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*Tonight's event*
Posted: 01 Jul 2005 04:40 AM |
I will be IG as a DM sometime this evening, no later than 8pm UK time. The following are a set of guidelines that apply to tonights event only...
Any locked doors in Port Royale (not the plaza) are to be considered barracaded from the inside and locked beyond all PC attempts to open them. I strongly advise anyone logged off in a Port Royale building to move before the start of the event, or you are likely to be locked in.
If your PC should become RIP chipped, do not worry. It does not mean you are perma dead, but there are IC reasons for it happening, as will become obvious. IF anyone still has an RIP chip on their PC at the end of the event, please spam the DM channel, or failing that send a PM to all DMs to get it removed. Hopefully I will remove all those that should be removed at the end anyway.
Please try to give some ooc consideration to what may well be quite a hectic event. Dont all go running off at breakneck speed, give a chance for descriptions and RP to occur, or the event wont go as well as it otherwise could. That said, I understand a balance is needed, and sometimes striking first is important, so just do the best you can.
Remember folks, actions have consequences... *grins* ...cya tonight!
Sirac |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 01 Jul 2005 05:04 AM |
Intrigueing
I shall try to be there |
If you catch a butterfly.
You can either keep it and watch it die.
Or let it go and watch it fly away.
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 01 Jul 2005 07:58 AM |
Also, any descriptive "shouts" this evening that can be seen across the entire server, only relate to those in or near to Port Royale...sorry to anyone this effects not involved in proceedings.
And anyone trying to rest / learn spells unless using a mage tower needs to let me know and get permission to go ahead before they commence resting. Likewise, anyone who crashes, must try not to use spells they know they have already used. Again, leeway will be given, but please do not re-cast a load of spells you -know- you had used up.
......
As of now, residents of the lower part of Port can be seen to be getting ready to shut up shop. And guards have been seen patrolling around the gates to the upper city.
The general air in the Port is of the quiet before the storm, and there is an almost palpable sense of some peculiar power in the air, the electric crackle of anticipation or something else? It causes your hair to stand on end, your heart to quicken and race, and your hands to grow clammy with a cold sweat... |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 01 Jul 2005 12:10 PM |
*Andurian stands in the Port outside of PAJWT*
*inhales deeply... a cold smile crosses his face*
Hmm...the electrical energy is making the nipples of my associate to harden *looks at the Ghouls chest*.
I havent felt this much static electricity about since that time I was vacationing in Ischlak... *shudder* |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 01 Jul 2005 07:43 PM |
As should be clear, all those who died on the isle of the night masks to anything other than a trap are effected by the rite of blood. That means 24 hrs from the time of this post, those characters suffer the full effects as described.
Neither Dandy nor any other ships captain will go to the isle with anything less than a very well prepared, organised group that seems significantly stronger and more prepared than the last one. He will not risk his crew for anything less than that.
On top of that half his crew have mutinied upon return to Port, and refused to sail with him again. It will take him at least a couple of days to be able to sail again with a full complement.
((In other words, 4 pm UK time Sunday will be the follow up event, should enough people be able and willing to attend. Worth keeping an eye on the forums for an IC post tomorrow regarding this mission.)) |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 01 Jul 2005 07:59 PM |
| [What's going to happen to the guys who only have 24 hours to live if it takes 48 to save them? Also, how will people get to Ka'azim?] |
- [Rob], Balthor, Jake, and Thomas. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 01 Jul 2005 11:12 PM |
((That's where the great foresight of one Sir Lothar comes into play "Well, let's go. If it takes longer than 24 hours to get back over there, everyone go over to the Sister's to writhe in agony. That way everyone's in one spot for when we head back"  )) |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 01:22 AM |
Arrange for another "temporary cure", buying another 24 hrs, between now and then. After all, only one is needed if timed right. Or suffer interminable agony with the possible release of eventual death. Or look for another solution...
Sirac |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 01:40 AM |
FWIW, sorry to any who did not enjoy the event as much as I had hoped / at all. :0(
It is the first time I have run a large event that I felt so low about at the end. Loved the build up over the week. A real sense of fear and anticipation seemed to exist.
But the finale... *sighs*
A combination of problems, from lag to an ever changing PC group that fluctuated wildly in power to an inability on my part to control proceedings to problems / mistakes from both myself and the players. Especially in the ill fated assault on the island.
I learnt some lessons. Maybe some players learnt some lessons. But in the end, this post is just to say sorry it did not go as I had hoped and envisioned.
Hands up, my event, my bad.
Sirac |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 02:10 AM |
Archers really skew the "Any level is welcome" menality of an event, since they kill whoever they want. I have to say, this is the first event I've ever been in with Enemy archers I've had to actually consider, and that was before I even got on the island!
Even the trips in Nethar'u, their archers are no match for these nightmask snipers. Typically during a "Any level(s) are welcome" type event, a very large formidible force protects the front, and the weak ones stay in the back. Not only were archers able to attack our back as easily as our front (advantage of range) but then you also have to deal with the AI of NWN picking out the weakest hero it can see, AND the fact that our rear was just as exposed as our front, since we were travelling sideways when most of the players died, naturally, negating the safety of Drawing combat to the front, powerful section of the party.
I had fun though, except that one time in Port When the Archers killed me during a timestop.... and .... when those balors killed me during a timestop.... *frowns* but other than that, I had a good time, and had wished things had gone more smoothly. |
The Legacy Saga |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 02:24 AM |
Agree with much here. Including how powerful the assassins archers are. The bow is a lethal weapon for an assassin, and they made very effective use of it.
The island they were on demanded tactics. As the three that made it so far discovered, stick close to the walls and the archers are much less of a threat. Let each member of the group do their job. Tanks rush when needed, providing cover. Scouts stealth, find what is ahead, deal with traps and let people know what is to come. And mages destroy the archers from range.
And not a single one of them had see invisibility. Or ridiculous spot or listen. A landing party that was not invisible? Attacking an isle full of assassins? They were not expecting an attack that time, so had no reason to be prepared. There was not enough caution or trepidation about what you were attempting. PCs knew this was no bunch of amateur thugs. But a little of the mob mentality had snuck in.
Captain Dandy desperately tried to warn you all of what you walked into on the isle. But found it difficult to be listened to. In the end he actually stated aloud that he was giving up and letting you all get on with it.
However, once you got there is where things fell apart my end. I did not allow for the lag, and archers opening up at a far greater range than I had anticipated. Along with no Balthor or Jessup. In hindsight I should have made it so that you got a good scare, and no deaths at the beginning, and hopefully you all would have slowed down and got tactical quicker. The deaths came too thick and too fast, they -could- have been avoided, but it was much harsher than intended. I should have controlled the initial archers better. And given you a little bit more of a chance to get organised, and sort yourselves out. All went a bit pear shaped.
So as said, lessons on both sides hopefully, and apologies again.
Sirac |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 03:54 AM |
I'm one of thos PnP DM's who creates a dungeon and has the players either play thru it or leave depending on wether they think they can make it or not, so I don't fault you for that. I don't particularly fault you for it being a bad event at all actually,I think it was well planned out. I just have a request for you and any other DM getting ready to run something like this, and it's an unfair request as far as "realism" but in a rp intensive server like this I feel it's a neccessary one.
I think traps are fine in the beginning, but attacking NPC's right in the beginning makes it tough for a large group to organize, as I told you IG today, my death was me looking down to type somethig to the party and looking up and being dead, (yeah I still have ta look down sometimes :P) now if it was a zone we zoned into that would be different but we were placed there wich in my mind makes it different. Either way it was great for the storyline, I had a shor tell convo with Moondreams she admits to enjoying torturing poor Johe with thisGonna be late on Sunday like I said, but I will be there. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 04:29 AM |
Yea Johe, within reason that is definitely one of the things I "learnt". Will try to keep it in mind.
Sirac |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 04:39 AM |
Well, for what its worth... my two cents.
I would have to concur that this was the first event that I walked away from with a bad taste in my mouth. (though I totally agree with the build up over the week.. Fabulous. The dread and anticipation was thick, and I was actually scared of what might happen, but knew that Cora would be determined to stay strong. I loved that)
But, it DID get me thinking about what we as players could do better to avoid that kind of mess in the future.
And now having read your posts about what went right, what went wrong, what we could learn from, and things both sides (players and DM’s) need to take into consideration in the future, I think I have a much better understanding of how to proceed the next time something like this goes down.
But a little of the mob mentality had snuck in.
heh.. LITTLE? *smirks* I'd say we were all wound up and not thinking it through at all.
I could play it off as... Cora has really low wisdom, and so she got pressed into taking actions that she had no business attempting. (the whole mob mentality, other party members getting irritated about no one taking the lead, and other bickering amongst the ranks, plus Johe getting shot down so quickly [when he was trying to role play.. typing a message. Gotta love that lag monster] so she got flustered and tried being too much of a warrior.)
I COULD hide behind that explanation, but really, it was just that I as a player didn’t use my head.
First lesson learned. Play to your strengths.. and Cora’s is not in combat.
Then there was the in and out of other characters. When we were all worked up and getting ready to go to the isle... and Balthor had to go, I thought, “well, that will make this harder”
Then we got to the isle and Jessup had to log off, and I thought “alright, we’re screwed”
Lesson two. If your party dynamics change in such a way that the odds become stacked against you, you may want to rethink your approach to the problem... or even take a rain check. Better to regroup and try again some other day, then walk into a slaughter because two of your big guns have disappeared, and your too worked up to think things through properly.
And I’m sure there is much more I could learn, but for now, those stick out the most.
So, apology accepted Sirac, and right back at ya.. I apologize for not playing my part in this very well.
And even though it ended on such a note, I would still like to give a big thank you for all the work and time you put into this. We would have nothing if it weren’t for you DM’s and your willingness to take on such big tasks. (still, I am in awe of how much DM’s have to manage at once and know that I could probably never pull it off myself)
besides, I got to sample some very lovely dirt today. Think I’m getting a taste for it *grins*
Oh.. and I would like to take this moment to kick the lag monster in the wedding tackle. *bows* thank you.. good night. ;P |
"I'm not closed-minded, you're just WRONG." - Bucky Katt
My characters n portraits |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 06:23 AM |
I enjoyed it, to be honest. Perhaps because I stayed alive, who knows...:)
Anyway, lag wasn´t that much of a problem. The most problems I had with it was when I had to cast the spells simultaneously with the healer...
Balthor and Jessup left, but consider who else was there...another three epic chars. I also think about the group´s power when I see high lvl chars joining or leaving, but I don´t think you´re screwed just because some higher lvl logs off. That group could have taken all of these guys, it was just our complete lack of organization and tactics leading to the quick deaths, like Johe´s...although the bugger stood in an open area, not hiding or staying near the cliffs after we had just been attacked. :p
The archers were a little overpowered, for a normal approach. Also that they attacked us when we just arrived at the dock seemed harsh...still we could have arrived prepared. As Sirac said, we were warned often enough.
Oh, and however it ended, at least this event was a quite good example that rogues are all but useless, except for rping, as I have read it sometimes on the forums...in a perfect scenario a rogue would have scouted ahead hidden, dealing with all the traps around there and sneaking up on the guys while the others back them up from the distance or by rushing in.
Next time...;) |
Portraits: zip.rar
PRAISE HECK, FOR HIS NAME IS HECK, AND JUST HECK! |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 08:50 AM |
Yah, I buggered up once myself being one of the rogues there. Was talking with Aceston and then mis-clicked putting me out in the open instead of up against the wall and then wham wham wham wham wham (dang me, but they had a high rate of fire) and I was dead and suddenly the two rogues were gone xD. Well, you learn from experience, eh?
I enjoyed the event myself, and luckily we have another whack at it tomorrow. When I figure out what's going on in my life tomorrow, I can determine whether or not I can make it (Sorry, but I tend not to plan that far ahead =X) |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 08:58 AM |
I set up the area. I think I only had 2 archers forward, plus 2 farther back. If they were still too close, my apologies.
I had set it in mind that the characters would come prepared. Either they would have been stealthed, in which case they would have had time to scope out the advance, or in force, in which case the mages should have been able to blow the archers away.
<spiel>
Tactics, tactics, tactics.
Tactics are the difference between a gaggle of epic characters about to die and a group of high level characters about to trounce the enemy.
- know your strengths and weaknesses. If you are weak against archers, don't get caught out by them, or move to a location where they cannot attack you. Close on them as quickly as possible, preferably while not being seen.
- discuss tactics before hand. Don't wait for the crunch and pick your targets at random. Even in unexpected circumstances, you should still have some idea of the order of battle. Planning the battle while you are in the middle of it is far too late.
- prepare your spells before hand. Knowing the potential challenges, and the group you are travelling with will greatly influence your spell selection. Did any caster think of casting darkness on the archers to cover the entrance once things started? Did any caster have darkness?
- coordinate your attacks always. Spreading your attacks around 20 different targets is silly. All you will do is wound them all, but their ablity to inflict damage remains unchanged. Focus your attacks, make sure your goal is to bring htem down as quickly as possible, while reducing their ability to harm you. 10 wounded targets are more dangerous than 5 unharmed and 5 dead targets.
- On the other hand, balance your attacks. If all your warriors charge the first thing that shows up, some will get to attack and kill it, while the others have wasted their attacks. Also, it could leave htem out of position if an attack comes from an unexpected quarter. That's what bows are for. They give you reach. For most fighters, the bow is less effective, but in these circumstances, it is better to get your attacks in with a bow, than it is to charge ahead, get out of position and miss any chance to get your attacks in because the targets are dead already.
- Leaders. Pick one, or someone step up to the plate. Your level is irrelevant. If there is no leader, none of this will happen. Everytime. And you will Die Horribly and Stupidly. Never been the leader before? Now's your chance. Ever wanted to boss an archmange around? Most of them are pretty smart, they will listen if they want to live. Annoying priests? Tell them the blessings and prayers that would be most beneficial. Prima Dona warriors in your party? Tell them their place. Got Rogues? Fantastic. Use them. Either pair them with a warrior for maximum effect (it's scary!) or use them to find out what you will encounter for last minute planning. Whatever you do, just do it and make sure that everyone listens to you. Those that do not, leave them behind, and if they all do not? Well, perhaps that group is too suicidally disorganized. No sense in joining them in death
Remember, united you stand, divided is defeat.
- Paul
(and it makes for great RP when trying to organize a gaggle of very different individuals of different classes, races and even alignments) |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
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"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
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<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 11:35 AM |
Arrr... So that first event didn't go so well. Total lack of tactics and organization (myself included). There were some key players that couldn't be there. And then that Freakin Lag monster. well lag was just an a small part of the problem... Sort of like the icing on the cake
*finds lag monster, lying on the ground, holding his wedding tackle and groaning in pain, kicks him a few more times and walks away smiling*
PDW hit the nail right on the head.. we need to organize, even with the dm event that when wrong a few weeks ago in Nethar'u, we has some planning. unfortunatly when the alarm when off.. so did our planning.. but it worked for a little while. Yesterday was just ugly, but i know we have some great RPers out there and with a little bit of work and some LEADERSHIP we can pull this rebound off.
well... let us hope anyways...
To the DM's despite the painful effect this event had on a few of us... it was still fun at times. I truly enjoyed the "affects of the ritual of blood" Stuff. excellent job... as Bkatt said... it's overwhelming at times to think of all the situation you folks have to deal with during an event. Probably too much for the likes of me, so Thanks for taking time out of your lives to make ours more entertaining. In any case, i'm looking forward to sunday's second attempt, though i might be about 15-30mins Late, C ya then |
-Jubei Murasame/ Dwarven Fighter
-Date Masamune/ Half-elf Monk
-Jago Muramasa/ Eleven Rogue
-Musashi Miyamoto/ Human Samurai
"Arrrr..... and more Arrrrrrrrrrr" |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 12:16 PM |
I had fun as Quill and was sorry I could not stay.
I know how difficult it is to do large events - numerous players at different levels doing different things in different areas, monsters that don't quite emulate the monster manual and that you aren't always in control of (as a PnP DM would be), players coming and going, lag...
Bet the Sunday event will go swimmingly, thoughI'm looking forward to it!
Lisen |
Beware the vortex of bureaucracy |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 04:50 PM |
[Organization is impossible with 30 players who all think they're playing better than anyone else. Role-play also becomes a factor. Jake was upset with everyone standing around and literally watching Johe get plugged, and decided to take action and take point, resulting in his untimely demise (and record death). Unfortunately, you have to realize that players are GOING to want to come along, even if they're useless. If I had it my way, I would hand-pick eight or nine guys to go with me, nobody under level 17, and if they didn't do exactly as was ordered (with Balthor at least) I'd kill them myself. But how can you tell players "No, you can't go on the cool mission with the big kids, go sit over there?" It's been my experience that it's always the little guy who ruins it. He's the guy who's spotted, he's the guy who runs into the alarm, he's the guy that gets blown up, and he's almost ALWAYS the guy who dies first. But it ruins a player's day if he's told "Sorry, you can't play because you're too little and you're just going to screw everything up," even if it's the truth. The end result is a weird issue with balance. On one hand you want to present a challenge, on the other you want everyone to be involved, and how do you make it a challenge for everybody all at once?]
[One idea might be to design different areas of a mission map like this one, one for the big kids and only they're allowed to go that direction, and one for the little guys. Like a little scouting says that "there's a high-priority item we need and it looks like... You three look like you can handle it. We'll focus on the main mission, but stay focused! We need you on this."] |
- [Rob], Balthor, Jake, and Thomas. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 05:14 PM |
He's the guy who's spotted, he's the guy who runs into the alarm, he's the guy that gets blown up, and he's almost ALWAYS the guy who dies first. But it ruins a player's day if he's told "Sorry, you can't play because you're too little and you're just going to screw everything up," even if it's the truth. The end result is a weird issue with balance. On one hand you want to present a challenge, on the other you want everyone to be involved, and how do you make it a challenge for everybody all at once?]
This is the first thing in this thread I really do not agree with. Level had little impact on what went wrong. If anything the high level characters were the most guilty, as a result of not utilising their experience to "lead", of what went wrong on the player side.
I really do not think it was a result of level, but player mentality that resulted in problems for players. And if anything, it is the higher level characters that have less a sense of mortality and caution...due to being more powerful than most things they meet solo.
Sirac |
'The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.' - Richard Bach, Illusions. |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 05:32 PM |
Well, I thought it was quite clear who takes the leadership, since Johe and Jessup were mainly involved in it. Unfortunately Jessup had to leave, and Johe died pretty early, sure...but from then on there was not much to discuss on leadership anyway since only Daimon and me were left.
And I think some of the high levels have quite a sense of mortality and caution, even from solo playing since there is enough that will still give you a hard time soloing. ;)
But I agree it was not much of a level problem, the archers would have taken anyone out who wasn´t careful enough.
Uh, I´ll shut it now, tomorrow will work out better :) |
Portraits: zip.rar
PRAISE HECK, FOR HIS NAME IS HECK, AND JUST HECK! |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 06:20 PM |
| I was killed mid leader speechif you think about it, pretty smart on the part of those sonsa B&$ches ;) |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 06:22 PM |
| P.S. really sorry but by the looks of things here I'll be a good 2 - 3 hours late wich means I'll miss it prolly *sigh* tell Meram I tried :P |
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Re: *Tonight's event*
Posted: 02 Jul 2005 06:28 PM |
Balthor and Jessup left, but consider who else was there...another three epic chars. I also think about the group´s power when I see high lvl chars joining or leaving, but I don´t think you´re screwed just because some higher lvl logs off. That group could have taken all of these guys, it was just our complete lack of organization and tactics leading to the quick deaths, like Johe´s...although the bugger stood in an open area, not hiding or staying near the cliffs after we had just been attacked. :p
Yes, I agree with that assessment now. We did have three characters that made quite a bit of headway after the rest of us were cut down, and they even managed to drag all of our sorry butts to safety. I was just saying that, at the time, I thought that the loss of two of our epic members boded very poorly for us. But that’s simply indicative of my mindset at that time. If I had slowed down and thought it through... rethink the approach... I could have not died, and possibly even have been of some use.
Oh, and however it ended, at least this event was a quite good example that rogues are all but useless, except for rping, as I have read it sometimes on the forums...in a perfect scenario a rogue would have scouted ahead hidden, dealing with all the traps around there and sneaking up on the guys while the others back them up from the distance or by rushing in.
Next time...;)
heh, yeah well... when they get cut down early because they are not using their brain and/or trying to do things they shouldn’t be doing... yes, they ARE useless.
But after the fact, and after the discussions here in this thread, I think they (we) could be very useful. And again I need to be assertive with saying “hey... hold on to your shorts while I take a look at what’s ahead, so you will be better prepared to take it on”
That is of course, when I, as a player, have my head on straight.
so I have changed my mind about that. (because I was the one who said rogues seemed pointless for anything but roleplay) Now I have to agree with those who have said that they are a useful tool that are begging to be made use of.
Got Rogues? Fantastic. Use them. Either pair them with a warrior for maximum effect (it's scary!) or use them to find out what you will encounter for last minute planning.
So.. not too long ago I was convinced to focus on role playing my character and not to worry about XP. Now I have to work on my tactics and mindset needed in these types of situations, and how to best contribute to them.
(see, I'm learning a lot from this already)
:)
[edit] and sadly, I too will miss the rematch. kill one for me, and do a dance on his corpse :) |
"I'm not closed-minded, you're just WRONG." - Bucky Katt
My characters n portraits |
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