Faction only weapons

PeregrineV · Post by **PeregrineV** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:11 pm

Would it be possible to make or restrict weapons to PC and NPCs based on faction?

Right now, items that I don't have the levels for does not show up red, it shows up white (if I could use based on class, race, etc). When you try it on, that's when you get the level message.

Using this logic or this scripting, can equipment be set to faction instead of, or in addition to, level?

Post by **TGPO** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:37 pm

Over the years, starting before NS4 was opened to the public I have fought against race/class/alignment/ect limitations on gear. I have a real issue with the "Unusable Butter Knife" mentality, as can be attested to by the dev team every time a item with a restirction on it is suggested.

In some cases I have been artfully told to go pound sand, in others I have made my argument coherently enough to get my point across. The object of a game is to allow the most freedom possible to have fun while keeping some appearance of control for game balance issues. Adding another set of arbitrary restrictions is the wrong way to go IMHO, all it would do is create a larger pool of items that were nearly identical to each other with the exception of where you hail from.

For balance these items would have to be created in addition to the ones that were being "Locked Out" by this proposal. Thats alot of work for what is essentially zero net gain.

JesterOI · Post by **JesterOI** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:47 pm

Only item restrictions I could see should be for Pure Class builds...

PeregrineV · Post by **PeregrineV** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:12 pm

I was looking at it from the point of veiw that alignment has for all respects been superceded by the faction system. Unlike alignment, it's obvious who is from your faction or an allied faction. I wasn't thinking that each faction should get it's own version of the "butter knife" (what exactly are the stats on that, and can I have one?

), but that items might play to faction strengths or weaknesses. Since classes, alignment, and race (for the most part) are allowable in most factions, faction delineated equipment would be one way to limit items, or grant items for faction-based play.

For example, shops in NC sell the wizard's helm, and the sorcerer's cloak, both which give additional spells to sorcerers and wizards, which are NC restricted classes. A NC helm which did the same for bard, paladin, or cleric would be an example of a faction-restricted item.

This also allows the player the option of not using it, as when they outcast themselves from a faction. This is not possible with alignment, race, or class, you either are or are not a member of the group in question.

I like the faction system as a whole. This idea is merely to help individualize the factions moreso than where they are located, especially as role-playing in highly optional. The question of balance is one that the DMs and Devs have to decide, I'm just throwing out brainstorms (or branfarts, as the case may be

).

Elagneros · Post by **Elagneros** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:02 pm

PeregrineV wrote: For example, shops in NC sell the wizard's helm, and the sorcerer's cloak, both which give additional spells to sorcerers and wizards, which are NC restricted classes. A NC helm which did the same for bard, paladin, or cleric would be an example of a faction-restricted item.

I believe that's because the faction city shops all use the same placeable. Instead of setting up 7 different versions of each placeable in each of the shops in each of the cities, there's 1 blueprint for the helm and cloak placeable, and 1 instance of that placeable is painted in each of the faction cities.

Also remember that the helm slot gives bonus spells to wizards because the helm slot is used for Int boosting items. That's why cloaks have bonus spells for Cha casters and necklaces have bonus spell slots for the various divine casters. It's almost certainly a balance issue, so that a caster doestn't equip items that both boosts his main casting score, and gives him extra slots by equipping something in a dump stat slot. There are a few exceptions, like the Helm of Valdur, but these are rare.

P. Fricebottle · Post by **P. Fricebottle** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:29 pm

Speaking of faction-based gear...when will be able to get our guard's gear? lol, I know this question is kinda getting old, but it would look really cool for the players and NPCs be defending and look so organized. Besides, kinda funny to see a midget wearing NS Guard Armor. Like a little mini-me:D .

lord_modred · Post by **lord_modred** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:50 pm

only item restrictions i could really see any argument for would be alignment restrictions. in a universe with magic it would make sense for a given item to "reject" a good or evil individual depending on the items nature, however, it doesnt make much sense for an item to reject someone on the basis that they like shooting arrows instead of casting spells.

Post by **Sparky** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:21 pm

In a world of such magic, someone who creates a powerful intelligent item could force it to only accept a user based on certain conditions. (IE, race/class.ect..) The Item doesn't even have to be "talk to you intelligent", just aware of its user.
So, for certain cases, I believe we could justify restrictions on items based on whatever categories.

CrazyJ · Post by **CrazyJ** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:22 pm

The intelligent items, though, would be so rare as to be artifact-level, so I can see this working OK.... maybe no more than one or two, with a very very small chance of them showing up.

Post by **Sparky** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:34 am

Aye, and intelligent item would be very rare.

Elagneros · Post by **Elagneros** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:50 am

lord_modred wrote:only item restrictions i could really see any argument for would be alignment restrictions. in a universe with magic it would make sense for a given item to "reject" a good or evil individual depending on the items nature, however, it doesnt make much sense for an item to reject someone on the basis that they like shooting arrows instead of casting spells.

There's already the Staff of Conviction which has alignment restrictions (and bonus damage against certain alignments). There are a few class-restricted things, but they're mostly staves and robes.

lord_modred · Post by **lord_modred** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:06 am

i realize that, my point was, alignment restrictions are really the only restrictions that have a valid reason for existing.

PeregrineV · Post by **PeregrineV** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:28 pm

Nah, role-play wise, faction is logical too.

"Is your heart pure in it's desire to protect and serve the Northern Coalition?"
"Yes."
"Then take this Defender's Blade, and go forth in the honor of Tyr, Torm, and St. Cuthbert, protecting the lands from all enemies."
"Okie dokie."
"Know, also, that should you ever betray our beliefs, the power of the Defender's Blade will desert you, and your soul will rot in an eternal hell filled with Drow, evil, and non-bard arcane spell-casters."
"Oh. That sucks. I can't use it to attack the guards?"
"No."
"OK"

Game-wise, I was just wondering if it would be possible in the same manner than NS4 item level is enforced.