The Viability Of Crafting

[*Mick64]

I though Use Limitation : Monk counted as an enchantement :lol:

[*Ceremorph]

Limitations and visual effects don't count towards the total. Plus, something some people might not know, if something has a free slot you can upgrade an existing slot (so for instance an item with +1 AC and immunity to a certain spell can be boosted to +5 AC, as long as you do it while that last enchantment slot is still empty.

[*Miraie]

While also having the issue of making loot drops worthless to anyone with a minimum amount of coins as you could easily make a better crafted item without even trying hard.

It would be interesting to solve this problem by offering loot that is purely crafting/salvageable materials (and by implementing a gathering system). You'd have low drops that everyone can basically just pick up, mid-tier stuff that requires semi-rare drops in a harder area and perhaps stuff you'd grind for weeks to make something truly inspired. All items would be salvageable (ie. the gear that you find would return crafting components when salvaged in order to help you make even better gear). Like you could find a +4 Keen battle axe and stick to it for a while until you're ready to scrap it to make something better. Could be fun, but would require a lot of thought to actually implement.

[*Miraie]

Eheh, let's hope it does. My first experiences with Solanian Truesteel happened when I learned that Paladins considered its use an affront (because obtaining it required you to slay Paladins). That was a very good motivation to obtain a blade like that as an evil character, though!

[*Devil's Elysium]

a level 30 character has little reason to contact a crafter because the loot they get will be hands-down better from what I've seen. It also costs so much money to make something that you might as well just use loot. That makes all crafted items temporary placeholders and everyone spending feats on combat abilities stronger than anyone spending feats on crafting.

I want to respond to this part specifically because I don't necessary concern myself with the rest of post.

I've been running the crafting game for a while now, basically ever since I first joined the server back in June. To date I've actually been amazed at how many times max-level characters will come to Aleis for various reasons. Usually it's to enchant their Boots of the Sun Soul +5 with +5 Constitution or their +5 Universal Save cloaks/amulets with Charisma/Wisdom and +5 Armor respectively. Other times it's to request wands and scrolls. Sometimes they just want a spare Bag of Holding. Just the other day Moras requested Aleis to make 20 vials of Distilled Black Lotus Extract, 20 Greater Bull's Strength Potions, 20 Greater Eagle's Splendor Potions, a Green Dragonhide Cloak, and a bundle of scrolls of Greater Heroism.

The way things are currently there will always be things that max level characters need from a crafter, or that they can purchase from a crafter as a luxury item. While yes, people who spend feats on combat abilities will be mechanically stronger in a fight, people who are crafters have much more tools to obtain currency, which they can use to buy the best possible gear or purchase their own residence which can give them greater influence and bonuses in RP. Even just being a well-known crafter has its benefits as it will invariably make you more well-connected and allow you to have more people to work alongside when it comes to RP and events.


Or to put it more simply... While a crafter won't hold their own against a powerbuilder, the powerbuilder still wants to have a crafter as their best friend.

I also bought a green dragonhide cloak! :P Enchanters and crafters are critical for those of us who don't self-buff. In fact, the only way said non-self-buffers are going to be able to compete with gishes is better gear or relentless twinking and Scroll-stacking. The arbitrary "no +6s" favours a certain kind of build ... and also Holy Sword exists. Something to keep in mind.

[*cryptc]

I also bought a green dragonhide cloak! :P Enchanters and crafters are critical for those of us who don't self-buff. In fact, the only way said non-self-buffers are going to be able to compete with gishes is better gear or relentless twinking and Scroll-stacking. The arbitrary "no +6s" favours a certain kind of build ... and also Holy Sword exists. Something to keep in mind.

It's not arbitrary, it's a considered choice that doesn't make spells like GMW sub optimal. Having a max enchantment bonus lower or higher than +5 creates various issues that we have experience with from other PW's and wish to avoid.

[*Gazoo]

Why don't we eliminate usage of wands of holy weapon (remove them)? I think it'd be a positive change for the item usage and crafting dynamics. Initially truesteel might skyrocket in price, though.


I use HW wands extensively, but I'd survive and use some alternative means.

To be fair, HW is supposed to only last one round per level, but due to a bug lasts until weapon swap or relog.

[*Miraie]

On the other hand, wands are in constant demand! So that's good. I use a plenty. Then again, I'm not sure you need to obtain the buggy version of Holy Sword. It makes many +5 things obsolete.

[*Mick64]

Could probably fix Holy Sword. Didn't even know it was bugged.

[*Mr_Otyugh]

All item specific buffs have been known to get stuck, not just holy sword or blessed weapon, they just happen to be most common in scod, in previous server it was flame weapon that was known of it, but also magic vestment and bladeweave or whatever its name was. Somehow the durations don't run out or glitch out to last months of gameplay. My guess would be that the duration can become detached from the character and buff script doesn't check specific items.

*Edit: although since it can be misleading, holy sword has its own quirk, mostly even if duration runs out and you can see the effect of it vanishing, the alignment doesn't go away until you unequip current weapon.