Too Many Things To Think About...

[magicaddict]

...who in their right mind plays high level characters, again?

Completely lost track of my stats on several occasions on Sunday, including going into most fights with no idea of the number of hits I had left, and assuming a certain number without having any idea if I was referring to the right numbers or not. I dropped four times when I shouldn't, on one occasion claiming a broken limb and on another claiming I was dead, stood up once when I shouldn't have, and managed to shout "No effect...no, wait," on six or seven occasions, three of them within about thirty seconds of each other to the same call.

Screw this.

A certain amount of armour against this, but which doesn't count against that. Four armour all over...no, wait...not including the head, of course...no, wait...now I'm in twelves, now fourteens, now six because that's power...no, wait...that protection went down twenty minutes ago, putting me on...what am I on again? No, the weapon's protected, unless it's tuesday or the month has an R in it...no, wait...I got an order miracle and the month has a square in it so I'm alright. Ah yes, I'm dead. No, wait - I'm actually still walking around. I just thought my head was rolling around on the floor.

I willingly play a game I know to be extremely complicated, and I'm never going to say (or even think) it should be changed, because this is a problem that only manifests itself in a few members of the society, of which I am one. The net result is just another of the many reasons why playing high level characters just doesn't do it for me, which, as regular readers will know, I am wont to harp on about on a regular basis. Give me a low level character, with low level stats in a low level party, and I'll be infinitely happier - one set of numbers to call, one to ablate with, one (or maybe two) to deal with coming the other way, and I can concentrate on making my characterisation half-decent.

I'm a darts player. I can do that level of maths all day.

Comments

[xanthipe]

I think this is why I like dex, particularly if I can get equal dex and all round. Things either hit you or they don't, no questions asked.

And you're doing better than I, I still have trouble working out what's hitting me on the low level stuff - I dread to think what high level playing will be like.

[magicaddict.livejournal.com]

Next year I'm going to try to keep Dex and ARS consistent for that very reason. Not going to happen, of course, but worth a try.

[dantarian.livejournal.com]

Heh, don't think it's just 'cos you're relatively new - I've been doing this for the best part of a decade, and I can't keep track of higher-level characters any more.

Actually, that's one of the nice things about a Gladiator - for the most part, your armour and damage is fairly consistent.

[magicaddict.livejournal.com]

Curiously, I was thinking that myself - not able to do anything with magic or miracles, nothing that counts for some things but not for others. Probably less of what I dislike than any other character.

I need to get better with weapons first, though.

[almosthonest.livejournal.com]

Two things worth noting. Firstly, thank for the out-loud laugh. :-) It was a laugh of wry acknowledgement as well as amusement.

And secondly: I can't do darts math. Honestly. I have kipperfish do it for me. TL maths, more or less - darts, nope. I have no idea what the difference is!

[magicaddict.livejournal.com]

Take increments of less than 200 from 501. You start from the same, never take more than a certain amount away. It's how I learned to count.

[kipperfish.livejournal.com]

There's a reason I like Orchid. It's very very simple. I hit for 4. Everything affects me (no toughness or willpower). I take 9 off things that hit me with normal damage and take everything else. The only thinking comes in when I might power up, and even then it usually comes down to "it isn't undead. Same as normal"

TL Maths is complicated, the rules are far too complicated, change too often, and there's so many permutations of who can do what, when they can do it, what effect x,y,z do etc that I've gotten bored of it.

I do Heal life 4, bless x and can cure diseases. Simple. Old School.

[magicaddict.livejournal.com]

Old school is something I'm trying to get away from. I prefer the society now to how it was four years ago. I know we disagree on this.

I'd rather let those who can, do. I'll do my thing over here instead.

[wargamer.livejournal.com]

I avoid this problem by playing a tank. anything that hits you causes a bruise no more, no less. It makes the maths a lot easier

[magicaddict.livejournal.com]

Not playing a Bless machine any time soon, or anything that counts against some things but not others.

Now watch me break that rule next week.

[same-difference.livejournal.com]

All I can say is never, never play a light mage.

Though I recommend something who can cast death and chaos resistance.

Curse and Demoralise still cause me too much confusion.

[drabbit.livejournal.com]

Resistances are amazing for simplifying your life - Drain Life 36? 2 standing. Curse 5? 2 standing. Unholy Word 4? 2 standing. Win.

[xanthipe]

I find the concepts behind Curse and Demoralise a pretty straightforward way to remember what they do.

Curse: Whoops, he got in a good shot there. Argh, my timing's all thrown off for dodging...Bother, how'd that happen?

Demoralise: Can't be bothered to hit you. Can't be bothered to get out the way. I'm so depressed... (has to be thought in a Marvin voice for extra impact)