Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

Zarf · 04-25-2006, 06:22 AM,

Well then. I'll just keep this puzzle inside Cyrodiil and Morrowind. Big Grin

D.Foxy · 04-25-2006, 08:34 AM,

I have an idea. My last idea, before I leave.

Each artifact could increase two skills by + 20 BUT decrease another two skills by - 20. Once you have collected the whole twelve artifacts, you will find that you have TWENTY FOUR skill increases by + 20!

I think there are 24 skills...could you check? If not, make it 10 or 8 artifacts.

An idea!

Zarf · 04-26-2006, 12:05 AM,

I don't particularly like the idea of enchantments that hurt skills, especially by 20 points. And the fact that you can't wear all 12 of them at the same time kinda kills that even more. Thanks for the idea, though! It gives me an idea for a portion of the quest.

At one point, you recieve an item that you cannot drop, but it decreases skills a good amount untill you complete that part of the quest. Then it becomes an item that you can drop, and it actually fortifies the skills that it previously hurt. Smile

Razorwing · 04-26-2006, 05:44 AM,

There's 21 skills in Oblivion. Smile

D.Foxy · 04-26-2006, 10:54 AM,

Sorry, I was not clear in my last post. Here is my (complete) idea.

There are 21 artifacts. Each Artifact increase one skill by + 40 (like the skeleton key of Nocturnal) but decreases another by -40. They do not need to be worn: like the skeleton key, merely possessing them is enough.

You will see that collecting the artifacts is a 'no-win' situation, because what you gain and what you lose cancels each other out...thus if you had 20 artifacts, you would have 20 skills with +40 and 20 skills with -40, so that you are no better off than you were in the beginning!

BUT...

Once you have the LAST artifact complete these would magically combine into the 'Sword of Tiber's Perfection' which as long as you were holding it, would up all your 21 skills by +40!!!

The beauty of this great quest would be that while you would have to go to a lot of trouble in losing some skills, gaining others, and juggling various items to compensate for that...while you were questing...ONCE YOU COMPLETED THE QUEST you would have all your skills upgraded by +40 so that you would be the 'perfect warrior'...

LIKE TIBER SEPTIM!!!

raggidman · 04-26-2006, 11:33 AM,

D.Foxey Is this the Main Quest? Even if so that is an overpowering amount to decrease or increase when applied to all skills. And many of those skills are not combat oriented.

Since when was Tiber Septim the Perfect Warrior? If he had been would he have been assassinated?

This is a Quest rather than a 'Book' so these 'details' have to be seriously considered and balanced. Read on:

Zarf, I think you are on the right track in your reinterpretation of Foxey's suggestion, though in such a long quest there could be one big boost at the end and numerous lesser artifacts. Suggest you look into that side of it while playing Oblivion so that you can get some ideas for 'lesser rewards'. Think about what you would like to have that they ignored, but make sure that the ideas are not too obvious and I think you will be on to a possible winner.

So hows about using the handicap idea, but using the lesser artifacts to 'temporarily' improve the payer's skill/s or attributes = with a time limit. This would be the only known quest where you have to get to the next location before the time runs out or you lose the benefit that the 'lesser' artifact conveys in actual Tamriellian time? In which case you are lumbered with the handicap...

This way you might be both a hero and a victim, even a pawn of different groups or individuals, who might want to help or harm you...by speeding you on your way or delaying you in various ways.

Some folks would know about your dilemma and others not, but all of their actions might still have a powerful impact on the player?

And that is one of the core values of ES = player choices. This is very difficult to create once you get past a certain level, but by this means you would have created a powerful motivating force beyond mere greed - self defence. then the morals of the player could really be tested!

Waddja think?

PS I think that Henry Morgan might be able to advise you whether it is possible to link up to a time limiter (say Tanriellian Days) if you like it.

This would take a lot of ingenuity and care to balance, but if you are going too make such a huge quest I think it is right that it should be special?

D.Foxy · 04-26-2006, 02:00 PM,

Yep, Main Quest. I offered this as a suggestion. You could tweak my idea to game-balance so that, for example, it could be +20, or +15 instead of +40. Or 12, 15, instead of 21 skills. What do you think Zarf?

Also, in history no warrior, no matter however skilled, has ever been safe from assassination.

(How did Alexander the Great die? Even today historians argue - disease, war wounds, or poison?)

Zarf · 04-26-2006, 05:02 PM,

I like the ideas this thread is generating. Big Grin

I'm not so sure I like the timed bit, but I do like how some people will try to harm you. Here's an idea. You could pick up an artifact, and when you go to find the next one, somebody there could say, "Yipe! That's horrible! Let me help." or something. Say you have one that decreases your agility by 20 points, CE. This person could increase your agility 20 points for a day, or point you toward a runestone that could do it for you!

And I forgot that you can have items affect you via inventory. I like that now. This is going to be great. Big Grin