Shattered Kingdoms

Someone in another thread suggested randomizing items to make it harder for vets to always locate and be the first to grab the top gear. I responded that perhaps the real solution is to remove the locate object spell. But there seems to be a lot of argument against doing that. I'm just curious in seeing what more people have to say about various possibilities regarding the spell. You can vote for several options.

Locating objects is one of the few ways I even learn of high end mithril, adamantite and other items a player might not know of. I might not know what area it is in, but it gives me something to work with. To be honest, there's going to be no effective way in terms of gear to balance the casual player and the vets(In my opinion, most of the vets put in loads of more time compared to the PermaNewbie). It also helps the game figure out what who is hoarding what, and while I dislike killing people for the express reason of "I want so-and-so item", we all know there are people who will hoard ALL the high end items without even being able to use it, or even ever using it.

There are a bunch of clever ways to use it. Those ways, others can argue whether -those- aspects are worthwhile or not. Mostly locating to find out where people are by locating body parts, corpses, etc. I don't really mind those, as it's fairly easy to get counter. However, as far as locating on NPCs/PCs/making it more scarce, neither of those will be an even remotely good change IMO.

Not really what I meant. I don't see changing the spell being that helpful.

If you want to go that kind of route, why not make scripted items limited to a certain number on a person, the presence of more and more scripted items on an individual causes the spells to interact and become random. Reason you can't wear too many rings in D&D the magic interfeers with itself. This way an individual will not want to even hoard too many scripted items becuase they will start to cause harm as far as casting the wrong spells that may injure them or their party.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with locate object being used for PvE planning purposes. I like less how it's used as the sum total of justification for PK.

I think removing the spell would cause the opposite of the desired outcome. If you remove the spell, the vets still know where the gear is. They will just have to go check now. A new player could feasibly NEVER know there was gear out there, and have no clues (such as locate object) where to get it.

I would be a fan of making the spell more available, not less. If you want to "level" the playing field there could be an addition to give more people access to the spell, perhaps one of those scrolls everyone can use?

I say remove it from detecting what pcs have. That way you cannot just locate a suit an enemy has gank them loot them with no rp. That way you have to visibly hunt your enemy down for anything

Hrm...I suppose making locate object work on NPCs only would be the lesser of the evils to be considered. At least then the exploration incentive isn't lost.

Wait wait I know the reply

right ARdith?

I think all the proposed changes are terrible ideas. Including removing its ability to locate stuff on pcs. What magically happens that all of a sudden makes stuff invisible once acquired by a pc?

Do we really think this will have any impact on rpless pk? All it will do is make it easier for hoarders to keep stuff out of circulation.

They already keep it out of circulation if they aren't in the realms you still cannot locate it on them.