It's a tough world out there.

[Ryddwillow]

So what do most of you players think? Some players are extremely vocal, and some not so much... Is NS4 worse than it used to be, better, or pretty much the same? Believe it or not, I actually want NS4 to be fun... I'm not trying to make people feel bad by nerfing, but some things are overpowered and need to be fixed. That said, it hasn't been all nerfing in the past year:

-AAs are now more powerful than they used to be.
-Traps are more popular now for PvP (I saw lots of trap setting during the last relic event)
-Druid spellcasting is now more powerful than it used to be.
-Artifact system
-Faction reputation bonus for capping relics
-PDK Bonuses
-HoK, Celestia, and Abyss
-Bloodstains!

Hey you are doing your damn job and it is a hard job at that with no thanks many a times. I thank all the staff for such a glorious job to ns4 over the many a years I have been here. I am a vocal person and always hve been and will never stop because I can back my stuff up. My personally feelings on nerfs are seen as two ways- did it hurt me or help me? I have been thru sooo many a nerfs here. ( the pm nerf lately I didn't understand, somebody complained and some ears opened to the change and whammo!)

Having been here longer than most I do like change especially the tweaking of spells and changes to classes like AA, PDK, Harpers, BG, RDD, Shifters etc. I disagree with Pure Class being boring - noone is forcing players to make pure classes and it adds a dimension to game play and can be effective in party play whether pvp or pve.

I do agree the "Nerfs" can be frustrating and target the time-poor player over the regular players more. The time poor player may only have one or two toons and to suddenly find they have been affected by a change can be disheartening. Whereas, a regular player with 6+ 40 toons may feel hard done by but is in a better position to respond/react to that change by making another toon relatively quickly.

It is a balancing act to fine tune the server so the contents don't spill out into some chaotic mess! It's usually a consequence of the player-base finding something that is ridiculously-overpowered and gaining mileage out of it and then crying foul when it's been discovered by the devs/dms. It's as much a credit to the players for finding what works and doesn't but also to the devs to keep it all together. That is why this server is hands down the best. I came here in 2004 and I haven't left!

I think AC's are way too high - I dont believe a player should have more than 70 AC - 30 PM or not.

Playing mostly out of NC with some crafters in other factions, I find the base class restrictions do affect the build choices, on top of the already tight NC alignment restrictions. For example the only way for an NC player to get Epic Dodge is to have 10 SD levels or Monk 9/SD 5. Any Dex-Build in NC can only get Uncanny Dodge through SD. This is an important foundation in a Dex-Build (even though uncanny dodge doesnt always work as it should!). I believe Rogues should be part of NC. If it's felt to be too overpowering, limit the levels. Make it minimum of 5 levels and/or maximum of 10 levels (if this is possible).

I agree with Lorkar? regarding the monty haul element creeping into NS4 - I moved to NS4 5 years ago because it wasn't like NS3/3.5 and it was all about the build and not the gear and I liked the level restriction on items. You looked forward to hitting the next item level and deck out with new gear. I would like to see more faction-based gear so that people are proud to be associated with their faction and the item is in keeping within faction themes. For example no Hide/MS faction items in AO, No Vamp Regen/Neg Damage faction items in NC etc. and more items with alignment restrictions to encourage other alignments to be used (where possible <- NC ) and not simply to avoid consequences (smite etc)

The Artifact system is great - changes things up and can surpise in pvp if the gear your wearing offers something your opponent never thought it had!

More things I would like to see (and happy to help if I am able/have the skill)

* Items stripped back to +5 (to Level 25) and +6 (for 30+). In effect Ragnar should have been the template for all bosses in terms of gear.
* Crafted gear tweaked to be a little better than mob gear. For example weapons made by Faction Crafters to have elemental damage of the faction as per the Darkfire spell implementation from a while back. Can they be tagged Faction Only so not tradeable?
* Encouragement for using 2-Handed weapons i.e. extend the damage resistance to all 2-Handed weapons and not only for double-weapons to give them damage resistance of the base weapon type equal to the item level. i.e. A level 9 Greatsword has 5/- resist slash, a level 30 Greatsword has 20/- resist slash. This is more to change up what people build instead of sword'n'board - rare to see a heavy-flail exponent - does go against the build vs gear point i made but not everyone plays for the same reasons.
* Individual screens embellished - so they actually interact more with the player e.g. the Wold given some cave maps - so new and old players alike have something new to investigate. It does not have to be more than 1-3 screens using some new monster types from 1.69 as well as expanding on some ideas like the Evenshire Halflings, Nirigawa and some placeables usable such as towers, crypts, cave entrances dotted around the countryside (Some of which require open locks skill/search skill to find/enter)
* Traps should affect level 9 and up - my feeling is level 6 is a tad low - pretty tough when you're hit with a life threatening trap as you close with a mob and your new to the server, makes levelling a chore especially if you keep dying - not saying the server should be a walk in the park but at low levels it shouldnt be "watch your step - lest you die!" There's enough opportunity for the player base to create havoc with traps than to have them server-side as well
* Agree low-levelling is slow (more so if ECL) due to lack of party members in and around faction cities. Perhaps provide an xp boost of 1.5 up to level 5 to make the journey quicker and feel like your getting somewhere. This may see a move away from dual-logged buffing clerics simply to power level a lowbie from 1-20. Though there will always be that immediate gratification element.


Like I said at the top, I'm happy to contribute in some way to keep things fresh. I suspect there are others who would as well. The Devs can send me a PM

Thanks

hehe, I really do think since the latter years of ns4 here that a few things should be changed, A white wizard and only wizards should be NC and I don't think rogues need to be in NC. Getting epic dodge is a feat in it's self - meaning very hard to get by any a class that can get it.

Sorcerers are of a wild magic and belong in TC to explain the magics of the world to the druids who need any ally.

Need to balance the world and here is some advice.

The monks of MA are of a pure sort because monks should go around to see all the happy places.


Rk is a lil short of paladins and rangers don't you think so? meaning have you ever heard of the tall tales of a dwarf pally or ranger? no, changes should be made the

[Nyeleni]

I think I fought a paladin from RK not long ago.

As for the server I personally like it that things get changed. First this is a sign that the Devs, DMs are still interested in us, and second it makes the world far more interesting. Even if I was one of the ones grumbling at some changes.

I personally would limit the weapon eb or ab to +6 too. Add more dmg or (better) special abilities to a weapon to mark her as higher than lvl 30.

[Ryddwillow]

All the talk of balance Name 1 dwarf pally of good recent? then a dwarf ranger?

[Lokey]

Seen two recently. New players possibly, took subraces with cha hits and everything.

Better than hogre pali. Not better than hogre cleric/pali/sd

[alasteir]

I think the devs / dms do a fantastic job. I love the game.

One request. Could you revisit the no casting restriction in regard to controlling undead?

[Chernobyl_Glow]

um. i know of 3 dwarf pure paladins. one is mine. there are a ton of pally mixed toons. is that what you are asking? the reason you don't see dwarf rangers is simply that dwarves aren't typically good as dex builds. rangers are a good class for a dexer. <-- basic stuff willow.

you are aware that rk gets the option of gnomes right? and hence our dex builds are typically gnomes and hence rangers from rk are typically gnomes.

do you need examples?

i'm afraid that no one is taking you seriously because you're not in game proving any of these points. get in game and come show us one of your builds by kicking our tails. instead you're trying to seek some validation here. its amusing to me but its kind of sad too.

(this thread has now been double hijacked.)

- glow -

[weasel423]

I love this server.... Devs are doing an awesome job.

One thing I'd like to see that to encourage people away from dex builds and cloth armor more toward str builds with heavier armor... make the heavier armor/shields have more DR and/or DI than lighter equipment. +6 plate mail should have more DR than +6 Cloth.. magically enhanced or not. Both items are magically enhanced, but do you really think that taking a whack in the cloth armor will hurt the same as in the plate mail?

[Amoenotep]

I love this server.... Devs are doing an awesome job.

One thing I'd like to see that to encourage people away from dex builds and cloth armor more toward str builds with heavier armor... make the heavier armor/shields have more DR and/or DI than lighter equipment. +6 plate mail should have more DR than +6 Cloth.. magically enhanced or not. Both items are magically enhanced, but do you really think that taking a whack in the cloth armor will hurt the same as in the plate mail?

your ideas in this post were covered by the "we are willing to redo all armor/shields/wepons if your willing to put in the hours to redo the tens of thousands of items."

[Cijah]

your ideas in this post were covered by the "we are willing to redo all armor/shields/wepons if your willing to put in the hours to redo the tens of thousands of items."

Do you have an expectation of how many hours this would roughly involve? I have offered to assist in recalibrating the system if I am instructed on 1) what is required from a technical standpoint and 2) whether following a discussion with me, via pm preferably, if it's in my capability to do it. Nothing ventured ... nothing gained. I would like to put something back if possible.

Thank you.

[Daltian]

I love this server.... Devs are doing an awesome job.

One thing I'd like to see that to encourage people away from dex builds and cloth armor more toward str builds with heavier armor... make the heavier armor/shields have more DR and/or DI than lighter equipment. +6 plate mail should have more DR than +6 Cloth.. magically enhanced or not. Both items are magically enhanced, but do you really think that taking a whack in the cloth armor will hurt the same as in the plate mail?

your ideas in this post were covered by the "we are willing to redo all armor/shields/wepons if your willing to put in the hours to redo the tens of thousands of items."

I would be willing to put hours to redo items, but tens of thousands of items scares me. Is that really the number?

[Lokey]

4224...I've been saying 3000ish for a while, I'm a bit out of date. Obviously there's a lot of oddball stuff like dyes and creature items and so on, but there are a lot of armors.

[Daltian]

4k is a bit less scary then tens of thousands. You can recruit me if you need help. I have some free time lately (you can see it from all the wiki corrections I have done in last 2 days too).

[weasel423]

I love this server.... Devs are doing an awesome job.

One thing I'd like to see that to encourage people away from dex builds and cloth armor more toward str builds with heavier armor... make the heavier armor/shields have more DR and/or DI than lighter equipment. +6 plate mail should have more DR than +6 Cloth.. magically enhanced or not. Both items are magically enhanced, but do you really think that taking a whack in the cloth armor will hurt the same as in the plate mail?

your ideas in this post were covered by the "we are willing to redo all armor/shields/wepons if your willing to put in the hours to redo the tens of thousands of items."

How about doing just new crafted armor/shields? That way there is another reason to make some armor crafters. Since we can't get elemental resist on the armor and shields, it would make it worth crafting those items. If you previously made crafted gear, maybe make it so you could "fix" it in the anvil in ave to make it right...

[Shadowalker]

Crafted armor that people will want to use? YEA... anyway to add a medioum armor option?

[mining]

If it doesn't involve actually scripting count me in.
To me it sounds like an .