Re: Stormbringer is wimpy

[Peter Mardahl <peterm@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>]

In message <199409090340.AA23755@bolero.rahul.net>, Mark Wedel writes:
> Also, if the present bonuses are kept, but the bonus from 30->31 is the
>same of 29->30, this would create some extremely powerful character.  Most
>of the abilities above 28 or so have very large gains.

That's true.  But getting to 30 in more than one stat will become very hard
if we do what I suggest to the weapon building code.

> Also, adjustments for charisma would need to be changed again, because
>otherwise, it would once again be possible to sell items for more than
>you buy them for.

Well, we could leave that particular bonus at 30 maximum regardless of
the actual charisma.  It would still affect spells like holy word, etc.

> I really don't know - I just haven't seen any really compelling arguement
>of why stats should max out at 40 instead of 30.  

The compelling argument is this:  It's quite possible to make a weapon which:
gives protection from physical
adds 18 or so to ac
raises all the stats to 30
does the maximum damage possible
has virtually no weight.

Once you have done this, gaining a level gains you 2 sp and 2 hp or so.
There is no longer any room for improvement.  

>As for weapon stat improving where the method is
>stat_bonus_going_to^2 - present_stat_bonus^2:
>First:  If the weapon has intrinsic pluses, do these count (for
>example, weapon has +1 in normally.  is going from 6 to 7 7^2-6^2 or
>6^2 - 5^2?)

It would be 2* 7^2 - 2*6^2.  It would be cumbersome to try and remember
the initial stat bonus.

> Also, at least one reason I wouldn't really like it is that then the
>players would start pulling out their calculators to figure out how
>many potions they need.  IT may make things more difficult, but I don't
>really like it for aesthetic reasons.

"The gods demand <n> more <x> "

> Also, with that system, the only reason not to save up and improve in
>bug bunches is if you want the stats sooner. (to get to +6, as you
>said, will cost 72 potions whether you do it in one batch or 6).  With
>the present system, some choice needs to be made.  Do you do it with
>2 potions per time, which maximizes stat gain/potion, but will really
>burn up how many imrpoves you do, or do you do it with 8 potions and
>gain 2 points, stretching the number of improvemetns you make, etc..

How about a different improvement counting system?  <improvement count>
= f( stat bonuses, dam bonuses, + to magic )

PeterM