Smithing Skill - discussion

[Slamz]

Could be horses are working fine but tend to get 0'd out due to the nature of how people use them.

I dunno about you guys, but I can't be cavalry 100% of the time.  I made a cav alt and had a great time until level 26 with a pile of cash saved up and I was broke before I hit level 28.  Most people will switch to a cheaper horse or else just play infantry to build up cash.  The ratio of "time spent as infantry" to "time spent as cavalry" is, what, 3:1 or so?

That would do it.

You get "all thine hard work" once with your Large War Horse and that's 3 points.
You get it three times as infantry and you now have 0 Large War Horse points, because you lose a point each time you get that message while not on your horse.


Just a theory.

Theory B is that "horses don't get points".

[Jarlek]

One thing that has been bothering me.

To get the message, did you have to actually HAVE a heirloomed item equipped? I gave away all of my looms to a clanmate and kept playing without them. I never got the message after that.

It would be totally OK if the message just was for crafting heirlooms, but if crafting would be the way to equip armies, this would really penalize those of us who play without the heirlooms.

If I'm right in my speculation, would it be possible to introduce a third chadztext? One that can come no matter what and gives you crafting in "normal" equipment and make the old chadztext only give you crafting points for heirlooms? Also, if you got the "normal crafting" message while having a loomed item, it would just add to the "normal" version of that item.

[Beat]

So, we are currently thinking about changing the smithing skill, especially how one gets it. What I like about the smithing skill: It gives clans the ability to produce their preferred items cheaper, as well as their heirlooms.

Anyway, I'm not going into detail what our ideas are or how it works currently, but instead:

What is, in your opinion, a gameplay enhancing way to distribute smithing skills?

Remember what chadz is asking us.  He's looking for a way to distribute smithing skills.  Although some of the ideas I've seen here are very interesting, I think they are getting away from the point of this thread and perhaps too complicated.  The more complicated it is, the harder it will be to program and balance.

Using single player Mount and Blade as a guide, I think it can be done in a very simple way.  Just give everyone exclusive smithing skill points each time they level up.  They cannot be converted to attributes or skills and you cannot get more of them by sacrificing other stats.  The ability to respec these points for a fee but independent of the rest of your character would be nice as well.

 I believe there are a little over 700 items currently in game and our characters have 9 fields(places to put gear, not "slots") in which to equip items so perhaps having somewhere between 30 and 90 smithing skill points at level 30 would be a good place to start.  You could then choose which items to put points into and the points would work in the same way they do now for the sake of simplicity.

That being said, I like some of the other ideas I've heard here like the ones that encourage factions to have a consistent look in their gear and perhaps be known for what weapons they bring to a battle and therefore add a bit more strategy when deciding how to counter them.  I love the idea of, for example, one faction being known for their uniform of surcoat over mail with mail coifs and mostly wiedling red tassel spears, arming swords and crossbows.  That is how historical armies outfitted themselves after all and the factions from single player Mount and Blade as well.

[ManOfWar]

At the very least do not penalize people for being higher than level 30

[PhantomZero]

At the very least do not penalize people for being higher than level 30

What is the point of retiring then?

[Keshian]

What is the point of retiring then?

Has there been a point for the last 5 months??

[22nd_King_Plazek]

Why do so many people suggest that everyone should get "smithing points" or whatever equivalent idea they propose.

In medieval times smiths were valuable because of their rare skill. Not everyone knew how to make a sword, if you want to be a smith you should have to make sacrifices. Not everyone should be a smith and if you want to do this work then you should have a character with the required skills.

I do not think it is good to have everyone smithing weapons on the side. It devalues the skill if everyone can do it. Why bother having a smithing skill if it is easily accessible to all, surely it should be something to give some advantage if you work for it. If we have some system whereby everyone can craft just got get slightly lower costs or slightly higher stats why bother? Just make the shop cheaper and possible to buy heirlooms and you have the same effect.

Being a smith should be a valued profession, not something everyone dabbles in. Factions should be fighting hard to recruit the most skilled smiths, not telling all their members to remember to set up their personal mini forge properly before they log off or some shit.

[Jarlek]

Why do so many people suggest that everyone should get "smithing points" or whatever equivalent idea they propose.

In medieval times smiths were valuable because of their rare skill. Not everyone knew how to make a sword, if you want to be a smith you should have to make sacrifices. Not everyone should be a smith and if you want to do this work then you should have a character with the required skills.

I do not think it is good to have everyone smithing weapons on the side. It devalues the skill if everyone can do it. Why bother having a smithing skill if it is easily accessible to all, surely it should be something to give some advantage if you work for it. If we have some system whereby everyone can craft just got get slightly lower costs or slightly higher stats why bother? Just make the shop cheaper and possible to buy heirlooms and you have the same effect.

Being a smith should be a valued profession, not something everyone dabbles in. Factions should be fighting hard to recruit the most skilled smiths, not telling all their members to remember to set up their personal mini forge properly before they log off or some shit.

Good point. Although I still think it shouldn't be sacrificing your cRPG/strat battle ability, it should sacrifice something else.

[Torben]

(click to show/hide)

Why do so many people suggest that everyone should get "smithing points" or whatever equivalent idea they propose.

In medieval times smiths were valuable because of their rare skill. Not everyone knew how to make a sword, if you want to be a smith you should have to make sacrifices. Not everyone should be a smith and if you want to do this work then you should have a character with the required skills.

I do not think it is good to have everyone smithing weapons on the side. It devalues the skill if everyone can do it. Why bother having a smithing skill if it is easily accessible to all, surely it should be something to give some advantage if you work for it. If we have some system whereby everyone can craft just got get slightly lower costs or slightly higher stats why bother? Just make the shop cheaper and possible to buy heirlooms and you have the same effect.

Being a smith should be a valued profession, not something everyone dabbles in. Factions should be fighting hard to recruit the most skilled smiths, not telling all their members to remember to set up their personal mini forge properly before they log off or some shit.

the unique thing about it would be the item itself that you can produce.  the system atm doesnt make you a smith,  just gives u the ability to make 1 kind of any item.  i think that is highly specialized enough.  you wont have more than 1 or two guys beeing able to make the higher tear items in any clan.

[Dehitay]

Actually, all of that gives me an idea. Why not dedicate one EU and one NA server specifically to crafting skills. On these servers, instead of earning experience, you get a minute chance at gaining the All Thine Hard Work message at the end of each round. Something along the lines of 1/1000. And each multiplier would multiply your chance of getting those skills at round end up to 1/200. However, gold and upkeep should work in the same fashion on regular servers.

This would be helpful as you can specifically take the equipment you want to improve in on this server. It also allows high level players a chance at gaining crafting skills. You just have to sacrifice experience in exchange. So anybody who's smart enough to leave crafting to others can go back to levelling

[Torben]

this would fuck poor people and help out rich clans.  dont like : /

[Dehitay]

this would fuck poor people and help out rich clans.  dont like : /

Are you referring to my idea specifically? Some other idea? Or smithing in general?
If it's my idea, I'm not sure what you mean. The gold flow would be just the same as playing on a regular server.

[Torben]

ah dam got it wrong though u were suggesting to not get gold. my bad

[Matey]

What is the point of retiring then?

gee... getting looms and xp boost and trying new builds.
what is the point of not retiring? not having to grind lots to be useful in strat.

oh wait thats right, not retiring means no smithing which means less useful in strat... so basically you get almost nothing for not retiring.

[22nd_King_Plazek]

the unique thing about it would be the item itself that you can produce.  the system atm doesnt make you a smith,  just gives u the ability to make 1 kind of any item.  i think that is highly specialized enough.  you wont have more than 1 or two guys beeing able to make the higher tear items in any clan.

Yea except in the whole time I have played I never got that message so even if I wanted to be a smith it would be impossible for me.

There is a valid in game crpg reward for a smithing skill anyway as I suggested on page 1, lower repair costs.