Transitioning away from ability apps

[Tristam]

Heya !
I forgot to take part of the discussion early.
I think this system is okay in the same way of the free signature at RPL 230 if you had none at the point.
It was an alternative way to acquire it outside of the usual app.

I have read though that this was not a hard requirement, so people could still app for these for these abilities outside of the activity/influence requirement, right?

I still think, letting people learn some master and exalted abilities through the application form could still be an option for those who wish instead to summarize the narrative of their learnings and journey that led to acquire such ability.
Even if that means less people will use the ability form, keeping the option the same way the form was available when ability app on forums were done, is nice to have.

Also I notice wayfinding/riftmancy combat spells are not mentionned ! I imagine they fit in the idea of a class instead, like Fortuna spells, but just letting know if it was forgotten !

[RavenZxro]

choosing between master/master or master/exalted(when reach requirements) could provide more fun and freedom... but it may be a little... much

[Dreamspeaker]

As far as I know, Greater Half Shift has lore implications. Would that make it Mythic, or it's Master/ Exalted due to its stats?

I'm also a bit unsure on how does it work exactly. Is it just lore implications, stats, or both? I assume it's case-by-case basis so far, and both are looked at before deciding the tier.

[Velkor]

Heya !
I forgot to take part of the discussion early.
I think this system is okay in the same way of the free signature at RPL 230 if you had none at the point.
It was an alternative way to acquire it outside of the usual app.

I have read though that this was not a hard requirement, so people could still app for these for these abilities outside of the activity/influence requirement, right?

I still think, letting people learn some master and exalted abilities through the application form could still be an option for those who wish instead to summarize the narrative of their learnings and journey that led to acquire such ability.
Even if that means less people will use the ability form, keeping the option the same way the form was available when ability app on forums were done, is nice to have.

Also I notice wayfinding/riftmancy combat spells are not mentionned ! I imagine they fit in the idea of a class instead, like Fortuna spells, but just letting know if it was forgotten !

From what i understand the way its planned to work at least right now is. You get one sig overall between exalted and master. Its likely going to be changed to 1 master 1 exalted or 2 masters. But from what i understand you cant app for any more of them and can only app for mythics. To which there is no limit to how many you can get. Though i do think letting people app for more masters and exalted sigs is a better option.

[Regalus]

I believe Magesight and Custom Stances should also be outside the count for Master/Exalted because they bring so much IC through their custom texts and its just great fun reading them in the beginning of an RPB. Also, they could be a stepping stone for beginner players as a goal to dev for, yet not have as much requirements necessary for the Mythics.

[Tristam]

To answer to Velkor :
Just wanted to be sure officially if the app option for masters/exalted were still an option ! This is a roleplaying game and I am sure some characters could have stories to tell on how they acquire such ability.
Like the freebie at rpl230 before, it was a nice alternative way !

I forgot though two negative points.

First of all, I am getting worried if that will encourage people to play for getting signatures, instead of letting their characters "become" the signature through their narrative story.
Secondly : if signatures become more accessible, I am also worried that some magics become less interesting, or become weaker, because they do not have respective "endgame" spells. Which, can push away diversity in builds. For example, Ether and Metamagic and their subtrees have so many signatures. Elemental magic and bio have a decent amount too, but their subtrees are lacking in options.
For example, there is no "nature" signature or "crystal" signature that could match with the others in strength.

And this is why the narrative app option could still be present. Harmonic Attunement is normally a Holy Aura upgrade that you need to have. But I still managed to get it through another mean by explaining my narrative, my learnings and my technique on why I could use such ability, reflavored to not get holy but nature instead.

The Custom Stance for Master signatures at least is a wildcard that fits all.

[DirectorBright]

So... I have one problem with this. Having only one accessible signature (unless you're going for a mythic) is going to have a lot of people apping for mythics for their dev (because devving and progressing for your character is such a huge part of your character!).

It also means that some people are going to look at some of the abilities and go "Yeah, I -could- go for this... But it's not as optimal as this. So I'm going for this instead." Rather than something that fits their character, they're just going to minmax.

I think we should potentially allow people to go for multiple sigs, either with apps, or with super high requirements, or something. Because also we have a lot of this current generation of really strong characters rocking *multiple sigs*... And now nobody will have a chance to catch up with them.


What I recommend: Allow for up to two masters, or 1 master 1 exalted. There's lots of things that fluff well together that have really strong IC together. Heck, there's some exalted where I feel like it REQUIRES the earlier things. The Gaze and Wildcard, etc.

I approve of this. Having the ability to get another sig, in my opinion after the 100k points mark, maybe even after 130k (as this is when one could get a second master in theory) but only through IC, as is now. While this might at first sound like it brings back the ticket issue for abilities, getting to this stage is hard... and given how limited the list of mythic sigs is, it gives people an ability to work towards once they're older. Something beyond just gear, something they can do to signify they're truly built different.

I also agree with an earlier post that custom stances and magesight should be made mythic, as they already have significant implication behind them with the flavor text that pops.

[SavvyPhantom]

This incentive is aiding sitting inside.
You have five dangers to get which is light work, but then I can just go to my faction base and RP with a group. I will be 210 in no time with quest and all. I enjoy the feeling of RPing for something but if I can just RP inside with nothing stopping this.

I think this should be for people who struggle to make a good app and to lighten the LOAD, not completely removing APPs in totality. Maybe even giving us more public events to gain some EXP to push going outside instead of making it a no man's land. You don't have to make it special, a sign-up for people who do it. Maybe specific days for things to happen pushed by players or NPCs with the moving story.

I do not think the EXP should be raised if this is implemented, 210 - 215 is hard to reach for certain people. I would rather it be to push more conflict. Raise the amount of dangers needed, keep the EXP there, and add an age cap. Take into account people who are trying to go for things like wayfinding/riftmancy and more NONCOMBATIVE sigs that will help people out. This should keep a constant push for people to do things outside and not just happen to run into each other.

I am for more NARRATIVE but conflict is a part of the narrative sometimes. I just enjoy battles at times and don't want to see them all shrink away for a more passive style to gain sigs.

[Milly]

I think letting people have 2 masters or 1 master and 1 exalted is fine, imo imo.

Also, as others have pointed out some signatures are missing still. The one on the top of my head is Ifrit's Claw.

I think Barrier and Nullification should be mythic and not something anyone can just ticket for, given their importance in their respective trees (Occult & Holy), but I also get where you're coming from in terms of mythic being more IC lore based as opposed to power. I would assume if someone without the respective trees ticketed for them, they would be told no in any case.

Total influence is good.... Except in my case, because I was in Prospera's guild and swapped to Aphros' when I became Oracle.
And now it says I only have 5k influence... And I definitely had more like 41k or something in that area. Maybe add a variable that tracks lifelong influence for such cases.

Really it's mainly just giving people more options/flexibility for signatures - that's my main point at the moment.

[Stereo Guy]

Heya !
I forgot to take part of the discussion early.
I think this system is okay in the same way of the free signature at RPL 230 if you had none at the point.
It was an alternative way to acquire it outside of the usual app.

I have read though that this was not a hard requirement, so people could still app for these for these abilities outside of the activity/influence requirement, right?

I still think, letting people learn some master and exalted abilities through the application form could still be an option for those who wish instead to summarize the narrative of their learnings and journey that led to acquire such ability.
Even if that means less people will use the ability form, keeping the option the same way the form was available when ability app on forums were done, is nice to have.

Also I notice wayfinding/riftmancy combat spells are not mentionned ! I imagine they fit in the idea of a class instead, like Fortuna spells, but just letting know if it was forgotten !

From what i understand the way its planned to work at least right now is. You get one sig overall between exalted and master. Its likely going to be changed to 1 master 1 exalted or 2 masters. But from what i understand you cant app for any more of them and can only app for mythics. To which there is no limit to how many you can get. Though i do think letting people app for more masters and exalted sigs is a better option.

1 of each tier sounds like a good balance, preventing those with multiple from becoming too strong. This grants newer characters a chance to flourish. Otherwise, there's the problem of older characters continuing to dominate the game. Maybe 2 master signatures at most.

The system mostly incentivizes hiding in settlements even more to farm your daily influence quota. This also means being in a faction is a must, those without a settlement are forced to work harder. (I know it is a small amount of people, but my point still stands)

Hoarding influence instead of using it for others than yourself, defeats the purpose of the guild buffs you get as well. (Unless you have everything you already wanted, haha)

Either that or grab a raid party to farm dungeons and dens. Grab XP boosters and the gift of gabs, and do quests. This doesn't exactly incentivize RP either, only grinding.

At that point, stick with the same mechanical system using danger and RPL requirements.  Except instead of a danger, a deadly and 215+. That way, it would at the very least incentivize deadlies. (I'm kidding, please don't hang me)

I wouldn't have any problems with this system if you could still apply for exalted signatures. 100k exp is way too high, as an RPL 223 I only have 72k. I would have to grind 56k influence to make up the rest for an exalted signature. (Mind you, this character is 2+ months old)

Some may also deserve exalted signatures far below the requirement without needing to grind for influence and experience, good luck trying to reach that without people willing to donate. (AKA older characters who don't need their influence)

30k exp is good enough for those who have been around long enough to get a master signature, especially if they RP a moderate amount for enough influence to make up the rest. (60k would be a good second milestone for another master signature)