Which do you think is better? Why?

The Merians's have better statistics, but the Viscanti get some really nice resistances. There is also the issue of which guild is better.



Brood Viscanti ur'Guard:
(must take necromancy)

str: 16
dex: 12
con: 15
int: 9
cha: 9
size: 15

Merian Lord Paladin
(Must take sacraments)

str: 16
dex: 14
con: 15
int: 13
cha: 11
size: 14

Statwise, Merian Lord, hands down. Remember that int is very important too, and the Viscanti sip penalty is really paintful.

Guildwise, probably the Ur'guard.

Aslaran make better warriors in Lusternia anyway according to everyone who plays a warrior. Or high level humans.

Actually....looking at those stats, I understand why Daevos complains about Viscanti.

Meh.

You thought there wasn't a reason why 99% of Magnagora was anything BUT Viscanti? The race is so abysmally poor that the only ones who choose them are the ones who want to give up combat potential for RP (a lot of combat potential I might add) or those like Daevos who have the credits to be able to work around the weakness of the race.

You can't really compare races without factoring in advantages/disadvantages.

Merian:

ADVANTAGES:
o Have a racial language, merian.
o Regain equilibrium faster, level 1.
o Regenerate health and mana while in water, level 2.
o Can automatically swim and tread water without taking damage.
o Can breathe underwater.
o Can DIVE into the ocean depths (RISE to come up).
o Resist asphyxiation damage, level 2.
o Special: Upon gaining the Aquamancy specialization or Celestialism
specialization, a merian becomes an Imperial Merian with statistics
changing by -2 strength, -1 dexterity, +2 intelligence and
+2 charisma. Merian warriors who choose the rituals path, upon
gaining the sacraments specialization become a Merian Lord with
statistics changing by -3 intelligence, -2 charisma, +5 strength,
+5 constitution, +3 dexterity and +2 size.

DISADVANTAGES:
o Are susceptible to fire, level 2.
o Are susceptible to electricity, level 2.

Viscanti:

ADVANTAGES:
o Can breathe poison gas upon reaching level 50.
o Regenerate health and mana while in Tainted land, level 3.
o Immune from poison gas.
o Resistance to poison damage, level 1.
o Resistance to blunt damage, level 1.
o Resistance to cutting damage, level 1.
o Special: Upon gaining the Geomancy specialization or Nihilist
specialization, a viscanti becomes a Master Viscanti with statistics
changing by -2 strength, -2 dexterity, +3 intelligence and +2
charisma. Viscanti warriors who choose the necromancy path, upon
gaining the necromancy specialization become a Brood Viscanti with
statistics changing by -3 intelligence, -1 charisma, +3 strength,
+2 dexterity, +2 constitution and +2 size.

DISADVANTAGES:
o Heal more slowly from elixirs, level 2.



Merian have level 1 equilibrium recovery (meaningless to warriors), asphyxation resistance (almost nothing does asphyxation damage), and water regeneration for advantages. For disadvantages, they have the fire and electric susceptibilities, which HURT, especially against warriors with elemental runes. Merian Lords also have very nice stats.

Viscanti have poison gas immunity, physical resistances, the ability to breathe poison gas, and taint regeneration as advantages. As a disadvantage, they have a sip penalty. However, this is offset by the fact that they have higher constitution. They have marginally less good stats than the Merian Lords.

I think Merian Lord is somewhat superior to Brood Viscanti, but viscantis definately aren't as horrible as many Magnagorans would have you believe.

EDIT: It's also worth noting that if you're a Brood Viscanti and you trans Necromancy to become a lich, you'll have -1 strength/int during the day and +2 strength/int at night. The +2 is a very nice bonus.

That +2 is in effect 40% of the time, the -1 in effect 60% of the time. I am pretty sure not long after it changed from -2 to -1 that a Divine posted here saying that it gave us something in the effect of +0.4 increase in stats over the course of a day instead of its massive weakness. Factor into that, that the bonus is available to any race that is a Lich and its definitely not a factor to staying Viscanti. The supposed "offset" of the L2 sip penalty being a slight increase in Con is a comment worthy of Narsrim, especially considering the sip penalty hurts more than the fire/lightning penalties do, as they are in effect with ALL sips, whilst yours are ONLY in effect against warriors with the right runes.

Oh, so this is why there are so many Mag changelings.

Also Shamarah, you forgot to mention these points:
1) The only classes that use poison damage belong to the same city as Viscanti.
2) Base stats are more important than non-speed related racial bonuses.
3) Asphyxiation resistance is a godsend when facing either of the two classes that use nightkiss (where poison resistance/immunity is ONLY good against a Geomancer).
4) L1 cutting/blunt resistance is useless when compared to the extra sipping you get from NOT having a L2 penalty. Being able to sip for 1-200 more is more important than a L1 physical damage reduction - especially considering that sipping mana and bromides is extremely important in the game.
5) Viscanti have the worst physical stats of all the specialisation races in the game (barring faeling possibly - but im not 100% sure on that).

Well faelings have some nice ass bonuses... Faelings are by far better than viscanti, but that's not the question here. Brood Viscanti are undoubtably the worst specialized race out there.

Note Brood Viscanti have 16 con, not 15.

Aside from that, I'm not convinced they are really that much worse. +3 regeneration in half of prime, and both their allied planes is nothing to be sniffed at. The charisma difference makes sense, though Imperial Merians seem to tip the scales in that regard. I'd say they probably don't need the intelligence penalty, or alternatively could use a slightly bigger constitution boost.. but other than that I think they are pretty good.

The sip penalty could go down to a level 1, but they are a pretty nice race in other regards. They are substandard, but certainly not by a terrible amount.

I think Master Viscanti should have a level 3 equi regain ability. Then we'llshow you overpowered.

Nice Yrael! Sooo constructive

Think the more interesting comparison is Elfen Lord against Brood Viscanti

I really admire Daevos for being able to stick with Viscanti for so long. I changeling into Viscanti every once and a while and I have to say that the sip penalty is just debilitating (try it out for yourself, it sucks) plus the low intelligence and charisma doesn't make it any more appealing either. It is so sad to see that practically the entire city would rather be any race besides Viscanti; that in itself says a lot about how inferior it is. I'm of the opinion that specialized races should always be first choice, hands down.

I think there was an argument before the race rebalancing that the specialty races were intentionally stronger to make them more common.

I had to switch from Viscanti, as a Nihilist the combat potential was horrible due to no speed bonuses. Ontop of that they aren't very tanky and have a bad sip, with putre my sip was basically used up on it. The best part is indeed the poison gas, which I loved like no other but all in all it is a poor race for the guardian class. I can't really comment on anything else, nor how useful merian is for Celestine.

They arent so bad for a Geomancer, but pretty much any race can get away with using blast ( all hail the amazing blast) though they are one of the absolute worse races for a Guardian. An unspecialized Elfen sucks with it and they alone have more intelligence. A Merian Lord is probably good, though they both have their advantages.

The sip penalty is harsh though..and its kinda sad to not see Viscanti used.

Whoops! I thought that that was a HORRIBLY LIGHT disadvantage for mugwumps with their speed, but why, we're talking about guys with higher strength, lower penalties and more constitution!

I'm going to bed.

When did I say that?