Experience

[Abharsair]

I would think that constructive criticism of the game would be welcomed and not considered 'odd' or unfairly labeled 'anti-RP'.

I didn't say your criticism is odd, I said the reasoning behind your criticism strikes me as odd. The way I was phrasing it should make it fairly obvious that it's my personal opinion and not a claim to be an undeniable fact.

And if you want me to elaborate on that:

Geas is a multi-user fighting game, where roleplaying is allowed and staying IC is enforced.

to which you replied

I think you hit the nail on the head. Thank you for clarifying it for me in words I probably could not have put together.
...
The answer is: Geas is not built for non-fighters, so dont expect to be on equal footing if you choose to play one.

Considering that criticizing the way how experience is distributed within a game is usually found more among the less RP-oriented and more achievement-oriented groups of a MUD, I personally find the above mentioned quotes in connection with the original post a bit odd, especially if one takes into account that it's perfectly fine and possible to roleplay something else than a fighter, and to excel in many other non-fighting skills or professions without having to kill ("to kill" as in combat experience) anything.

[eirikeld]

If a non-combative character is missing out on xp, I believe they should be concerned. They could use that XP to further their chosen non-combative profession, by raising their Int or Wis that much higher.

However, if as Abh. says it is truly "completely negligible and irrelevant in comparrison" then I am not overly concerned.

I suppose I also have one related question. Does sparring against other PC's raise xp in a combat sense, or only by the resulting skill improvement?

[luminier]

answering eirikeld.... i think that sparring does raise your experience because it is possible to gian improvements from sparring especially fighting someone similar or highger than your own skill level... ( at least in my experience) and experience had been gained for me just from skill imps and not from fighting. Fighting i don't think gives you anything... it's the killing. (maybe) =P

[jezz]

Really, call me stupid but I'm trying it hard and I don't see the necessity for xp's for a player who theoretically is not interested in powergaming.

If you're a bard and an alchemist, what is the big deal if your wisdom is halfway to epic dis instead of very far?

I'm thinking about it over and over and maybe it is my lack of knowledge about the code of GEAS but... why powergame with a character that is apparently only interested in rp and enjoy the awesome possibilities of craftmanship from GEAS?

Raise two points in wind instrument instead of one each two days?

[krelji]

If you're a bard and an alchemist, what is the big deal if your wisdom is halfway to epic dis instead of very far?

I'm thinking about it over and over and maybe it is my lack of knowledge about the code of GEAS but... why powergame with a character that is apparently only interested in rp and enjoy the awesome possibilities of craftmanship from GEAS?

Raise two points in wind instrument instead of one each two days?

I wished the wis and int of my char were anywhere close to half to epic.
Sometimes it can be quite distracting if you rp your char as being more
intelligent and wise than his stats would suggest.
I am long past the point where skillpoints or xp's would bother me much,
but it's still distracting - especially since I tend to have problems playing
stupid chars.

[Delia]

A question about DIS.

Does it improve only with combat skills? As in, discipline representing bravery and all that, or can one raise DIS with non-combat pursuits(skills) as well?

[tessa]

I would guess so, Tessa has especially high dis and hardly any combat skills.

[vurdijak]

I was under the impression that anytime you get a skill improve or earn experience, that amount of experience is distruted according to your stat selection. Is this correct? If so, you could enhance your DIS by adventuring as usual and gaining experience for any activity, but have your DIS stat set fairly high.

[jezz]

You can have your int as high as you want, but if everything you do is fighting, I doubt it will go up very fast...

[isengoo]

Some skills affect stats differently. Fighter skills -> strength and constitution, thief skills -> dexterity and agility, mage skills -> intelligence and wisdom, and what have you.

About discipline, I would imagine it's a more general type of stat, with most skills affecting it equally.

[vurdijak]

Alright, so if that is true and some skills effect certain stats differently, then what would happen to a tshahark fighter who allocated most of his stats to wis/int? I doubt this happens much, if ever, but as a hypothetical, would he earn less experience in total from his fighting?
By the way, I am NOT saying he should earn the same, less, or more experience or making any sort of passive assertion. Rather I really am curious as to how this works.

Another point, that if what you have both said is true, then allocating stats is sort of like a game, where you try to match your stat allocation to your actions as closely as possible. Is this how you two view it?

[tessa]

I think tshaharks' int and wis caps are around 10, so putting most of their prefs in int/wis won't be possible.

And, I think what you do ultimately determines how your stats grow. Currently, Tessa has most of her statprefs in str/dex/agi/con, since they are the lowest stats for her, and 5 in int, wis, and dis. Despite that, her mentals increase just as fast, if not faster, than her physical stats. Incidentally, almost all the skills she improves are mental ones, and not physical.

[vurdijak]

Alright, so in your scenario, I'm guessing you arent playing a 'matching game', by trying to match your stats as closely as possible to the 'types of experience' you earn?

[tessa]

Nope, I'm trying to put the most xp into my lowest stats, and the least xp in my highest stats. But, my stat growth still seems to reflect what I do most often, which is mental stuff.

Though IMO, this makes sense. I shouldn't become faster, healthier, or stronger from reading a book or practicing different languages.

[Olrane]

I think one of the best things about this MUD is that stat preferences do NOT dictate very much how your character develops. The vast majority of stat development comes from skills that are clearly tied to certain stats, most of which the player can guess or approximate, or are explicitly said. It's obvious that something like open lock or sharpening helps dexterity, while something like drinking possibly helps constitution.

In fact, some people have argued that stat preferences already play too much of a role in character development, especially in regards to quests. From my experience, anyway, quests give experience exactly or nearly exactly along stat preference lines, thus allowing characters to artificially boost stats that do not deserve experience based on actual skills.

Anyway, I just thought I'd say that I like the balance right now. Most stats improve along skill lines, while each skill improve seems to give a slight boost to non-related stats based on preferences. As Tessa said, actions tend to determine stats, despite unmatched preferences.

[vurdijak]

Good points. Yeah I think the system is fair, for distributing experienced earned. Are quests the only type of experience earning that are generic in that sense, in that they give experience according to your preferences?

[tessa]

Probably explore xp too.

[luminier]

explore xp is next to nothing.

[tessa]

It varies, just like quests. Some are small, some are not. I have gotten quest-sized xp before just from exploring new areas thoroughly.

[Delia]

Given the fact there are TONS of places with explore-exp its not to be viewed lightly.