The CoA Magic Level - A Discussion
-
I'm one of the minority who favours low-magic, low-fantasy. Something more akin to the 'Dark Ages'; I suppose a now well-known example would be the setting "A Game of Thrones" is set in, there is magic and mysticiscm but it is rare and indeed, quite feared. However, I'm quite resigned to the fact that nothing is going to change CoA's setting and that setting, the Forgotten Realms, is most definitey high fantasy. The DMs have struck somewhat of a balance between two extremes and so far, I think, works quite well.
You can work some great story-archs into seemingly simple premises. I would, personally, always be more interested in having a claimaint as a "villain" or potential leader than a giant, planar bending monstrosity who eats Gods and changes the entire world. I think what people like 21Tonne, Rel and myself enjoy, is something that is high on feudal intrigue with a nice dose of adventures in-between, saving the setting-changing epics with said monsters for those very rare moments where they can have a lasting effect on those aformentioned politics and change the scope in an interesting but feasible manner.
That said, the players have to realise that this attention to detail and the precise notion of these sort of things is a pretty large burden on DMs to make them not only entertaining but also engaging in the long-term for both casual and regular player alike. Not to mention themselves. I'm sure if they were paid they would, but as it stands, the current setting and magic-level concerning the plots are sufficent to cater to both and are feasible for the current setting.
One can dream though, huh?
-
The way I see it, when I joined the server was still pretty low-magic/ Magic is feared. Pretty much Post-Civil war it started transforming more. We can say its the Gods finally settled out after the time of troubles or something else IDK. I personally like it both ways. They both tell wonderful stories and have diverse people.
-
In respect to the gear. None of it really matters. If you still have that fear of death even with magical gear then your in a good spot between loot and difficulty. I admit my hold on the forgotten realms is Drizzt Du'Urden. I've read every single book, not because I like him most of all cause to be honest Wulfgar was a master bad ass, and those books have one thing in common.
Every single character eventually gains some godly weapon or gem or in the case of Jarlaxle every magical item under the sun. And the adventurer's still put you on the edge of your seat because even with all those Orcs almost took over.
Now with the Devil Dragon I can count at least 4 dragons I remember and 2 of them were at the center of a major plot. They weren't in the whole trilogy but they were at the center and did those weapons help them win? Not really. They don't revere their weapons or sing praise to them they just make them a part of their selves and they help identify the characters.
The major plots have major opponents since that is the whole point and along the way loot is acquired but the adventure and battles and with the recent trilogy that finished the plotting and manipulation of events is what made them fun to read since the "Bad Guys" seemed to win this time around.
I think the magic level would be fine with mundane weapons if we were fighting mundane creatures but the COA world seems to be growing volatile and more dangerous and heroes who are stronger and better equipped to handle those threats are needed. And as far as dragons go if you can't beat them the first time you see them then I don't think they are overused. Nor are demons or as Moloch pointed out a cult. The only difference is none of us seem to worry about anything unless there's a dragon or demon even though a far more mundane threat in our eyes could very well be bringing the the city.
-
Matt put it really well. Really the magic items only really help with Scripted quests that I see, and this is more of a 'Learning to Survive'. I mean after fighting Orcs for a year you learn their weaknesses but its hard to simulate that into the game (Except Favored enemy). I giggle when I see mister awesome loot get nom nomed by Dragon 5 cause its one of those, I witnessed that and I learned not to insult it, shoot it, etc.
-
some quests require someone to enchant weapons, if there is no one, they can be quite a challenge
also exploring now is virtual suicide without decent equipment, i know the outlying areas need to be dangerous, but after several trips you will divide players into two groups, ones who want to beat the challenge and ones who prefer to simply quit, i do not know what the break down of percentages would look like in that regard and i can only make a uneducated guess
this game and server has lasted a long time, i will not question the changes as the server is still prospering compared to others, there are things i would like to see..but they would not be good for the server i am sure
-
@Fireside:
To me, I prefer very very low magic fantasy worlds, where magic is a rare, mystical and awe-inspiring thing.
BUT
Playing an online RPG that has to stay fresh after 8 odd years (?) set in such a world, would bore me to tears.
eep..just read this…and to make matters worse i have played one character most of that time though that character is now my secondary..i have played my new main about 70% (my target anyways, sometimes i play more sometimes less) and i have settled in with the new char quite well i think, for me magic is important with both, but i can live without the magic and have lost all at least twice in the past with my ..um.....8 year character, the items should not make the character, they should be tools to augment the character, again provided they are not thrust into situations where you will lose without items
-
As someone who hippity-hopped from early, early V3 into V4 at irregular intervals, I can say that magic has changed dramatically.
I remember a time when you had to work your tail off to get that sweet full plate armor. And, if you hanged in a little bit longer and saved up a bit more, you would get a masterwork full plate (Hey guys, remember those?) Then, after a good long while later, you could pay an enchanter to imbue POWERFUL PROTECTIVE MAGICS into your full plate, making it magic full plate!
Problems? Well, all you had to do was jump on the quest train and party hard for a good 2-3 days before you could get enough gold to do that. Back then, though, gold payment on quests was also lower…hence why I didn't say it only took one or two afternoons like it would today.
Nowadays, +1 gear is easy to find (with the exception of exotic weaponry, though that could just be my ill luck speaking). It's lost its zest for me. I've caught myself thinking in terms of AB and AC rather than magical prestige. However, I think it's best to flaunt this magic when you find it and make it more interesting than just another one of the 500 +1 Greatswords floating around right now.
Of course, with the growing difficulty of the monsters on the server, I really like the fact that there is an abundance of cool magical gear about.
You know what I really like, though? The sick unique gear you can find in certain places that are designed for certain individuals or purposes (like all of the medium armors that are popping up, especially at Greencastle - those are just cool!)
I also think the new crafting system, once it finally picks up, will make things more magic-intensive, but in varying levels. I.e., the entire bit about +1 being common, but +3 being versus certain types of creatures with drawbacks. That's going to be a lot of fun to have a sword that's +2 vs Orcs but lowers your Discipline by 3. Think about the RP options.
tl;done writing
-
@Neolithic:
[…]
Of course, with the growing difficulty of the monsters on the server, I really like the fact that there is an abundance of cool magical gear about.
[…]Actually, as have DMs been pointing rightly… the difficulty is lower.
-
Carniphages are kinda tough
<_<
_>
_<
-
@Neolithic:
[…]
Of course, with the growing difficulty of the monsters on the server, I really like the fact that there is an abundance of cool magical gear about.
[…]Actually, as have DMs been pointing rightly… the difficulty is lower.
Common Monsters are tough. Its not like the Devil dragon is a 3 shot kill. Yes common quest monsters and what not are easier. I have noticed though the monsters encountered out and about have a tendancy to be harder. For instance, on Switch I was exploring the mountains when BOOM! Frost Giant Shaman hold persons me then 3 shots me… I think it's one of those, difficulty isn't as important a thing to the DM's anymore. They more want to see how you can make killing these 1 shot orcs into something bigger then that. For instance, The Grodd.
When adventuring with Harold on Elizu, we were wiping the floor with the goblins but we made it more adventurous then just grinding it out.
Personally I do like the lower difficulty on normal stuff because it used to be I would see stuff and be cautious. Once the difficulty dropped, I started charging all the time... Til Harry Dropped a big spawn I charged, got knocked to half health and booked it! lol. It sorta balances it out and teaches you to be more RP about it I guess I should say? Probably confusing so I'm done.
-
I think the magic level is more or less right. With planning you can get some where. I agree however with Olouths point that weapons which might be interesting might be longsword +1 +d4 versus a certain enemy type of weapons.
I think a scimitar +1 (to get through damage reduction) + d4 versus undead, so great against your favoured enemy would be a nice addition.
A battleaxe +1 +d4 versus orcs, for instance, would be better than a battlexe +1, but not as powerful as a battleaxe +2, as it is only extra strong against one monster type. A weapon of this sort, would also allow for themed weapons, without being in the annoying postion of having to carry a stack of weapons about, for different monsters, as it would still be able to count as a magic weapon, for damage reduction purposes.
I also like the idea of rare, hard to find shops selling better kit, as it rewards players who wander around and dont just quest or camp in the city all day.
I actually rather like the plots, I thought the Lyss one dragged a little, but was still quite fun. I actually enjoy seeing the occassional dragon, the setting is fantasy after all. I met a dragon on a quest the other day, and it was so awesome to come across one, as they are so rare a creature and because dragons are highly symbolic of D & D in general.
Spartan
-
And yes Carniphages hurt. It took multiple tries and a hard lesson in don't use potions or wands. A perfect point where certain high lvl items hurt you.
-
I´m fine with the current magic level.
What I don´t personally like to see is that warriors have eight different long swords + 1 vs something on their belt, each in case that a particular enemy shows up. Which might happen if there are too many + 1 vs something around.
I don't know seems somthing kinda badass about that to a degree having that many long swords to use. Though the way you are talking about it he really does not role play it that well. He should be emoting having all those blades strapped to his back and sides because It would look pretty awsome. He should be questing to research special exotic scabbards to allow him to quickly draw so many different blades for whenever he needed to. Or at least emote fumbling around alot trying to get just the right sword.
-
It makes sense though to see dragons often, then are not rare and are quite common
-
I think the main point is not how common dragons are.
But how big bad dragons eventually get banal if they appear all the time.
Dragons are not creatures easy to kill at all.
-
As long as the encounters are balanced appropriately to the level of magic items available, it doesn't matter that much, particularly below level 6. However, as spells become more powerful at higher levels, melee types become irrelevant and not at all heroic in a very low magic setting. People like playing heroes (or arch villains). "Your weapon has no effect" was a serious design flaw in the past, because it scrolled by far too often. Looking forward to seeing the current balance.
-
I think the gems that you put into those green weapons should be more common; can't find them anywhere but a few distinct lowbie quests.
-
Yes! Bring us more socket gems outside the lv 1-4 quests!
-
There are socket gems out there.
Just don't raid lumber mill every reset and go expecting them. -_-
-
I agree with the original post and I prefer a low magic setting but Molochs right that puts me in a minority of players, as for magic weapons available in game I prefered it when magic items were crafted by characters in game as it involved some degree of player interaction (certainly more than buying the same weapon from an npc vendor for essentially the same price).