Spell: 'giant strength' modifies strength for a short time.
Physical effect: 'smoke' modifies constitution for a short time.
Physical effect: 'smoke' modifies constitution for a short time.
Physical effect: 'smoke' modifies constitution for a very short time.
Physical effect: 'smoke' modifies constitution for a very short time.

This seems a bit excessive. I was hit by this three times in a tick, (by the smoke, not necessarily the minus con effect) each causing an injure. My 23 con got knocked down to average. The next closest place I can think of with such harsh environmental conditions isn't really a ranking place for characters until level 30, but is fairly easy to counterract.

This makes solo ranking a lot harder for this particular area. Is it meant to discourage learning there to go other places, or just something tested that was likely to be tweaked in the future?

>This makes solo ranking a lot harder for this particular area.
>Is it meant to discourage learning there to go other places,
>or just something tested that was likely to be tweaked in the
>future?

It's likely to be tweaked once I get a better chance to watch it in play.

Smoke as a room condition was created back when we made forest/city fires, but didn't actually do anything. That's recently changed for a project which will remain nameless...

I wouldn't expect it to vanish from that area entirely, though there may be other considerations. Creatures in that area may become worth slightly more XP, for example.