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I wrote that post pretty quickly as a framework to start from, of course these things aren't set in stone.

I realize I made the Dryads seem too frail and forgot to mention the bonus to Archery and Nature magic. The Dwarves I suppose I didn't put as much thought into as I should have, because I've never played a Dwarf in any game that allows you too, because I don't enjoy playing as short races.
I guess that one was a little subconsciously biased, haha.
I also forgot to mention the skill point bonuses for the other races as well. I did have those ideas, but looking back, they too seemed a little... unfair.

Even before I read these posts, I was thinking of revisions to the list the whole time. Making Dryads more resistant to most types of magic damage, except Fire and Death, seemed like a good way to supplement their shortcomings and vulnerability to Melee. But then I was also thinking- looking at the Siege on Greilyn Beach and Eirulan and The Dryad Outpost, the Dryads actually have a lot of melee soldiers. Which means that by lore standards, not game-balance standards, they are more physically capable than I gave them credit for. I love Dryads, I actually love the way they're portrayed in DS2 the most of all, so one would figure I'd have a better grasp on it, huh?

One specific point was the Racial Bias. I notice some general distaste for that, and I understand it. Personally I embrace Racial Bias in a videogame because it adds diversity not just to the choice of player character, but the NPC's which don't have terribly large amounts of character in-game. Their dialogue is good, but there's just too little of it. I prefer Gritty Realism in my games, and that usually means there are real-world issues like that. It also sort of adds a problem, a challenge to overcome or embrace. Shop prices are the only way I can think to implement them in DS2 because, so far, there aren't too many other methods of doing so.
That said, I still think the buffs/penalties that are specific to the HERO character (and his buddies) would probably override the racial bias. Because even if you're a Dryad, if you're a traitor (Which by Lore standards is supposedly genetically impossible, or something, I forget), then people are bound to like you just as little as if you were an Elf. So maybe the Racial Bias should be taken out, but I think it'd be a nice optional plugin nonetheless. I know I, personally, would like it in my game.
The Hero Bonus/Penalties with the world around him (Pretty much just bartering) would apply to the whole party, too, whatever the race.
If the Hero was a Dryad, she could still get the bonus for having Loyal Party Members in the group. Which may sound familiar, if you've played Mass Effect, that's where that came from. If you do a side-mission in ME2 for your party member, they become loyal and give them a better chance at surviving in the preceding missions. So I figure if you make your party member 'loyal' in DS2, they could get passive bonuses.

Humans having the weakest of the Trading Bonus is because of their general adaptive skill, which I suppose now that I say it out loud, sounds pretty restrictive.
"You can train in any skill you want. But it'll cost you."
Yeah, I see what you mean now, Boro. Lmao.
I think most of the changes I made like that, if they weren't balanced, were still Lore-Friendly. Which is what I was more focused on.
Here I'll re-write the list, with both Lore and Balance better taken into account. There will still be some influence based on what that race is generally best at doing, but not enough for it to be punishing. At least for more than the beginning of the game. So any Skill EXP Gain buffs between the races will be dramatically lessened in this list, so that they still matter, but not by that much. I want them to be significantly different from one another, but have each one be more viable. Which means having particular improvements to Dryads and Dwarves.
I will still include the Racial Bias, for those of you who were on board with that idea.
I'll also include HardLess' idea of having a new skill Tree for general choices in play. It will be at the bottom of the list. All Racial Bias and Hero Bonuses/Penalties stack. Racial Bias will always be at the bottom of the sub-list for each race, separated.
Equal but separate.
Get it? Hurr hurr.

--Human--
3% Bonus to the learning of all skills.

5% Physical resistance buff.
5% Resistance to fire.
(Again, from Kalrathia.)
2% Health Regen.
(Looking into the lore of MANY interpretations of humans, they're quite often Hardy and resilient.
2% Magic Regen.
(Not particularly fluent in magic, humans, but certainly capable of it, right?)
+2 Unspent Skill Points.

4% Price Penalty in Eirulan. 10% Price Bonus in Kalrathia.

--Elf--
3% Bonus to the learning of Archery and Combat Magic.
Scaling bonus in Archery/Combat Magic damage with character level.
3% Resistance to Fire and Shock Damage.
(Not ALL combat magic. There is no specific reason for this parameter to exist, merely because they should have SOME resistance to combat magic.)
6% Penalty to Melee Resistance.
(Elves are good Melee Fighters too, but they need some shortcomings and I'm not sure what fits for them. Help?)
4% Magic Regen.
2%Bonus to Mana each level.
Slight increase to cast speed.
+1 skill point in Devastation and Critical Shot.

2% Price buff in Eirulan. 4% Price bonus in Aman'lu before/after BW.

--Dryad--
3% Bonus to the learning of Archery and Nature Magic.
Scaling bonus to Archery/Nature Magic damage and healing power with character level.
6% Resistance to Nature Magic.
2% Weakness to Death Magic.
4% Weakness to Fire.
Dryads recover extra from healing magic.
3% Stronger powers, 2% Faster Health/Mana Regen rate, 2% Faster Cast Rate/Ranged Speed for every Dryad Member in the Party.
(I think this is more balanced. More specific buffs, less strength to them. And they still all make sense.)

+1 Skill Point in Survival and Natural Bond.

5% Better prices in Eirulan. 2% Better prices in Dryad Outpost.

--Half Giant--
4% Bonus to the learning of Melee.
Scaling bonus to damage with Melee weapons per character level, except for when dual-wielding.
8% Physical Resistance.
8% Penalty to running speed.
(I stand by this because Giants are massive and are powerful Melee fighters. They're just not quick as other races by lore standards, and it's a very good weakness for being a Tank.)
5% Health Regeneration.
2% Bonus to Health gain each level.
+2 Skill Points in Fortitude.

--Dwarf--
3% Bonus to the learning of Melee. 1% to Nature magic.
Scaling bonus to damage with Melee weapons per character level, slightly less than Half-Giant.
4% Bonus Melee speed.
4% Penalty to running speed.
2% Health/Mana regen speed.
2% Health/Mana gain each level.
+1 Skill Point in Toughness. +1 Unused Skill Point.

--Hero Traits--
20% Penalty to bartering skills in Eirulan until released from being a prisoner. 10% until being cured of the plague.
10% Penalty to bartering skills in Kalrathia until Morden are driven out, where there shall then be a 10% bonus to bartering skills after they're driven out.
20% Penalty to bartering skills in Dryad Outpost until Broken World is comepleted.
10% Bonus to bartering skills with Tomas the Merchant in Broken World upon completing his quest.
10% Bonus to bartering skills in Aman'lu once all quests/sidequests have been completed there in Broken World.
15% Bonus to bartering skills in Glorydeep enclave upon arrival, and additional 5% upon completion of Broken World.
5% Bonus to Hero's effectiveness with most traits for every party member in group who is "loyal". (IF POSSIBLE, have it lessen to 3% but still apply during Broken World. Or, if not possible, have it still apply so long as it's the same version of the party member straight from DS2.)

--Character Skills--
I assume these will still be under the Specialties Tab, so we should also make it compatible with Ancient Gifts, and have it be the last or first tree. You can only spend one skill point on each unless stated otherwise.

Unlockable at Level 1
Setting out - 1% Power Recharge Speed.

Unlockable at Level 5
Fight or Flight - 2% Movement speed and Physical resistance.
Walk it off - 2% Health Regen speed. Level 2 (4% total) requires 5 Fortitude. Level 3 (10% total) requires 10 Fortitude. Max.
Open Mind - +30 Mana. Level 2 (+70 more) requires 30 Intelligence. Max.
New Opinions - 2% Bonus to the learning of all skills. Requires Setting out.

Unlockable at Level 12
Honed - 3% Melee speed. Level 2 (10% total) requires 40 strength. Max.
Focused - 3% Ranged distance. Level 2 (10% total) requires 40 Dexterity. Max.
Disciplined - 3% Casting speed. Level 2 (10% total) requires 40 Intelligence. Max.
Likable - 5% better prices. Level 2 (10%) requires 33 Intelligence. Level 3 (15%) requires 45 Intelligence. Max.

Unlockable at 24
Conditioned - 5% Movement speed and 8% Physical resistance.
Survival expert - 15% Health Regen speed.
Worthwhile - You're a hero, your time is valuable. 10% Better quest rewards.

Unlockable at 36
Unnatural - 10% Melee/Ranged/Casting speed bonus.
Morale - 2% party resistance bonus.
Cocky - 5% stronger powers. 8% Physical resistance Penalty.

These are just ideas. I don't have any more for those skills right now. Let me know what you think about the Race bonuses and the skills.