Shattered Kingdoms

If cloaks are strictly to become an RP device, I'd suggest a much simpler mechanic (from an idealogical perspective):

When cloaked, you cannot perform any "aggressive" or targeted skills/spells (to include AoE spells and ordering), and auto assist is turned off. In short, you cannot initiate or even participate in combat with a robe on unless someone attacks you. No other restrictions apply; and if attacked, then you're free to defend yourself as you see fit.

Peek should definitely not work, as that would give far too great a class-based advantage; locate object should reveal the person's adjective/name as it does now.


I don't fear that cloaking will be abused, because people will quickly learn to attack cloaked characters on sight under the originally proposed mechanic. You're only cloaked because you have something to hide. But at least in my proposition, you have a chance of either preventing yourself from being chased out, or at least getting away when someone does on-sight attack you.

I sure am tired of hearing this particular argument. "You can't do that" has become the last resort (and often first resort) of the obstructionist. Let's at least agree to only use it when it's relevant. No one is forcing you to wear a cloak. If you get into a fight and want to fight back, all you have to do is decloak. I've heard requests many times for people who WANT the ability to not fight back in combat. This would be a beneficial new option to them. But you get to make the decision. The power is yours.

May the force be with you.

*covers herself in a robe and does the funky chicken*

The only problem I have is that far too often fights are started and finish before I can enter a command or respond in a reasonable time. Even if it takes me a round or two to take off the cloak and respond, that is an INCREDIBLE penalty to suffer in PK.

I know. You're going to continue to the use the "it's only an option and not mandatory" argument. That's fine, but if the penalties are so high, people will only use them in rare cases, because I'll bet my farm on the fact that there will be people out there taking advantage of that 'feature' of the robes.

I know if someone is wearing the robes of an Adept, and I'm a Hammer dude walking around, I'm going to take that person out RIGHT away before they have a chance to react and take off that robe to fight a good fight.

Because of this, I just don't see the point of putting this in. It's supposed to shield you from the public and grant some sort of secrecy, but at the same time wearing it in public is a serious liability to your life (given the ground-work people seem to be setting this down into, anyhow).

Who wants to wear a giant $5$I$B bullseye on them like that?

I don't. It'll be another thing to look at and go 'awww, isn't that a cute feature', kind of like 'consider'. I won't use it.

(Disclaimer: if anyone is getting tired of my constant nay-saying -- get over it! Someone has to play devil's advocate to these ideas that 90% of people scream "OMGYESH!" to..)

What if each cabal had the same cloak? Then you wouldn't be sure who to attack, if it cloaked your aura as well.

That'll be a partial solution. I suppose that if the option to cloak was given to all players, and not just cabal members, it would offset the problem as well. If any cloak could be used to hood yourself, that'd be fine too. Using specific objects to do this would be setting up a bullseye for folks.

Though, that'll probably present problems with people using locate object to pin-point specific cloaks to specific people.

This idea is giving me a head-ache.

That's probably why I don't think it's a good idea.

D, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought all discussion about robes and cloaks right now isn't dealing with cabals. The idea of the "cabal robe" skill is a different concept then the added functionality D is proposing. I also thought, I might be way off here, that this functionality was being considered for all robes, cloaks, etc that are worn about the body in the game currently. Note, the disadvantages talked about in this thread don’t apply to wearing such a cloak but to using the concealing functionality.

Talking about how cabals are affected by the suggested functionality doesn’t apply to the current conversation.


Lei Kung
Edit: I used the word funtionality way too much in this post but I don't feel like fixing it right now.

I really think the question to even consider for this is not if it is a good idea or a bad idea, but:

Is it worth your time for all the problems and issues it will cause?

If you wanted to add back a feature not to fight, you'd have made an auto toggle for it. If you wanted to be disguised, use polymorph scrolls, if you want to appear as some uber-anonymous person, then actually appear as uber anonymous with both RP and the skill/spells available to your class. Barbarians shouldn't be running around hooded. Nor should warlocks or paladins.

I don't see how this feature will add anything but: a) problems, b) extreme over use (look at me! i'm all sekret!), and c) take away from your time doing things that might actually attract and keep players.

I'm not arguing against this so much (because truthfully if it gets implimented it won't change how I play or what I do at all), but because its taking time away from other things that (I feel) need work.

I really think this time could be better spent discussing tribunal/cabal issues, CRS/Political warfare systems, and the economic system.





And religion-specific spells!

Quoted for truth...



An auto nofight-toggle would be far better - not to sound bitchy.

In conclusion, I am still firmly against the hood-aspect. I can see one single scenario where it wouldn't result in accidental deaths and massive confusion due to half the mud running around with the same adjective - regarding cabal -defense-, but even then, I do not believe that it is a necessity. Rather, the cabal has to recognize the importance of having (a) secret member(s).

Having cloaks which cover your equipment would be okay, but it had to be at the cost of another thing than being unable to fight back - say, that you r rings/gloves/armwear/headgear/necklaces would be visible. So, if you wish to rest in an inn without gear to recognize you you would have to remove those pieces. That would make disguise and polymorph very usable, because you have the choice not to show off prolific pieces of equipment.

On second thoughts, there could be a minor penalty to combat/casting time or elsewise everyone would run around cloaked 24/7.

I could see a penalty to combat, but not casting time. Emperor Palpatine didn't need casting time to get off force lightning. Hooded sorcs/mages should be a COMMON perception.