Illarion.org

Since the scales of Illarion have shifted, and there is far many more Mages than Druids, I propose this idea.
In the Baldur's Gate Series, Druids specialize in Nature, and Shapeshifting. Building on this idea, I think we should make a temple for only druids, where they can buy different runes, where you could turn into things.
For instance, there is a Pig Shapeshift Rune, which is 4 silvers (1k gp). Using it, it takes about 1/4 to 1/3 of your mana, depending on your intelligence.
Then, when you mature in shapeshifting into pigs, then you can try sheep, which is about 6 silver (1.5k) but this only becomes available after you shapeshift a LOT as pigs. Next, you go to Bugs, which are 7 silver (1.75k) and so on and so forth.
The effects usually take up your mana, (Draining mana at a steady rate, not too fast) So it would last approx. a minute, but Essence may change this.
This would take quite some programming (The aspect of your skill has to be x level to buy a new change rune).
You are disabled from drinking potions while in shapeshifted form. (Maybe about 30 seconds afterwards, too)
This would also make Mages start to whine (It's about time ) So, we would give them a new spell or two when Druids get this.
If anyone likes the idea, PLEASE post, if Bror sees we like it, he might add it!
And please post comments, I might have missed something important.

(Edited by Erdrick at 6:46 pm on Mar. 31, 2002)

I think that the idea is good (up yours you ah-so-good mages with high int and two shields! .)
Also i really think that the mage runes should be more valuable, like more than one silver or so and that some could only be found from monsters for example some super-rare rune from demon or something like that. With 1/200 chances to find the rarest runes (like the future TELEPORT rune, if it comes) would bring them SOME value  ;)

Samekind of system could also be used in future to enchant items, like buy "sword rune" (4 silvers) and "fire rune" (three silvers) use to item when crafted, would give you firesword.
"Armor rune" , and "fire rune" or "anti-magic rune" would give you platemail wich would raise either fire resistance (fireswords, fireballs, greater fireballs, magical fire ect), or magic resistance (spells only, not items).
You like that idea?


(Edited by Caranthir the great at 9:04 pm on Mar. 31, 2002)

@Caranthir: Good idea.

@Erdrick: I like the idea, but why on earth would anybody want to turn into a pig or a sheep? I'd rather turn into something more powerful

duhh i does not haves hi inteligence.
That is a good idea though, would make it
alot easier to find druids who could sell potions,
But i want a spell to summon pigs and sheep!

@Stefan:They wouldn't turn into a demon right away, that would be dangerous, and turning into a big monster would take years for a Druid to learn. Normally, the elder Druids would turn into giant bears and other massive destruction machines.
Pigs/Sheep could be disguises.
Right now, we are stuck as 1 form. I would love to be a sheep, even for a few minutes.
@Korwin: Sure, mages can summon, but they cannot BE the animal.

(Edited by Erdrick at 10:40 pm on Mar. 31, 2002)

Though I am a mage i really like the idea of shapeshifting druids, as they could start with pigs, sheeps, and then, when they are some kind of experienced, continue with wolves, skels, bears and even ogers or demons, after years of practicing. But to reduce powergaming only x shapeshiftings in x hours time shall be allowed, so that you have to practice RL-months for shaping into a demon.. ((if you passed the proposal of potions adding to food-level-->too much of them --> poking; powergaming of mages would be much lowered)) so that none of both parties could PG..

I really love this idea. Dunno, might eaven be implementable quite easily, we already had something like that, though involontary (#me looks at Gandela).
Gives me another idea... how about you can buy all the runes always, but as your skill in shapelifting increases, the mana you need to shapelift goes down, so you can access further shapes that would have needed like 150% or 200% of your mana when your skill was lower? That's also already kind of implemented with mages, cause as far as i know they need less mana to cast a spell when they know the rune better.
A problem would be the interface... You couldn't do it mage-style, that's already occupied with herbs when you're a druid. How about you have amulets instead of runes, and you can only shapelift to the shape represented by the amulet you're wearing right now by using it?
Also, when you fail, you could, instead of not changing, sometimes change to some random thing, or, if you're especially unlucky, stay what you have shapelifted to for like 5 minutes instead of 30 seconds? And if you're trying something real powerful and you mess it up real bad, you could end up as a rock for some time
Heh btw. I am a druid, I just figure it would be fun trying to become a demon and then... darn, why am I grey and why can't I move?

lol, welcome The Rock!
hehe, great idea.
and when someone is coming your way and wants to play football you will have a nice afternoon headache *g*

Yes maybe Amulets... but we could also rearrange the Herbs so one side could be herbs, the other shapeshifting.
This could get pretty interesting... But I think that the system I proposed works better.
Amulets could be traded, and that could turn veeerrry bad.

ROAR! I AM THE ANIMAL! he he he but i still want to summon a sheep,
that would follow me about

Anyone have any votes for this (POSITIVE ONES) so Bror can review it, we can hopefully change and modify it for him, and by next version we can have it implemented.

Actually, before we go on, I must ask Bror if this is possible.
Is it possible in the future, when you have more time to program?

#me digs through piles of proposals to get to this one.
"A-Ha! My proposal! Here we go..."

GM's, is this possible? I think this would be nice to grant us druids, since the mages are getting a new system soon... Damien's words: "... That will make your eyes pop out..."
Plus, I need some more opinions so we can shape it into something more manageable.

i think there should be attribute enhancing potions that raise a specific attribute for a limited time. and the better the skill, the longer it would be and would also raise the attribute higher.

for example:
      an agility potion would increase agility
                                   beginner skills --> 10 seconds  agility+2
                                   expert (max) skills --> 2minutes agility +10
      an intelligence potion would increase intelligence
                                   beginner skills --> 3 seconds intelligence+2
                                   expert (max) skills --> 1minute intelligence+8


those above are just examples of my attribute potion idea. and of course, since it is a potion, druids are the only people that can make them. and i also suggest that only one potion be allowed consumation at a time. and when the first one is not "time's up" then the second one would not have an effect but be wasted. (this is to prevent continuous strength or intelligence increases)

I think shapeshifting is a magic trick....

A druid wouldn't be able to shapeshift into anything unnatural, such as a mummy or a skeleton, druidic shapeshifting comes from the close bond they have with nature, demons and skeletons are not natural creatures. Or at least that is how it seems to me.

Well of course not zombies or skeletons. They are rotted human/elf corpses that come back from the dead.
If we can't use demons either, we should get a big monster...
Huge... no, Gigantic! :biggrin:

Well, maybe druids could turn into fairies or dendroids.

@all

That's great idea! Because i am druid!

@Bror

Your turn!

Of course, it would be for really devoted druids only, say druids with high intelligence only.  Since mages now widely cannot cast spells because of intelligence, there would have to be intelligence levels involved with this.

Sure there are more mages than druids, but the number of good mages is way under the number of good druids.

If we mages can't summon why should you druids get to shapeshift.

@Astral: Oh, darn, you're still mad about that? You DO know it's going to be changed, right?
This isn't a proposal that we want right now, maybe when the mage system comes out.
@Dream: Whaa, whaa, hehe =) You're right, but maybe you should make a proposal for summoning. This is for druids, if you dislike it, say what you want changed.

 I didn't say I disliked it. Its a good idea.

"You're right, but maybe you should make a proposal for summoning. This is for druids, if you dislike it, say what you want changed. "

The game is based on equality.  If one side gets an ability, then the other side gets a different comparable ability.  Since only GM's can summon monsters, then why should mages get nothing and druids shapeshift?  If they are going to put in a suggestion, you cant just put in half the suggestion and leave the other half to the programmers.  I think they have better things to do than to fill in half of a proposal.  Right now it is balanced.

And I do realize that it will be changed, but not back to the old way.  I dont see how I referred to the current system in my previous post at all.  You cant just make it for any weak druid with either the new, current, or old game system.

I just want to fit a few words from me here...

The idea of shapeshifting is great, i'd move all herbs to one side of the ALT tables and put runes in the other side. Our mana would finally be used... and all the possibilities and consequences of shapeshifting (i mean everybodies role playing) would be very intersting... how ever you do it, the idea is great...

I would also ad new potions for druids... there are not enough now, mages can do a lot more, well they mostly can kill with magic but with many different spells... maybe a mana potion that adds less amount like the normal healing potion 1/4, i would add an explosive strong and normal potion (difficult to make and expensive), i would add a second food potion (only made with strawberries, so it would be the weaker one), i would add a weaker posion too, also a paralyzing potion (given to the victim the same way as poison), i would also make use of the poison and paralyzing potions connecting them with arrows... like the wind potion... etc.etc.

i also like the idea of potions that raise particular skills for a period of time, thats very good...

also the idea of temples is very good... i think that if we both, mages and druids would use mana, then there could be temple where we could pray and get some mana back (but slowly, or add a skill for praying and all the religion stuff...), that would be good for newbies i think since they haven't got much gold at the beggining

Teesh, Wanderer of the Silverstar Merchants

New potions are already planned. But I don'think that there should be potions like Paralyzing or so. If this will happen there won't be any more difference between mages and druids.

good thought Juliana, i agree, no paralising and exploding potions =), but what about a paralising potion which would work only on arrows? it would be ok i think

Hmm, that potion would make it ridiculously easy for an archer to kill a person, it is already easy, since it is impossible to see who is hitting you, but if they could paralyze you with an arrow, they would be way TOO powerful.

arrows that could set things on fire would be cool, but I don't think that paralyzing potions would go over too well with the non-archer population.