CMP

"Encounter, yes. Don't think I entertained the notion of joining them. They speak of misplaced power and the evils of ether, but their goal beyond that remains shadowed. You may call me the Plague Doctor." The Plague Doctor took the Crimson Serum, opening the jeweled lid and staring into the interior for several moments before returning it to Thalion. He cast his hand at the headless Crimson Crown Abomination on the ground. "Fato vermiculo is the main ingredient. The unfortunate souls that meet the herb have their muscles inflamed to a point of being unrecognizable as human, and die an excruciating death by having their internal organs crushed by the weight of it. The skin of its victims is known to crust over a telltale shade of red. It seems the Order has found a way of tempering the effects, turning their soldiers into these monsters. The effect of this mixture, however, is temporary." Crimson Serum - Gives the user the Mutated effect for the duration of one battle.

Love it.

"You speak as if you've never hoped for a world that is anything other than the one we live in. With such thoughts comes apathy and ignorance. Sin and misdeeds are indeed everywhere, even moreso in this city. I've saved hundreds of lives. I can die peacefully knowing that. Maybe when you are on the brink of the Void, little one, maybe then you'll realize our beliefs and our actions are what separates us from animals that act on instinct." "I've not taken a single life over the course of my own. I believe my cause is just and righteous, even if the methods are not so. Can you say the same?"

I imagine some monsters being 'immune to tamed'.

Definitely cool, but I'd argue against more than three tamed monsters at any time. Or make Damage and Special Damage occur on failed attempts of taming.

"I have nothing to convince you but my words." "I assume you refer to the Order of the Crimson Crown? I suspected they would intervene with this. They tried to recruit me soon after I was evicted from the Guild, and made their opinions on them...quite clear. I cannot say for certain what their goals are, but I do know they have a presence in Eubric. I hired a group of mercenaries to ensure they did not pose a threat...I suppose I should have been more specific when telling them to keep an eye out for any 'strange, armed, masked men, cloaked in red and black.' " His gaze lingered on Hybros for a moment. "My apologies for their error, but it seems you had no trouble in dispatching them. They were an unsavory lot, in any case. It was my intention to avoid any bloodshed, but I should have assumed Eubric would attract it nonetheless. Violence is not my manner, Master Elf. Manipulation, meanwhile, is my only means of inciting the people."

This is a good suggestion. Beyond that, Archmage is awesome. Maybe Onslaught uses the weapon power of all party members added together rather than just multiplying the chieftain's by three? You probably don't want to change it again, but I liked the flavor of the party having some hand in the Shield itself.

"Why do you assume I want power? I'm merely inciting the people. I guide them towards this goal, but that is all. I do not wish to lead them." "I despise inflicting needless pain, no matter how noble I know my goals are, but how else am I convince the people of the Guild's treachery? I am not a speaker, nor a leader. I heal those that I can, and they perhaps heed my words, but beyond the sick and the diseased, there are none who would believe the ravings of a wandering man in white. So I must resort to this. Believe me when I say the Guild is not above what I have portrayed them as committing today. They turn a blind eye to all the poor suffering in this city to cure only those who have the money to afford their medicine and potions. Why would such people bother with helping those who cannot? There are few in Eubric with such a conscience. Anyone who has been here knows that very well. The pain brought about by a minor poison is nothing to those afflicted with the Orcish Fever, Helvetia's Disfavor, and the Gray Plague...things the Guild could easily cure, if they had a care to. "

Thalion could see the man's eyes narrow from behind the strange purple veil under his mask. "If my goal was personal..." He paused. "...my goal is not personal. I have suffered more than you can think at the hands of the Guild, yes, but my purpose is to bring their secret knowledge to the people in an effort to save lives. They ruined my entire life when I was discovered, but I do not resent them for it. I knew the risk stealing from them brought. I was willing to take it. Poisoning them was to give them a taste of what countless others feel a thousandfold. Have you been the hovels, Master Elf? It's rampant with the poor. Beggars. Cripples. Disease. The Guild sacrifices their well-being and lives on a daily basis, all to maintain profit margins. If you want to feel and see true sickness, work among them for a matter of years with nothing but good health for all in your heart." "Greed is a worse poison than any venom can inflict. It claims the lives of thousands around the world. I'm willing to give my own to save as many of those as I can. In a way, I already have."

"Because I set up all of this. Attacking the Guild directly is both violent and pointless. I instead meant to defame them in the eyes of the people. The reason I wish to get ahold of their secrets is because they refuse to loosen then fingers on them. These secrets could save hundred of lives in the hands of more willing alchemists. I've already given several to the apothecaries around Eubric, but they're always concocting countless others. I've saved many lives already, we could save thousands more if the Guild is dissolved." He waved his hand towards the Masked Man, and knelt to slide his fingers under his helmet. Suddenly, the alchemist stood up again. "That is an automaton I had ordered months ago for this purpose. There were some problems, of course, but I believe it was convincing enough. No doubt the Guild will soon dispel rumors of his death, but the seeds of discord will remain. As far as poisoning the people goes, the doses were entire non-lethal, and as you saw I was prepared to heal them anyway."

The rest of the classes are great already, it's only really the Shield skills I think could use a boost. I think High Cleric's arc healing is a perfectly good upgrade to the Cleric's regular healing, while not taking the uniqueness out of Druid, but since all healers heal the entire party on Shield anyway, I think it needs something more is all.

Aura of Honour is awesome, as is Shield Bash and the idea of additional defense. :thumbup:

What of Raider, though? Raiders deal critical hits to all enemies, which I think is vastly more useful than giving each single party member a single hit. There's a very good chance the enemies outnumber the heroes anyway, and given many classes aren't built to deal raw damage - and even then, maybe they do so by casting spells instead - I still think Onslaught is underpowered. The same goes for Hallowed Ascension, which I see as a downgraded Roots of Life. Most healers restore allies to full health anyway. It should at least give them the Blessed-effect too.

Sorry for the delay. "Thank you." Suddenly, the Masked Man finally spoke. "Hah! As if anything you could say could sway these fools. You may have saved them, but as long as I live - which is eternally, of course - the entirety of Eubric will remain under my influence!" The white cloaked figure walked up onto the stage, standing face-to-face with the alchemist. "You are gravely mistaken. You have failed today, admit it. The Guild's true colors are revealed through your actions - all here stand witness to that." The man's muffled, soft-spoken words grew cold. "You and your fellows place all your hearts and minds on wishes and thoughts of profit, nothing more. When at last you reveal yourself, you do it only to poison and experiment on the people, not help nor heal them as you very well could." "When they can afford it, I will." The white figure suddenly slid forward, swinging his hooked sceptre and lodging it in the gap between the Masked Man's helmet and armor. Several of the crowd gasped or screamed, but his follows looked unfazed. "No - you won't." The alchemist crumpled to the ground in a heap of armor, blood spilling from the fatal wound under his helm. The Masked Man - dead. The cloaked figure turned to the crowd. "Sickness, chaos, death. That is how the Guild makes their gold. They would inflict disease and illness they created across the land to market a cure for it. They whisper words of immortality and immunity in your ears, and these waves of lies will only give way to their plague. What I have done here today is but one step of many towards bringing these monsters to justice; you must take the next. Spread word of what has happened here today. Tell your family, your friends. Only through the voice of the people can action be taken against them - do this, and perhaps Eubric will be short one more gang of killers." He waved the citizens off. Poisoned, disappointed, and betrayed, the tired crowd was all too happy to oblige, save a few. Rian remained, though he looked horrified, and Knife-Tongue and Melvin shuffled over to Thalion. The man cast his eyes from side to side pityingly over the bodies. "Far more destructive than I intended...and my efforts entirely useless." He looked up at the party. "I imagine you've figured out at this point this was not the true Masked Man, and that you have questions. I will do my best to answer them. If any point you wish to kill me, only say the word. I cannot fathom a case in which this business would not make me look suspicious." "Little of what I said to the crowd was a part of this charade. I firmly believe the Guild is evil. Perhaps not as evil as I explained, but I know very well they do not have Eubric's well-being listed in their goals. I was once a student there. I daresay a fine one, too, save for when I would steal their secret recipes and formulas and give them to the local apothecaries, and when I experimented with bringing the worlds of clergy and alchemy together. After I was discovered, my punishment was severe. Being publicly disgraced and evicted from the Guild was the least of it, I assure you. And so I took to the streets. The state of the Hovels and the rest of Eubric was even more a mess than I thought. I always had the best interests of the people at my heart, but now how I could help them? I heal the ill as often as I can, but it is not enough. There are many illnesses neither potion nor god can cure...but I know very well the secrets to them are held closest to the higher alchemists within the Guild - namely, of course, the Masked Man. I thought perhaps inciting the sick and the poor, the very people the Guild refuses to save, could perhaps overthrow them, make their secrets public. Today marks the beginning of that crusade." Party Guts Holla (Scubacarrot) 44 year old male human Raider *Immune to Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused and Blinded* *Lucky* *Hastened* *Encouraged* *Immune to all elements* Level: 28 Power Bonus: 4 Health: 42/42 Defense: 4 Gold: 1115 Equipment: Lifestealer (WP: 32, Ice, Darkness, Light, attacks restore 3 health, dagger), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightningand Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear) Inventory: Stag Antlers (WP:10, Intimidation, halberd), 1x Ambrosia 8x Mead, 5x Smelling Salts, 6x Nostrum, 22x Grand Potion, 4x Health Core, 2x Elixir, 1x Grand Tonic, 1x Ether Core, 12x Remedy, 3x Phoenix Essence, 5x Smoke Bomb, 4x Deadly Venom, 2x Neutralizer, Shovel, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, 4x Mythril Shard, Metasimian Ale, Opal, Scroll of Weakening, Grating Stone, Voucher to the Guild of Invision (Good for one lesson in Alchemy), Chauncey's Diamond Lamp of Summoning (Summons ???), Clippard's Poison (When applied to a weapon, all damage dealt will instantly KO enemies unless they are immune to poison, deadly poison, or sudden death. Can be applied 3 more times), Zenith (WP: 17, instrument), Sterile Gloves, Blessed Amulet (protects from cursed-effect; accessory) Hybros 52-year-old male imp Assassin *Hastened* *Immune to Cursed, Asleep, Blinded, Confused, Fragile, Weakened* *Lucky* *Inspired* *Immune to all elements* Level: 27.33 Power Bonus: 1 Defense: 0 Health: 41/41 82/82 Gold: 980 Equipment: Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 19, gains 1 WP every kill made with it, light- and darkness-elemental; longsword), Golden Armor (user is permanently hastened and cursed, fire-, water-, earth-, wind-, wood-, ice-, lightning-, darkness-, light-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; backwear), The Black Hat (Suitable for anyone, grants Intimidation, immune to darkness and cursed, headwear) Inventory: Zoot's Reaper (WP:15, earth-elemental; scythe), Clock Cog (WP: 14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Eye-poking Sai (WP:8, blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, dagger), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved; retrievable) Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP:1, suitable to Rogues; backwear), 14 Potions, 15 Grand Potions, 22 Health Cores, 11 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 3 Elixirs, 4 Phoenix Essences, 2 Deadly Venoms, 2 Smoke Bombs, 3 Lightning Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 10 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 3 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, Bedroll, Shovel, Skeleton Decoy, Bone, 4 Mythril Shards, 2 Sterile Gloves Thalion Dwinlas (-obelix-) 213 years old male elf Sorcerer *Immune to Fragile, Sealed, Poisoned, and Badly Poisoned* *Hastened* *Lucky* Party Leader* Level: 20.33 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 7 Health: 28/28 Ether: 29/30 Gold: 472 Equipment: Batarang (WP:13, darkness-elemental throwing weapon),, Emerald Hood (SP:4, Immunity to Fragile), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Max. Ether +5, protects from Sealed-effect), Sterile Gloves Inventory: Zirconia (Gem containing all elements; cannot be merged into equipment) Amethyst (Darkness), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Ruby (Fire), Opal (Ice), Emerald (Wood), Sapphire (Wind), Aquamarine (Water), Sleeper (WP:5, melee/throwing weapon, deals Asleep to enemies it hits, Hollow Upgrade [Grand Potion stored]), Ratsbane (WP:10, absorbs 2 health on successful hits, dagger), Veritas/Equitas (WP:10, Dual Strike, twin sais), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Cloak of Espionage (Artifact, backwear, Allows the wearer to examine enemy stats before a battle), Snake Eye Charm (Protects from Petrified-effect), Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Magic Compass, Shovel, Bedroll, Phoenix Essence, Elixir, Health Core, Potion, Grand Potion (3), Grand Tonic, Remedy, Smoke Bomb, Bone, Mead, Crimson Serum, Deadly Venom (2), Maurice Ratibor (Etzel) 52 years old male human Paladin *Immune to Stunned and Light* *Hastened* *Lucky* *Blessed* Level: 22.66 Power Bonus: 1 Defense: 13 Health: 43/43 Ether: 29/29 Gold: 235 Equipment: Manta Tail Staff (WP:12+50% Stun chance), Paladin Shield (SP:9), Helm of Haroka (+2 health, +1 Power, Immunity to Stun effect, headwear), AIUPIIUP (Gives the carrier the Slowed effect, accessory, suitable for heroes)Paladin's Armour (SP:4, Max. Ether +2, Immunity to Light, bodywear) Inventory: Glass Greatsword (WP:12, hollow blade (Phoenix Essence stored); greatsword), Emerald Staff (WP:10 wood-elemental), Diamond, 3 Potions, Tonic, 3 Ether Cores, 2 Nostrums, 2 Venom, Elixir, Floral Bomb, Water Bomb, 4 Fire Bombs, Torch, Bone, Plume, Magic Compass,White Cloak (Max. Health +3, Immunity to Asleep effect, backwear), Sterile Gloves, Grand Potion, Deadly Venom

Big Chief is a really good idea, but Onslaught seems kind of off. The idea's cool and fitting for the class, but it's almost surely not going to be as damaging as, say a regular Barbarian's Frenzy would at this level, since while Barbarians are built for damage, not everyone in the party is. If it was going to be kept AoE, I'd suggest adding each party member's level to the Chieftain's power and he attacks each enemy. Or maybe something like 'each party member unleashes their inner barbarian, dealing damage equal to three times their weapon power added to their level to their target', using Extra Critical Hits instead of regular ones. And personally I think there should be less additional health and more additional power. They maybe taking the role of leader, but barbarians are still the damage-dealers.

Yes.

Maybe as a different item that costs 1000 gold.

A neat mechanic, but not for every battle.

That's where the problem is. Battles should be fought, not waited out.

If it's used at all it's being abused. It's a cheap strategy.

They usually already are, that's not the problem. The problem is making sure the wait-out strategy never gets abused, isn't it? Just because they're not important shouldn't mean lesser battles should be won without trying.

And it doesn't solve the wait-out strategy problem, especially because what you're suggesting is literally just asking the QMs to make tougher enemies, something that can't be regulated.

Seems like it'd just be less trouble to change the Gloves than going through all this trouble to balance out one tank in a Quest.

Generally that's a good idea, but it would mean Quests with super tanks like Docken and Hoke have enemies consistently over levels 50 and 56 to deal a single damage to them, which spells out certain death for the rest of the party. And if you try to balance it by offering lower level enemies, well, those are the ones tanks will try and wait out. Bingo, which is why I think the items are the problem here.

That was when SP got too high. I don't believe that should be changed again. Now we're just trying to figure out how to prevent wait-out strategies and such. I don't think disallowing damage to be nullified is a good answer.