I'm guessing it wasn't thought about that far in advance.

Simple... turn chop into mulch!

I'd like to point out that classes get really dull when every class has comparable abilities that do the same thing. The fact that communes have one more out shouldn't mean the nerf stick has to come out-- there should be an advantage for cities too. It's boring when everyone can do everything equally.

I agree.

Cities can chop trees (or break demesnes or whatever we're talking about here) better when communes learn to destroy sigils.

Alchemy plz kthx.

The only way you don't let the axe decay is by keeping it in a store or slapping a rune on it. Neither one a viable option.



I disagree. I am more inclined to feel it is the way you use your abilities that make things fun, not how many abilities you have that the other guy does not possess. Even if all sides had the same abilities, those who truly understand their abilities would still find marvel ways to use them that others had not thought of. Heck that is why Chess, with both sides having the exact same abilities, is still one of the most interesting games around.

I do not feel that in the name of diversity one side should have skills that can not be countered effectively by the other side. I prefer balance, to advantage when it comes to games. Let the person's own ingenuity create the advantage for him, instead of allowing the mechanics of the game to codify an advantage.

I like this post. Que eff tee.

how about we fix both with a new ability

for Alchemists: form of treepoison, that can be put in a vial, using it will have a balance loss slightly longer then mulch, for the rest same effect
for Enchanters: disenchanting rod (with 20 charges or something, no recharge), point rod at a sigil and it will disenchant for the same power cost as the enchanter skill. Also slightly longer balance

and everyone will be (un)happy

Wow I agree too. Lets hold hand Forren and the basin may unite in bliss. (Cept for Myndie, he would be jealous and shank me in the shower or something)

If you have an axe specifically for chopping, then do stats even matter? Or whether or not its a mastercraft weapon? And if neither of these matter, what's to stop you from getting a forger to smelt it down and reforge it every so often, effectively renewing the decay timer? At a cost that will very likely be free, or close to it?

Yes, stats matter. Damage definitely affects how fast it chops down the tree (so does strength). I believe speed mods the balance recovery, but I'm not positive on that.

Good grief. I outlined how mulch and chop are unbalanced on my very first post about it.

And it quickly became evident that many people disagree with your assessment.

The only thing that really needs to be changed is that saplings should ALWAYS be 1-hit-to-kill outside of forest-environment... no matter what. That's how it's supposed to be, but isn't.

Yes. That was in response to people not reading the post and just making assumptions that I didn't offer a solution.

But since everyone thinks they are so balanced, I suggest they try two things:

Get a druid. Stand in the room with them and a sapling. Full effects including tree life. Now tell the druid to whore raise cudgel. Good luck chopping. I've experienced in a real combat situation with Krellan. We all died because it was impossible to break the meld. It didn't help that people were having to constantly wield and unwield axes.

Now do the same with a mage. They will passively stun you to slow you down. Possibly fleshstone one person. Generally, you will have no trouble breaking.

edit: my suggestion included a way to chop from the trees.

Is it bad that everytime I see envoy reports at the top of the 'view new posts' page with Bianca as the most recent poster, I automatically think 'Oh crap what are the monks losing this time?'

Yes, when I meant the axe would decay I mostly meant that you can easily get them reforged so the investment never really disappears. I've never tested much on the difference in how many swings it takes to topple down saplings/mature trees with the varied damages, but reckon what I said was misleading in a sense if stats are that important.

One major thing I would stress is the difference between sapling and other mature trees. Being able to mow down reverted elder trees and naturally mature trees should never be possible with an axe. I agree entirely with one swing of an axe toppling saplings though.

@Celina If you are with a group, have someone tackle or gust the druid out. They will be in the trees as well when you get put up there and you won't be stunned if you're already at tree level when they raise their cudgel. Even when dealing with a mage's meld you go in with a gameplan and everyone knows what they're doing to make it quick so you don't get sperated by currents or anything.... and as city dwellers, is it really a bad thing for a druid to be freelancing on the edge of their demesne where you can possibly beckon or otherwise move them out of it?

If your group died to raise cudgel whoring, don't bring noobs next time?

The axe thing is best handled with an alias. Anyone with a real client and half a brain can make an alias. The axe is annoying, but saplings are weaker than terrain. Looks like balance to me.

They died in a demesne where they couldn't stay out of the trees long enough to chop, break, and meld.

How is sapling weaker than terrain? At all?