortune. If Bertram's find proves to pan out, great.

But other than that I would think that as unfortunate as it is for all of us, whatever works out the easiest for the staff is the best option. Seriously trying to recreate PC's would be a nightmare. I can only speak for my main Teygard; Level 13 (finally!), fully crafted gear, a full bank account, two temples (shared with Khreed)...Yeah, no fun for the DM's for weeks with that multiplied by 25. :( Teygard was probably not even rolled up in Feb lol.

But I am a new player here (less than a year) so I don't have as much time vested as most, so losing my main is not as frustrating/heartbreaking as it might be for some.

But whatever makes the most sense/proves the least amount of work I'm good with Thayan. :D

[TheSupremeForce]

I've barely played since February, so I don't have much to lose in that scenario, but as always, I say do whatever you think is the best move. I was all for the reset the last time for that reason (you sounded like you wanted to reset). Pick something. Make it fun. Move on.

As much as I'm sure everyone loves their characters, I doubt there are many (any) players who would feel comfortable asking anyone to spend THAT kind of money in an attempt to rescue them.

[Gwydion669]

At that insane amount, I'd say just go for a reboot and start afresh. DM's rebuilding characters would be a nightmare.

Yes, I'll miss Maurice, but I'm not going to cry about him. I'll just rebuild him and probably talk to a druid and crack jokes about deja vu and reincarnation past-life memories.

As for the money, I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd like you to keep mine and use it towards building a kick ass server. Rebuild it better than it was. Better ... stronger ... and with more redundancies.

[Animayhem]

Ouch thats steep. I suggest using the feburary back up. It would save a lot of rework in building. Events can still be continued as I plan to write things and post screenshots.
that way real time can continue and in game

Maybe an explaination could be a forgetful spell much like the enervation.

My character Cara is already established so the only thing for her would be to be set as a 16. As for Rimeth she was not even around then

In regards to my character Rimeth and maybe others with people who may have had higher level characters. I do have her saved though i am not sure at what level.
Players could get them up to the level they were and send the bic. file to be added back to the server vault. If that would be acceptable I would just ask for the quest items I acquired the merchant deed, house deed and maybe a little gold to get some gear.

However if sending bic files not acceptable, and data not irretrievable then I would be satisfied to keep Cara and rebuild Rimeth in game as others would be in the same boat.

[FrodoTheFluffy]

I totally agree Gwydion! If it were to be then so be it i say!

[zDarkShadowz]

Im overly attached to my character and how i managed to recover since his (and my) chaotic evil temperment self-destructed... and have a quite recent saved copy of him, so would it still be possible to keep him as he is now? I dont play often enough anymore to keep up with people as it is anyway...

It also seems like my bank isnt an official 'bank' so I think ill need to get a visa before i can try do the paypal thing... Ill try get onto it in the weekend and try get a lump sent on its way.

**EDIT Gah, it won't let me fill out all my proper information in the signup for paypal because i'm in New Zealand. I'll figure something else out...

[Bela]

We are all in the same boat, so to speak, so I say, keep my donation towards the new poot and hard drive.

As for the recovery, at that sort of money, I don't think it is worth it, to be honest we are playing a game. I am not knocking the time and effort that people have put into their characters (I have spent a lot of time over my girls too) or the time and effort the DM's and builders have put in to make Thay what it is, but that kind of money in my opinion is a stupid amount to pay out and they may still only be able to recover some of the data.

If you have to reset the server so be it. I have no qualms about restarting my girls again. I agree with Gwydion. I shall miss my girls, but have no worries about rebuilding.

I would not expect the DM's to rebuild even one of my girls, I could not honestly remember what equipment or guest items each of them had so I would probably go for a clean rebuild for myself anyway.

Lets move on from this unfortunate turn of events and put them to our advantage.

We are Thayans. We shall not be beaten. :D


Apart from this hiccup Thayan, did you enjoy your holiday? :D