Well, I definately hope that Virant does SOMETHING with the
Tinkering, because as of 6PM Jun 20th there are roughly 50,000 people
playing Everquest. Now, this is a low figure, as the TEST server is
down and its not a weekend, where most servers average more than 2000
people at a time, and not 1600 as it is right now.

This means Verant is Making the profit from the actual SALES of
Everquest AND at least FIVE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND dollars a month on top
of that.

Figures taken from:
.. 50,000 people
..x $ 100 a year (assuming they pay PER six months and not per month)
.....÷ 12 months
---------
$ 500,000 PER MONTH

My point being this. If they are making so much damn money a month,
they can get off thier collective butts and do something about
Tinkering. I know it has been said that it will be coming after the
Poison Patch, but DAMN.

Ya Know?

Im talking Clockwork Pets Here.

If the all the components of a corpse can be collected, then there
should be corresponding brainboxes to them, and we should be able to
create them.

If people cry out "UNBALANCING!" then we should remind them that it
takes THOUSANDS of plat to Level our skills, and that the components
to the brainboxes for these things should be difficult to quest by
corresponding to the Creature being Clockworked.

(SC) Small Creatures : Brainboxes can be bought or made for 5-20pp
(LC) Large Creatures : 25-55pp
(SH) Small Humanoid : 60-125pp
(LH) Large Humanoid : 130-250pp
(VLH) VERY Large Humanoid : 255-500pp
(VLC) VERY Large Creature : 1000-5000pp

The large gap between VLH's and VLC's is because Ogres and Trolls
wouldnt do NEAR as much damage as Krackens and Dragons.

This should keep the VLH/VLC Clockworks from being a dime a dozen.

Of course the actual costs and quest difficulties can be hashed over
for balance, but this shouldnt cause any unbalancing issues if done
right.

Verant is being PAID to do it right, and keep us PAYING people happy.

To make things more balanced, Tinkering could be made a Race-Specific
Specialty-Class. This would work by keeping Tinkering a Gnome trait
available to ALL GNOMES, but those Gnomes that choose to become a
MASTER-TINKERER would have to coose to do so as a CLASS just like a
Magic-User has to choose what type of caster he wants to be, a Gnome
would have to choose between being a normal class of Gnome, or a
MASTER-TINKERER.

Gnomes that do this would be able to create the more elaborate
Tinkers such as the VLC's and VLH's and the more sought-after pieces
of equipment.

If you are asking about the balance of having characters with Pet
Clockwork Dragons or Krackens', then remember. These MASTER-TINKERERS
have to spend hundreds of plat just to earn the SKILL to create these
creatures, and then spend the time to collect the pieces of these
creatures (How many dragons do you think it would take to kill, just
to collect every single dragon piece? Thats a LOT of WORK), and then
the pure plat and time to collect the pieces to thier brainbox!

What if it fails? We are talking possibly 3-4 WEEKS Real time in lost
Plat and Time, all in a blink of an eye.

Sure, there would be lots of Clockwork rats and spiders, but who
cares? My Enchanter's First-level apparition can demolish those! Its
not like they would be the most sturdy of Clockworks...

If you have taken the time to read this Very long Post,

Please offer your opinion.

Thank-you for your time.