Waterdeep starting area

[Thisiana]

So i just created a new character and elected to start in Waterdeep. This is my first time starting in Waterdeep since the revamp of the area. I dont really mind at the moment because i have other things i can work on IRL while I wait, BUT when you get to the room with Camberdan and your name has not been authorized yet you are then stuck. You can't do anything other than sit in that room and twidle your thumbs.
If you try to go west you get:
You aren't allowed to enter the Forgotten Kingdoms yet.
Your name must be authorised first.
If you try to go south you get:
Camberdan waves a chubby hand at you.
Camberdan says to you 'Ah no, there is nothing for you there now.'
OOC: Your new player character's name must be authorized in order for you to depart here.

While I understand having to wait for the name to be authorized, i would think this could turn away new players if they happen to start a new character at a time that noone is on that can authorize the name. In other starting areas you can at least kill dummies while you wait. Its one thing if the wait to get authorized is relativly short. But as in my case now its going on an hour. So i could easily see a person just checking out the mud for the first time saying "forget this, let me go find another mud to try"

My suggestion: Allow characters to go back south and keep killing gibberlings etc to pass the time and gather a small amount of coin, experience etc. I personally dont see any harm in allowing someone to kill more gibberlings.

Was there a reason this room was designed to be a man trap? Maybe I am over looking something... But sitting idle not being able to do anything isnt really fun in my book.

Just my thoughts while i wait to be "unstuck" =)

[Rhangalas]

I have yet to run a character through this as well, but it could be based on level. Starting areas won't let you enter after you reach level 10.

[Thisiana]

It's definitely not a being lvl 10 issue. After you do the little intro quest in this area you are like lvl 2 or 3. After you go north when you complete the "challenge" you are then stuck there until your name is approved.

[Gwain]

We could do what we had in the font, basically make it impossible to walk out without your name being authed but allow you access to the training area to keep busy.

[Casamir]

I'm surprised it's not already set up like that, it seems a detriment to the new player experience when they are limited to choosing Waterdeep for their first character. There's already a semi-high bar to entry as it is.

[Harroghty]

I do not believe that this has generally been an issue because of the numerous people available to authorize names. None-the-less, I am planning a change to this area and that's a point to consider.

[Benorf]

I know that a friend of mine was stuck there for over 24 hours. Luckily he was evil, so he murdered Camberdan in frustration...

[Birk]

So did I! He died after knocking me unconscious twice.

[Kinni]

Perhaps model the new Waterdeep starting area to be like that in Silverymoon? You have access to kill training dummies and earn coin while you wait for name authorization. That being said, for all my alts I've only ever had to wait an extended time for one of their names to be authorized.

[Tyeslan]

Waterdeep used to have a starting area like the rest. The basement of the Font.

Perhaps having the Snookery in the basement of the Dripping Dagger, or something like that blocks you from going out into the Realms before name auth would be a better solution. It would be pretty easy to change it around a little.

[Tamryn]

I do not believe that this has generally been an issue because of the numerous people available to authorize names.

I've logged in a few times and found offline players with pending name authorisations. Of course they might have been existing players who just created a new character then quit to come back later, but I think there are periods (especially outside of the US peak times) when no one is on to auth names.

[Aveline]

I'm not saying there are not periods when someone may have to wait a while for a name auth...

But I will say that I do personally log on a few time per day with the only intention of making sure there is not a person waiting. Normally the only reason I will not make a decision and leave someone hanging is if that particular person is not showing to have a race yet. So if you want to create and then log and check back every so often to see if you have been approved.. Make sure you have a race!

Onto the topic at hand though.. I do think it would be nice to be able to do something if you are hanging around waiting for your name to be auth'd. Fight dummies or pluck fur off of rodents for spoiled mages.. Either way..I think it would be nice to have access besides just the one room.