Ranger Archive

Thread: Lifestyle Levels instead of Combat Levels

Istare
Tue Apr 12, 2005 12:50 am
#1
From what I have read on the boards, we are not screaming in protest and threatening to quit Ranger or SWG because the devs call us a "non-combat" class, but because of what that means in game mechanics. We get fewer hit points and take more damage from creatures than "combat" classes. Yes, being called "non-combat" is an insult, but it is an insult that we could swollow if it did not affect the playability of our characters.


If the "real life" justification of the devs for the increase in hit points is to reward characters with skills that cause them to become enured to pain (tougher), they should also reward characters whose lifestyles do the same thing. In real life, members of the active military are tougher -- more physically fit, more able to work through pain --than the rest of us computer potatoes. But athletes also fit that criteria (a non-combat profession, no matter how rough it gets under the boards). So do manual laborers. So do livestock farmers. So do homesteaders. So do dancers. (An accquaintance of mine said that she quit ballet because she was told how to wrap her toes so that when they bled it wouldn't show on the shoes.)

Instead of Combat Levels, the devs should give each class a Lifestyle Level, to reflect how tough the characters skills make them. Obviously, all of the professions branching off the Brawler & Marksman tree have a high Lifestyle Level. All of the professions off of the Scout tree would as well, because an active outdoor lifestyle is physically demanding. In addition, dancers would have a high LL, in recognition of the demands of their profession.



If the "real life" justification for CL does not exist, and the devs are trying to make the game "more fun", then it should be eliminated completely. Give all characters the same stats, with adjustments for racial differences.


Why should a Musician/TKM be penalized compared to a Doctor/TKM, outside of the obviousl and voluntary choice of professional skills? They pay the same per month, why are they not allowed the same access to content (high end hunts, GCW, etc.)?


Why should a character get more hit points just because they have mastered another box in a "combat" skill? The reward for mastery of that box should be the same as a "non-combat" skill -- the increase in ability to use that skill. The only games that I can think of that still retain the linkage between higher level and higher hit points have the words Dungeons & Dragons in their title or history.


If a combat stacker loses in pvp to a "non-combat"/combat character, then they should learn to use their skills better. If the lose to a group of NC/C characters they should remember that mobs are more dangerous than single opponents. In either case, quit whining for more hit points, and devs, quit pandering to them.


Istare


Tannis D'Arian Master Rifle/Ranger (until CU) Istare D'Arian Master Tailor/Craft Dabbler Tamesis D'Arian BE/TK (work in progress)

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