Having downloaded (and then actually read) the roughly 200 messages
regarding Binding, I feel that I have a right to state my position once:

1. Bind Affinity is a very useful utility spell as originally designed
(bind only in cities).

2. Permitting Bind elsewhere is a pretty big bonus to spellcasters up
to the point that they can resurrect; beyond that point, it is really to
everyone's advantage that they come back close to the action, or we
would have to wait for THEM to make the long run before being
resurrected. Boy, would THAT be tedious!

3. The really destabilizing part of this is not Bind Affinity in and of
itself, but is Bind combined with Gate. This combination permits
spellcasters to escape combat far more readily than any melee type
(Bards included). This has two consequences, creating a double-whammy:
1) they can return to fighting earlier than the melee types who are
still hoofing it back, which allows them to GAIN more experience that
melee classes GAIN (yes, spellcasters can't always do this, but can do
this a significant part of the time); and 2) the Bind/Gate combination
as currently set up allows them to LOSE significantly less experience
than we (and other melee classes) LOSE. The latter part has not been
addressed here, but I think it's a very big part of the reason that
people are so irritated by the current Bind rules.

My original thought was that Bind should only be allowed in cities, but
(aside from the tormented screams from current caster classes) I think
it would make the game much more tedious for everyone, not just the
casters. I now think that it should be possible to Bind all classes in
all (Bindable) zones, that not all zones should be Bindable, and that
Bind should require acceptance by the target, as does resurrection.

As for Bards, I think it would be both nice and appropriate to have a
mid-teens, low-twenties song that permitted Bards to Bind themselves.
Nobody else, no group binds, no components, no health loss, just a
simple self-only Bind. We are travelers, having this ability fits
perfectly with the concept of the class, and frankly, I don't see why we
shouldn't be able to have this ability. Don't tell me "because Verant
won't do it". I don't care, and that's not an argument.

Kenross Cantoforjado, 27 songs, Innoruuk