Shattered Kingdoms

This is less to do with the Merc guild and more to do with the indestructible weapons/armor comments. Currently, as it is, with the plethora of NPCs with supernatural hides, etc... it seems like something needs to change in one direction or the other: either make diamond and other indestructible weapons super commonplace so that any level 40+ warrior should have one, or make them (along with supernatural NPCs) very rare. As it currently is, its not hard to get AN indestructible weapon, but it might be hard, or even impossible to get THE type of indestructible weapon you want.
Considering this is, in some respects, a tactics MUD, I think the supply of indestructible weapons should be high - currently, mercs specialize in weapons in large part based on supply, but ignore otherwise viable options simply because there aren't any or enough decent weapons of a certain type for them to choose it - who wants to specialize in a weapon when there's only ONE decent example of it in game?



So I ask, why? Making indestructible armor, along with indestructible weapons and supernatural/immune NPCs a major rarity would create some kind of balance, sure, if you want people running around in steel and bronze. But then, everytime one of these guys faces a bard or sorceror, or one of the countless NPCs that shoot fire/lightning/acid etc, their armor or weapons are going to melt. So you'd have to tone down the NPCs that use those kinds of things, and probably wimp the melt affect of acid blast and the breaking affect of bards. And then of course, when these bronze/steel sporting warriors actually do make it out someplace exciting on an adventure, its likely they'll meet at least one or two supernatural NPCs that will almost instantly destroy their stuff, while conveniently remaining immune to the attack - thereby ending said adventure. And of course, lets not forget, scarcity will only grant another advantage for the veterans of the game, because they'll know how to get the good armor and have the skills to actually keep it, thereby making it even more difficult for the average new player to compete, either in PvP or PvE.

I suppose the problem I have with this idea of reverting to the good ole days when everything was even more rare than it is now, is that Indestructible armor/weapons are not Elite. Its more a convenience for players than an advantage - a reward, being able to go about without constantly having to worry about visiting the blacksmith. The truly elite weapons and armor are still fairly rare, and should remain so. For most players, they are still hard to get, as they should be. I personally think things should be easier to -find- but hard to actually get, but thats a whole different topic altogether.

Basically, the sum of my argument is that there should be plenty of easy to get indestructible, but NOT elite, weapons (multiples of every type) and armor.

Seconded.

I agree that indestructible weapons should not be scarce, since there's a lot of armor to hit on, a lot of supernatural, energy etc skins on NPCs to pass through. Without them, you forbid players who do not possess them to venture in many, many areas in the game. Indestructible armor is something else, I can live with it being rare (which is not at the moment), since there are means to survive even if your armor takes a crack or two on a journey to high level areas and you have proper company with you. But if your tanks' weapons break, there's not much you can do from there on.

Adamantite, diamond energy and mithril should be more scarse!

Speaking of the Mercenaries Guild, I was hoping there would be better trainers there. The two trainers are both advanced trainers, and they teach pretty much the same skills. I was really frustrated to find they both taught rallying cry, but only advanced.

I think it would be a cool place to have a random NPC. A NPC that will advance train things every reboot, and that does not repop on kill. Like another big deal merc, coming around to get some grub and chat with the other mercs.

I understand your point in theory and accept it. But you are ignoring other factors that play a role. The -RATE- at which weapons are damaged & fall apart is entirely too fast. Using even a tanso steel weapon, in your first fight against NPCs in the higher end levelling zones, your weapon will be worn down to superb. Once you've fought a few NPCs, it's become worthless. This is even the case for mithril weapons. You should be able to go to the Wastelands to fight demons with a mithril weapon, and walk out of there with that mithril weapon still in superb condition. Heck, 1 fight against a warlock with a mentor+ air/fire elemental will destroy your weapon too.

Areas shouldn't have to be limited to mushy flesh-mobs just to keep their tanso steel intact. However, the physics of this universe could be reconsidered to simply make stuff fall apart significantly more slowly, without having to rebuild huge tracts of the mud.

Note that I've already made things "fall apart more slowly" several times over the history of the game.