Bard 8x40 Dragonmail Broken

[Hung]

I would like to elaborate more on why prime skills are important. And why you can't simply make one obsolete.
Prime skills make classes unique. And provide rationale behind choosing your class.

I mean not long ago, one newbie asked me if they should choose cleric. I answered that one of the cleric powers is being bane to the undead. At that moment, I didn't know how OP Spharai was.
Today I'd advice to choose druid over cleric. As druids are literally better in every regard. In past, there was an exception of fighting undead/ether. Now even that exception is gone. And thus Spharai eliminates not just the dark mace, but the whole prime class.

p.s. The most sad thing is there were many cool changes in the recent years. Like revamp of the drachma eq. Or introduction of new 3x40/6x40/8x40 items. Conquest system is amazing. New thief skills are great too. I am grateful to devs who did all that.
Unfortunately at some stage the game took the wrong turn. And devs decided to introduce truly revolutionary changes, not caring how it affects the original balance. And here we are.

[cnl]

I have to agree with Insom here. the way is forwards.

sphairai and artifacts added a lot to the game. they've been in the game since i've played (5 years) but i appreciate the work put into them.

that's not to say some strategic reworking of things isn't always on the table. whether to add some features or tweak others.

but if you read the forum - there is always someone worked up about some change or another. this mythical golden age never existed except the twinkle of youth had not left our eyes. it gets tiresome.

i will say as someone actually playing a small cleric, it's fun. dark mace is pretty cool. it does get useless, yes, but its a skill you get a level 20 something on your prime.

you think classo is missing something. then play it and get to 9x40. see how it really compares. make some suggestions.

[Hung]

but if you read the forum - there is always someone worked up about some change or another. this mythical golden age never existed except the twinkle of youth had not left our eyes. it gets tiresome.

Changes of such truly revolutionary scale haven't been seen for decades. And that's a fact.
Though everyone is free to choose their attitude towards it.
I realize that majority likes the changes. However there are a few critics like me.
I've offered universal solution in the past - make game fork called "Sloth Classic". Which would be current game minus energy drain, sphairai and everything op.
I understand that solution is highly unrealistic. As devs don't have enough manpower to properly run even one instance of the game(i.e. see the broken site).
But still that's the solution to make everyone happy.

[cnl]

interesting. there's actually a progression of dark maces built in.

recite identify mace
You recite a scroll of identify which dissolves.
You feel informed:
Object 'dark mace large 4x40 *Fulgent*', Item type: WEAPON
Item is: HUM PERSONAL MAGIC RESTRUNG SANCBUSTER
Weight: 5, Value: 0gold, Worn in: TAKE WIELD
Damage Dice is '3D6'
Can affect you as:
Affects: HITROLL by 3
Affects: HEAL_BONUS by 2
Affects: REGEN_MANA by 3
Only those who are primary experienced clerics may use this item.

neat

[Hung]

Well, I saw 9x40 reborn cleric using Spharai. It's better than even best dark mace.