Knight Wish List

Been a while since I done one of these, and I'm just looking at the Knights as they exist, not the long awaited rewrite.

Let's see...

Turn Undead
The bane of my enemies, and I'm sure my fellow Knights will hate me for this, but... it's too powerful. I have NO problem with the power it has over undead. That's what it's for. It's a VERY limited power as it's target 'audience' is a very small part of the overall game. However I think 5turn undead is a little silly. I'd love to see it completely reworked, but in the meantime a cooldown timer would go a long way, doesn't have to be long, 10 or 20 seconds should suffice from it being used more than once in a combat.

Yeomen
Very limited now since their ability to join affiliations has been reworked due to the spec system they now follow. But still useful for filling out the Band. Be nice if there was a way to see groups being able to assign them different roles. Scouts, Rearguard, Bannerman. The Bannerman would be a non-combat role. Something similiar to a permanent inspiration aura (it doesn't have to be a large bonus), combat mode always defensive and when he rides in it would say something like 'Bannerman Coricus rides in holding the Banner of the Band of the White Cross'. For me it's just one of those cool things.

Squires
No issues with squires at all. Hard to get them to Knight now, but I think that's a good thing.

Mounts
Still waiting for the day more exotic mounts are available to Knights. War-pegasi, drakes, lions I don't know. Something. And I feel like their should be something akin to the ranger bond. In legends, the Knight's mount is often a part of that legend. But when we go through a horse once a reboot, kinda difficult.

Knights themselves
Getting charge up and running again would be nice and I think there's something to be said for them being members of the Pantarchic Church. There's something there that could be exploited more though I'm not entirely sure what.

Camelot
I was thinking long and hard about the defense of Camelot and... I had a nice idea. Prior to Merlin buggering off to parts unknown he set up an anti-magick field around Camelot. (He has the key and can turn it off on his return). This wouldn't stop ALL wierd attacks, like psychic stuff wouldn't be affected, holy and unholy abilities wouldn't be affected either.

Disclaimer: As usual, these are just ideas, don't expect any of them to be taken up, nor will I be miffed if they're ignored.

Boo hiss

Well, first the good news. Lysator has a interesting post of the shape of things to come for the overland maps. Some of which I think will REALLY help. Overland maps, some better indication of cliffs and whatnot. You can read it here.

Last night I hatched a dragon (Ptolema) and was told I needed one more keep point to keep her. I'd just raised charisma having hit 70 finally and had a spec point. Specced in leadership and got that point and kept Ptolema. So I logged in this morning, Ptolema wasn't there and when queried it turns out my keep capacity is fluctuating. So despite being able to keep Ptolema when I logged out (something I'd just done when I logged out) I'd lost her by the time I logged back in. This is the third time I've noticed anyway that I've lost something in the last week. Following my rainbow pibrit and a SQUIRE. I just wish the keep system was a little more stable and if you've got something actually kept (I actually checked on logout that 'Ptolema disappears with you') it should be there on return. Keeps are a pain at the best of times and I'm not asking for it to be reworked, just... a little more stable. And yes, my keep capacity on checking is again maxed out. I don't know what's going on really.

The Band other than the loss of Ptolema is doing quite well, no losses to report despite some action last night. Fledge is nearing level 37 finally. Man she levels slow. And Squire Crissa is level 15. 10 more levels until she's Dame Crissa. She'd only be my 2nd squire to be knighted since the level changeover. I ain't holding my breath just yet, had a few reach the 20s before loss.

Updates, Recommendations and Commendations

The Band of the White Cross

Well the Band has had an eventful week. Remembering we had to leave the field after myself and Fasius died during the First Battle, myself and Rubernel decided to try again. Losses were high, the saddest of which was Lt. Butler who fled the field. He'd survived the first Battle and numerous other adventures since then. At first I was angry he'd fled (and died later), but Rubernel calmed me down. With Butler of course went Parmenion his drake.

What was left of the Band headed to Losthaven, where (whilst I was afk) there was an unfortunate accident involving Bill. Rago attacked Bill the Town Fool and soft-hearted Fledge defended him. This brought about half of the Band into the fight, including Seleus the last of drakes. Rago aquitted himself admirably and I returned to find the Band in tatters. Only Rubernel, myself and Fledge had survived. It took a few days to find enough pegasi to mount a new Band. Current membership is my Squire Crissa, Captain Rubernel of course and his eagle. The three yeomen are Coricus, Gelumin and Altenius. A new group of pegasi have been found to keep the cavalry in the air. Seleus and Parmenion are missed especially as the new group lacks any heavy artillery.

The new group is also alert to a new threat to Losthaven, Zaruzahad the Undead Black dragon. Fortunately we've managed to drive him back during all recent engagements.

Recommendations

A few of the blogs are really shaping up to be something special. Arc's tale of corruption continues here, Elronuan keeps an interesting blog with some nice articles, Lysator keeps us posted on his developments here and my favorite and shaping up to be a real treat Esmene is writing an IC Story that is of a very high quality. Definite kudos.

Commendations

Just like to welcome our new players, I've had the pleasure to know Tuinia, the very chipper Boreality and Aalina (Fasius's wife, both RL and IC) this past few days. I hope the new kids stick around on this block. And a BIG thankyou to Chaos for making Knight guild equipment keepable. It just seemed VERY necessary after the size of the maps got MUCH bigger. Now if only my yeomen could join guilds again...

Back...

Atman deleting and then creating a new atman (I never said I was gone gone) is sort of like being able to attend your own funeral, which is part of the reason I decided to return, more people liked me than I thought, funny how you tend to focus on the negative. It's no secret (though I'm not going to be explicit either) as to why I left, in particular some harsh and constant criticisms from someone I respect. When I was considering returning I was thinking about asking for modifiers to Gavadel to keep him happy. (Getting rid of the dual guild, losing the donation items etc). Because, really, they are for me, just ways of fleshing out my character, not about the additional power. However, in the end I thought: Why the hell should I play in a certain way to keep HIM happy. (His rebuttal will be: 'You just took Gav back cos you missed the old power and you're just saying this to justify yourself.' But screw him, I play to have fun, I play for escapism, I play Gavadel because I love this character).

So... Travellers of Ganesha have finally been released. I love the challenges aspect and the versatility and yet ANOTHER way of gaining experience and advancement whilst avoiding the hack'n'slash. Another step in the right direction I think. My current exploration challenge has me being given an anti-magickal field. Which I think rocks, but I try to be sad about it for Ganesha. Thinking the field would work against the Bez, I took the Band into battle against him. Eventually we were forced to retreat and one of the pegasi, Yeoman Juxinner and squire Agla died and the band was badly beaten up.

To replace the yeoman, we've recruited... Yeoman Agla, to say I was surprised when I found a yeoman with the same name as my departed squire is a bit of an understatement.

Retirement

Just to quote my removal of atman:

Hmmm... I'll be back with a new atman (shortly). I've realised over the last few months that I've despite being here for... 15 years I've kept my head down. Over the last year I've raised my head above ground level and really honestly tried to accomplish some LONG term goals (Prince of Amber being among them) as well as give my POV for the community as a PLAYER. Sticking that head above has meant some potshots came my way, and I've realised I'm not so insensitive as to be able to dismiss them. Because I'm the sensitive sort really and the insults that came my way from Players and Devs really got to me in the end though I preferrred they didn't. I'm exempting Chaos, Twilight and Elronuan from any dev interference as any criticism (and there's been some) I've only ever taken as constructive. There's a lot of good players and good Devs and even if I don't see eye to eye with all of them, this is my fault for being the way I am, not theirs. I am NOT gone. Just restarting.

Or basically: I seem to have set myself up to be a community leader. And I'm really not cut out to be. (I'm just way too soft).

This is also the end of this blog.

Thanks to all who supported and took up the banner.

What the deuce?

Gav! One minute you're all over the place, wiki, blogs, game and now you've disappeared. You bored with us?

Nah, I do try to check-in, but just after Dyne visited me in March (no connection I'm sure) RL sort of exploded on me, I'm not going to go into it here. But between RL exploding and a couple of (actually minor in real terms) incidents on the game I found my temper frayed and playing the game became less fun for a while.

So you're quitting on us?

Nope. I've played Lost Souls since 94 and I come and go, the incidents in question are things I can usually handle, but on top of the RL stuff (which is serious) I thought it'd be better if I made myself scarce for a bit. I don't blame the people involved (you know who you are) at all. Disagreements are part of human nature and normally I'd be cool with it all, but not right now.

So when you coming back?

I doubt I'll really be away to be honest, but I'll definitely have less input for now. I'm having to move out of my apartment this coming week and at the end of June I'm heading back to Scotland for the summer, depending on the situation there.... Could be around non-stop over the summer or you won't see me until September.

Disclaimer: Imaginary conversation with some little goblin who lives in my head just to put the points across easier like.

Lost Souls Video

It's been in my head for a while so thought I'd give it a whirl.

Made using VideoSpin (it's actually only my third video ever) and it took a LOT longer than the video I made for my sister. You try telling a story in 4 minutes based on a few hundred lines of combat which took about 50 seconds and getting those 160 lines down to around 20 cards and try and make the story interesting....

I'm not sure I succeeded, but here's the result: