All was going well until I decided to pit the Band against the demons of St. Paedrics. I simply defended for the first half of the battle and it shows the band still needs more training. Lieutenant Virultis ended up having his eyes gouged out by one of the demons and Uxonius had his foot torn off. Uxonius survived, Virultis didn't. I think... I think they need better training before we attempt that again. Nymardart has been promoted to the Lieutenant of the Band and we recruited Yeoman Heran to take his place. The Band took a bit of a beating, but the rest escaped. Parmenion has been replaced by Selius as my warhorse though and I picked up a new hound, Tim. He joined us at level 3, but quickly made it up to 8. The rest of the hound pack is still around thankfully and benefiting from my ability to command them better. A pack of 6 well-trained hounds, you want them aggressive at you?
Rest of the Band has gained a level or two. And I actually discovered who the toughest member of the group is, only yeoman working on his hardiness is the ol'Sergeant, our albino. Well the new recruit is working on his and Egonis has hers at 1st degree but is yet to improve it much. So Heran's the one to look out for, he's also the only one I still need to get baptised, but the Church only insists on that after they reach 10th level.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Two ideas...
High level knight ability, at least hero. Build Keep.
Standard simple desced keep. It can be build in any 'friendly' terrain, such as Avalon, mountains or neutral parts of Losthaven. It doubles your 'keep' ability, but only for items dropped there. ie. I could train the War Band for example, leave them in the keep and go and recruit another (as an example). The keep itself is of a standard desc (so yes, all knights keeps look the same built on the same design, personalised by a 'banner of Prince Gavadel' for example). It consists of an open hall for everyone and armoury. The armoury is locked to the PC and where items/whatever can be dropped.
For everyone who can ride. Saddles.
Lost of possibilites there from standard leather to artifact and ranger skinned.
Standard simple desced keep. It can be build in any 'friendly' terrain, such as Avalon, mountains or neutral parts of Losthaven. It doubles your 'keep' ability, but only for items dropped there. ie. I could train the War Band for example, leave them in the keep and go and recruit another (as an example). The keep itself is of a standard desc (so yes, all knights keeps look the same built on the same design, personalised by a 'banner of Prince Gavadel' for example). It consists of an open hall for everyone and armoury. The armoury is locked to the PC and where items/whatever can be dropped.
For everyone who can ride. Saddles.
Lost of possibilites there from standard leather to artifact and ranger skinned.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Band of the White Cross
So, the warband I started on... Thursday has survived the weekend. I didn't blog it since naming things tends to seem to have 'em wiped out soon after. Still here's the current setup.
Band of the White Cross
Squire Merimeth Sorcalisson - Level 18 squire, but a bit of an idiot. Specs in all the wrong stuff like leadership and ownership instead of invocation and has a low sword skill. Makes me wonder why he's my best squire to date since the change. Maybe has something to do with his shield skill.
Parmenion - Level 15 warhorse and honestly most likely to die, she's survived a day, but her predecessor was a level 20 warhorse and he got toasted. Warhorses, go through them pretty damned fast.
Sir Jousla Poeta - New comer, level 20 He joined us today, but a welcome addition. I like Templars. He's the liason to the Pantarchic church.
Yeomen
Lieutenant Virultis - Level 12 yeoman, ostensabily my right hand man.
Sergeant Gefmartiath - Level 11 yeoman, Virultis' second and an albino. He's kinda bitter about that.
Yeoman Uxonius Fisher - Level 11 yeoman
Yeoman Egonis Hunter - Level 11 yeoman
Yeoman Nymardat Knight - Level 12 yeoman, also the group's best swordsman amongst the yeomen. If he keeps up the good work, might promote him to captain of the warband. I'd make him the Lt's right hand man, but that'd really piss off Gefmartiath.
The Pack
Gwynned - Level 27 war hound and pack leader (also my familiar). She leads the hunt and honestly, not even her sister comes close to her in a fight.
Gelert - Level 24 war hound Gwynned's sister
Sheba - Level 13 hound, apart from Gwynned one of the first to join the new band, quite fond of her.
Victor - Level 12 hound
Bruno - Level 12 hound He and Victor joined the pack the day after Sheba.
Caim's the only one missing, one of the original hounds, I might add another hound or yeoman, but the War Band seems big enough.
Band of the White Cross
Squire Merimeth Sorcalisson - Level 18 squire, but a bit of an idiot. Specs in all the wrong stuff like leadership and ownership instead of invocation and has a low sword skill. Makes me wonder why he's my best squire to date since the change. Maybe has something to do with his shield skill.
Parmenion - Level 15 warhorse and honestly most likely to die, she's survived a day, but her predecessor was a level 20 warhorse and he got toasted. Warhorses, go through them pretty damned fast.
Sir Jousla Poeta - New comer, level 20 He joined us today, but a welcome addition. I like Templars. He's the liason to the Pantarchic church.
Yeomen
Lieutenant Virultis - Level 12 yeoman, ostensabily my right hand man.
Sergeant Gefmartiath - Level 11 yeoman, Virultis' second and an albino. He's kinda bitter about that.
Yeoman Uxonius Fisher - Level 11 yeoman
Yeoman Egonis Hunter - Level 11 yeoman
Yeoman Nymardat Knight - Level 12 yeoman, also the group's best swordsman amongst the yeomen. If he keeps up the good work, might promote him to captain of the warband. I'd make him the Lt's right hand man, but that'd really piss off Gefmartiath.
The Pack
Gwynned - Level 27 war hound and pack leader (also my familiar). She leads the hunt and honestly, not even her sister comes close to her in a fight.
Gelert - Level 24 war hound Gwynned's sister
Sheba - Level 13 hound, apart from Gwynned one of the first to join the new band, quite fond of her.
Victor - Level 12 hound
Bruno - Level 12 hound He and Victor joined the pack the day after Sheba.
Caim's the only one missing, one of the original hounds, I might add another hound or yeoman, but the War Band seems big enough.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Alternate Systems....
This post is based on a conversation I had with Lysator a couple of weeks ago, discussing 'alternates'. Erebus and Twilight (as far as I'm aware) have paved the way to 'Grinding' alternatives. And alternate advancements systems to xp with 'honor' and 'ka'. Which in the Guards case more honor gives different abilities, priviliges and spec access, the Wandslingers (which I believe were first) give access to new abilities, bonus specs and spec access with higher 'ka'.
They're both similiar in that both systems still rely on kills, Wandslingers with their Vigils, Guards in their defense of Losthaven. So in that sense they're still both tied into the old system, but in a much more different and more dynamic way. When will the next attack on LH happen? Who will it be? And in both cases it's reaction rather than action. You react to happenings in your vigil or watch. This is important actually, because it prevents 'grinding' honor or ka.
I'd like to see more alternate systems, with alternate ways to gain power or ability, and perhaps not based on kills but some other mechanism. Healing for example or crafting. It's important there be mechanisms in place to prevent grinding it too and LONG development times such as the guard has.
They offer nice alternatives to grinding, which me and a few others bore of, but we do, because it's the only way to get those levels up and levels translate into attribute points and specs.
Not everyone will like every system and that's as it should be. Variety is indeed the spice of life.
They're both similiar in that both systems still rely on kills, Wandslingers with their Vigils, Guards in their defense of Losthaven. So in that sense they're still both tied into the old system, but in a much more different and more dynamic way. When will the next attack on LH happen? Who will it be? And in both cases it's reaction rather than action. You react to happenings in your vigil or watch. This is important actually, because it prevents 'grinding' honor or ka.
I'd like to see more alternate systems, with alternate ways to gain power or ability, and perhaps not based on kills but some other mechanism. Healing for example or crafting. It's important there be mechanisms in place to prevent grinding it too and LONG development times such as the guard has.
They offer nice alternatives to grinding, which me and a few others bore of, but we do, because it's the only way to get those levels up and levels translate into attribute points and specs.
Not everyone will like every system and that's as it should be. Variety is indeed the spice of life.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Tame!
Nice change from Twilight, it's actually something I've thought about before, Rangers, being the wild-life guys that they are, should I felt have some extra ability for taming wild creatures. I mentioned it today on the channel and an hour or so later....
System Change 4276
Summary ranger power: tame |
Number 4276
Type content expansion
By Twilight
When Mar 28 2009 1:44 PM
the ability to attempt to acquire ownership (though not an
empathic bond) of other creatures of your familiar type.
lot of familiar types get this (all except the solitary types)
Result more stuff to do with rangers
Reason gavadel asked for it
Projects Rangers
Ratings Not yet rated; use 'perform change rating' or
http://lostsouls.org/changelog to rate
Version not updated
It's limited to animals of your familiar type (so I can tame wild dogs etc) and there's an auto-limiting feature in the keep system. I'd hate to see it abused and having rangers with 100 DRAKES or 200 RATS going around, abusing it, having it taken down again. I'm also aware lately that when I talk people listen. I just hope I'm saying the right things and people realise I say what I say for the good of everyone and the game, not out of any sense of... what's the word... powergaming. It is true most of my opinions surround my own guilds, but that simply because they're the ones I know best. Knowing that I'm listened to does make me feel... responsible in a certain way, not a bad thing.
Btw, a classic example of how something I say or do could be judged as looking for personal power is my write-up of a Prince of Amber Faculty, not that I ever expect my version to ever be coded up. I wrote them as POWERFUL, not because I wanted that power for myself (though being a Prince I would get that power) it was because I felt that's how the Princes SHOULD be. And it's power I wouldn't like to see handed out willy nilly either. I don't know if I'm making myself clear on this...
System Change 4276
Summary ranger power: tame |
Number 4276
Type content expansion
By Twilight
When Mar 28 2009 1:44 PM
the ability to attempt to acquire ownership (though not an
empathic bond) of other creatures of your familiar type.
lot of familiar types get this (all except the solitary types)
Result more stuff to do with rangers
Reason gavadel asked for it
Projects Rangers
Ratings Not yet rated; use 'perform change rating' or
http://lostsouls.org/changelog to rate
Version not updated
It's limited to animals of your familiar type (so I can tame wild dogs etc) and there's an auto-limiting feature in the keep system. I'd hate to see it abused and having rangers with 100 DRAKES or 200 RATS going around, abusing it, having it taken down again. I'm also aware lately that when I talk people listen. I just hope I'm saying the right things and people realise I say what I say for the good of everyone and the game, not out of any sense of... what's the word... powergaming. It is true most of my opinions surround my own guilds, but that simply because they're the ones I know best. Knowing that I'm listened to does make me feel... responsible in a certain way, not a bad thing.
Btw, a classic example of how something I say or do could be judged as looking for personal power is my write-up of a Prince of Amber Faculty, not that I ever expect my version to ever be coded up. I wrote them as POWERFUL, not because I wanted that power for myself (though being a Prince I would get that power) it was because I felt that's how the Princes SHOULD be. And it's power I wouldn't like to see handed out willy nilly either. I don't know if I'm making myself clear on this...
An NPC Group question...
NPC Groups are the topic of the week seems like... Here's something I'm wondering. Do NPC groups get xp in a similiar way to PC groups. ie... if I make a kill does it get shared between them all or just me? If yeoman blog makes a kill how does that get shared between the group? Just seems like it's pretty unbalanced for NPC groups OR that might just be the group's so unbalanced I'm not sure what's going on.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tactics...
Twilight and Chaos have mentioned in the past their being a bonus for groups... what I'd like to see....
A group bonus calculated from the leader's leadership and tactics skills and added as a bonus to attack and defense of every member of the party. The bonus has a multiplier depending on the number in the party. How that'd translate to guard I don't know... These things are always more complicated than you first think, but I'd really like to see this added, you get swarmed, you're REALLY in trouble.
A group bonus calculated from the leader's leadership and tactics skills and added as a bonus to attack and defense of every member of the party. The bonus has a multiplier depending on the number in the party. How that'd translate to guard I don't know... These things are always more complicated than you first think, but I'd really like to see this added, you get swarmed, you're REALLY in trouble.
Group Issues....
Okay, I've been trying for months now to keep groups of NPCs together. Sometimes better than others, always ending in failure. Here's some issues and where possible... solutions.
1) I keep losing them as I run/fly around the world.
Actually the reason I stopped creating NPC groups for a while. The solution here is actually simple. Trust 'em. trust yeoman, trust slave whatever. I assumed I was automatically trusting them because /they/ were trusting me. Trust them, you move slower, but you keep your group together.
2) Keeping them alive.
I ultimately have the most difficulty with this one. Main thing is an auto-succor or 'followers, go west' or 'hounds, stay here' if you're in for a big fight. Equipping the talking kind with shields and "followers, set combat mode to cautious" can go a long way too.
3) Plague.
Followers catch the plague and ultimately it's one of the biggest off-puts. There are solutions open to me for small groups, especially with lay hands. I've even given them masks, but still lost them. For larger groups laying on hands isn't that effective as the plague jumps from a sick one you've not healed yet to a healthy one you just have healed. Lysator has proposed breaking the group up into smaller units by sending them in different directions, but I haven't gotten around to trying this yet.
4) Link-death.
Reason for the loss of the Dream Team. I understand there's a mechanism for link-death (followed by disconnection) that means you lose your followers. For someone with a tricky internet connection like mine, a real pain in the butt reason to lose your level 10+ group of battle-hardened followers.
5) One life.
A solution I neglect too often to this are gems of preservation. Problem here is your level 12 yeoman is gonna come back as he was at the time you activated the gem on him. So best to update when possible. Also if you die and lose your stuff the gem isn't going to be helpful. It's nice they have one life as it maintains balance, but it can be frustrating when you've lost your level 30 drake you're not going to see anytime soon.
1) I keep losing them as I run/fly around the world.
Actually the reason I stopped creating NPC groups for a while. The solution here is actually simple. Trust 'em. trust yeoman, trust slave whatever. I assumed I was automatically trusting them because /they/ were trusting me. Trust them, you move slower, but you keep your group together.
2) Keeping them alive.
I ultimately have the most difficulty with this one. Main thing is an auto-succor or 'followers, go west' or 'hounds, stay here' if you're in for a big fight. Equipping the talking kind with shields and "followers, set combat mode to cautious" can go a long way too.
3) Plague.
Followers catch the plague and ultimately it's one of the biggest off-puts. There are solutions open to me for small groups, especially with lay hands. I've even given them masks, but still lost them. For larger groups laying on hands isn't that effective as the plague jumps from a sick one you've not healed yet to a healthy one you just have healed. Lysator has proposed breaking the group up into smaller units by sending them in different directions, but I haven't gotten around to trying this yet.
4) Link-death.
Reason for the loss of the Dream Team. I understand there's a mechanism for link-death (followed by disconnection) that means you lose your followers. For someone with a tricky internet connection like mine, a real pain in the butt reason to lose your level 10+ group of battle-hardened followers.
5) One life.
A solution I neglect too often to this are gems of preservation. Problem here is your level 12 yeoman is gonna come back as he was at the time you activated the gem on him. So best to update when possible. Also if you die and lose your stuff the gem isn't going to be helpful. It's nice they have one life as it maintains balance, but it can be frustrating when you've lost your level 30 drake you're not going to see anytime soon.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sigh... And nice stuff...
Gwynned nears 26, but the group of yeomen and hounds have gone... damned plague.
In other news, this blog has inspired a change to list your blog on your 'whois' (actually still finger to me, I'm a creature of habit). A couple of blogs have materialised and Wilson wrote a very nice backstory. I like having things to read, so hopefully there'll be more stuff produced soon. I think Chaos doesn't agree with me on the former point, but is in complete agreement on the latter.
In other news, this blog has inspired a change to list your blog on your 'whois' (actually still finger to me, I'm a creature of habit). A couple of blogs have materialised and Wilson wrote a very nice backstory. I like having things to read, so hopefully there'll be more stuff produced soon. I think Chaos doesn't agree with me on the former point, but is in complete agreement on the latter.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Yes well...
Interesting thing about keeping a blog is it's also a record of... mess ups for a polite way of putting it. Yeah, the 'Dark Captain' thing didn't last very long since it's not really me. I don't actually really regret the loss of Fledge, though I do miss her a bit, but I'd been playing the same setup since... July so I did feel the need for a change. Gwynned fits that nicely. I'm also /trying/ to keep a couple of yeomen together, a squire and a pack of hounds (just the normal variety). It's one of those things where I waste a lot of xp, there's no real 'benefit' from keeping these small groups together other than the fun of it. I've had a lot of groups and followers over the last seven months. My favorite of course being 'The Dream Team', a mixed bunch of yeomen rangers and a templar-ranger I had before the specialties thing. They were part of the group of the infamous 'Battle of Shadow Tower' and I didn't actually lose them to battle. They fell during my month long fight with my internet connection back in january. See... if you manage to login for a sec but can't quit, eventually with a linkdead disconnection you lose your followers :( That's how I lost the dream team.
So, building a new team, only yeomen and hounds, but a few are getting up into 8/9th level. This does mean avoiding PvP since that's where I tend to lose followers more than The XP Run. And Gwynned's on 25th, but nearing 26th... Templar's... the guys that tempt me to play with the Deck of Changes... MUST NOT LISTEN TO THE VOICES!!!!!!
So, building a new team, only yeomen and hounds, but a few are getting up into 8/9th level. This does mean avoiding PvP since that's where I tend to lose followers more than The XP Run. And Gwynned's on 25th, but nearing 26th... Templar's... the guys that tempt me to play with the Deck of Changes... MUST NOT LISTEN TO THE VOICES!!!!!!
Advancement automatic
One of those nice changes you just don't see coming. Be nice to see in operation (could take a week at my rate) and of course now perform elevate is irrelevant. Going to the guildmaster to advance is just something we've always done and keep doing for no other reason than we always have.
Random complaint: And this isn't for me, it's for the younger race knights. I really hate we're forced to spec in 3 weapons. Let's take an average human of 70 dex. Force specced in spear, pole arm and sword he'll pick only one of those (usually sword) and be left with maximum 5 spec in his weapon of choice. And no spec points for the other nice dex skills. Even raising that to 100 still leaves him with only 8 specs really to have in the dex category. I'm not against being made to spec in skills for your guild or association but I wish they'd be more useful. Splitting weapons specs over 3 skills seems like such a waste.
Random complaint: And this isn't for me, it's for the younger race knights. I really hate we're forced to spec in 3 weapons. Let's take an average human of 70 dex. Force specced in spear, pole arm and sword he'll pick only one of those (usually sword) and be left with maximum 5 spec in his weapon of choice. And no spec points for the other nice dex skills. Even raising that to 100 still leaves him with only 8 specs really to have in the dex category. I'm not against being made to spec in skills for your guild or association but I wish they'd be more useful. Splitting weapons specs over 3 skills seems like such a waste.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Captain of the Guard
FINALLY!
Actually hit the honor requirements a few days ago, but messing with law skill, warp effects and a few other things delayed that until tonight. Actually been a consuming passion for months now to the point I've done little but sit in Losthaven rather than adventure. So first there was the elation of completing the task and now there's a sense of 'now what?'
In other news, Fledge is gone :( Due to the warp stuff and the general run of bad luck I felt that need to reinvent Gav. I went through a dark phase and switched to raven ranger, but that didn't last long. Still sad over Fledge I couldn't just pick up a random pegasus and a horse would have been too close. So I've went with warhound. Actually wanted one of those for a while and discussed dual-ranger guilding (impossible I hear even with donations) to bond one. With Fledge gone for other reasons, seemed like an opportunity. So I found this monster of a hound by accident and named her Gwynned. Level 25 right off the bat, nice dog.
Actually hit the honor requirements a few days ago, but messing with law skill, warp effects and a few other things delayed that until tonight. Actually been a consuming passion for months now to the point I've done little but sit in Losthaven rather than adventure. So first there was the elation of completing the task and now there's a sense of 'now what?'
In other news, Fledge is gone :( Due to the warp stuff and the general run of bad luck I felt that need to reinvent Gav. I went through a dark phase and switched to raven ranger, but that didn't last long. Still sad over Fledge I couldn't just pick up a random pegasus and a horse would have been too close. So I've went with warhound. Actually wanted one of those for a while and discussed dual-ranger guilding (impossible I hear even with donations) to bond one. With Fledge gone for other reasons, seemed like an opportunity. So I found this monster of a hound by accident and named her Gwynned. Level 25 right off the bat, nice dog.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
End of an Era?
So three days ago whilst raiding Shadow Tower I picked up a warpstone. And didn't notice. It warped Gav and messed with his stats in a way I didn't like. So to fix it? Warp again. Didn't like that either. Change sex with Kurd. Nope, even worse. So... well warp can improve stats right? So I began a warp campaign that finished last night and has SERIOUSLY messed over Gav.
At this point I thought of maybe ditching my favorite character, but seriously? That's not my style of play. This run of bad luck began almost a week ago the night Dyne arrived and it's gotten worse since to the point that Gav is seriously messed over, so I thought a dark re-imagining of everyone's favorite Prince was in order. And that's what I'm doing. He's still a knight, he's still a guard, he's still 'good'. But he's a whole lot darker, moodier and not as friendly as before. As well as the cosmetic changes, there's a few others too.
BUT IT'S GAV! I know, but I'm a character player and in stories characters suffer, change and grow. This is definitely a suffer and change period for my character and okay, he isn't the same anymore, but that's what makes stories interesting I think. I'm actually happy on a level with this makeover and I don't think I'm betraying the fundamental character which is great.
At this point I thought of maybe ditching my favorite character, but seriously? That's not my style of play. This run of bad luck began almost a week ago the night Dyne arrived and it's gotten worse since to the point that Gav is seriously messed over, so I thought a dark re-imagining of everyone's favorite Prince was in order. And that's what I'm doing. He's still a knight, he's still a guard, he's still 'good'. But he's a whole lot darker, moodier and not as friendly as before. As well as the cosmetic changes, there's a few others too.
BUT IT'S GAV! I know, but I'm a character player and in stories characters suffer, change and grow. This is definitely a suffer and change period for my character and okay, he isn't the same anymore, but that's what makes stories interesting I think. I'm actually happy on a level with this makeover and I don't think I'm betraying the fundamental character which is great.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Developers...
I might complain about something, I might even not like a change and sayso. I might have a problem with a specific issue or I might notice lag is worse than usual...
However.
Developers as the name implies 'Develop' this game and we play it free of charge (remember donations are voluntary and we get something out of it anyway). So please please please treat Developers with respect and thank them occasionally for their work, new guild, association or area or whatever. It's not 'ass-kissing' either, these people have no power over you other than in a very limited part of your life, so a simple thank you isn't like sitting on your boss' lap and feeding him Tiramisu (happened to me once, Manuela wanted a day off or something and tried manipulating me).
And if you have a problem, try raising it in an intelligent and respectful way rather than bitching, whining or going emo.
My two cents on this issue.
Oh and Developers (ALL of you - 'cept Smizz). Thanks ;)
However.
Developers as the name implies 'Develop' this game and we play it free of charge (remember donations are voluntary and we get something out of it anyway). So please please please treat Developers with respect and thank them occasionally for their work, new guild, association or area or whatever. It's not 'ass-kissing' either, these people have no power over you other than in a very limited part of your life, so a simple thank you isn't like sitting on your boss' lap and feeding him Tiramisu (happened to me once, Manuela wanted a day off or something and tried manipulating me).
And if you have a problem, try raising it in an intelligent and respectful way rather than bitching, whining or going emo.
My two cents on this issue.
Oh and Developers (ALL of you - 'cept Smizz). Thanks ;)
Knights and Dyne (Knight Wishlist)
Dyne's gone. Which means I can put those two single beds back to my usual double bed setup and I can smoke in my room without feeling guilty about it. AND I can get to spend some quality time with Chiara. She's getting dinner tonight in a restaurant for the favor of chaufeuring us around over the weekend.
Still, gonna miss having a fellow geek around, and it's nice to have finally met one of you crazy bastits. :).
OK, with Lysator tentatively off the Knight Project (or if he does get to work on it, with the rest of his plans, might be a while before he gets around to it, already been a year since I first heard of the rewrite). OK, so here's my wishlist based on the current Knight setup. ie. Not a rewrite, just additions and mods. For the record I loved Lysator's plan and still do.
OK.
1. Similiar to Rangers and mixed with Aligned/Guard I'd like to see three /consistent/ followers.
a) Warhorse. Similiar to ranger followers, all of these 'named' followers can regen after death, no other ranger-like benefits though. Unlike presently I'd like to see some 'requirements' before you're allowed access to followers. Level, rank and skills. So the warhorse is tied into having a certain skill in riding and mounted combat. Once you have him, he, like you can come back from death.
b) Captain. For leader types, he commands your yeomen and like the other named follower types he's consistent. Requirements would be leadership and tactics combinations. For the record other yeomen can die as per the current setup (though can still be kept).
c) Warhound. Leader of your pack. Not sure about what pre-reqs would be involved here. Hounds can be recruited from a kennel similiar to yeomen, your warhound is your pack leader and tied to your legend.
Leadership
Knights can only have as many hounds/yeomen ie. army as their leadership/tactics/logistics can limit them too, it currently has that system, but it should be expanded to hounds. It would give some real value to those skills. I like the idea of larger groups being given an attack and defense bonus. It would make town-killing solo almost impossible and encourage the recruitment of small armies and give Knights something at which they're actually particularly good at.
Turn Undead
Completely agree with Lysator this needs reworked. I don't like my ability to one-shot and would like to see it tied to a timer and lowered in power, but also see defenses weakened against it. With the current setup it's oneshot or useless, I'd like to see more variation.
That's all I can think of right now, whatcha think?
Still, gonna miss having a fellow geek around, and it's nice to have finally met one of you crazy bastits. :).
OK, with Lysator tentatively off the Knight Project (or if he does get to work on it, with the rest of his plans, might be a while before he gets around to it, already been a year since I first heard of the rewrite). OK, so here's my wishlist based on the current Knight setup. ie. Not a rewrite, just additions and mods. For the record I loved Lysator's plan and still do.
OK.
1. Similiar to Rangers and mixed with Aligned/Guard I'd like to see three /consistent/ followers.
a) Warhorse. Similiar to ranger followers, all of these 'named' followers can regen after death, no other ranger-like benefits though. Unlike presently I'd like to see some 'requirements' before you're allowed access to followers. Level, rank and skills. So the warhorse is tied into having a certain skill in riding and mounted combat. Once you have him, he, like you can come back from death.
b) Captain. For leader types, he commands your yeomen and like the other named follower types he's consistent. Requirements would be leadership and tactics combinations. For the record other yeomen can die as per the current setup (though can still be kept).
c) Warhound. Leader of your pack. Not sure about what pre-reqs would be involved here. Hounds can be recruited from a kennel similiar to yeomen, your warhound is your pack leader and tied to your legend.
Leadership
Knights can only have as many hounds/yeomen ie. army as their leadership/tactics/logistics can limit them too, it currently has that system, but it should be expanded to hounds. It would give some real value to those skills. I like the idea of larger groups being given an attack and defense bonus. It would make town-killing solo almost impossible and encourage the recruitment of small armies and give Knights something at which they're actually particularly good at.
Turn Undead
Completely agree with Lysator this needs reworked. I don't like my ability to one-shot and would like to see it tied to a timer and lowered in power, but also see defenses weakened against it. With the current setup it's oneshot or useless, I'd like to see more variation.
That's all I can think of right now, whatcha think?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Dyne Weekend (and stuff)...
Well Dyne made it for the weekend as per my last post. We took him down to Siracusa (Syracuse in english) on Saturday, which he enjoyed. We showed him a 2500 year old greek theatre (and we sat in it) and a roman amphitheatre, I had to explain a lot of the history of the place to him, and because Chiara is a geologist she pointed out some of the seaweed and shellfish fossils from the miocene era in a lot of the stonework. He commented 'Now I can tell the guys why you're such a lore buff'.' Only downside to this trip was the tickets for the temple area had shot up and my pocket money for that particular day disappeared in one swell swoop. (Last time I was there was 3 EUR a head, this time 10 EUR or 30 for the three of us, so my 50 EUR spending money minus the gas and breakfast went to 3 bucks 50!) and it meant bumming gas money from Dyne to get home...
Today was a more relaxed day, we slept in (actually he's slept in every day, but today I managed to too) but we did go up the volcano in the afternoon. I kept Chiara amused by snowballing fights and dam-building across a little stream, whilst Dyne mugged some kid of their sled for a sleigh-ride down the volcano himself (this is becoming a common theme). If you imagine a high speed sleigh ride down a burning volcano, dodging lava and avalanche... death waiting for you on either side, either fire or ice... it'd be really really cool, but not that accurate. I'll stick to the inaccurate action-image myself.
I think he's impressed with the food too. As for my own impressions of Dyne? Nice guy, quiet, yes but nice to talk to, nice to have someone around here I can make mud-jokes with and he gets on with my animals and Chiara which is cool.
Game news:
I've not been around much this weekend but when I have... boy has it sucked. Lost my first group to Coma on Thursday, another group to Brak last night whilst trying to recover from the plague and a third group tonight whilst Dyne was calling home my hounds and Templar were decimated by the plague whilst idling in the forest. And I lost Ironman to the deck of changes... So that's both my nice talents gone to that particular game after losing Planeswalker months ago.
You pays your money you takes your chances. But I really really hate the plague, the game lately seems to be about plague and plague avoidance more than anything else which I find frustrating and that's from a player who himself doesn't worry about it for himself to much and has the ability to cure himself and his followers. I wonder what other people think of the plague? I have no problem with it being there, but should it be the dominating factor of the game? I think not.
Today was a more relaxed day, we slept in (actually he's slept in every day, but today I managed to too) but we did go up the volcano in the afternoon. I kept Chiara amused by snowballing fights and dam-building across a little stream, whilst Dyne mugged some kid of their sled for a sleigh-ride down the volcano himself (this is becoming a common theme). If you imagine a high speed sleigh ride down a burning volcano, dodging lava and avalanche... death waiting for you on either side, either fire or ice... it'd be really really cool, but not that accurate. I'll stick to the inaccurate action-image myself.
I think he's impressed with the food too. As for my own impressions of Dyne? Nice guy, quiet, yes but nice to talk to, nice to have someone around here I can make mud-jokes with and he gets on with my animals and Chiara which is cool.
Game news:
I've not been around much this weekend but when I have... boy has it sucked. Lost my first group to Coma on Thursday, another group to Brak last night whilst trying to recover from the plague and a third group tonight whilst Dyne was calling home my hounds and Templar were decimated by the plague whilst idling in the forest. And I lost Ironman to the deck of changes... So that's both my nice talents gone to that particular game after losing Planeswalker months ago.
You pays your money you takes your chances. But I really really hate the plague, the game lately seems to be about plague and plague avoidance more than anything else which I find frustrating and that's from a player who himself doesn't worry about it for himself to much and has the ability to cure himself and his followers. I wonder what other people think of the plague? I have no problem with it being there, but should it be the dominating factor of the game? I think not.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
And Dyne arrives safe and sound...
After getting lost...
I actually missed half an hour of class (which is not so good when you're the teacher, people tend to notice) trying to find him before giving up. (I still don't know where he ended up). But he ambushed a passing italian, stole her cell phone (after his own money ran out) and we managed to arrange a rendesvouz. 2 and a half hours after he hit Catania, my girlfriend and I showed up in the car, took him for a sandwich and then home.
Nice chat, and he's sleeping with my cat, now we know the origins of the Sekh.
And he's gonna kill me for this in the morning.
I actually missed half an hour of class (which is not so good when you're the teacher, people tend to notice) trying to find him before giving up. (I still don't know where he ended up). But he ambushed a passing italian, stole her cell phone (after his own money ran out) and we managed to arrange a rendesvouz. 2 and a half hours after he hit Catania, my girlfriend and I showed up in the car, took him for a sandwich and then home.
Nice chat, and he's sleeping with my cat, now we know the origins of the Sekh.
And he's gonna kill me for this in the morning.
Camelot Defense
Most of my group were wiped out last night.
I defended Camelot from Coma I think, not something I usually do. I was just there and couldn't turn my back on Arthur. I drove Coma back, but I was afk for a bit after. Looked back at the screen to see a nasty arrow attack in it's final stages. Every member of my group but for me and Fledge were dead. Thankfully there were two clerics on hand to raise some of my followers back, including my squire, yeoman, templar and a couple of my hounds. The drake and two of my better dogs (Tess and Randy) were amongst the casualties though :( My latest knight wish... knight war hounds. I don't know why, I just get these strange desires from time to time.
That'll teach me.
I defended Camelot from Coma I think, not something I usually do. I was just there and couldn't turn my back on Arthur. I drove Coma back, but I was afk for a bit after. Looked back at the screen to see a nasty arrow attack in it's final stages. Every member of my group but for me and Fledge were dead. Thankfully there were two clerics on hand to raise some of my followers back, including my squire, yeoman, templar and a couple of my hounds. The drake and two of my better dogs (Tess and Randy) were amongst the casualties though :( My latest knight wish... knight war hounds. I don't know why, I just get these strange desires from time to time.
That'll teach me.
Perform Elevate
A new ability for my favorite guild the knights. In few words it allows higher level knights to promote lower level knights in the field (including their NPC squires). The first thing that sprung into my head was the image of some poor battle weary lad being knighted after the field of battle. Very cool.
Thanks Chaos
Thanks Chaos
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Deck of Changes
Oops.
Logged in from the gf's last night for an hour or so, decided to draw some cards, so of course the first I drew was the one that sent me to the stone cell. No escape...
Logged in from the gf's last night for an hour or so, decided to draw some cards, so of course the first I drew was the one that sent me to the stone cell. No escape...
Monday, March 9, 2009
Slow
I'll be pretty slow over the next week or so. Flatmate's back, so some quality time with the girlfriend before Dyne arrives. Then five days of showing Dyne around Catania though I'm sure we'll check in from time to time. Try to keep the blog updated though.
If you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen...
Came up again last night. It's an attitude I find... almost insulting.
We're a rude bunch, if you can't handle it, don't play our game...
Being newbie friendly in my opinion isn't a bad thing. At the very basic: courtesy and helpfulness to new players goes a long way. Jumping into the game to find some insults and bad language can be off-putting, even if you do roll that way yourself, you might not grasp it's humor right off the bat.
I suggested last night that OOC became an optional channel rather than a default. The newbie channel serves for a new player and despite what I said earlier, players on that channel tend to know the rules and ARE helpful and courteous on the new player's channel. Maybe after level 5 or something a new player gets a 'You can now add OOC, a general channel which is non-PG, you might find foul language etc' or whatever.
On another newbie friendly note outside the realm of courtesy, a newbie tutorial is badly needed to ease new players into the game. It should be optional of course, but a lot of people like to have their hands held through those first steps.
In other news, Gav's original hound group is down to 2. I've added a Knight Templar to the mix too.
We're a rude bunch, if you can't handle it, don't play our game...
Being newbie friendly in my opinion isn't a bad thing. At the very basic: courtesy and helpfulness to new players goes a long way. Jumping into the game to find some insults and bad language can be off-putting, even if you do roll that way yourself, you might not grasp it's humor right off the bat.
I suggested last night that OOC became an optional channel rather than a default. The newbie channel serves for a new player and despite what I said earlier, players on that channel tend to know the rules and ARE helpful and courteous on the new player's channel. Maybe after level 5 or something a new player gets a 'You can now add OOC, a general channel which is non-PG, you might find foul language etc' or whatever.
On another newbie friendly note outside the realm of courtesy, a newbie tutorial is badly needed to ease new players into the game. It should be optional of course, but a lot of people like to have their hands held through those first steps.
In other news, Gav's original hound group is down to 2. I've added a Knight Templar to the mix too.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Dev Team and the Playerbase
Honestly...
I think the community on Lostsouls is a little more 'rough and tumble' than a lot of places I've hung out. But that's good :) I enjoy the atmosphere and conversations I have, whether it's theme stuff with Chaos, content stuff with Elronuan or Erebus, talking with Brak about anything, or insulting 'Smizzmar's Mom' or any of the other players I come into regular contact with.
Our playerbase is small and we tend to know each other pretty well, in a 'sitting at the bar having a beer' sort of knowing, tending to be not too deep, more shooting the breeze. I miss the days where we had 40+ players online regularly a little, but I enjoy the small community scene too, though I can understand why it can be off-putting to new players. However I've seen more than a few of these new guys fit right in.
It's a nice group and pretty close knit. And if you're a new player, it won't take long to get in on that community spirit too, they're a pretty accepting bunch.
I think the community on Lostsouls is a little more 'rough and tumble' than a lot of places I've hung out. But that's good :) I enjoy the atmosphere and conversations I have, whether it's theme stuff with Chaos, content stuff with Elronuan or Erebus, talking with Brak about anything, or insulting 'Smizzmar's Mom' or any of the other players I come into regular contact with.
Our playerbase is small and we tend to know each other pretty well, in a 'sitting at the bar having a beer' sort of knowing, tending to be not too deep, more shooting the breeze. I miss the days where we had 40+ players online regularly a little, but I enjoy the small community scene too, though I can understand why it can be off-putting to new players. However I've seen more than a few of these new guys fit right in.
It's a nice group and pretty close knit. And if you're a new player, it won't take long to get in on that community spirit too, they're a pretty accepting bunch.
Idle-following Tredwel
Hmm.... Seems I've angered other guards, which probably means Killingsworth since he's the only other one on I ever see.
Something I was guilty of from time to time, mainly through not logging out or falling asleep. It tends not to happen so much these days due to the extreme danger of doing so. I do however spend a lot of time in LH, to the point where I'm not levelling much. Because I spend so much time in Losthaven just sitting waiting for the attack it doesn't mean I'm idle. I might be watching a movie or reading something or blogging, but the screen is active in front of me. But I tend not to idle-follow. As for following Tredwel? Makes sense, too often by the time I arrive at a scene, Tredwel and the guards have either taken care of it or been smooshed.
As for why I spend so much time in LH? I want to make Captain and I've defended LH since even before there was a ranking system or rewards for doing so, ask Erebus.
In other news, the followers I picked up last night are coming along nicely. A pack of hounds (not the warhounds I was told I could pick up from Camelot, but I can't find those :( ...) and a yeoman. I've decided to forego the squire. a) Having to run back to Camelot every half an area to get him to level is a pain in the butt and b) I tend to lose them a lot anyway. Hounds range from levels 6-8 and the yeoman is at 9 (when he levels).
Something I was guilty of from time to time, mainly through not logging out or falling asleep. It tends not to happen so much these days due to the extreme danger of doing so. I do however spend a lot of time in LH, to the point where I'm not levelling much. Because I spend so much time in Losthaven just sitting waiting for the attack it doesn't mean I'm idle. I might be watching a movie or reading something or blogging, but the screen is active in front of me. But I tend not to idle-follow. As for following Tredwel? Makes sense, too often by the time I arrive at a scene, Tredwel and the guards have either taken care of it or been smooshed.
As for why I spend so much time in LH? I want to make Captain and I've defended LH since even before there was a ranking system or rewards for doing so, ask Erebus.
In other news, the followers I picked up last night are coming along nicely. A pack of hounds (not the warhounds I was told I could pick up from Camelot, but I can't find those :( ...) and a yeoman. I've decided to forego the squire. a) Having to run back to Camelot every half an area to get him to level is a pain in the butt and b) I tend to lose them a lot anyway. Hounds range from levels 6-8 and the yeoman is at 9 (when he levels).
The Guards
The Guards are an association set up by Erebus to be a group of PCs and NPCs who defend the 'newbie' town of Losthaven. It has a bad habit of being attacked by NPCs and higher level PCs. I love the Guards. It's single-handedly done more to attract a form of RP and rivalry than any other guild or association I've seen. Some of Losthaven's defenders (including myself) take the role pretty seriously. And some of those who attack the city take it pretty seriously too.
I've been a little annoyed lately that the attackers all tend to be MUCH higher level than the defenders, so there's little we can do to stop them. And no, not just talking about you Brak ;). Another tactic is the deployment of discord, a chaotic magick used to make everyone in the room fight. It's annoying because there's nothing we can do to stop it and it means the PCs (well usually me) are then banned from the city until the next reboot, and worse still lose 'honor' for the inevitable slaying of guardsmen that occurs.
Yes it's annoying but I won't move for discord being removed or anything. And I think for those of chaotic alignment it's probably one of the few occasions they can use such a spell effectively and probably a lot of fun for people on that side of the fence. Just wish that something could be done that would mean we're not sitting outside the city for two days.
I've been a little annoyed lately that the attackers all tend to be MUCH higher level than the defenders, so there's little we can do to stop them. And no, not just talking about you Brak ;). Another tactic is the deployment of discord, a chaotic magick used to make everyone in the room fight. It's annoying because there's nothing we can do to stop it and it means the PCs (well usually me) are then banned from the city until the next reboot, and worse still lose 'honor' for the inevitable slaying of guardsmen that occurs.
Yes it's annoying but I won't move for discord being removed or anything. And I think for those of chaotic alignment it's probably one of the few occasions they can use such a spell effectively and probably a lot of fun for people on that side of the fence. Just wish that something could be done that would mean we're not sitting outside the city for two days.
First Thoughts....
OK, this blog is about my OOC thoughts on the development of the mud Lost Souls. Lately there's been a lot of changes, some disagreements and agreements. Please note before we go any further that on the whole I agree with 99 percent of the content and changes and appreciate the hard work and dedication the development team show.
The blog will keep you informed about the progress and thoughts about my main character Gavadel. It should be noted I love this guy, but as I get bored easily by 'The Run' which is running around killing stuff for XP, my progress in his levels are extremely slow for his age. Not something I worry about too much.
Lost Souls is a fantasy based mud, originally a mish-mash of various themes from Tolkien to the DC Universe, though the lead developer Chaos has shown a desire to move away from that and despite being inspired by various themes he's moving towards an original themed MUD. It has a complex skills system and currently experience, levels and whatnot are based on killing NPCs mainly though there is a desire amongst the development team to move away from that. You can get more about Lost Souls from the wiki at http://www.lostsouls.org/wiki or the main website at: http://lostsouls.org. Or you can drop by at lostsouls.org 23.
This isn't a bitch blog either though I'm sure there'll be times I disagree with some of the changes, implementations or content. It's an honest commentary, so if I love something I'll yell about it, if I don't. I won't.
The blog will keep you informed about the progress and thoughts about my main character Gavadel. It should be noted I love this guy, but as I get bored easily by 'The Run' which is running around killing stuff for XP, my progress in his levels are extremely slow for his age. Not something I worry about too much.
Lost Souls is a fantasy based mud, originally a mish-mash of various themes from Tolkien to the DC Universe, though the lead developer Chaos has shown a desire to move away from that and despite being inspired by various themes he's moving towards an original themed MUD. It has a complex skills system and currently experience, levels and whatnot are based on killing NPCs mainly though there is a desire amongst the development team to move away from that. You can get more about Lost Souls from the wiki at http://www.lostsouls.org/wiki or the main website at: http://lostsouls.org. Or you can drop by at lostsouls.org 23.
This isn't a bitch blog either though I'm sure there'll be times I disagree with some of the changes, implementations or content. It's an honest commentary, so if I love something I'll yell about it, if I don't. I won't.
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