Flipz

No, that is a significant improvement. I like Malfunction, but I'd swap out Damage for another Contemplate. The Construct, on the other hand...it feels too simple now. There's no real point to intricate tinkering with it in this form. The weapons rules should come back. Shield's been nerfed too much, too, I prefer drawing the attacks like Aura, just with a different side-effect. I also really, REALLY prefer Memory Bank to Zap, Zap's just too plain for my taste. If Memory Bank is just too complex, I have a different idea: 4. TARGET ACQUIRED: The Construct Marks the chosen enemy, dealing double damage to it until a new enemy is Marked.

If the Construct is KO'd, the Engineer can't attack the enemy at all, so if the Construct goes down AND the rest of the party goes down, the battle is lost as normal.

That's what was said about the original idea, and I tried to slim it down. Which part still needs streamlining, the Engineer or the Construct? For the Engineer, think of it as a basic Cleric with status buff options instead of attacking and Meditate instead of Special Guard. for the Construct, I agree, it still could use some streamlining.

Well, Xarrzan gave me permission to tinker with his Engineer Expert Class idea, so here it is: Engineer Additional Health: +X Additional Ether: +X Weapons: Engineers use specialized tools for the task, like wrenches, hammers, and gears. Job Trait: Mechanical Expertise - Allows the Engineer to repair or alter various machinery encountered. Battle Style: Construction - Engineers build Constructs to aid their party, and cannot attack physically. However, they cannot be targeted by enemies. 1. SHIELD: Eureka! – The Engineer is inspired by an idea, restoring Health to their Construct equal two times their Weapon Power added to their Level and Ether to themselves equal to 1/2 their Weapon Power (e.g., WP:4 x 2 + Lvl 5 = 13 Health restored to Construct and WP:4 ÷ 2 = 2 Ether restored to self). Additionally, the entire party inflicts double damage to Mechanical enemies next turn. 2. POWER UP/FULL REPAIR: The Engineer spends 1 Ether to grant a random positive effect to the Construct for the next round. Optionally, the Engineer can spend 1 Ether to repair his or her Construct with strength equal to two times their weapon power added to their level (e.g., WP: 4 x 2 + Lvl 5 = 13 Health restored to Construct). 3. TINKER/MODERATE REPAIR: The Engineer spends 1 Ether to grant a random negative effect to the Construct’s next attack. Optionally, the Engineer can spend 1 Ether to heal his or her Construct with strength equal to their weapon power added to their level (e.g., WP: 4 + Lvl 5 = 9 Health restored to Construct). 4. JURY-RIG/LESSER REPAIR: The Engineer spends 1 Ether to grant the Construct SP equal to one-half his or her Weapon Power for the next Round (e.g., WP:4 ÷ 2 = SP:2 to Construct for next Round). Optionally, the Engineer can spend 1 Ether to heal his or her Construct with strength equal to their weapon power (e.g., WP: 4 = 4 Health restored to Construct). 5. CONTEMPLATE: The Engineer concentrates to regain 1 Ether. 6. CONTEMPLATE: The Engineer concentrates to regain 1 Ether. QM Note: Engineers may use Scrolls to grant a specific effect to their Constructs; however, this will require twice the listed Ether cost of the Scroll. CONSTRUCT Base Health: Constructs have Health equal to their creator. Base Ether: none Weapons: The Construct may be fitted with any weapon the Engineer could use before they became an Engineer. However, this must be done at a forge in a town. Adding or removing a weapon from a Construct costs 25 Gold, plus 5 Gold for each additional weapon the Construct carries. Shields may be fitted (provided the Engineer could previously use a shield), but Artifacts may not. Switching between weapons requires one turn. Job Trait(s): Automated - The Construct’s abilities are determined by their Engineer’s previous Job Class and the weapons they carry. The Construct retains one Job Trait that formerly belonged to its creator; this Job Trait should be listed in the construct's stats and may only be changed at the Training Room in Heroica Hall. 1. SHIELD: Electromagnet - The Construct produces a field of magnetic energy, drawing all enemy attacks next Round but also halving their power for that turn. As a side-effect, the field steals Gold from each enemy equal to one-half its Level. 2. CRITICAL HIT/RANGED CRITICAL HIT: The Construct attacks the target with strength equal to two times their weapon power added to the Engineer’s level (e.g., WP:6 x 2 + Lvl 5 = 17 Damage). If the weapon is ranged, the Construct deals full damage, even from the Back Row. 3. HIT/RANGED HIT: The Construct attacks the target with strength equal to its weapon power added to the Engineer’s level (e.g., WP:6 + Lvl 5 = 11 Damage). If the weapon is ranged, the Construct deals full damage, even from the Back Row. 4. MEMORY BANK: The Construct uses the Shield effect for its user’s previous Base or Advanced class. The choice should be listed in the character’s stats and may only be changed in the Heroica Hall Training Room. 5. DAMAGE: The Construct is struck by its opponent. 6. SPECIAL DAMAGE: The Construct is struck by the opponent’s special skill. QM Note: The Construct is Mechanical type, and follows corresponding elemental strengths and weaknesses (takes double damage from Lightning-elemental attacks, takes no damage from Wind-elemental attacks). The Construct is unaffected by healing, consumables, or Phoenix Essences. If disabled (Knocked Out), the Engineer may expend 10 Ether to repair it; this follows all other rules for revival (as if with a Phoenix Essence). It's still a bit clunky in parts (even after two different iterations, I'm still not quite happy with the Construct's Shield roll), but it's a lot more streamlined than it was. I'm particularly happy with the changes to the Engineer itself; making it a non-active combatant really emphasizes the indirect nature of the Engineer, and the effect-granting makes it feel a lot different from other classes as well. I considered raising the Ether cost for each buff, but I feel the randomness of the effect granted (as well as the 1-Round timeframe) mostly balance for it. The Construct still feels off to me, though retaining a portion of the Engineer's former abilities feels like a step in the right direction. To me, the Construct is a representation of who the Engineer was before becoming an Engineer, so the weapon restrictions and Memory Bank felt like the right choice. It also makes Basic and Advanced Class choices matter more at the Expert level, something I really like. C&C is, of course, welcome.

WBD is great about granting permissions for using things. He's great, I'd really love to QM alongside him one day. ...hmm... *scribble scribble*

I'm sure you didn't intend it that way, but I find the implication to be incredibly offensive. If you recall, my first choice was Quest 31, and by no means would I want to desert it. Do I want to go after Russel? Of course! It's a great mission, and one that will advance the main plot mission of the Quest; not only that, but it was in-character for Knyghton to want Arthur gone, and he obviously preferred sending him after the Cultists rather than risking more problems by sending, in his view, a violent psychopath to chat with the Emperors. Furthermore, these Quests ARE a bit more free-form than most, so that sort of thing is well within the bounds of the Quest. To be clear: I am NOT trying to switch Quests/ditch my current QM in favor of another. I'm taking actions that are honest and in-character for my characters. Would I have liked for the parties to "party" together for a while? Absolutely, the interaction would have been excellent. Am I going to try to force it when the others don't want it? Hell no. I'm playing the best I can within a Quest I'm thoroughly enjoying, and frankly I resent the implication that I'm being ungrateful and trying to switch Quests.

"All right, now that my staff is equipped, I'll try Sealing the Tethusial Spearman from the Back Row. Knyghton, try that attack again. Isabella, if you could try to Mug Pikeman B, I'd be much obliged." Arthur didn't show it, but his movements were still stiff and limited--he barely had the strength to attack with the crossbow, the staff was just for protection. Hopefully that won't put the others in danger... he thought. Count Knyghton repeats his attack on the Pongcanis, from the Back Row, with the Crossbow. Battle Order: Alexandre Arthur Isabella Knyghton EDIT: OOC: Shouldn't Alexandre be at 17 health, thanks to his shield? I thought he was at full health at the start of the battle?

Arthur lets his Crossbow drop to his side, and takes the time to catch his staff. EDIT: OOC: Just remembered--De'kra gave Arthur the Purple Potion in Quest 29 before the parties split. It should be in Arthur's inventory. Don't know if jimButcher caught it on his end, either, you may want to check with him.

I really like this, my only complaint is that the engines are a bit too large for the rest of the model. I'd like to see the cockpit bulked up a bit, just 1 or 2 studs on each side, and the sore of the model should be extended back by about that much as well. Do that and you'll have a real winner!

OOC: No, I have a crossbow. Luke has Arthur's old staff, you have his new one. Also, Luke should save his Ether and just use the crossbow; it won't do much damage, but Ether is like water in the desert; you don't want to run out. EDIT: I'm talking about the actual weapon staff, I'm going to need that Flee effect with the Specials we have down here.

To be fair, I think that one's mostly my fault.

Arthur awakens--he hadn't expected to. "What the Nether?" He sees onrushing troops, the crossbow in his hand, and decides to figure out what happened later. Taking quick stock of his party, he calls out orders. "Isabella, the Tethusial, none of us can take his Special but he can't touch you. Knyghton, the Pongcanis with your crossbow, back row's safe for this Round. Alexandre--smash." Count Knyghton attacks the Pongcanis Longswordsman from the Back Row with his Crossbow. Battle Order: Alexandre Isabella Knyghton Arthur "Hey, Skrall! Mind tossing down my staff?" Arthur lines up a bead on Rogue Pikeman A from the Back Row with his Crossbow, just in case Skrall is too busy.

Count Knyghton comes down the stairs, shocked by what he sees. Tearing his sleeves into strips of cloth, he binds Arthur's wounds the best he can. He looks to Luke, who simply shakes his head. He's done what he can. "Then his life, nay, his fate is in tha hands of tha gods..."

True, true. Also, Tanma had an AWESOME idea a while back that I might capitalize on in the future, but I can't do anything with it until I manage to collect all the parts I'd need to build EVERY active Hero (or at least their face/hair combos, costumes are easy easier to fake. ) Also, I wonder if/where Miracle Max (or even an Expy) lives in the Heroica realm? And if that location is close enough to Dastan to [REDACTED]? Although, Baba Yaga DOES have that sort of vibe going on, albeit an evil flavoring, but still... Hmm... EDIT: AND given the recent suggestions... hmm... Unintentional, but...

That settles it, SOMEONE has to do a Quest involving temporal mechanics, alternate timelines, and all that goodness. Also, regarding current Quests:

Good GOD man, that scared the living daylights out of me. Looks like I'll be picking this one up as well...apparently, Lord of the Rings is going to be a VERY expensive set for me.

1. Not if you accept the mutiple universes theory. Basically, if that theory is true, then if you go back in time and kill your mother before you are born, you have started an alternate universe in which the "you" of that universe will never be born. You will continue to exist (since you came from a universe where you WERE born), but you will be forever trapped in an alternate universe that is different from your own.

Arthur does not respond to Alexandre at all. Knyghton, too, is shaken. "By tha gods..." he murmurs dazedly.

Ah, that has to do with relativity and near-lightspeed travel. Basically, if you travel at the speed of light, time will pass normally for you, but everyone else around you would appear to age extremely rapidly. Meanwhile, from an outward observer's perspective, you'd barely seem to age at all. time dilation is a crazy thing, though, so I understand how you could be confused. Just know it has nothing to do with biological and psychological aging, and probably won't come into play in a fantasy setting. Sorry! But here's another one: Well, depending on how everyone reacts to what just happened...your heart might not be the only one that stops.

"Sure we can. No offense, Sir, but yer givin' him too much credit. He gave up all right ta his own well-bein' when he put everyone else's in jepoardy. I say we stick him on a horse and send him off, and pick up tha pieces when tha smoke clears. In fact, I'm goin' ta go suggest it now." OOC: Holy...wow, epic timing. THAT was impressive. This is why I'm so sad I don't have a troll to include Skrall in the first wave of the Theatre. Arthur jumps as if struck, and the bolt of darkness he had conjured disperses violently, striking him in the chest. He waves Luke off. "It's fine, I'm not injured," he lies, and he hobbles to one of the crenels between the merlons of the battlement, staring at his outstretched hands. That's when Knyghton arrives. He glances around for Arthur, but fails to notice him sitting there. "Master Skrall..." Knyghton pauses hesitantly. Despite his earlier vehement arguments against Arthur, he did not relish sending his former friend away. I have ta do what I have ta do, he thought. Screwing up his courage, and slowly, reluctantly forcing the words from his mouth, he addresses his Party Leader. "Master Skrall...Sir Alexandre, Isabella, an' I have been talkin'. Sir, We...we think Arthur's endangerin' tha mission. He's just...too...dangerous ta be kept around. He's...well, he's a menace, sir." Knyghton hears a rustling noice, and pauses, but shortly continues. "So I say, we sic 'im on tha traitor, Russel, and sweep up tha pieces once tha Mage has obliterated him. Honestly, I get tha feelin' it's us or them he's gonna destroy, an' I think it ought ta be them--" Just then ther is a loud thud, and the others atop the wall see Arthur's gems lying next to his abandoned staff. Arthur had leapt from the fortress wall. OOC: Doc, see my PM.

If it comes to that; like I just said, Arthur suddenly did something out of the blue that I didn't expect, which may actually prevent PvP. (Though the Magic Burst thing is still in effect.) Though in a way it is sort of creepy that he's calmly asking Luke/Skrall whether or not he should try to kill Alexandre and/or Knyghton, even though Luke and Skrall have no way of knowing that's his intention.

...aaand I prove my own point to myself two seconds after I say it. It's rather spooky playing a character when they go and do that to you. Yeah, I had to miss meeting Oky to do it, though.

"Well, tha's what I'm sayin'. Would it be right to sic Arthur on them? I know he'd tear 'em apart, but would that make us monsters for unleashing him on them, even though they themselves are traitors and maniacs?" Meanwhile Arthur thought long and hard about who he would target. The Knight is the strongest, but he's still almost a friend. What if he can be saved? The Rogue is the source of this evil, but that damned cloak means I can't even touch her. And the Count... Arthur sighs. "Luke...which is better: to strike someone down, only to learn that they were not, in fact, tainted by evil? Or to let them go free, and risk spreading that evil to others?"

I'm not even predicting what Wren will do. I'm predicting what Arthur will do if exposed to that degree of power. I honestly can't see any way that Wren can piss Arthur off enough to convince him to attack her. Especially given certain things about his backstory. Although it's probably not a good idea for me to try to predict Arthur, either, all things considered. After all, I thought he was going to end up (nearly) killing De'kra, and then that fight sorta got cancelled.

Gosh...the more I think about Arthur's outlook and actions, the more I realize just how screwed the rest of the party will be once Wren shows up.