something ought to be done for level 10 blessing

[Pocus]

Originally posted by tinkthank:
Im also happy with the way things are now. I dont think there should be more incentive to get a 10 path. That would also really change the character of almost every nation since sacred troops could (potentially) have a much different value if 10-blessings were increased in power more.

I never ever saw a level 10 blessing in a MP game. The balance for level 10 is a total failure IMO.

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by Pocus:
I never ever saw a level 10 blessing in a MP game. The balance for level 10 is a total failure IMO.

I fully agree. It costs 56-80 points to get that 10th level, depending on your pretender's starting magic. Not worth a mere +1 in 1 stat for your blessed units. The other benefits (pretender getting less fatigue when casting spells in that path, 1 or 2 extra summons for a few conjuration or enchantment rituals) are too small to bother too.

[tinkthank]

What's unbalanced about it?

I dont think this is nitpicking when I say it is your choice of words which confuse me. I can't suppose why it should be considered unbalanced (that is: What is *unfair* about it?), although I more than agree with you if you mean by this there is no real big incentive to choose level 10 over level 9. But I think that is a question of style and design. I personally wouldnt like to see more incentive for level 10 choice. Level 10 may be boring, it may be pointless or not worth it(although one person here I think already stated that he enjoys level 10 earth with Abysia as it is now), it may be unsexy -- I agree with you there -- but I don't think it is "unbalanced" and hence don't think it should be "fixed" in a future patch.

If, on the other hand, level 10 blessings would be very different, that would raise global balance issues (just think about how that could change Marignon vs Ulm configurations, to name just one example).

This by no means indicates that the current bless situation is great or anything. I think a Blood 9 blessing is just marginally better than a getting a free kick in the shins, for instance -- that really should be changed drastically IMO.

[Pocus]

ok, I see everybody understood that I meant 'level 10 blessing is only of interest for flavor purpose, mostly in solo play, and is not worth the cost when you play in a competitive environment'...

[NTJedi]

Originally posted by Wauthan:
Blood - I draw a blank here. Never used bloodmagic enough.

For Blood... what about unit gains +2 life for every successful hit. (Only Lasts for the rest of the battle.)

[ May 14, 2004, 14:49: Message edited by: NTJedi ]

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by tinkthank:
What's unbalanced about it?

I dont think this is nitpicking when I say it is your choice of words which confuse me. I can't suppose why it should be considered unbalanced (that is: What is *unfair* about it?), although I more than agree with you if you mean by this there is no real big incentive to choose level 10 over level 9.

Yep, you're right, the almost complete lack of incentive is the problem here.

Anayway keep in mind neither Pocus nor I use our native language on this board, and our choice of words may not fit our thoughts very well at times.

[PhilD]

Originally posted by tinkthank:
What's unbalanced about it?

You have to keep in mind that Pocus and NGF have a rather competitive mindset when it comes to Dom2: if it's not worth it in competitive MP, it's therefore "unbalanced" - as in, there are more efficient ways to use those design points.

From what I've seen of your way of playing, you're more like me - as in, not as competitive. To each his own, but from the competitive POV, I can see where the level 10 blessings would be frustrating: they appear as "false" options, since they're normally not worth their cost.

[tinkthank]

I fully agree, Phil.
Please dont misunderstand me: A level 10 blessing is probably not "worth" it. I just think that means that getting a level 10 blessing is not a really viable option for competetive people; they should thus invest their points elsewhere. I just do not see why this makes it "imbalanced". According to the pros, it's not "smart" for a competetive person to invest in 10-blessing (those competetive people will know better than I); so why should anyone do it, except for fun? Since no one can exploit anything by doing it ("Hey -- Ermor can "afford" to get a level 10 death blessing, that's unfair!"), I don't see why it should be considered imbalanced.

That the pros (Pocus, NGF, others) *want* a level 10 blessing to be viable, I can understand. Like I said, I think this is a question of playing style. I personally wouldnt want this option to be open, because I feel this would greatly change the way that nation balance currently is, but my opinion is neither here nor there, and I am not a pro.

[tinkthank]

Originally posted by Nagot Gick Fel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by tinkthank:
[qb] What's unbalanced about it?

Yep, you're right, the almost complete lack of incentive is the problem here.

Anayway keep in mind neither Pocus nor I use our native language on this board, and our choice of words may not fit our thoughts very well at times.

---

Sorry! Your English is amazing, I forgot that.

I just think that "imbalance" is used for designating possible exploits or points of unfairness, while what you are indicating is a design flaw from your POV (which I can understand). I still feel that changing this design flaw would mean a LOT of work in rebalancing the nations (e.g.: if a level-10 blessing would become "worth it", then IMHO Marignon and Vanheim will need serious attention in rebalancing, to name just one issue of many).