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KaVir · 09-12-2006, 04:17 PM

Well I don't have races, but as far as classes go I most certainly do follow my own advice - I am very careful to make sure that each class is as equally viable as possible, and playable in a wide variety of ways (there are many ways to play each class, and it's common to see several experienced players of the same class who have completely different characters and playing styles).

When you break down powers to their core functionality, you end up with only a small number of possibilities - I would tend to categorise them as follows (although even here there is some crossover):

* Shapechanging (wolf, cloud of bats, etc).
* Summon pet (elementals, a mount, etc).
* Craft item (enchant weapon, create magical armour, etc).
* Bless bonuses (rage, giant strength, etc).
* Curse penalties (fear, fever, etc).
* Invisibility (conceal yourself from others).
* Detect invisibility (see those who are concealed).
* Teleport (rapid travel).
* Tracking (locate other creatures).
* Regeneration (recover damage over time).
* Offensive (fireball, lightning bolt, etc).
* Defensive (forcefield, resist energy, etc).

If you only want one class to have access to any sort of teleportation power, and one to have access to item crafting, etc, then you're only going to up with about three powers per class - and some of these powers are pretty critical. If your class doesn't have access to any sort of 'detect invisibility' power, then how're you going to fight someone who's invisible?

Yes, every class has the ability to 'teleport' - but they do so through different means, for example:

1) Vampire:

* Can transform into a cloud of bats using the Bat Form power. This form is highly resilient to physical damage, and has very strong attacks, but it cannot wear equipment and is highly vulnerable to fire. While in this form, the player can swoop up into the air and 'teleport' to other locations.

* Can purchase the House NightWing talent which, among other things, grants the character a pair of batlike wings. These wings can be used to 'teleport' to other locations.

* Can place the Chiroptera rune on your chest, using the Blood Runes power. This grants the character a pair of batlike wings while in human form, and modifies their Wolf Form power so that instead of turning into a wolf, they transforms into a giant bat. Both give access to the ability to 'teleport' between locations.

* Can purchase the House ShadowSworn talent which unlocks various spells, including the standard teleport spell.

2) Werewolf:

* The Lesser Totem Spirit power allows the character to summon an owl spirit, which functions as a form of 'teleport'.

* Can purchase the Spirit Wolfkin talent which unlocks various spells, including the standard teleport spell.

3) Mage:

* Automatically has access to the basic spells, including the standard teleport spell.

* Can raise the Air Magic power to learn the portal spell, which creates a pair of connected portals which players can travel through in either direction.

4) Demon:

* The Warbeast power at rank 10 unlocks the Demonology power, which allows the character to summon a winged warbeast mount, allowing the rider to 'teleport' to other locations.

* The Wings of the Abyss power provides a powerful wing attack and the ability to 'teleport'.

* The Demon Form power allows the player to shapechange into a customised demonic form which usually has some sort of wings (although they can be traded for something else, such as a shell or a cloud of flies).

* Can purchase the Witch Spawn talent which unlocks various spells, including the standard teleport spell.

Now obviously these aren't all described as teleporting in a puff of smoke - the werewolf sees the owl swoop down and pick him up, the demon's wings beat, the mage makes the appropriate magical gestures, and so on. Equally, the teleportation is only one aspect of each of the powers - Bat Form is also a combat and scouting form, the teleport spell is only one of many different spells, the owl spirit is one of 4 possible spirits granted by the Lesser Totem Spirit power, Chiroptera is only one of 10 runes (and only gives wings when placed on the chest, doing something completely different if placed on the hands, feet or cheeks), and so on.

But from a pure functionality perspective, yes, all classes have the ability to rapidly travel from X to Y. It's a necessary ability due to the nature of the game.

The same is the case with crafting - each class has between 2 and 4 crafting powers, yet no two powers are the same. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, its own unique spin. Item customisation plays an important part of the game, making it a necessary ability.

09-12-2006, 04:17 PM	#22
KaVir Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Name: Richard Home MUD: God Wars II Posts: 2,052	Well I don't have races, but as far as classes go I most certainly do follow my own advice - I am very careful to make sure that each class is as equally viable as possible, and playable in a wide variety of ways (there are many ways to play each class, and it's common to see several experienced players of the same class who have completely different characters and playing styles). When you break down powers to their core functionality, you end up with only a small number of possibilities - I would tend to categorise them as follows (although even here there is some crossover): * Shapechanging (wolf, cloud of bats, etc). * Summon pet (elementals, a mount, etc). * Craft item (enchant weapon, create magical armour, etc). * Bless bonuses (rage, giant strength, etc). * Curse penalties (fear, fever, etc). * Invisibility (conceal yourself from others). * Detect invisibility (see those who are concealed). * Teleport (rapid travel). * Tracking (locate other creatures). * Regeneration (recover damage over time). * Offensive (fireball, lightning bolt, etc). * Defensive (forcefield, resist energy, etc). If you only want one class to have access to any sort of teleportation power, and one to have access to item crafting, etc, then you're only going to up with about three powers per class - and some of these powers are pretty critical. If your class doesn't have access to any sort of 'detect invisibility' power, then how're you going to fight someone who's invisible? Yes, every class has the ability to 'teleport' - but they do so through different means, for example: 1) Vampire: * Can transform into a cloud of bats using the Bat Form power. This form is highly resilient to physical damage, and has very strong attacks, but it cannot wear equipment and is highly vulnerable to fire. While in this form, the player can swoop up into the air and 'teleport' to other locations. * Can purchase the House NightWing talent which, among other things, grants the character a pair of batlike wings. These wings can be used to 'teleport' to other locations. * Can place the Chiroptera rune on your chest, using the Blood Runes power. This grants the character a pair of batlike wings while in human form, and modifies their Wolf Form power so that instead of turning into a wolf, they transforms into a giant bat. Both give access to the ability to 'teleport' between locations. * Can purchase the House ShadowSworn talent which unlocks various spells, including the standard teleport spell. 2) Werewolf: * The Lesser Totem Spirit power allows the character to summon an owl spirit, which functions as a form of 'teleport'. * Can purchase the Spirit Wolfkin talent which unlocks various spells, including the standard teleport spell. 3) Mage: * Automatically has access to the basic spells, including the standard teleport spell. * Can raise the Air Magic power to learn the portal spell, which creates a pair of connected portals which players can travel through in either direction. 4) Demon: * The Warbeast power at rank 10 unlocks the Demonology power, which allows the character to summon a winged warbeast mount, allowing the rider to 'teleport' to other locations. * The Wings of the Abyss power provides a powerful wing attack and the ability to 'teleport'. * The Demon Form power allows the player to shapechange into a customised demonic form which usually has some sort of wings (although they can be traded for something else, such as a shell or a cloud of flies). * Can purchase the Witch Spawn talent which unlocks various spells, including the standard teleport spell. Now obviously these aren't all described as teleporting in a puff of smoke - the werewolf sees the owl swoop down and pick him up, the demon's wings beat, the mage makes the appropriate magical gestures, and so on. Equally, the teleportation is only one aspect of each of the powers - Bat Form is also a combat and scouting form, the teleport spell is only one of many different spells, the owl spirit is one of 4 possible spirits granted by the Lesser Totem Spirit power, Chiroptera is only one of 10 runes (and only gives wings when placed on the chest, doing something completely different if placed on the hands, feet or cheeks), and so on. But from a pure functionality perspective, yes, all classes have the ability to rapidly travel from X to Y. It's a necessary ability due to the nature of the game. The same is the case with crafting - each class has between 2 and 4 crafting powers, yet no two powers are the same. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, its own unique spin. Item customisation plays an important part of the game, making it a necessary ability.