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Post by Sol on Nov 26, 2004 23:12:18 GMT
Black Cat,
I read through your posts - I can see why you didn't want to repeat yourself... your discussion is very complete and well-articulated!
Your idea to just add a certain amount of CS to a Book13 Grandmaster (and to then forget about all Magnakai bonuses afterwards) is a good and simple idea. The text seems to suggest a move like this, and I agree in general that this is a worthy plan.
One thing does still bug me regarding the idea of disallowing the Magnakai +4 (WM) with the Grandmaster +5 (GWM). It is only this: why would I bother taking a Grandmaster Discipline that only gives me a +1 CS? That's pretty poor, and does not seem to reflect the difference in skill between a Magnakai and a true Grandmaster.
With Weaponskill vs. Weaponmastery, it is not so much of an issue. That's because Weaponskill is random and only ever applies to one weapon. This means that for most players, Weaponmastery is definitely worth it even if the Weaponskill bonus is never allowed in conjunction with it.
Thoughts?
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Post by Peregrine on Nov 26, 2004 23:16:16 GMT
A) the book explicitly states (ie book 13): "If you have completed any of the previous adventures (books 1-12), you can carry your current scores of Combat Skill and Endurance points over to Book 13. These scores may include Weaponmastery, Curing, and Psi-Surge bonuses." So I take the full bonus. Psi-Surge is a little different since Kai Surge says you can't use both at once. That's because you can keep your Weaponmastery bonus... unless and until it's replaced by a Grand Weaponmastery bonus for the same weapon. As for Psi-surge, you can if you like keep using it after taking Kai-surge (though nobody would, as Kai-surge gives a better bonus for the same or lower EP drain). By your Weaponmastery logic, though, the Mindblast bonuses should also stack, right? +4 Magnakai Mindblast, +4 Grand Master Mindblast gives +8 total for no EP loss! Like I said (and indeed like you say at the end of your post), the shield loss makes sense if Grand Master Lone Wolf is dual-wielding... My thoughts exactly. *Same old Book 16 spoiler* Either way, though, you get at most about 4 books (part of 12, 13, 14, 15, part of 16) to use the two together. Helshezag's gone before you ever face, say, Ixiataaga. Say, can you get Skarn-Ska if you have the Sommerswerd? And as for the Bronin Vest, perhaps, as it was a gift to him, Lone Wolf decided to give it to the Captain's family? I don't know about the Silver Bracers then, but keeping the Kagonite Chainmail makes sense - spoils of war. (Hehehe... shame on you, anyone who decided to keep the Bronin Vest!) Edit: Hey, slow down! One thing does still bug me regarding the idea of disallowing the Magnakai +4 (WM) with the Grandmaster +5 (GWM). It is only this: why would I bother taking a Grandmaster Discipline that only gives me a +1 CS? That's pretty poor, and does not seem to reflect the difference in skill between a Magnakai and a true Grandmaster. I think it's a matter of game balance as much as anything. The bonus needed to be useful but not overpowering for new players - but still an improvement, for existing players. As for the "difference in skill", besides getting a few non-CS benefits from G. Weaponmastery, I think the real reflection of Lone Wolf's abilities is (and has always been) in the other Disciplines. He makes huge leaps forward towards practically demigod status as a Grand and Supreme Master... in everything except physical combat, where he only advances a little. It makes sense to me. Others are and have always been Lone Wolf's near-equal in outright combat. Altan in Book 6 is the enduring proof of this, as well as the endless ranks of nameless enemies with comparable Combat Skills. Some of them could do just as well as Lone Wolf in any given fight of the series - but only a Kai Lord could get there in the first place. Another warrior could have beaten the Chaos-Master, Gnaag, or the Deathlord, but only Lone Wolf could cross the Daziarn, the Darklands or Ixia to do it.
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Post by Sol on Nov 29, 2004 19:41:00 GMT
I do like the idea that Lone Wolf need not be a superior king-of-the-universe fighter to retain his essence as Lone Wolf, Last of the Kai. Well spoken, points well-made!
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Post by The Tagazin Poodle on Nov 30, 2004 20:36:38 GMT
You actually can't even get a shield in the Magnakai series, so you've been carrying the same battered old piece of metal and wood since the beginning of Shadow on the Sand at the latest. You can find one in Book 7.
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columbob
Kai Lord
Up the Irons!
Posts: 161
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Post by columbob on Dec 1, 2004 13:05:34 GMT
You can find one in Book 7. Oh yeah, in that trap. That's also the only place in the Magnakai series where you can find some piece of armour (Helmet, Padded leather coat) after the beginning of book 6 and until book 12.
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