Endgame

Soldiers are actually trained to use an enemy's momentum against them to harm them back for hand-to-hand.

How about situations where the enemies outnumber the heroes, and they need the resdient knight to tank a free hit? He can't, because his SP is too high to recieve the free hit itself, instead getting reditributed to a weaker hero. Isn't that the oppostie of cowardice, trying to take one for the team but being unable to?

SP they earned completely legitmately using an established and long-standing system, when the only real problem is the Gloves themselves. Why not just apply the mirror damage clause? It fixes the problem nigh instantly.

It essentially punishes knights for having too high of an SP and would result in the weaker heroes getting more free hits they wouldn't normally, possibly extending the battle further.

Do keep in mind Jedi Master Brick also spent almost 2 quest's worth of gold for the bottle.

Designed for anything, really. You're allowed to emphasize a stat, so Elgar could make himself a powerhouse, a ether tank, or buff his health. I just chose Blessed because of who the drink is based on and Reinforced to balance out the huge buffs it gives.

Behold, White Devil! Hopefully its immunities/limits make it seemed blanced to everyone.

The party buys some of the most expensive drinks in Uland, eagerly snatching up both bottles of Crystal Sovereign. However, Elgar decides to go for an even finer wine: The fabled White Devil. He puts down 666 gold and ginerly accepts the bottle, inspecting its properties. White Devil: A legendary wine, and among the best Uland has ever seen. It is renowned not only for its outstanding taste, but also for being the only wine to ever manage to get a Progg drunk. Grants the drinker 13 points to distribute to Ether/HP/Power as they choose, but no more then 8 points to one stat. Makes the drinker immune to Blessed and Reinforced as well. It holds an ominous air to it - It seems to be based on some important figure in Progg history... "Good choices, everybody." "Fair warning, though: Proggs can't get drunk. White Devil is the only wine to ever succeed in doing it. Humans may have a bit of a tough time with the amount of alcohol, to say the least... But if you can stomach those top shelf beauties, we four are always up for a drinking game." The Party: Sgt Jon. Mcency (Pyrovisionary) 54 years old male human witch Level 18 *Dual Strike* *Immune to blinded* *Hastened* Power: 35 (18+17) Health: 35/35 (7+17+8+3) Ether: 18/18 Gold: 248 (70 owed to Brickington) Equipment: Demonic Scissors (WP:17, dual strike, Light, Darkness, Hollow (Potion) daggers), Witch's talisman (All attacks Cause the badly poisoned effect), Pegleg of Hastening (Permanent hastened-effect to the user; Immune to Blinded, suitable to Sarge only; footwear) Inventory: Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow (-) halberd), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Mythril Shield (SP:20), Pheonix essence x3 , Potion x4, Grand Potion x5, Remedy x5, Nostrum, Venom x3, Deadly Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying glass, Business Card, Bone x2, 2x Gold Ring (worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Counterstrike gloves, Crystal Sovereign Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old, Level 19.5 Druid Power: 29 Health: 33/33 Ether: 22/22 Gold: 349 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:13), Satchel of Awesomeness (Causes lucky-effect; bodywear), Mage's Muffler (protects from sealed) Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 7 Mead, 10 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 1 Super Deadly Venom, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Fire Bomb, 3 Smoke Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, 2 Air Bombs, Grand Tonic, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Ruby, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrify), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory) Elgar Gligin (played by Jedi master Brick) Level 24 2/3 Druid *Immune to Fragile!* Power: 34 Defense: 6 Health: 38/38 Ether: 24/24 Gold:40 Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11 Permanently Deadly envenomed), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental enemies and double from Electric elemental enemies) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile) Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Topaz,,Opal, Spade, Pickaxe, 3 Potions, Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion (x3), Fireworks, Remedy (x2), Hide of The Regret (halves damage from undead; suitable for anyone, backwear), Tonic, Grand tonic (x5), Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against undead enemies for 20 damage. The Root Beer does not affect non-undead enemies.) , Ambrosia, White Devil Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious. Unknown age male human ranger Level 14.5 Power: 23 SP: 2 Health: 16/21 Gold: 30 Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +2, SP +2, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year)[/font], Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect) Inventory: Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x5, Remedy x4, , Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion, Mead x2, Quality Cutlass (WP:6, Dagger) Equipment:White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear), Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by (Asleep), Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe,Bow(WP:5), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Ambrosia, Crystal Sovereign Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554) Automaton male, Evoker Level 15.5 *Blessed* *Transcended* Power: 26 (Level 15 + WP: 11) Defense: 0 (-2) Health: 23/23 (6 + 3 + 14) Ether: 16/16 (15 + 1) Gold: 167 Equipment: Divine Cannonade (WP:11; gives blessed- and transcended-effects to user; hollow; handcannon), Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory), Enchanted Ring (Accesory, protects against Sealed) Inventory: Golden Handcannon (WP:9; lightning-elemental), Eminus (WP: 5; bow), Ranger's Quiver (WP+1; backwear), Topaz, Grand Tonic x2, Phoenix Essence, Venom x2, Smoke Bomb, Holy Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Turdwing (fly familiar; causes confused to one opponent whenever used), Grand Potion x3 Summons: Thunder Mode

Question: If someone consumes something that grants an Ether boost when they do not actually have ether, is that part of the consumable thrown away, or should it be recorded in the even that they eventually gain ether?

The bartender looks Erdacath's way as she appraoches the counter. The Druid looks at the proggs to her left and right, one of them glaring at her with mild disdain. They were of all colors and sizes, one even having a carapce composed completely out of crystal. To the hero's shock, Proggs did not drink out of mugs - they downed the entire keg. Each progg has their own barrel sitting before them on the counter. "Oh. Humans." The crystalline Progg snorts. he shoots a death glare towards Elgar. "I do believe you were one of the onesd who participated in taking down the Progg Trojan, correct?" "Oh, get a grip, Chrys. They did what they had to..." The charcoal Progg states softly. The Crystalline Progg shakes his head in disgust, both of them returning to their kegs. The bartender awkwardly answers Erdacath's question: "Uh... Welcome to the Granite Counter. I apologize for the bahvior in here, we're all a little jittery lately. You're the first humans to ever step into my bar... Tea? No, sorry, but we do have some good Mineral Water. Alcohol free and healthy. Could I interest you in some of that?" The Granite Counter: Normal Beverages: Mineral Water - Restores 15 HP and remedies all negative effects. Costs 25 gold. Soma – Causes the blessed-effect, allowing the target to recover 3 health at the end of each round for the duration of one battle. Costs 45 gold. Ambrosia - Causes the reinforced-effect, double the target's defense for the duration of one battle. Costs 65 gold. Mead - Causes the encouraged-effect, doubling the target's attack power for the duration of one battle. Costs 20 gold. Trial Brew: Halves the drinkers max HP, max ether, and max SP for the duration of one battle. These effects are irremediable. Surviving a battle without getting knocked out in this state nets you double EXP. Being revived after being knocked-out removes these effects. Costs 80 gold. Top Shelf: Crystal Sovereign: An ornate bottle containing among the best Progg-made wine. Grants permanent +3 to HP, +2 to Power, and +1 to Ether. It seems to be based on some important figure in Progg history... Costs 255 gold. *2 in stock!* White Devil: A legendary wine, and among the best Uland has ever seen. It is renowned not only for its outstanding taste, but also for being the only wine to ever manage to get a Progg drunk. Effects unknown. It holds an ominous air to it - It seems to be based on some important figure in Progg history... Costs 666 gold. *1 in stock!* Sgt Jon. Mcency (Pyrovisionary) 54 years old male human witch Level 18 *Dual Strike* *Immune to blinded* *Hastened* Power: 35 (18+17) Health: 35/35 (7+17+8+3) Ether: 18/18 Gold: 498 (70 owed to Brickington) Equipment: Demonic Scissors (WP:17, dual strike, Light, Darkness, Hollow (Potion) daggers), Witch's talisman (All attacks Cause the badly poisoned effect), Pegleg of Hastening (Permanent hastened-effect to the user; Immune to Blinded, suitable to Sarge only; footwear) Inventory: Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow (-) halberd), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Mythril Shield (SP:20), Pheonix essence x3 , Potion x4, Grand Potion x5, Remedy x5, Nostrum, Venom x3, Deadly Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying glass, Business Card, Bone x2, 2x Gold Ring (worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Counterstrike gloves. Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old, Level 19.5 Druid Power: 29 Health: 33/33 Ether: 22/22 Gold: 349 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:13), Satchel of Awesomeness (Causes lucky-effect; bodywear), Mage's Muffler (protects from sealed) Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 7 Mead, 10 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 1 Super Deadly Venom, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Fire Bomb, 3 Smoke Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, 2 Air Bombs, Grand Tonic, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Ruby, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrify), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory) Elgar Gligin (played by Jedi master Brick) Level 24 2/3 Druid *Immune to Fragile!* Power: 34 Defense: 6 Health: 38/38 Ether: 24/24 Gold:706 Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11 Permanently Deadly envenomed), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental enemies and double from Electric elemental enemies) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile) Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Topaz,,Opal, Spade, Pickaxe, 3 Potions, Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion (x3), Fireworks, Remedy (x2), Hide of The Regret (halves damage from undead; suitable for anyone, backwear), Tonic, Grand tonic (x5), Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against undead enemies for 20 damage. The Root Beer does not affect non-undead enemies.) , Ambrosia Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious. Unknown age male human ranger Level 14.5 Power: 23 SP: 2 Health: 16/21 Gold: 285 Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +2, SP +2, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year)[/font], Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect) Inventory: Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x5, Remedy x4, , Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion, Mead x2, Quality Cutlass (WP:6, Dagger) Equipment:White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear), Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by (Asleep), Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe,Bow(WP:5), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Ambrosia Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554) Automaton male, Evoker Level 15.5 *Blessed* *Transcended* Power: 26 (Level 15 + WP: 11) Defense: 0 (-2) Health: 23/23 (6 + 3 + 14) Ether: 16/16 (15 + 1) Gold: 167 Equipment: Divine Cannonade (WP:11; gives blessed- and transcended-effects to user; hollow; handcannon), Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory), Enchanted Ring (Accesory, protects against Sealed) Inventory: Golden Handcannon (WP:9; lightning-elemental), Eminus (WP: 5; bow), Ranger's Quiver (WP+1; backwear), Topaz, Grand Tonic x2, Phoenix Essence, Venom x2, Smoke Bomb, Holy Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Turdwing (fly familiar; causes confused to one opponent whenever used), Grand Potion x3 Summons: Thunder Mode

QM Note: Once again, huge apologies for the delay - I constantly underestimate the proggs' size, and thus have to build far bigger sets then usual as a result. Done conversing with the denizens of the Food Storage, the party heads west. They go through another set of caverns, before walking into another gargantuan cavern: standing front and center in the cavern is a well built tavern, "The Granite Counter." The building seemed to sink in the cavern instead of being built in it, not a freestanding structure. heading inside the oversized (or rather, Progg-sized) door, the party is greeted by a rather well-established tavern. The bartender and his customers converse among themselves in soft sones, not aware of the hero's entry. Behind the bartender stands rows and rows of kegs of alcohol, one massive one beside the counter. Two egal looking drinks sit on a shelf to the bartender's right; those were the top shelf products, most likely.

I'm talking in terms of longetivity. Perhaps its just a personal thing, but I personally wanted to see the fields stretch out into the endgame - as in, Master Classes. You've already pretty much swept two of the Guardians and breached on of the Reaches - and you have one Expert Class with you. What if a team composed almost entirely of Expert Classes went along? It isn't that far off into the future now - Although the battles are perfectly balanced for your team, I'm simply afraid that the fields will be completely used up before long. The possibility of more areas is always possible, of course - I just don't want to see what is supposed to be considered an unlimited challenge being reduced to a grinding spot so soon.

Yeah, I'm inclined to agree that the Fields seem a bit too easy right now. When the Northern/Easter/Western reaches were revealed, I thought that they would be as sprawling as the first. But the first reaches have been pretty much conquered, with almost a year until we start seeing the Expert Classes getting fully utilized. I would imagine that the entirety of the unlimited quest will be fully trumped before long. For such an amazing concept, I'd hate to see the fields be reduced to nothing more then a grinding spot, rather then a test of mettle. Unrelated note: I have been throwing around ideas for a boss rush, but this debate has led to me wanting to some outside opinion - would anyone be interested in seeing them in the QM lounge? I honestly don't think that the Eastern/Northern/Western reaches should be conquerable at this stage of the game. Obviously, I think there should be a massive warning saying "This bastard will tear you anothert one!" But other then that, I think the Reaches should really only be able to be triumphed by a party of Expert Classes. it just seems too early for the most powerful areas of the fields to be conquered.

"Why not?" I scrawl my name under Quest 83.

I'm in favor of passives as well - who would've gussed! -Infuriation: On free hits that do no damage, the enemy Enrages the hero who recieved the free hit for 3 rounds. "Fight me like a man!" -Toxic Touch: Whenever a hero is the subject of a roll of damage/a Free Hit, that hero is Badly Poisoned. "Let it sink in..." -Disarm: On free hits, the monster has a 1/3 chance of dequipping the hero's artifacts. "Feeling a bit defenseless, knight?" -Desperation: The monster gains 3/4/5/6/etc. levels whenever counterstruck. "Okay. Now I'm angry." Just a few soltuions - none of them completely cripple the strategy, but they put a lot of people at risk. Another underlying problem is the fact that the Threshold Guardians typically don't sport minions of any sort - the one that did got easily stomped by simple type matching. A single enemy requires some really wacky gimmick to keep them formidable. None of the Threshold Guardians have offered too much of a choice besides wait it or whale on them - thus why I believe the Kraken was by far the best out of all of them.

Actually, confession: The Regret and Perfect Regret had no intermissions, so it was actually about a 50 round battle - the longest in Heroica to date that was duked out "legitmately", excluding Q50. Honestly, here is my opinion: if you can fix it by designing the enemy different, do that. Change one encounter instead of chaning every encounter.

Root shrugs. "I have a home here - in fact, I do this as community work. The Phalanx are covering my house pay as a result, instead of a normal wage. About three hundred odd are homleess though - a little more then a fourth of the total Progg population. This Food Stroage is neccisity at this point." Will the party continue to discuss, or will they had to the tavern?

"A few of the Phalanx troops - those are the red guys, they poice the colony - head out every day to try to track him down. He was last seen in the Reservoir District - I think they're afraid he somehow jumped the guardrail and fell into the water, getting swept out to sea. We can only breathe for a about half an hour under water... if that happened, the poor little guy is finished." "Ah. So you're one of the humans... I'm Root, and I run this food storage. We do have an actual food market at the Bazaar, but this is for the homeless... with construction incomplete, there are plenty of Proggs with no homes to reside in yet." The Progg takes a whiff of the air and then looks at Sarge with a look of mild distaste. "There's no smoking allowed in the caverns, sir. All I have is water - if you want beer, go to the nearby tavern."

No one was hexed in 36 or 46, to my credit. (Or 70, shcokingly. )

"That's just how Proggs work, mister. When parents are out doing stuff, the eldest child - typically the pupae, like me - are left to lead the larvae of the family. Me, I'm just taking my brothers and sisters out for some food. Of course, there is a lot of us... So we have to sound off every once and a while." The pupa sounds glum. " I heard one family lost one of their larvae. I guess they were missing one when they sounded off."

The young Progg looks over Jeaux carefully, as if trying to locate a face. After failing to find a distinct one, the pupa seems to do what can only be interpreted as a shrug. "I'm 4 years old, why?"

The Progg Pupa wirggles over Jeaux, lost in thought over the Progg's social groupings. "Hiya, mister!" This particular pupa appeared to be female, judging by its voice.

QM Note: Are you referring to the Pupa, or the large adult to the right?

"Look with your eyes, you blasted monk. He's right over near the door."