Setting ones skill level

[HavokBlue]

So I should waste effort to parry when I can duck and cut him in half. Great idea.

Armed single combat does not work the way you think it works.

When two people engage each other with swords, they are not big lumbering fools lazily swiping at each other like a movie or videos same. Maybe you should watch some footage of HEMA fighters dueling with zweihanders, as an example. These are massive, heavy swords, and they are absurdly fast and agile.

[Harmless]

Riev's proposed scenario is why I found this idea interesting. I agree that training in combat isn't THAT big of a deal and you can uae drinking to handle it. But if in Riev's scenario the PC tried to mask their skill with drinking it wouldn't work or make sense. This idea would give us more options.

Also. Sun Tzu wrote, "If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles... if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle." This is why I found the idea interesting. It's also a classic trope in countless books/stories/anime/comics, you name it. And it's realistic.

But is it a fluffy add on that only proves useful in limited situations? And are there much simpler ways of getting around the core goal of hiding your true capability? Yes, so I agree with all the counterpoints too. In Riev's scenario, you could see that person switching to a weapon and style they're unskilled in to fool the Legion. But people, stop saying the idea itself isn't without merit.

[Is Friday]

If your PC isn't drinking recruits under the table while beating their asses they aren't meant to be in a combat leadership role.

[Riev]

Even then though Harmless... your offense and defense scores will betray your years of training. A 40day warrior with master slashing is still MORE than decent with an axe.

[TheWanderer]

I think it was mentioned that going to sparring drunk was actually considered abuse and was frowned upon heavily by staff.

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Is this for real?

[Riya OniSenshi]

I think it was mentioned that going to sparring drunk was actually considered abuse and was frowned upon heavily by staff.

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Is this for real?

If you get intoxicated specifically for the purpose of failing skills in order to raise them, I think is what they're talking about. I do remember that being mentioned somewhere once. Though it's more like when you do this intentionally with no IC reason repeatedly/habitually. Having to attend sparring after a drinking party or IC binge or because you are always drunk (alcoholic, etc.) wouldn't fall into this category. It's not really as useful as people in this thread are making it sound, though, and has its own set of problems.

[Quirk]

Do you know what ducking does when someone is swinging at your neck?

Well, if we're still talking medieval longsword: likely it just gets your head in the way instead, as swords move in diagonal arcs, not horizontal.

Or what weaving does when the guy is trying to jab you in the face?

It gets you killed. The tip of a blade moves, and tracks, much faster than a punch does.

You seriously need to check out ARMA, the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts, and some of their live sparring vids.

Also, you say simpler. I think Morgenes just explained that the code changes necessary to make this possible are a near-monumental feat that are difficult enough where it's almost infeasible to perform such a task.

I don't think you understood me. I was suggesting a small targeted change at the point of combat calculation which would give the desired effects for combat alone without having to change vast numbers of skills, i.e. getting most of the effect without requiring monumental changes. And yes, I'm a coder, and a former RPI coder to boot - I rolled out the wounds code on Harshlands a decade back.

[evilcabbage]

There is no such thing as a small targetted chance where all of this code is involved. You literally cannot just lower the weapon skill to lower your ability to fight, there are -so- many other things that come into account.

[Quirk]

There is no such thing as a small targetted chance where all of this code is involved. You literally cannot just lower the weapon skill to lower your ability to fight, there are -so- many other things that come into account.

That wasn't my suggestion; may I encourage you to read the second last sentence of the suggestion post again? And if you don't know much about code, don't worry about it, just please be assured it's a suggestion that would require substantially less work than the original request, as it affects only the handful of combat skills instead of all skills, and might even be implementable without writing code specialised to any combat skills at all.

[Morgenes]

Along the lines of Quick's suggestion (which is far easier than the original request of every skill throughout the game), would be the ability to 'pull your punches', i.e. intentionally not swing hard.  Not necessarily without skill, but basically reduction in damage (dropping strength bonus, and/or just capping damage).

Or like a sparring mode (unknown how it would be initiated, maybe a 'spar' command) where you don't actually make contact, but instead take stamina drain with every swing.

[Riya OniSenshi]

Along the lines of Quick's suggestion (which is far easier than the original request of every skill throughout the game), would be the ability to 'pull your punches', i.e. intentionally not swing hard.  Not necessarily without skill, but basically reduction in damage (dropping strength bonus, and/or just capping damage).

Or like a sparring mode (unknown how it would be initiated, maybe a 'spar' command) where you don't actually make contact, but instead take stamina drain with every swing.

Here's a thread on that topic some of you might find interesting:
http://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,36930.0.html

[evilcabbage]

Now THAT'S a good idea Morg.

[MeTekillot]

Sparring causing stam/stun would be rad.

[Narf]

Or like a sparring mode (unknown how it would be initiated, maybe a 'spar' command) where you don't actually make contact, but instead take stamina drain with every swing.

I'm going to chime in and say I think that's a great idea.

[bcw81]

All those poor runners being thrown in the latrines though! D:

[Refugee]

All those poor runners being thrown in the latrines though! D:

Builds character!

[Delirium]

I like the idea of pulling punches.. sparring mode sounds like it could get seriously complicated and also removes the opportunity for someone to intentionally hurt their sparring opponent.

[maxid]

Make 'spar' a toggle, where as you get more skilled you do less real damage and more stun/stamina damage.  It's a trade off so that the better skilled you are, the better control you have, so the less unintentional damage you deal in combat.

This could also lead to the ability to focus on knocking something out - hitting it with the flat of your blade, etc. - rather than killing it, which might be useful for some groups/clans/people. 

[Zerero]

This thread is turning into 'ways to make grinding easier'.

The initial idea to 'conceal' your true skill level is perfect and would be amazing for RP while still using code and not being obvious about it.

[evilcabbage]

This thread is turning into 'ways to make grinding easier'.

The initial idea to 'conceal' your true skill level is perfect and would be amazing for RP while still using code and not being obvious about it.

Dude, read the thread. Spar mode -negates- skill gains.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Make 'spar' a toggle, where as you get more skilled you do less real damage and more stun/stamina damage.  It's a trade off so that the better skilled you are, the better control you have, so the less unintentional damage you deal in combat.

This could also lead to the ability to focus on knocking something out - hitting it with the flat of your blade, etc. - rather than killing it, which might be useful for some groups/clans/people. 

I like this a lot, actually.

[Zerero]

This thread is turning into 'ways to make grinding easier'.

The initial idea to 'conceal' your true skill level is perfect and would be amazing for RP while still using code and not being obvious about it.

Dude, read the thread. Spar mode -negates- skill gains.

The OP's 'spar mode' is supposed to negate skill gains. I'm commenting on the separate/different ideas that have been posted through pages two, three and four.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Pretty sure I can state that every single idea presented in this thread has pretty much been made with that in mind - with the exception of the change to sparring weapons.

[MeTekillot]

what possible reason would people spar if it negated skill gains

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Because spar mode would be an equalizer to allow you to participate in combat against a lesser foe and be semi-equally matched, which means you don't destroy him in rapid fire. You don't get to gain skill. Your opponent does.