Shattered Kingdoms

Any chance we could get a post explaining some the warlock leveling changes? Or maybe just a pointer to a forum post if it has already been done?

I don't entirely disagree with some tweaks being done, but getting zero XP when you lead NPCs to somewhere they can't attack back is a little harsh, considering the way AI works it's one of the few legit ways to use AoE to level as a warlock.

I'd like to know what will and won't gain me XP at this point.

The principle is the same that it has always been. Anytime you are in a situation where the NPC is "helpless", you do not receive XP for them. For example, when you chop off both of an NPC's arms, they have always been considered helpless. Now if you are standing in a place where they can't enter the room, they will also be considered helpless.

Is that an affect that can be inserted in the affects list? Like if I can't get to a warlock and he's spamming fireball on me, can I look at affects and see "helpless" on it?

No, helpless is an AI attribute only relevant for NPCs.

You take all the fun out of life.

Does this include situations where skills or spells make the target helpless? For example, a scout snaring a NPC and shooting it down.

Not currently. Using snare is unpredictable and setting it up is fairly time consuming. As far as I know, killing snared victims for XP has never been a good method for power-levelling. I could easily be wrong though. Seems like people come up with new tricks all the time.

Awesome, let's make leveling harder.

Dulrik, you've already given some NPCs the ability to climb. Leading them away is hardly risk free. It irks me that you seem much more eager to 'fix' tactics that make it easier for people to level than you are to fix problems people have.

I've noticed a bit of a problem with durability of armor vs the steel daggers / spears some NPCs throw. If you goto certain spots, the NPCs there can all throw steel weapons and if you're apprentice or journeyman, chances are the armor you wear currently that you can actually keep gets broken down considerably fast, especially during extended sessions. Pair that with a newbie who doesn't know how to make money very well and you have a recipe for well, someone who gets very frustrated as they can't keep their spells / skills armors and weapons all in good shape. Especially when some skills are multiple gold per train, it adds up fast.

Edit: Also take in the horrible accuracy of dirt kicking vs NPCs (sometimes not landing it at all in a single fight at Superb +) and they'll generally throw a dagger at you every round they can. That only wears the armor down faster.

Unless you can find NPCs in forested areas I don't see that happening.