Dramaturgy idea - researching/performing uniquely Lusternian roles

ElrynGreythane

Hey everyone!

I'm considering getting back into Lusternia, and am eyeing off the bard classes (because I love the themes, love support classes, and suck at anything PK related so it doesn't matter how effective they are anyway). One thing that puts me off though is that their tertiaries aren't very appealing to me at all, so I was toying around with ideas and thought maybe I'd take a stab at adding some more flavour to Dramaturgy. Mainly because just afflicting abilities aren't very interesting to me on their own, and in it's current form 90% of dramaturgy is something I'd be ignoring most of the time.

Obviously, I'm not really a current player and don't know jack about combat here, so this could all be completely nonsensical - that's totally okay and I understand, I just enjoy throwing out ideas anyway.

Anyway, my main suggestion is to rework Inspiration to shift from being one variable boosted through influence battles with mobs (very, very slowly) to being five distinct variables that are boosted through influence with mobs (rather quickly) or debate with other players (extremely quickly). The idea is that Dramaturgy at its core is about method acting, researching distinctive roles for performances throughout the Basin of Life - and this takes the form of deepening understanding of the other classes that exist in Lusternia so that one can perform more insightful interpretations of them.

For example:

> INSPIRE STATUS<br>You have gained the following inspiration in performance roles:<br>  - Bards:      35%<br>  - Mages:      20%<br>  - Monks:      98%<br>  - Warriors:    2%<br>  - Guardians:  10%<br>

These are researched and performed individually (as a Celestine, or Shadowdancer), but accrue into role groupings for simplicity (and hopefully to avoid needing 30 variables instead of 5). My suggestion would be that the numbers would be something like 4x a great hunt score of a mob = % inspiration gained in the current role type upon influence battle win, or 4% per debate attack/hit against another player.

With sufficient inspiration, you can choose to either enhance an afflicting ability (FirstScene, SecondScene, etc - but not Climax) to gain a small offensive bonus, or enhance the ego-heal ability to gain a small defensive bonus (INSPIRE SELF/<target>).

So the changed abilities would be:

<b>AB DRAMATURGY INSPIRATION</b><br>Syntax:<br>  INSPIRE STATUS<br>  INSPIRE [SELF/<target>] [AS <role>]<br>Cost: 1% inspiration of chosen type to perform in a role<br><br>Inspiration is a measure of how well researched you are in the shoes of another, allowing you to portray them accurately <br>in any performance. This is gained through influencing denizens based on the skills of Influencing and Dramaturgy, and <br>will accrue based on the dramaturgical role you are currently researching. It can also be gained through every debate <br>argument back and forth against other players, with the type of inspiration dependent on your opponent's profession. <br>With sufficient inspiration, the dramaturge can inspire themselves or others to recover ego, with additional effects <br>determined by their performance role.<br>

<b>AB DRAMATURGY FIRSTSCENE</b> (+ second, third and fourth)<br>Syntax:<br>  SCRIPT FIRSTSCENE SHOW<br>  SCRIPT FIRSTSCENE [AS <role>] WRITE <text><br>  SCRIPT FIRSTSCENE EMBED [<effect>]<br>  SCRIPT FIRSTSCENE CHANGEROLE <role><br>  PERFORM FIRSTSCENE<br>Cost: 25% inspiration of chosen type to write<br>      10% inspiration of chosen type to embed<br>      35% inspiration of chosen type to change the performance role<br><br>You can write a scene in your script. By performing the scene, you can also embed an effect which will strike <br>the audience member that you target.<br><br>When writing a scene, it MUST include your name in the text (i.e., if your name is "Roark", then "Roark" should <br>be the subject of the sentence). It also MUST include "^target" as the object. Scenes must also be more than 5 <br>words and less than 45 words. You can also use "^target_his", "^target_him" and "^target_he" as pronouns, or <br>"^role" to retrieve the type of role you are performing.<br><br>Example: With a mischievous grin, Estarra bops ^target on ^target_his head with a high-heeled shoe.<br><br>NOTE: Scenes must make sense, not be obscene and should be obvious that you are doing something to the target. Be <br>aware that all scenes are recorded for administrative review. <br><br><br>

Proposed new abilities would be:

<b>AB DRAMATURGY BARDS</b><br>Syntax: <br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE <CACOPHANY|CANTOR|HARBINGER|MINSTREL|SYMPHONIUM><br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE NONE<br><br>Practice assuming the role of one of the Basin's most creative artistic professions, taking on their world <br>view, typical mannerisms and idiosyncrasies. While researching a role other than your own, you will gain <br>inspiration of that type only whilst engaging in influence with any denizen. Note that when you are not <br>researching any other role (or researching your own profession, which is the same thing) you will gain 50% <br>more inspiration than normal. Additionally, researching a role belonging to the nation diametrically opposed <br>to your own (Celest and Magnagora, Hallifax and Gaudiguch, Serenwilde and Glomdoring) will accrue inspiration <br>with a -50% modifier due to the difficulty dealing with such a foreign perspective.<br><br>When performing a dramatic scene (see FirstScene) with an embedded affliction towards a target using any <br>bardic role, you will cause a small amount of <u>additional ego damage based on the number of spiritual (steam <br>cured) afflictions your target possesses</u>. This damage is increased if your chosen role is aligned to the same <br>nation as your target.<br><br>When inspiring allies using any bardic role, you will cause an <u>additional lingering ego regeneration</u> for a <br>smaller amount that occurs a few times after your initial heal. This regeneration does not stack with itself, <br>and will not occur if your chosen role is diametrically opposed to the nation of your target.

<b>AB DRAMATURGY MAGES</b><br>Syntax: <br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE <AEROMANCER|AQUAMANCER|BLACKTALON|GEOMANCER|HARTSTONE|PYROMANCER><br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE NONE<br><br>Practice assuming the role of one of the Basin's scholarly spell-casters, taking on their world view, typical <br>mannerisms and idiosyncrasies. While researching a role other than your own, you will gain inspiration of that <br>type only whilst engaging in influence with any denizen. Note that researching a role belonging to the nation <br>diametrically opposed to your own (Celest and Magnagora, Hallifax and Gaudiguch, Serenwilde and Glomdoring) <br>will accrue inspiration with a -50% modifier due to the difficulty dealing with such a foreign perspective.<br><br>When performing a dramatic scene (see FirstScene) with an embedded affliction towards a target using a mage <br>role, you will cause a small amount of <u>additional mana damage based on the number of mental (slush cured) <br>afflictions your target already has</u>. This damage is increased if your chosen role is aligned to the same <br>nation as your target.<br><br>When inspiring allies using any mage role, you will <u>also restore some of the target's mana</u>. This bonus effect <br>does not occur if your chosen role is diametrically opposed to the nation of your target.

<b>AB DRAMATURGY MONKS</b><br>Syntax: <br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE <NEKOTAI|NINJAKARI|NUNCHAKU|SHOFANGI|TAHTETSO|TESSENCHI><br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE NONE<br><br>Practice assuming the role of one of the Basin's graceful monks, taking on their world view, typical mannerisms <br>and idiosyncrasies. While researching a role other than your own, you will gain inspiration of that type only <br>whilst engaging in influence with any denizen. Note that researching a role belonging to the nation diametrically <br>opposed to your own (Celest and Magnagora, Hallifax and Gaudiguch, Serenwilde and Glomdoring) will accrue <br>inspiration with a -50% modifier due to the difficulty dealing with such a foreign perspective.<br><br>When performing a dramatic scene (see FirstScene) with an embedded affliction towards a target using a monk role, <br>you will <u>extend the disruption of their balance or equilibrium slightly if they are already off-kilter and have <br>two or more dramaturgical afflictions</u>. The extra recovery time will be slightly increased if your chosen role is <br>aligned to the same nation as your target.<br><br>When inspiring allies using any monk role, you will <u>also provide a +1/+1 balance or equilibrium bonus to their <br>next action only if it occurs within the next 10 seconds</u>. This bonus effect does not occur if your chosen role <br>is diametrically opposed to the nation of your target.

<b>AB DRAMATURGY WARRIORS</b><br>Syntax: <br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE <EBONGUARD|PALADIN|SENTINEL|SERENGUARD|TEMPLAR|URGUARD><br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE NONE<br><br>Practice assuming the role of one of the Basin's expert weapon-masters, taking on their world view, typical mannerisms <br>and idiosyncrasies. While researching a role other than your own, you will gain inspiration of that type only whilst <br>engaging in influence with any denizen. Note that researching a role belonging to the nation diametrically opposed <br>to your own (Celest and Magnagora, Hallifax and Gaudiguch, Serenwilde and Glomdoring) will accrue inspiration with <br>a -50% modifier due to the difficulty dealing with such a foreign perspective.<br><br>When performing a dramatic scene with an embedded affliction towards a target using a warrior role, <u>if they already <br>have two or more dramaturgical afflictions you will expose a defensive weakness granting you a +2/+2 damage bonus <br>to your next attack against that same target within the next 10 seconds</u>. The damage bonus will be slightly increased <br>if your chosen role is aligned to the same nation as your target.<br><br>When inspiring allies using any warrior role, you will <u>grant a temporary defense against the next ego drain that the <br>target suffers within the next 10 seconds, reducing the amount drained by a certain percentage</u>. This bonus effect <br>does not occur if your chosen role is diametrically opposed to the nation of your target.

<b>AB DRAMATURGY GUARDIANS</b><br>Syntax: <br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE <CELESTINE|ILLUMINATI|INSTITUTE|MOONDANCER|NIHILIST|SHADOWDANCER><br>  DRAMA RESEARCH ROLE NONE<br><br>Practice assuming the role of one of the Basin's spiritual protectors, taking on their world view, typical mannerisms <br>and idiosyncrasies. While researching a role other than your own, you will gain inspiration of that type only whilst <br>engaging in influence with any denizen. Note that researching a role belonging to the nation diametrically opposed <br>to your own (Celest and Magnagora, Hallifax and Gaudiguch, Serenwilde and Glomdoring) will accrue inspiration with a <br>-50% modifier due to the difficulty dealing with such a foreign perspective.<br><br>When performing a dramatic scene with an embedded affliction towards a target using a guardian role, <u>if they already <br>have two or more dramaturgical afflictions you will summon a imaginary figment (angel/demon/crystal/flesh/fae) in <br>their mind that increases the next mana or ego drain of the target from any source within the next 10 seconds by a <br>small percentage before disappearing</u>. The extra drain will be slightly increased if your chosen role is aligned to <br>the same nation as your target.<br><br>When inspiring allies using any guardian role, <u>if the target's ego reaches maximum you will grant a temporary defence <br>for 10 seconds that negates the next spiritual, mental or debating affliction</u>. This bonus effect does not occur if <br>your chosen role is diametrically opposed to the nation of your target.

I'd love to add other utility abilities based on performing specific roles but am not quite sure whether all this plus more utility would be too much for a single skillset, for example:

• Initiate a performance-style debate with another player that rewards both the victor and loser (proportionally with a greater/lesser version of the effect) with a short-term bonus, like a non-stacking influence/hunting xp boost, or a defense buff, or something else minor that rewards both people participating in debates.
• Initiate a timed window for performance (requiring a minimum-sized audience present throughout), that provides everyone in attendance with temporarily improved characteristics or generates power for the nation, or provides teleportation targets, or something else minor.
• Perform in the role of another class while in a squad or aethercrew to gain some sort of minor thematic bonus based on the role grouping.
  

Finally... while I'm sure it's probably not practical from a coding perspective (blending illusory manses, arenas, targeting mobs as players, action script recording... oh my!), I also love the idea of a utility skill to allow dramatists (and others) to record various offensive combat scripts that could be offered as practice lessons to new combatants. Something like:

<b>AB DRAMATURGY TRAININGMONTAGE</b> [not entirely serious]<br>Syntax:<br>  DRAMA MONTAGE IMPRINT <mannequin> AS <role><br>  DRAMA MONTAGE END<br>Cost: 10 power plus 100% inspiration of chosen type to train<br>Requires: <br>  An <u>artistan</u>'s mannequin that has been animated by an <u>enchanter</u>. <br>  Can only be imprinted within an <u>enchanters workshop</u>. <br><br>Once they have achieved perfect understanding of another profession, a highly skilled dramaturge can now impersonate <br>to such a degree they are able to perform a montage of a combat routine as if they were skilled in another's arts. <br>When imprinted onto an animated mannequin, this allows the training dummy to execute those abilities in the same <br>sequence against a practicing combatant in an arena, providing a tool for specific scenario combat training.<br><br>The IMPRINT command will temporarily remove both yourself and the mannequin to a one-room arena, in which you will <br>find you have all of the profession skills of your performing role. After a few moments you will be able to execute <br>these abilities in any sequence with target MANNEQUIN (as if they were a target player) for up to x minutes, such <br>that they will be recorded for future use. DRAMA MONTAGE END will prematurely end the training and return you to <br>the workshop.<br><br>After a mannequin has been imprinted with training, it can be installed in a suitable location by an artisan and can <br>be used by any player if they have full vitals and no afflictions. After a short delay, they will be removed to a <br>temporary arena location in which the training dummy will execute the recorded sequence of abilities on the player <br>(including delivering any specified afflictions), allowing them to practice dealing with the combat arts of another. <br>After a few minutes have elapsed (or if the trainee 'dies'), the subject will be returned to their former location <br>and restored to full health.<br><br>Note that all professions can imprint a mannequin with their own abilities, but only a dramaturge can impersonate <br>a profession other than their own.