Class restrictions

[rmcin329]

I think there should be some class restrictions implemented into the game. For example, wizards shouldn't be able to run around in things like chain mail or plate mail. They should stay limited to things a bit more suited to their class, like robes and leather armor. I also hate seeing win posts with a wizard running around with say a spear and a shield. A few wizards might use swords but most would be using staffs or pherhaps a dagger/knife, but not a shield and a spear. Also limit the actual number of spells a warrior/fighter can learn. Don't just make casting/learning them harder. Say don't let them learn ball spells or improved fireball, maybe let them have heal light wounds and a couple other weak ones.

[theotherhiveking]

HELL NO!

FREEDOM!

Whats wrong with a wizard wearing a spear?


If a wizard is wearing a spear, that means that he has been training with it, in the same way that a warrior can learn magic if he practices.

[Ars]

Yeah, I'm a wizard and my dagger just got eaten by a rust monster. Anyhow, I refuse to use the spear and shield lying next to me... It's against my professional ethics. After all, it is physically impossible to cast spells while holding a piece of wood with some metal at its point.

Right?

[Sradac]

Im all about freedom. I mean, instead of seeming them as the stereotypical "Wizards" you hear in fairy tales and merlin and all that crap with pointy hats with stars all over their robes and wands with crystals on them, lets think outside the box, eh? A wizard with a spear, well maybe he's from some kind of place where they use spears? I mean with that thinking you might as well say, a wizard isnt allowed to fish with a spear even though many primitive villages do it because he isnt allowed to fight with one. Call your wizard a shaman if he uses a spear. If he uses a sword and armor call him a battle mage. I for one am sick of the cookie cutter archetypes everyone goes by, Even JRR knew what was up Gandalf used a sword from time to time nothing wrong with that at all. I mean, Everyone thinks of priests and clerics as being these plate mail wearing battle casters because D&D tells us they are, but why should theybe any different than wizards? They're still casting all these hugely powerful spells but its ok for them to have plate armor an ebony heume a tower shield and a huge flail becaues they're "called" something other than a wizard. If we restrict wizards, restrict everyone. Dont let priests wear armor. Dont let healers use weapons. Dont let archers use anything other than bows. Dont let thieves use anything other than short swords and daggers. Dont let Paladins attack anything that isnt already hostile, so much for hunting for food in the wilderness. Dont let rangers go in cities. No restrictions thats what I say.

[Mad Minstrel]

I'm against "hard" restrictions, like wizards not allowed to wear an armor. However I think casting spells in things like full plate mail should be harder/slower (but not impossible). Casting spells with both hands free (not holding anything) should be faster (take less energy) and maybe give a bit better results. Casting spells while holding items in hands (for example weapon and shield) should be slower / less effective. The heavier the items, the bigger penalty.

[spectre]

Notice how D&D games (the most notorious for the gear restrictions) have armor spells, so that the Mage is not toally screwed in melee.
If we want that in JADE, some protective spells have to go in.

Correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't JADE supposed to be skill-based, with no classes (or reducing their importance a lot at least?)

Anyways, one good solution IMO would be some kind of an armor wearing skill. This would reflect that a normal human has to get used to wearing all that iron. It still protects as it should, but it will tire you quickly.
So, armors provide PV as normal without the skill, but wtih penalties to DV and energy costs (severity may be based on weight). Increase the skill, and the penalties go away.

[Dougy]

Well, there's plenty of things that are seemingly out of place. When talking about being "physically impossible" to cast spells when wearing/carrying something, I think it's physically impossible to cast a spell at all. Lets not try to make the game less playable.

[kapsi]

I think there should be some class restrictions implemented into the game. For example, wizards shouldn't be able to run around in things like chain mail or plate mail. They should stay limited to things a bit more suited to their class, like robes and leather armor. I also hate seeing win posts with a wizard running around with say a spear and a shield. A few wizards might use swords but most would be using staffs or pherhaps a dagger/knife, but not a shield and a spear. Also limit the actual number of spells a warrior/fighter can learn. Don't just make casting/learning them harder. Say don't let them learn ball spells or improved fireball, maybe let them have heal light wounds and a couple other weak ones.

I like this idea. But maybe instead of restrictions there should be penatlies. It's odd if a wizard can deal same damage with a sword as a barbarian with same strength.

[FantomFang]

Not really. It just means he's worked really hard at it, compared to the barbarian, to whom it comes more naturally.

Speaking of hard restrictions, its been a LONG time since they've had those in D&D, definitely gotta go back an edition (i played 3rd to death). In 3rd edition, all it did was give you a spellcasting failure % based on how easily you can make the arcane gestures while wearing armor. For example, a chain shirt affected you much, much less than a suit of Fullplate. This seems like something that could make a similar translation to JADE, if TB's interpretation of magic involves more than the invocations of power. And there should certainly be no weapon restrictions, because it makes no sense, as other have stated before. I remember playing several classes in the aforementioned system that actually have special abilities revolving around the skill they gain using armor, reducing the penalties associated with its use with arcane magic.

On the whole cleric thing, that's just the difference in magic =p Archetypical Clerical magic are sort of like prayers to the gods, while arcane magic is more like straight from the elements, or the world, itself in a way. In any case, I stand by "hard restrictions bad, soft restrictions good".

I think a balancing act between armor weight would be useful in all aspects. Like similar to D&D, to wear heavier armor and gain the heavier protection, you have to sacrifice some of your mobility. It makes sense to me, and would be awesome (only if its not a pain to code, ofc!)

[kapsi]

Not really. It just means he's worked really hard at it, compared to the barbarian, to whom it comes more naturally.

By that logic the barbarian should use any spell if he works gets his mana/int high.
I like mindcrafters in ADOM because they're unique and since they can't learn spells they have to stick to their abilities. IMO if any class could learn that it wouldn't be so cool.