Heroica RPG General Discussion

[Brickdoctor]

Am I alone in my thinking?

I'm not sure if we should keep adding all these artifacts so quickly now. Does any one else feel Heroica is becoming too "complicated?" I think some artifacts (I'm guilty of this too, once) unbalance the game, like other classes having SP. Only knights should have it.

Defense has sort of become a standard stat now. I even list Defense for my heroes and enemies, even if it has a value of zero. The advantage of the Knight is that he starts with SP automatically and he can upgrade his shield with Gold at the Marketplace. Other classes need to wait for an artifact to grant the SP, and even then, they cannot upgrade their SP.

[Tamamono]

Meh, in my opinion, artifacts should be exclusive to quests. Make 'em as complicated as you like, they'd 'lose the magic' so to speak if they were made readily available. I think of them almost like 'spoils of war', and the fact that each one is unique makes them all the more special. Docken's Dread Hat and Nur's Loaded Die are both incredibly unique artifacts that really only seem 'right' when they're exclusive to that particular character.

Just my two cents.

[Masked Builder]

Loaded Dies shouldn't be sold. Dread Hats, too. They're powerful enough as-is, without being able to be bought in the Marketplace.

I agree, but a guy can still wish right? And that hand-bag would be nice.

[Flipz]

I don't know, without Artifacts, the only thing left to really differentiate characters is the roleplaying. And to be blunt...some players just are not good at that, especially when they first start. (I'm not naming fingers or pointing names, though! ) Artifacts, when done right, can be sort of a crutch, helping players to add a bit of flavor to their personality, a sort of jumping-off point for more complex, nuanced roleplaying. (I'll be debuting something next month that will hopefully help with that a bit, but still. )

I am a bit more hesitant about the artifact shop, though. I mean, I really, really want a Cloak of the Elven Spy, but I'm not sure if everyone having them would be a good idea.

*snip*

*snip*

*snip*

Haha, the "Three C's" strike again.

[Brickdoctor]

I am a bit more hesitant about the artifact shop, though. I mean, I really, really want a Cloak of the Elven Spy, but I'm not sure if everyone having them would be a good idea.

On that note, I think that QMs should have some say in whether the artifact that they created gets sold, even if the final decision is Sandy's. I know that the Cloak of the Elven Spy and the Cloak of the Invisible Elf are both items that I don't want sold in any marketplace.

[Tamamono]

I don't know, without Artifacts, the only thing left to really differentiate characters is the roleplaying. And to be blunt...some players just are not good at that, especially when they first start. (I'm not naming fingers or pointing names, though! ) Artifacts, when done right, can be sort of a crutch, helping players to add a bit of flavor to their personality, a sort of jumping-off point for more complex, nuanced roleplaying. (I'll be debuting something next month that will hopefully help with that a bit, but still. )

I have to admit, my roleplaying for Tomas is pretty nonexistent. An artifact might help, now that I think about it...

I am a bit more hesitant about the artifact shop, though. I mean, I really, really want a Cloak of the Elven Spy, but I'm not sure if everyone having them would be a good idea.

This is a problem with lots of multiplayer games these days. One person gets a special item from a quest or whatever, and then everyone wants one. But if everyone had one, it wouldn't be special, now would it?

[LEGOman273]

I don't know, without Artifacts, the only thing left to really differentiate characters is the roleplaying. And to be blunt...some players just are not good at that, especially when they first start. (I'm not naming fingers or pointing names, though! ) Artifacts, when done right, can be sort of a crutch, helping players to add a bit of flavor to their personality, a sort of jumping-off point for more complex, nuanced roleplaying. (I'll be debuting something next month that will hopefully help with that a bit, but still. )

I am a bit more hesitant about the artifact shop, though. I mean, I really, really want a Cloak of the Elven Spy, but I'm not sure if everyone having them would be a good idea.

Haha, the "Three C's" strike again.

Perhaps the Artifact shop could be a once-a-year-for-one week thing; each year selling different Artifacts.

Edited May 20, 2012 by LEGOman273

[Scubacarrot]

Am I alone in my thinking?

I'm not sure if we should keep adding all these artifacts so quickly now. Does any one else feel Heroica is becoming too "complicated?" I think some artifacts (I'm guilty of this too, once) unbalance the game, like other classes having SP. Only knights should have it.

Adding artifacts should be limited in my opinion, they should feel 'special' and unique in my opinion. Too complicated? Not seeing that. In principle, with a standard character sheet, and three basic modifiers (Weapon, 2 artifacts), QM-ing a battle is not really "complicated", sure, items should be very clear in what they do, and overcomplicated or blatantly unbalanced items should not be added.

I also do not share your view about SP. As I've stated in the past, there will be a point where everybody will die in one hit from an enemy, in order to have a foe that can hit a knight, SP in artifacts softens this.

Edited May 20, 2012 by Scubacarrot

[Flipz]

Perhaps the Artifact shop could be a once-a-year-for-one week thing; each year selling different Artifacts.

Oh my god, yes. Holiday Artifacts.

I am OK with this, though I still think that even then the artifacts should be EXTREMELY nerf-y things. SP:1 robes, possibly those Silk Gloves Scubacarrot mentioned, low-power stuff like that. A permanent shop is probably a bit much, tho, as would be powerful artifacts.

Incidentally, aside from that Lucky Ribbon artifact I mentioned and possibly the Great Force, any of the artifacts on that list I made are free for other QMs to use at their and Sandy's discretion.

[Sandy]

Nice to see some Serious discussion about this issue. The truth is though that artefacts are still very rare in this game. I do agree that having too many complex items can make the game unbalanced and harder to manage, but there should be simpler artefacts in play as well.

That's why I've decided that the upcoming artefact shop will only contain simple artefacts that either raise statistics, protect from a bad effect or give some sort of bonus to certain classes (making them more distinct). Highly powerful artefacts like the Dread Hat, the Lucky Die, the Quickdraw Quiver and the Eye of the Beholder will not be sold. Also, currently the only artefacts I'm thinking of including that were created by other QMs are the Robe of the Magi and the Counterstrike Gloves.

Although I highly appreciate your ideas, the vast majority of the suggested artefacts are too complex to be sold in the shop, so they should be saved for the quests.

[Jedi master Brick]

How about the artifact always has some sp:1 artifacts then at random times over the year they get in stock a few good artifacts that there are only one of.

Edited May 20, 2012 by Jedi master Brick

[Flipz]

I have to admit, my roleplaying for Tomas is pretty nonexistent. An artifact might help, now that I think about it...

I don't know, you have a pretty good father-son thing going on with De'kra, just expand on that (why does he have that fathering instinct? Did his grandfather teach him that? What WAS his relationship with his own father? etc.), and I think you'll be great.

[Scubacarrot]

Nice to see some Serious discussion about this issue. The truth is though that artefacts are still very rare in this game. I do agree that having too many complex items can make the game unbalanced and harder to manage, but there should be simpler artefacts in play as well.

That's why I've decided that the upcoming artefact shop will only contain simple artefacts that either raise statistics, protect from a bad effect or give some sort of bonus to certain classes (making them more distinct). Hihgly powerful artefacts like the Dread Hat, the Lucky Die, the Quickdraw Quiver and the Eye of the Beholder will not be sold. Also, currently the only artefacts I'm thinking of including that were created by other QMs are the Robe of the Magi and the Counterstrike Gloves.

Although I highly appreciate your ideas, the vast majority of the suggested artefacts are too complex to be sold in the shop, so they should be saved for the quests.

Eye of the Beholder is not an artifact

[Tamamono]

I don't know, you have a pretty good father-son thing going on with De'kra, just expand on that (why does he have that fathering instinct? Did his grandfather teach him that? What WAS his relationship with his own father? etc.), and I think you'll be great.

Okay, thanks, I'll keep that in mind!

Flipz, I bet you could write a book on good roleplaying.

[JimBee]

Flipz, I bet you could write a book on good roleplaying.

Don't encourage him.

[Flipz]

Okay, thanks, I'll keep that in mind!

Flipz, I bet you could write a book on good roleplaying.

Heh, you have no idea. Hopefully this project will be a bit more entertining than just a book...

[LEGOman273]

Flipz, I bet you could write a book on good roleplaying.

Or a play.

[Palathadric]

Alright, I finally have Assassin Jess!

Preferred the old Jess, but maybe that's just me. I guess I'm not very adaptable, eh?

Oh I want a dread hat!

I want a couple of loaded die.

...oh, those aren't carryable artifacts.

Haha, the "Three C's" strike again.

Two down and only one to go!

Edited May 20, 2012 by palathadric

[Sandy]

I want a couple of loaded die.

...oh, those aren't carryable artifacts.

Yes, they are. The Loaded Die and other "unwearable" artefacts belong to the accessory-category. But what would you do with two of them?

[Palathadric]

Yes, they are. The Loaded Die and other "unwearable" artefacts belong to the accessory-category. But what would you do with two of them?

Ooops, that's what I meant. Two of them would make me extra-lucky. I wouldn't receive any damage whatsoever.

...The effect does stack, right?

Laureline waved everyone to the pedestal that holds the Cornucopia. Or at least it used to hold it. Now it is unfortunately empty.

I thought something like this would happen!

[Flipz]

Ooops, that's what I meant. Two of them would make me extra-lucky. I wouldn't receive any damage whatsoever.

...The effect does stack, right?

Don't think so. If I were QM'ing a Quest, I wouldn't let two of the same thing stack. As I recall, Althior's mega-strike in Quest 17 only counted because he was Lucky AND the strikes against THOSE targets ONLY were also considered Lucky; it was a complex and special circumstance.

[Waterbrick Down]

Loaded Dies shouldn't be sold. Dread Hats, too. They're powerful enough as-is, without being able to be bought in the Marketplace.

I think I can speak for all the QM's out there, no more Loaded Dies and Dread Hats unless you seriously want to see Parties failing quests because we have to make the encounters a lot more challanging. Otherwise, I'm glad to see the ideas popping up and I'll add two that I've kept in mind.

Gorgon’s Gauntlets: SP: 1 Provides the wearer with the intimidation ability, arm wear. Suitable for any class. Price TBD

Griffon’s Gauntlets: SP: 1 Provides the wearer with the diplomacy ability, arm wear. Suitable for any class. Price TBD

[Scubacarrot]

I think I can speak for all the QM's out there, no more Loaded Dies and Dread Hats unless you seriously want to see Parties failing quests because we have to make the encounters a lot more challanging. Otherwise, I'm glad to see the ideas popping up and I'll add two that I've kept in mind.

Gorgon’s Gauntlets: SP: 1 Provides the wearer with the intimidation ability, arm wear. Suitable for any class. Price TBD

Griffon’s Gauntlets: SP: 1 Provides the wearer with the diplomacy ability, arm wear. Suitable for any class. Price TBD

The Warlord's Helmet from Quest 23 (that now has a barbarian's natural respite ability) was originally going to have the intimidation ability, but I ultimately decided against it, because the focus for artifacts was that they have passive, combat-related abilities. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see items like that, but I don't know if they would be allowed...

[Waterbrick Down]

The Warlord's Helmet from Quest 23 (that now has a barbarian's natural respite ability) was originally going to have the intimidation ability, but I ultimately decided against it, because the focus for artifacts was that they have passive, combat-related abilities. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see items like that, but I don't know if they would be allowed...

Well they do have SP related to them, so there is a combat aspect to them.

[Capt.JohnPaul]

Arthur hesitates for a moment, but at the mention of Isabella he simply snarls and continues his attack on the Commander.

Wait wait wait, how did this whole hate thing start?? Oh right, Isabella "took" Arthur's kill.