[Necromancing the Stone]

Hello!

I am an FNG, and loving this place. It is very different from the only other world I have ever seriously played on, and the differences, make it a great place to thrive. I haven't delved as deeply into the two characters I am working on as deeply as I would like yet, but the real world has a way of preventing that.

Anyway, I wanted to ask a question about item level restrictions.

In short, I hate them. I understand what they are for: to prevent folks from getting handed a full inventory of high level gear and pwning everything in sight. The problem with blanket restrictions, is, if I save my sheckles, or get lucky in a dungeon, I can find things that I SHOULD be able to use but can't due to these artificial restrictions.

As an example, I have a character that is level 5. He specializes in using the longsword. During a run through the Amruthar sewers I discovered a +2 longsword. I see no reason to not be able to use it, but I can't until level 7. A sword is a sword, the enchantment on it shouldn't make it impossible for me to put it in my hand and swing it around.

Preventing higher level and older players from overpowering newer characters, I would propose scripting to prevent players from receiving either directly or indirectly, items from other players. I am not sure if it is even possible to do, but some of the things I have seen done here is pure genius, so I am hoping it is.

The mechanisms appear to be in place already. I have never seen scripting done as well as it is here. There is already scripting in place that prevents a player from passing items between characters, even through intermediaries. Opening that up to prevent characters from passing items to others that is too high of a level would make more sense than preventing folks from using what they earned.

[Sundraoi]

I'm pretty sure I can answer this one for Thayan. The ILR will not be removed from the server. Think of it this way.. a child is proficient enough to use a butter knife but not quite skilled enough for the sharper steak knives. The +2 Longsword is just sharp enough you need more experience to use it without the chance of cutting something off.

As for scripting things so PCs cannot transfer items between PCs, that will not be happening. Here are a couple of reasons why:
1. You go hunting in a group and one person gathers all the items and has picked up something another in the group wants so they need to transfer the item to that PC.
2. PC merchants. Often a PC will find something they like in the shop but want to see what sort of discount they can get going through the PC owner of the shop.. again, items have to be transferred between players.
3. Finally, story quest items. We have a lot of quests that ask for a lot of a specific item. When this happens, PCs will often let it be known they are seeking these items and will pay XX for each one. Once again, items have to be transferred between PCs.

[Necromancing the Stone]

That all makes sense. No worries.

I am not suggesting NO transfer of items between players, just no transferring of high level items between players....but I can see where that would be unwieldy as well. (I just re-read it and realized I didn't make that clear...my apologies).

I can't get there that there is a difference between a +2 longsword and a +1 longsword. They both have the same size and weight, and distribution, which is what affects the way a weapon is wielded. But I understand your explanation.

[Spoon]

The scripting of something like this, if I'm remembering correctly would be tough and a bit unwieldly. It is something I've run across in previous experience.

Remember though, that for example a +1 sword isn't simply a sharper, better made sword. It is magically enchanted to be better, to do more damage. This is easily roleplayable as at certain levels of experience you would have to not only be able to wield the weapon, but master its inherent and/or latent magical properties.