Preface: Hunter don't panic. I will do all the heavy lifting (DB entries and what not).
Description:Ok, time to piss off the bulk of the server again...
I am considering writing up a system for players to "buy" their spells through plat and components. The player would be able to take a variety of components, combine them in the magic box, and receive the spell (standard NO DROP tag on the spell, of course).
*Each class with spells would get a class focus. ALL spell combines would take a focus to differentiate which class is making the spell. [
Very cheap, under 50p]
*Next would be an elemental ink (fire, cold, disease, poison, magic, nature, and holy) to help determine which spell would be made. [
Very cheap, under 50p]
*The next component would be a tiered vellum. This is where a small plat investment comes into play. Prices below are ballpark suggestions.
- QVIC - 10k
- TACVI - 20k
- T1 - 50k
- T2 - 75k
- T3 - 100k
- T4 - 130k
- T5 - 225k
- T6 - 300k
*Lastly, matching tier essence.
In full example: I want to make Yamakagi's Fiery Passion Inferno II (dropped from whatever in the Abyss). I would combine wizard focus, fire ink, Abyss Vellum, and Essence of the Abyss into the Magic Box to create the spell scroll.
Questions:There are very often times when a player is stuck farming for a particular, critical spell that is absolutely required to progress (i.e. Shylo's Bolt of Doom or Yamakagi's Fiery Passion Inferno). Sometimes it will involve MANY MANY hours of unnecessary farming to find this one obscure drop.
Why not increase spell drop chance? This would result in tons of spells rotting left and right. It makes a spell drop feel less exciting and gives a bit of a fast lane to gearing the caster.
Why bother adding something so expensive? See the first notation in this section or try power gearing/rushing a new caster alt. You will understand immediately. It adds a way to obtain a spell, albeit a slightly expensive way.
Why use an essence? This is the
only part that I am unsure. If another component is added that drops at same pace as essences, it is useful for only casters and freely (or cheaply) traded. Essences are already heavily strained with the variety of uses, but I cannot find another way to easily replicate the difficulty for this final component. If I simply remove it from combine requirement, then this becomes a fast track to gearing the casters via spell research. The Vellum cost could go up ~25% or so to remove essences, but not really sure.
Now, could anyone post reasons why this should/should-not be used? If so, could you explain just a little bit on why you feel the way you do? I will like go into much more detail if this idea takes hold and/or it seems that others seem to express interest in it.
-Hate
EDIT #1: Focus, Ink, and Vellum are vendor bought in Caster's and/or Crafter's Guild(s).