Posted by Tat on September 11, 1999 at 23:12:28:
In Reply to: perfecting skills, pros, cons, RP effects. posted by ElmasterI on September 11, 1999 at 05:36:45:
> > As far as game mechanics one cannot argue that perfecting skills/spells does not do ones character good. On a merely mechanical level. It does enhance your chances of hitting more, casting stronger/more potently ect. Though I also agree, and it is a fact, that a poor player with all his skills/spells mastered will nearly always die to a more experienced and prepared player. But, the one with perfected skills may last a bit longer than one without. My arguement stands that perfect skills are good for your character. > But now, let us take a step back and ask ourselves a question. Are we playing a roleplaying game? Or are we playing a killing game? Or are we playing both? This IS an individual choice, each of us sees CF as a different beast. Rampant Level sitting pkers, and then more RP oreinted chars that revel in Troupe, or other RP device oreinted classes. > Now I will get into my more controversial part of this post. On a roleplaying level I do not understand the reliance on perfecting ones skill. At what stage in a mans life does he suddently realize that he has perfected something. At what stage does a swordmaster know that he has learned all there is to learn about his weapon? At what stage does a priest know he has learned all there is about serving God. Basically, as far as in character roleplaying is concerened, there is no possible way for anyone to truely guage how well learned in something a person is until they see them use it. Player1 asking player2 "How well do you know the sword?" and being answered "I have it at 89%" does seem silly. That is similar to asking me how well I know how to drive my car. I cant put it into a number i.e. "I am 89% profecient in the operation of my car" Basically, I believe setting skill requirements is detrimental to the RP behind each of our characters. > To end, there is no such thing as perfection...well that girl in my anthropology class was close...so requiring it in the game is in my opinion not a very good thing. > AL
> Ive been playing CF for going on three years now, longer than many, shorter than many. I know more than some, less than some. I am not elite, and I am not a newbie. In short, I can find my ass with two hands and a map. But I do now want to comment on the trend of skill and spell mastery.
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> As for mage classes. I Love the idea of having to learn spells to a certain level before gaining a more advanced spell. That seems not only logical, but practical. As ones studies continue, he may learn new tricks ect. It also helps teach the mage when, and when not to use a certain spell. But I do not agree that the spell must be completely mastered before this spell is learned. In my opinion it should be much like the assassins kicks, or even a little more random...for example, for every % above 90 you get a chance to learn the next spell, and this is tested off a characters int.
> I welcome any discussion of this, or any other ideas. This is afterall just my opinion.