Posted by A coder on July 10, 2000 at 18:00:59:
In Reply to: Re: I'd like to add to that. posted by The Arcane(VIP) on July 10, 2000 at 17:51:45:
...a comprehensive reply. I agree totally. I've had about a dozen heroes over the last 6 years, and many others reaching into the 40s. Usually a hero of mine will take about 75 hours or so, with roleplaying until I am content with it. That usually takes about 5 days.. Hardcore playing for five days ;-) Easy to find a group and rank when you are usually the leader. Then contributing to the cabal/whatever I'm affiliated with at hero. I have fun with all of my characters at any level.. ranking.. roleplaying.. dying repeatedly.. whatever. > > I agree with the element of time limitation you pointed out, but I think there is perhaps a bit more to it. The power-rankers also tend (based on my 5 year mudding experience) to be power-pkers and power-gear people, etc. They tend to be the people who sweep through all nine circles of Hell as fast as their cheating little feet will carry them, fueled by information from past characters. Because of these correlations, I'm inclined to say there's a certain mindset to someone who ranks to hero in 40 hours or whatever. They don't care about some of the more interesting roleplay aspects of the game, like examining the areas you walk through and interacting with other players or mobs or what have you. Aside from missing out on half the fun of CF themself, they also dim the enjoyment that others derive from the game. (Ever attempt a roleplay-interaction with one of these people while grouped with them?) > Heh. > Two points: > Firstly, while some of the people who powerrank doubtless couldn't care less about taking the time to explore and read descriptions, nor to interact with their fellow adventurers, and so forth, that is hardly the case for all. Perhaps they already have taken the time to explore areas, read descriptions, and so forth, with one of the dozens of characters they've already played. As someone who claims to have played CF for five years, I rather suspect you've long ago lost the sense of excitement that ranking brings to the green newbie for whom every level is a first. Also, for one who has had many heroes, it is something of a nuisance not having enough mv to walk far without resting, not being able to locate anything of use, not being able to re-equip oneself decently, perhaps not being able to meaningfully participate in raids, and so forth. It is not necessarily a great evil to seek to minimize the time spent in this state. And yes, some of them have the conversational skills of beef brisket, but that's hardly true for all of them. > Second, some people actually do have a legitimate reason to powerrank, grounded solidly in their role. Two of my characters as examples: Dhaevor took about 2 months and 150-180 hours to hero. I was offered leadership at level 30, but turned it down because I felt I had not developed my character enough.... When I chose to rank, obviously I ranked efficiently, but I was far from a ranking machine. There was no need for me to be... it was in character to be meticulous and master all my skills as I learned them, among other things. Peroleth, on the other hand, heroed in 45 hours, in about 10 days. I think I was level 30 in maybe 15 hours. Why? As I noted in my role, as an Imperial, you simply don't get respect if you're a lowbie. If you're trying to unseat a hero sect leader, it's going to be tough convincing anyone to support you if you're only level 30. > Just an example of how powerranking can be justified and not negative. Obviously, in many instances it does reflect a disregard for roleplay, but hardly in all cases. > Personally, I powerranked my string of human Imperial conjurers and my first hero, Challen. I'm sure you have your own opinions, but none of them were no-RP cretins. All my other characters have taken an average of over 200 hours to hero. *shrug*