>>> <Mike.Langlois@...> 09/22 4:09 PM >>>
From:
Mike.Langlois@...
*SNIP*
Let me make one clarification first: Melee classes don't want to bind, they
want to be bound in non-cities.
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You may not, but many do. I visit some message boards from other hybrid classes on a regular basis and the topic of that class being able to bind themselves is always a hot one.
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We have 2 groups of people on the server, binders and non. Now, when you die
you come back naked. A caster can mem his spells at his bind point and then :
Armor up, go invis, add speed, and still defend himself with DD type spells. He
doesn't really NEED to bind, he's good to make the run.
A melee class character shows up naked and that's that. Now this fellow, let's
say a warrior, must travel slowly across multiple zones, with no armor, no
weapons, and no invis. If a random green creature crosses his path, he's dead.
More exp loss, more time lost, no chance to win the fight.
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One the one hand I agree completely. The classes who are not equipment dependent fare better after a death and these classes tend to be the casters who can bind themselves. Seems a bit lopsided. On the other hand, meeting a green on the way back to your body doesn't equate to instant death. First, if you have decent hand to hand skills (which most warriors neglect to train in), you will most likely be fine or at least have a sporting chance. Secondly, if you are a wise warrior, you have spare weapons and armor in the bank. If you have been bound in a city with a bank, you can access these before your trip back. Thirdly, most magicians I have met have no problem supplying characters who need to recover corpses with food, water, and a weapon. Same goes for shamans and driuids casting SOW. And fouthly (is that a word?), if you get jumped by a green and you can't handle it yourself, yell for help from others in the area. 9 times out of 10 they will be able to not only pull the green monster off of you, but finish it as well. So while sometimes meeting a green on the way back to your body can be frustrating, it doesn't necessarily have to be fatal.
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*SNIP*
Can anyone tell me what 'balance' issue is served by the bound-only-in-cities
rule? The freedom and perks come from being able to bind yourself at will.
Melee folks will still have to beg and pay for this from casters. But what is
being preserved or protected by the walk of shame? It serves no realism or
gameplay value, and detracts from the game. I don't mind dying, but I do mind
not having fun for no good reason.
*SNIP*
Golias, Solusek Ro
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I don't think there is any good "balance" issue served. Melee classes don't seem to have any special talent to offset their lack of binding ability. I think when Verant decided not to implement a "Lifestone" sort of model for changing a character's return point, they were forced to give this ability to the characters. The casting classes seemed to be the logical choice, since changing this "mystical bond" does involve manipulation of magical forces. But melee classes never really got anything in return. And I don't believe they ever will. I think players have to understand that choosing a melee class means you WILL be dependent upon the binding abilities of others throughout your character's life. You can accept that and play a melee class anyway, or not accept that and play a caster class. I'm not too hopeful of seeing other options coming forth on a class-wide basis. (However, I do see the possibility of more items with Bind Affinity effects being made available.)
Time to close this out before I get KABONGED. :-)
Kelethin
Bard of Erollisi Marr