Posted by Istendil on October 15, 1999 at 01:49:51:
In Reply to: Another angle.. posted by Defiler on October 12, 1999 at 12:27:33:
I can't argue with that. It depends on how you view your enemies. In probably 90% of the times Istendil fought someone, there was no real personal emotional stake. This and some things in his role/background made it appropriate to treat his enemies the way he did. It shouldn't be taken as appropriate for every conflict between two characters.
> Also, Liches are so fantastically powerful >compared to almost any other single >race/class combo that some of this stuff is only >going to happen when someone of Istendil's >power level is on the scene. Can you imagine a >face-to-face talk between a human anti-paladin >and a Sylvan shaman? Unless they were both >of the highest grade of roleplayer, there would >just be a battle the moment they saw each other >in the area.
I think it's possible to concieve of a neutral-ground situation between most characters. Whether or not those circumstances will come up in play are another story entirely. The bulk of this log is actually a pretty good example of that, if you think about where Istendil and Christina are at this stage in their lives, versus just a week before, when each was the leader of an opposing cabal.
I think something else to consider is not just the level of power (this is not to say that liches don't have a few definite power advantages on many other characters), but the type of power. A well-played thief or assassin, for example, can easily kill very well, even without a cabal, but for them to function well requires stealth. They're not powerful sitting visible at market square or the inn talking to people; they're vulnerable. They can't expect to regularly attack against the numerical odds without extenuating circumstances and expect to win. Somehow, a lich attacking a group of five, killing one and sending the rest running makes a bigger impression on people than a clever assassin who picked the same five people off one by one, killing them all. Liches are a very overt sort of power.
> I think you did an excellent job with Istendil, but I >also think that you couldn't have inspired the >same level of terror with a human thief.
Definitely true. I've played a few human thieves and done well (to my standards) with one or two of them, but there's a sort of grandness to a lich they can't match. You might swear up a storm as you realize a thief you didn't even know was logged on stole your wide copper bracelets, but you'll never see one try to plague all of Galadon. Which is more powerful is up for debate, but one clearly leaves a more lasting impression.
I maintain that the thief could kill the lich, though; Ahmie and Talice stand out in my mind as two thieves I've recently seen employ some abnormally clever tactics on some occasions. If you haven't noticed that... need I beat the covert vs. overt horse a little more?
> I was cringing at the number of women >"suddenly" declaring their love for you, though. >Heh.
To be fair, I should point out that this log is out of context and somewhat misleading. Kamysta, in particular, would have been a fraternal or even familial sort of affection, if any. There was nothing romantic going on there.
> Well, I wouldn't say that sitting down and talking >to your enemies is a desireable roleplay event >in all cases. Do you sit down over coffee with >the man who murdered your daughter? >Sometimes it just doesn't make sense.