Build Cap

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Rob, to respond to what you said its not because I "want" to play at the level cap. Its more like I don't have the time and money to make endless new characters. So I'm trying to make plans so that I can use a new character/costume/equipment that I am already planning on getting ready to play at this game as well as where I am starting it.

I won't lie, I enjoy having more build, call that "bad" if you want too. But imo as long as someone pays attention to the other aspects of their character and the game I don't think its detrimental to have people who have more on the bp end of things.

As far as the fighter vs. scholar thing is concerned... That is an endless conversation that has been had many times... But for what its worth fighters that go with 2h weapons for the damage bonus do loose a lot in defensive blocking ability.
 
I've seen players that will pwn you in the face with a 2h blunt, and if I were the aforementinoed fighter I'd have no problem wading into a group of 4-5 goblins knowing I could 1-shot them and required at least 10 hits to drop. Swinging 7s sword and board I'd be even less afraid, even though I now had to hit each gobbo twice. High level scholars can do the same thing, though admittedly not all day.

This to me isn't a players being cheezy issue, and if it comes across that way I apologize. I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone who's been running desk for a few years now and know how hard it is to stat a wave battle for PCs with such a wide level disparity. When the majority of your players are 1st-3rd level and you have 1/3 or your players at the absolute level cap you can run into serious problems. Either you stat low to make sure that the little guys don't have to hit monsters 8 times to drop them while making sure they don't take the two hits that will drop THEM and the big guys play lawn mower and aren't challenged or you stat based on the APL which may result in the monsters being on the tough side for the lowbies and a good challenge for the level capped people, with a strong chance that the lowbies will get decimated if the NPC ratio is good.

There are ways to finesse this. Split waves, secondary objectives for either the highbies or lowbies, a player base that realizes that the kobolds flanking you were meant for the little guys while you chase the Genhorde, etc. Like I said, players are going to do what they're going to do and I'm happy to roll with whatever policies are in place, I've just seen these issues present themselves at every lowbie I've helped run through the years. From a PC perspective this dosen't seem like a huge deal, from the perspective of the person who does statting such a big disparity with no middle ground makes statting waves very ticklish indeed... :)
 
Wow, lots of interest in the build cap!

At the end of the day, all of our policies are built with the idea of appealing to multiple types of players in mind. It really doesn't hurt or break the game if someone comes in with an extra couple body points. The idea of this type of policy really isn't to address how soon a player falls down, but rather what game skills they walk in with. The other numbers issues that were brought up basically exist at 84 build anyways (as you guys have already mentioned). If a player has a character they've blanketed, wants to play them, and doesn't mind leaving all that build unspent it's in no way an issue in our minds.

In every chapter of the Alliance, build disparity between players causes statting challenges. Our intent is to make our game friendly for new players by reducing the level disparity in our first year, and not by getting rid of it entirely. Not everyone wants to play a 15-build character - that's fine. Some people really get a kick out of the challenge of starting at 15 build - that's also fine! Whatever floats your respective boat is just duckie by us!

Playing the game is about having fun, for each individual, in whatever way (obviously within the rules and policies of each campaign) appeals to them most. However you enjoy playing the game, we hope those who have the time and like the lowbie game will come and give it a try at Crossroads.
 
Awesome, yea I really hope some of your events work for me. :)

I totally respect using a level cap to make a game a bit more inviting for new people and I'll be sure to keep my new character under the limit so I can play it in crossroads too!

Thanks for the info again.
 
If someone has 100 build and only spends up to the cap, what happens to the rest of the build? Characters maintain continuity across chapters, right? So you'd have to never spend that extra build ever, right? Soooo... what's the point of even having that extra build? I'm confused.
 
If I don't mis-understand thing if you have 100 build, you can still play in Catskills if you only spend 84. So while you have that unspent build your character might be a little bit "weaker" than another at the same level. However as I understand it they are planning to raise the build cap decently fast, so that as time goes on you'll have enough build to sent right up to the cap as it goes up.

Eventually you will and can spend the build that is unspent for that character, so there is certainly a point to having it. And unspent or not it still adds to your characters body total. :)
 
Yup :) The cap will be based on build you've spent, and that number will increase over time... it's like saving up the build to buy a prof or backstab... you have it in reserve to spend when the time is right. But in this case, Crossroads will tell you when that time is :)

Because it's a low-level chapter, there will be a given IG explanation as to why only "inexperienced adventurers" are present. I believe there will be IG reasons for the level cap increase, which will help explain the sudden jump in player ability from one game to another (for those with unspent build).
 
Keep in mind, gang.. it's not like we're saying "please come in at the cap and live with unspent build all year". We're saying that we don't want to penalize players that chapter hop (GO ALLIANCE!!) and end up a few build over the limit. Extreme examples are outside the norm.. it could always happen, just like I could get hit by a meteor while brushing my teeth tonight.

I'm betting I'll get the minty-fresh breath instead of the smoldering cabin ruins. :D
 
If you have 100 Build, and only spend up to the cap, you still have your Body points derived from your total build.
 
Telokh_Amdo said:
If you have 100 Build, and only spend up to the cap, you still have your Body points derived from your total build.
Click to expand...

We understand that fact. By allowing these extra body points we support the Alliance as a whole.

Tab

P.S. Missed you guys at the party. :(
 
CrossRoads said:
Telokh_Amdo said:
If you have 100 Build, and only spend up to the cap, you still have your Body points derived from your total build.
Click to expand...

We understand that fact. By allowing these extra body points we support the Alliance as a whole.

Tab

P.S. Missed you guys at the party. :(
Click to expand...

Plus I don't think that a few body points will break the chapter
 
CrossRoads said:
Telokh_Amdo said:
If you have 100 Build, and only spend up to the cap, you still have your Body points derived from your total build.
Click to expand...

We understand that fact. By allowing these extra body points we support the Alliance as a whole.

Tab

P.S. Missed you guys at the party. :(
Click to expand...

I didn't think you didn't know. I was just pointing it out for others who may not realize the benefit.

PS Missed you as well...but we'll see you TONIGHT!!!!!
 
Random note about the playing at the top of the BC thing:

The most fun I have ever, ever had in my years at Alliance was with a fifteen build character on an APL 6 team. If you've never played a character straight from fifteen build.. try it. I loved it and I still do.
 
I tried it and hated it. :P

For real, though, I didn't know what I was doing, so I sat around and did nothing. It was my first event ever, so I'm sure if I started over as a 15 build character I would like it.
 
totally different at a level capped game... especially one capped at 7th level (which is lower than most low-level events).

If no one around you can swing more than 10's (and that's the rogue, from behind), you can still feel effective as an extremely low level character (1st, 2nd, 3rd level).
 
:lol: ..just cause Im bored...high orc rogue with 84 build could be swinging 11's from behind or high orc fighter with a 2hander could be swing 10's all around....

dont care about the buld cap...cause it will be fun to run a low level pc and try to thug stuff....cant wait...for race packets and a list of events too..... :? :lol: ;) :D
 
Also, just for kicks and giggles 46 build Eagle-Kin (level 4) with a racial prof can do double his/her level in damage with a large x-bow from all directions. ;)
 
But no one will be able to swing twenties, or have dozens of available defensives (resists, parries, dodges, etc especially in MIs and skillstores) and will run into fights knowing there are plenty of life spells, dispels, purifies, and healing to deal with the injuries they sustain.

It will change the way PCs fight in more ways than just decreasing damage, which I think will make new players feel useful because they're not looking at the 28th level fighter going "Compared to that guy I can't do anything," they'll be looking at the level 6 guy going "I'm not a liability to him, and I can be doing what he's doing in a few events."
 
Which is a good thing, because there is nothing as discouraging as showing upto an event (any event) only to find you are completely useless at everything. I see you want to retain your old players by allowing them to continue to level, but its new player retention that you should be looking at & thats what a level cap does. I think its a great idea & would like to congratulate the owners for having the balls to go with what some people will consider an unpopular choice.

-M
 
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