Q&A for NEW Advanced Start Options

[Halaster]

See this announcement:  https://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,60350.0/moderate.html

[Halaster]

What do you mean by "if you start with it?".

Say you pick Artisan who starts with no ride skill.  You pick your subclass as Bandit who does start with ride.  With that combination, you WILL get a boost to ride.

[Obeliskocism]

If a player isn't particularly savvy when it comes to understanding skill and code interactions, but has a well-articulated character concept, could they submit that and have someone on staff assist them with the skill selections, etc. for a recommended advanced start?

[Halaster]

If a player isn't particularly savvy when it comes to understanding skill and code interactions, but has a well-articulated character concept, could they submit that and have someone on staff assist them with the skill selections, etc. for a recommended advanced start?

Absolutely!  If you want, we can help you figure out a good class / subclass combo to get the most out of it.

[Halaster]

Can I branch skills with this, or apply the boosts to a branched skill?

No, this only applies to skills on your character sheet at the moment of creation.

[Agent_137]

This is fantastic! Something I begged for while on staff. Glad to see it happen. 

Question 1: "and no clan" does that mean this can't be applied to PCs applying into an official tribe?

Question 2: do all role calls get this same boost now?

[Halaster]

This is fantastic! Something I begged for while on staff. Glad to see it happen. 

Question 1: "and no clan" does that mean this can't be applied to PCs applying into an official tribe?

Question 2: do all role calls get this same boost now?

1.  I struggled with that wording, so I've changed it to no/any clan.  Yes, it can be applied to PC's applying into an official tribe.

2.  Yeah, when a rolecall is made it will get these same boosts

[Agent_137]

Awesome, I look forward to using this. Great to see mundanes getting some OOC balance with mages while retaining the IC scare factor and power disparity.  It even makes role calls more attractive, and no doubt easier on staff side. 

[Lizzie]

... If you do not pick one of those, you do not start with extra gear, nor do you start as an advanced rank (unless otherwise agreed on with staff of that clan).  However, you do start with an extra 1200 coins.

Requirements:

- Character cannot be a mul, a half-giant, nor any kind of mage or psionicist.  This is for pure mundanes only.  Normal racial restrictions apply based on the organization.

So the advanced start is for mundanes only - I get that.

But does this mean that mages, muls, h-gs, and mindbenders will still start with 1200 more sids than they used to? Or, does it mean that everyone except muls, h-gs, mages, and benders will start with 1200 and those exceptions will still have to decide whether to buy armor, or a mount?

[flurry]

Can the 'other' skills being boosted be subclass skills that have nothing to do with the main class?

[Halaster]

But does this mean that mages, muls, h-gs, and mindbenders will still start with 1200 more sids than they used to? Or, does it mean that everyone except muls, h-gs, mages, and benders will start with 1200 and those exceptions will still have to decide whether to buy armor, or a mount?

The extra money is only for the advanced start, which takes a special app.

[Halaster]

Can the 'other' skills being boosted be subclass skills that have nothing to do with the main class?

Yes, you can boost any skill on your starting skill list, even if it comes from a subclass.

[Lutagar]

Do different classes get different starting gear if they start in the byn/militia?
Will stealth classes start with +stealth gear? Or will they get the exact same gear a guild_fighter would?
Is the starting gear supposed to be equal to 700 coins they miss out on, or is it reasonable to assume that those starting in a clan will start off somewhat more privileged?

[Halaster]

1. Do different classes get different starting gear if they start in the byn/militia?
2. Will stealth classes start with +stealth gear? Or will they get the exact same gear a guild_fighter would?
3. Is the starting gear supposed to be equal to 700 coins they miss out on, or is it reasonable to assume that those starting in a clan will start off somewhat more privileged?

1. No, they all get the same gear.  The only thing that changes is it gives them a weapon based on the weapon skills they chose.  So if they chose slashing, they'll get a sword, and so on.  Otherwise, all the gear is the same.  There's just too many options to try to customize it more.  That's part of why they get an additional 500 coins on top of the gear and the normal starting money.
2. No, stealth classes will have the same gear
3. The starting gear for the clan options probably isn't exactly 700, it falls a bit short.  There's also consideration given that the Byn/AoD/USC starter options do start at a higher rank than normal.

[Riev]

For the heavy crafting classes (Fence/Artisan/Trade) it mentions that some skills will be set to master. Assuming these are still for non-branched crafting skills ... but does this mean that you would consider Custom Crafting from Hour 0 on an Advanced Start character?

[Halaster]

For the heavy crafting classes (Fence/Artisan/Trade) it mentions that some skills will be set to master. Assuming these are still for non-branched crafting skills ... but does this mean that you would consider Custom Crafting from Hour 0 on an Advanced Start character?

Yeah, for non branched.  In the case where the bonuses put the skill above branching level, it means the first time you fail the skill it will branch.

And yeah, you could custom craft from hour 0 on the advanced start if the class normally can.

[Dresan]

Any chance of opting out of the boost to defense/offense? 

[lostinspace]

Is this process fully automated during character creation, or do we still begin the process by sending in a spec-app request?

[Halaster]

Any chance of opting out of the boost to defense/offense? 

No, sorry, it's all scripted.

[Halaster]

Is this process fully automated during character creation, or do we still begin the process by sending in a spec-app request?

Still need to send in a spec-app.  And then staff will run a script in-game to set you up pretty quickly.

[Nao]

Afaik pilferers have the best steal skill of all classes, they should get a boost to steal and maybe sleight of hand.

[Halaster]

Afaik pilferers have the best steal skill of all classes, they should get a boost to steal and maybe sleight of hand.

Those are definitely skills they could pick to have boosted from the optional skills everyone gets to boost.

[Bogre]

I still think it's overly weighted to heavy combat classes. The comparative boosts that Scouts/Infiltrators/Soldiers get (to say nothing of anything beneath that) is far far weaker than the top tier classes, in both importance of skill and sheer # of points added.

[Abaddon]

Will there be plans to repeal the one karma requirement for special applications?

[zealus]

For the heavy crafting classes (Fence/Artisan/Trade) it mentions that some skills will be set to master. Assuming these are still for non-branched crafting skills ... but does this mean that you would consider Custom Crafting from Hour 0 on an Advanced Start character?

Having the skill at master is no longer a requirement of custom crafting So you can do hour 0 custom crafts on any PC

https://www.armageddon.org/help/view/Custom%20Crafting

[Halaster]

Will there be plans to repeal the one karma requirement for special applications?

No, you must have 1 karma to make a specapp.  This is mostly so that someone can't just make an account, put in a specapp, then as soon as that character dies, make another account and do it again.

That said, going from 0 to 1 karma is designed to be pretty easy on the new system.

[KawaiiBear]

Is there any possibility for fence to opt to get the same bonuses artisan/dune trader gets?
They're almost identical except fence gets boosted stealth and 2 crafting skills set to master vs 6 crafting skills set to master.
Getting 4 crafting skills to master is imo much more valuable than boosted stealth, especially with how low it caps for fence.

I would like to play a fence tbh but the starting bonuses DT/Artisan are so much more massively useful in comparison that I'm reconsidering on that alone.

[Halaster]

Is there any possibility for fence to opt to get the same bonuses artisan/dune trader gets?
They're almost identical except fence gets boosted stealth and 2 crafting skills set to master vs 6 crafting skills set to master.
Getting 4 crafting skills to master is imo much more valuable than boosted stealth, especially with how low it caps for fence.

I would like to play a fence tbh but the starting bonuses DT/Artisan are so much more massively useful in comparison that I'm reconsidering on that alone.

This is reasonable.  I've updated Fence to be:

For Fence:
- Offense, Defense raised a tiny amount
- Parry raised to apprentice if you start with it
- Two fighting styles (two-handed, dual wield, or shield use) raised to apprentice
- Kick, bash, disarm, rescue, guarding, riposte and hack all raised a small amount (depends on skill) if your guild/subguild combo starts with the skill.
- Ride set to journeyman if you start with it
- Large boost to 3 "other" skills.  Examples would be hunting, direction sense, skinning, clothworking, etc.  Again, a skill you start with only.
- 2 crafting skills (in addition to above) set to master
- 2 crafting skills (in addition to above) set to advanced
- Sneak and hide set at low advanced

[benjonson]

How can I use this option?

[Halaster]

How can I use this option?

You can do this by using a Special Application.  Everyone gets 2 special applications a year, once they reach 1 karma.

So once you have 1 karma, you can go into the request tool, click New Request, go under Character Related and choose Special Application.  Here is the helpfile on it:  https://www.armageddon.org/help/view/Special%20Applications

[Athapaxis]

Sorry if this has already been answered somewhere - but when does this open?

[cnemus]

[Halaster has a better answer]

[Halaster]

Now actually.

From this announcement:  https://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,60419.0.html

"June 1st - applications for rolecalls and specapps are open in the request tool"

So if you want to do an advanced start special app, you can submit the request in the request tool now.  The systems to actually -create- the character aren't open yet, that'll be June 10.

[Athapaxis]

In the Request tool, I'm seeing 'Special Application' but when you select that it says not to use it for extended subguild or skill bump - but to use the request specific to that.  Not seeing another option in the menu.  Am I missing something?

[Riev]

Are we at the point where if I'm NOT asking for a special app or sponsored role, but I want to put one or two things in my background that I'm unsure about, it can be submitted?

I'd hate to put in a character app only to get it denied because "you can't say you did that in your background"

[zealus]

Are we at the point where if I'm NOT asking for a special app or sponsored role, but I want to put one or two things in my background that I'm unsure about, it can be submitted?

I'd hate to put in a character app only to get it denied because "you can't say you did that in your background"

I'd say put it in a question request.

[Halaster]

In the Request tool, I'm seeing 'Special Application' but when you select that it says not to use it for extended subguild or skill bump - but to use the request specific to that.  Not seeing another option in the menu.  Am I missing something?

Oversight on my part, I'll fix that soon!  Thanks for pointing it out.

[Usiku]

Are we at the point where if I'm NOT asking for a special app or sponsored role, but I want to put one or two things in my background that I'm unsure about, it can be submitted?

I'd hate to put in a character app only to get it denied because "you can't say you did that in your background"

You can fire in a question request any time really, just note that staff are quite busy at the moment so depending on the complexity it might not get a response right away.

[Riev]

I'm not a priority at this time?

I am shocked. Shocked and ... shocked again. Twice shocked!

Thank you!

[Boggis]

From Raider, Fighter and Enforcer:
- Kick, bash, disarm, rescue, guarding, riposte and hack all raised to journeyman/advanced (depends on skill) if your guild/subguild combo starts with the skill.

- One ranged weapon style (archery, blowgun, crossbow, slings, throw) raised to journeyman/advanced

What's the criteria to decide if the skill is raised to advanced or journeyman?

[Halaster]

What's the criteria to decide if the skill is raised to advanced or journeyman?

They have slightly different start skill values, so like one may be 30 in kick the other may be 25 in kick.  The bonus added to them might put them on the high end of jman, while for another it may put them on the very low end of advanced.  Number wise they're all within about 5 of each other, it's just that puts them right near where the category name changes.

Also, depending on your subguild choice, that may start with a higher value in those skills, so just adds more variables to it.

Make sense?

[eska]

For Raider, Fighter, and Enforcer:
...
- Kick, bash, disarm, rescue, guarding, riposte and hack all raised to journeyman/advanced (depends on skill) if your guild/subguild combo starts with the skill.
...

I just noticed that only fighters gets this bonus in full. Enforcers and Raiders only benefit 3 of these skills unless they pick Guard as the subguild for the fourth.

Any chance to rework on this for Enforcer and Raider?

[Halaster]

For Raider, Fighter, and Enforcer:
...
- Kick, bash, disarm, rescue, guarding, riposte and hack all raised to journeyman/advanced (depends on skill) if your guild/subguild combo starts with the skill.
...

I just noticed that only fighters gets this bonus in full. Enforcers and Raiders only benefit 3 of these skills unless they pick Guard as the subguild for the fourth.

Any chance to rework on this for Enforcer and Raider?

There are no plans to.  It's always been about "if you get the skill, it gets raised".  Once the game launches and the initial dust settles, maybe we can revisit it then.

[Tailong]

Hypothetically speaking, say you advance start in a clan and if that clan turns out to be less than optimal and unfun, can you leave early, after spending a considerable about of playtime? Two real life months is an hefty investment into a clan that may or may not be worth the said investment.

[Halaster]

Hypothetically speaking, say you advance start in a clan and if that clan turns out to be less than optimal and unfun, can you leave early, after spending a considerable about of playtime? Two real life months is an hefty investment into a clan that may or may not be worth the said investment.

If there was a commitment up front, then you'd be expected to honor that commitment.