On Wed, 6 Oct 1999, Ryan Honeyman wrote:

>
> >Actually, I agree with him. "Kiting" has come to mean killing
> >a monster in a fashion which poses zero risk to yourself
>
> That may be your interpretation of the word, along with others,
> but that is not what it means at all to me.
>
> kiting: to go in a rapid or flighty manner. (webster's)
>
> Kiting as the word in EQ has come to mean dragging around
> a monster, much as you suggested some bard do with extra
> bandits as he runs around with accelerando on. Reversing
> that role, you are not fleeing, rather following a fleeing
> creature, is reverse-kiting.
>
> Still, you realize this is a conversation of semantics, thus
> it really has no room for argument. I say tomato, you say
> tomatoe. Let it be, was my point.

I think you're missing the point. Semantics aside, "kiting"
is a negative term in the minds of many EQ players (basically,
everyone who can't do it). Wanting to apply the term to a
tactic most players would nod at if they fully understood it
is sheer lunacy. I am all for semantically accurate
descriptions, however there is a matter of public perception
to consider in that the *wrong* definition may be substituted
for the correct one by those not so well informed.

Why not just call bards exploiters? One dictionary definition
of "exploit" is:

To utilize; to make available; to get the value or usefulness
out of;

And if anything bards are great at bringing out and making
available the full value and usefulness of group members'
abilities.

--
John H. Kim
kim@...