Regalus OR "Why I'll Never Play a DK Again"

[Evangelion]

Suffice to say, I'll never play another DK ever again. It's the only time I've felt consistently stressed over a character thanks to malforms. I spent most of my time without them, trying to get them, losing them early and feeling that sense of frustration that I've never really felt before. My RP dwindled to a few simple alias emotes as I spent log-in sessions trying to take out people for the sake of malform strength and I felt less connection to my character and more connection to that glowing, humming little piece of weaponry in my inventory.

 

--Deykari

/----------------\/----------------------------------------------\| Regalus        || Stalker of SYNDICATE                         |\----------------/\----------------------------------------------/| Str: 19(19)^4  || Level: 50 Sex: M      Age  : 32(85h)         || Int: 19(19)    || Class: dark-knight    Ethos: chaotic         || Wis: 21(21)    || Race : avian          Align: evil            || Dex: 23(23)^9  || Hp   :  359/927       Exp  : 42120/535080    || Con: 18(16)    || Mana :  391/824                              |\ Lck: [|||||-]  \/ Move :  510/533       +Hit: 34   +Dam: 40    //----------------/\------------------/\--------------------------\|     ARMOR      ||      SAVES       || Deity : Volgathras       || Slash :  -165  || Spell      : -14 || Faith : Discord          || Pierce:  -163  || Afflictive : -47 || Weight: 211/350          || Blunt :  -169  || Maledictive: -13 || Items : 28/41            || Magic :  -164  || Mental     : -8  || Prac  : 13    Train: 0   ||                || Breath     :  0  || RP    : 34               ||                ||                  || Gold  : 24K   CP: 1.1k   |\----------------\/------------------\/--------------------------// Condition: You are in the prime of your health.                \| 9 more hours must pass before a cabal promotion.               || [NEXUS] forces are aiding your violent instincts.              |\----------------------------------------------------------------/

I couldn't say it better myself. Regalus was not particularly enjoyable to play, because I don't typically have a "careful" playstyle - not that there's anything wrong with the people who play that way - but prefer to go balls to wall. And furthermore, when you get your malform to a certain level (but not high enough), you stop wanting to fight anyone but easy kills.

 

Here are a few thoughts that would make playing DKs more enjoyable for a broader base of players (but I still won't play another one):

 

- Remove the malform multi-kill nerf. I completely and totally understand why this system is in place; however, it prevents people from legitimately leveling up their malforms when the playerbase is as small as it is. I had two fights with Nodach that were DAYS apart. Long enough that he was able to acquire another bounty (not sure what the system time limit is on that). And because I didn't manage to kill anyone else during that time frame, my second kill didn't count. This is extremely frustrating and, in my opinion, leads to more RP-less kills than anything else, so that I can wipe someone's name from my "last kill" marker.

- Make malforms owner only at a lower level. Fear of losing your blades - especially when they're not all that powerful - should not be a deterrent from engaging in the game. Frankly, 

 

To anyone who's going to suggest, "Well why didn't you just play without malforms?" - because if I wanted to do that, I would play a vampire, or a warrior, or a shaman. A DK is a lovely hybrid class, but you will never compete with the upper crust without malforms.

 

And finally, a few shoutouts...

 

Tartys: I didn't delete because of you; I honestly deleted because of my frustration with the class and what it was doing to me as a player. Don't worry - I expect we'll see each other again soon.

Syndicate: You guys are entertaining! I thoroughly enjoyed the time that Raemus was spouting off about something and Anume chimed in about him needing to be quiet. Everyone was stunned.

Anume: Thanks for the chance and sorry for bailing on you. I keep trying to roll characters for cabals that seem like the underdog, only to find that a miillion people are simultaneously doing the same thing. By the time I pinned and got into Syndicate, the cabal was nearly full.

 

I'm down to one character now, and I really want this one to be more RP driven. Hopefully I can fulfill that and still have an enjoyable time in PK. See you all in game!

[Trick]

Make a Knight!

[f0xx]

You gave up too early.

[Evangelion]

Honestly f0xx, normally I would agree. But this time, I don't.

 

Because even with all my other feelings about malforms, I didn't like what playing that way did to me as a player. Tricking people, killing them without warning, killing them for no reason. I'm not all about that. So when it came down to it, even if the changes I suggested are made for malforms, I STILL wouldn't play another DK.

 

And that's not something another 100+ hours in the character would have solved.

[Mali]

Remove the malform multi-kill nerf. I completely and totally understand why this system is in place; however, it prevents people from legitimately leveling up their malforms when the playerbase is as small as it is. I had two fights with Nodach that were DAYS apart. Long enough that he was able to acquire another bounty (not sure what the system time limit is on that). And because I didn't manage to kill anyone else during that time frame, my second kill didn't count. This is extremely frustrating and, in my opinion, leads to more RP-less kills than anything else, so that I can wipe someone's name from my "last kill" marker.

- Make malforms owner only at a lower level. Fear of losing your blades - especially when they're not all that powerful - should not be a deterrent from engaging in the game.

This makes alot of sense. There is at least one qclass that uses a similar mechanic. Imho, it is an outdated model.

[f0xx]

Before you say "you have to play careful" to have full malforms, remember H&R had multiple dark knights with full malforms, and he's anything but careful.

[Dale]

I hate dks.

[Evangelion]

Before you say "you have to play careful" to have full malforms, remember H&R had multiple dark knights with full malforms, and he's anything but careful.

 

Don't mistake me - I'm not saying that elite players will not continue to be successful with DKs. I'm saying that a mid-range player will never get to experience anything close to their true power potential, and that without malforms, DKs are basically nerfed.

 

With any other class, a mid-range player can experience the full range of the class' power potential. With DKs, and the current system, that is not the case.

[Mmm Coffee]

I disagree wholeheartedly.  So long as you can avoid being lagged to death, DK's stand to win against almost any opponent.  Magic missile is so nasty.  Malforms are gravy on top of an already savory class.

[Evangelion]

There are two problems with your statement (in my opinion, which is all I'm qualified to share):

 

1) It ignores what I said about mid-range players not being able to capitalize on the full power of the class due to unnecessary malform barriers.

 

2) DKs are basically a bastardization of warriors and shamans, with reduced defense for the former and reduced spell level for the latter. However, what they lose in defense and spell level, they make up for in malforms. Which brings us back to point #1.

 

Please note that I am not saying that DKs aren't a fun class. Mid-fight, I was enjoying what I was doing. But knowing that my entire world centered around getting those malforms up in level was incredibly consuming, to the point that I felt like I lost my RP. Note also that the malform multikill "nerf" perpetuates this process. I've seen some great DKs in my time - Heiku, Masokant, Myrtaal, Mephisoleer. But every single one of them was a "shoot first, RP never" killer until they got their full malforms.

[mya]

I'm with beer. You don't need full malforms to experience, or to be successful with a DK.

DK's are an extremely versatile class that you can very well play with just a Pit polearm and do extremely well.

Not that you need. You can easily maintain a L3 malform, and flow up and down level to L5.

But you are right on one thing, a L10 is a huge edge. Not one that you need, but one that makes your whole life easy.

DK's are designed to reward people who don't die often, and who can maintain a good kill/death ratio. And the reward is L10 malform.

Taking that from the class, would belittle it in my opinion.

 

Dey, you are also right about multikill. I been in cabals where I would log off because I had killed my enemy. Engaging in PK with him again would risk my malform and gain me nothing. But the multikill thing has a reason to be, and should not be removed, but it can be altered. I for one think there should be a timer on it. I once experienced killing someone a week latter, and not getting anything because it was the same person. It would also still block my original situation, where my DK in tribunal apprehended someone who was being broke out of jail, seven times in three minutes.

 

I also agree with you Dey, that Malforms should be something more rewarding for low level PKers. Such as making it a named cursed, burnprofed, ownered weapon of power not unlike the pit weapons at low level.

If by L5 my malform was like this, most bad pkers would not be very happy.

 

Object 'Mya's toothpick withering scythe' is type weapon, material original material.
Extra flags: hum evil nodrop antigood antineutral noremove psienhance burnproof nouncurse ownered.
Weight is 30, value is 1000, level is 55.
Weapon type is two-handed polearm.
Damage is 9d5 (average 27).
Affects damroll by 3.
Affects hitroll by 3.
Rare item.

 

And even more happy if it never went bellow this. Even if it taking it higher level would be harder.

[f0xx]

The multikill rule definitely needs some sort of a timer.

PS. Mya, why do you keep calling him Dey?

[Mali]

Yeah. You are to never speak the name of Deykari.

[Mudder]

He was quoting Dey. Does he still lurk?

[Erelei]

I don't see myself making it any easier to get an owner only malform. I understand what everyone is saying, however, giving and handing out rewards with very little effort is starting to become the norm, and we definitely need to stray away from that.

 

If you can't amount up to it, or can't get a malform to that level, dark-knights probably aren't your forte'. Don't worry. Blademasters aren't my forte'; I simply cannot play them or do any kind of well with them, regardless of what I have. I just have to tell myself, "self, you suck with blademasters, don't play them."

 

As for the killing timer, IMMs will discuss.

[Evangelion]

Thanks Morl - as I said, I won't play a DK again even if the changes are made. I want to care more about RP and less about feeding a blade. When I deleted, I had a level 5 malform, so it wasn't as if I wasn't off to a fine start. I just didn't enjoy the way playing like that made me feel.

[Mudder]

I'll agree, it does tend to encourage (reward) what is generally considered trashy PK behavior.

[Twinblades713]

I'd like to just say I rolled a Mantis DK one time and got a named malform, while maintaining that I could not speak and was learning to communicate by vocalizing through vibrations. You just have to pick your friends who get to know your RP, and pick the enemies who get to learn it over time, after a couple of bashes to the face. I had wildly successful RP and yes my PK wasn't as strong but if you bide your time and pick your battles wisely, I see no reason why you can't succeed in both RP and PK, lastly without being seen as a trash character.

 

All that being said, I did like Regalus a lot. He did seem a bit "nice" for a DK, and I understand where all those feelings come from.

[Mudder]

I probably hold a higher standard than many.

 

I generally consider it trashy to PK in the middle of an RP session when an enemies defenses drop. Etc. I find excessive looting trashy. I even consider attacking someone who is weakened from mobs trashy and overly opportunistic.

 

I'm basically an IRL warmaster Gladiator with a PK honor code that borders on OOC knowledge. So please, when I say trashy, don't think I mean group PKs or any really trashy behavior. I just mean less than savory and more PK oriented than RP.

 

Also, while It's always possible to be RP oriented and the epitome of class. It says nothing to the fact that a class inherently rewards one behavior over another.

 

EDIT: I'm not even suggesting any real changes because I have no good ideas. Just saying I agree with Dey and Bali.

[Fool_Hardy]

... Well played. I understand your frustrations. I sensed them from the character. Thought you would be a killer, but also thought you were not enjoying it. Hoped you would have found a way incorporate your displeasure into your RP, you were doing well. Unfortunately I can not pull off the RP, so I have no advice for you. Good luck with your other project.

[Twinblades713]

I'm just saying we have some insanely talented RPers here, I don't see why it can't be reconciled if you DO want to be an honorable DK, for what that's worth. Evil Clerics can also benefit for excessive and opportunistic PK, and people find many ways to justify that. 

 

While not wanting to derail Bali's thread, I think opportunism is a real threat in FL, and deserves to remain that way. It shouldn't be safe to afk or to sit in the middle of the city with no detections up. In some ways the walk-in-and-bash type DKs make that ambience. Just like why thieves generally won't announce their intentions beforehand. Aside from blatant gangs or needless looting (Victim is newbie, or not well dressed in the first place) I think opportunism is just smart play. 

 

Look at it this way. If you can RP well and your DK counterpart doesn't, you will probably start building up several Edges and maybe an RP necklace against him. If he has those things, then he must be doing something right. 

[Fool_Hardy]

That's kind of how I felt about Regalis, I thought Bali would end up playing the RP out. Hating what he was doing, but perhaps unable to help himself. I fed that Malform. I know he hated killing me. I could tell. But necessity is the mother of invention, he needed that malform to grow, I hoped he would invent the means to the end in his RP. It was right there. Either way, its too late. I know he likely has something spectacular coming and I look forward to it.

[The Forsaken]

You get get to level 3 malform in like two kills...it's not that rough on a dk these days. I'd rather not every dk I fight have level 10s. Leave it how it is.

[Dead Voodoo Doll]

I think DKs should get their original charm person back.

[Mudder]

Where they could actually charm people and make them remove eq?