Posted by curious on May 26, 2000 at 14:02:40:
In Reply to: There are forty responses below answering your question, but I'll sum it: posted by Khiravn on May 26, 2000 at 13:21:12:
And I said that I had never had either tattoo.
Let's talk about limited use:
Shokai's tattoo supposed to be used against evil only (though possibly neutrals based on a post below that Shokai said he would look into).
BT's tattoo grants random berserk which is a double-edge sword. It can be invoked to grant aristaiea (quintuple edged?) which is something like a 300hp heal plus hit/dam, and so on. Oh, and you can't flee.
So what are the consequences of each? Shok-ite can start a fight, invoke the tattoo, flee and if not kill the person, at least irritate them for awhile.
BT-ite can walk in and start a fight, invoke the tattoo, and hope to hell that 1)victim doesn't have friends near 2)level 30 shaman tagging along doesn't decide to summon dark man for when the victim flees 3)any other sort of tactic isn't used that exploits the no-flee.
Basically, you'd have to be a kickass player to know how to use that tattoo. Dhaevor obviously was. I didn't see Denorem cleaning up like him, though. Uh...anyone else have the tattoo besides Aradan?
Less people have it and it is harder to use.
I wasn't looking for your response to this Khir, but rather the guy who said that bt's tattoo was so much better, but I felt I had to respond.
I know it isn't 800hps of damage...look at Aradan's log or that one from awhile back of Zorszaul affected by it.
From what Shokai said below, Maran's can be a part of a cabal, but it would take extreme RPing.
The limited use of Shokai's tattoo is easily comparable to Bt's. And it has none of the drawbacks.
> \
> > How is that better than causing 800hps of damage to someone and not even needing to be there?
>
> 1. It is not 800 hps of automatic damage.
> 2. There are severe checks and balances to this "awesome" tattoo power.
> 3. A Maran can not be part of any existing cabal.
> 4. Minalcar's experience is *not* the norm.
>
> As far as powers go, yes, I'd have to say a rager with BT's tattoo and his cabal powers and fifty of his buddies behind him to back him up is more powerful than a single maran with that tattoo. And the fact that you are even questioning it is evidence that you have *never played a Maran with that tattoo*.
>
> And if you post under the name of Mean Bastard and are reading this now -
>
> Piss off.
>
> Thanks.