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Why do the Viscanti have such low charisma?
Viscanti has the lowest base charisma of all the organizational races. They also have the least amount of charisma at the upper end of specializations as well.
Viscanti Bard: 12
Merian Bard: 15
Lucidian Bard: 15
Dracnari Bard: 15
Elfen Bard: 16
Faeling Bard: 17
Trill Bard: 18
Now I remember discussing in the past, it's always been a sour topic with me because I've always been a Viscanti. I don't want to have to change just to have a chance in debates. The last time it was addressed though, the solution was to add bonuses for specific forms of influence. That balanced the field only slightly.
What I've been thinking about is why was that decision made. Is there a reason that Viscanti should be so disadvantaged in a area that has a large and massive effect on a whole form of conflict? Is it because we're supposed to be the "evil" race? Why can't we be charismatic?
Look at the example of a viscanti below.
This viscanti noblewoman carries herself with a fluid grace that only rank and riches can afford, giving her the illusion of impressive height. Her scarlet skin flushes red as sin and is contrasted by silky black curls of hair that flow freely behind her in a curtain of ebony tresses. Curving about her ears are two white horns the colour of pearl. She moves as if in a trance, the silk of her crimson gown pulled taut at every curve as it brushes against her slender body. A set of prayer beads carved of bone rests about her neck and falls just where the cut of her gown lends itself to a generous display of cleavage. A hypnotic quality shines in her emerald eyes, which draws another's gaze to hers compellingly.
Do you think that she would likely be lacking in charisma? I don't think so.
The point of this is just to make you think about why such a disparity exists. Is the reason behind it really that strong?
Viscanti Bard: 12
Merian Bard: 15
Lucidian Bard: 15
Dracnari Bard: 15
Elfen Bard: 16
Faeling Bard: 17
Trill Bard: 18
Now I remember discussing in the past, it's always been a sour topic with me because I've always been a Viscanti. I don't want to have to change just to have a chance in debates. The last time it was addressed though, the solution was to add bonuses for specific forms of influence. That balanced the field only slightly.
What I've been thinking about is why was that decision made. Is there a reason that Viscanti should be so disadvantaged in a area that has a large and massive effect on a whole form of conflict? Is it because we're supposed to be the "evil" race? Why can't we be charismatic?
Look at the example of a viscanti below.
This viscanti noblewoman carries herself with a fluid grace that only rank and riches can afford, giving her the illusion of impressive height. Her scarlet skin flushes red as sin and is contrasted by silky black curls of hair that flow freely behind her in a curtain of ebony tresses. Curving about her ears are two white horns the colour of pearl. She moves as if in a trance, the silk of her crimson gown pulled taut at every curve as it brushes against her slender body. A set of prayer beads carved of bone rests about her neck and falls just where the cut of her gown lends itself to a generous display of cleavage. A hypnotic quality shines in her emerald eyes, which draws another's gaze to hers compellingly.
Do you think that she would likely be lacking in charisma? I don't think so.
The point of this is just to make you think about why such a disparity exists. Is the reason behind it really that strong?
0
(c) Iron Realms Entertainment 2012.
Comments
He says they can only get a max of 19, which considering the racial resists etc, isn't really that bad
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The disparity exists from the overall racial look, Viscanti get the racial resists + nice base CON etc, where as faeling start with 9 Con, and don't really have any resists (just bal/sip bonuses really).
In fact, it's the only conflict system that is separated from everything else.
It's important to note the Charisma is not solely a representation of 'beauty', though - perhaps one manner of looking at it is more 'influentialness', although even that isn't entirely the 'big picture' (ego serves to represent a few aspects, not limited solely to influencing). While a rather attractive viscanti may be more capable of influencing the general individual over their more.... Interestingly evolved brethren, her ability to engage in empowerment influence, for example, may be diminished. The general individual in the Basin of Life probably will not look kindly on viscanti as a race (as part of Magnagora's and the Viscanti's history, they were sort of the 'mutant freaks' that were left in the aftermath of the 'nuclear holocaust', or the Taint Wars). Even the most beautiful among them are probably regarded, on the outside, as 'freaks', products of that very terrible event. Beyond that, the viscanti aren't particularly known for their 'goodness' nor their positive or 'kind' nature (quiet the opposite).
I think a lot of that plays into it - things like the racial weakening influence bonus make sense (even the freakish ones can intimidate and scare, and the beautiful ones can probably tear apart even the most self-righteous man's ego with a critical eye and a demeaning word), while maintaining that implication that viscanti aren't meant to be influential in a positive manner. They're brutal, dark, intimidating people - they don't go about making friends with furrikin and kids, but terrorize them into submission.
I hope that makes sense - I feel like I was wandering a bit, heh.
I think that's more what I was trying to get it.
New racial... either
Conviction Your arguments deal more damage even in the event of a draw.
or
Superiority The arguments of other races hold less weight, and thus drain less ego.
I think those would be ways to help Viscanti with debates (which are especially important in peaced villages) without directly adding charisma. And let's face it... those both fit Viscanti so well.
Possibly the same reason why faeling's have the worst con out of the spec races. Something has to suck to counter x y and z perks.
If you look at the viscanti resistances, you'll find that the magic resistance part is almost useless now in pvp, unless you're facing a team of balestoning researchers, since most bards will preferredly use their alternative to minorsecond, and symbol damage got changed away from magic damage completely. Hardly any (meaning none at all) MD will use moonburst in pvp, when moonfire does yummy divinus/fire damage.
Poison damage is, outside of Mag, pretty much only done by Blacktalon.
Cutting/Blunt resistance may have been nice before report 941, when monks could do pretty insane damage, but it's now really only great for bashing. Granted, glinshari does half blunt damage.
I asked for it already when divinus/excoro got released without finding much support, but I still think the tank (high resistance, not high con) races should be reviewed in the light of divinus/excoro and the shifting of damage types of attacks available.
I agree with his points and would not mind seeing a review on Viscanti. Igasho and Tae'dae were changed in the last set of racials to be more on par to other races (with minor downsides as tanks). Viscanti already have low dex, which kills them against warriors/monks, low charisma, which hinders in all ways for villages, was overkill.
Still in support of them getting physical specs. Perhaps a special spec/race title for Ur'Guard orclachs.
Even with nice upgrades, I am having trouble seeing orclach having a specialization that wouldnt be horrible (+int/cha at the cost of what? str? then they make bad warriors, etc).
Dwarf resistances once only excluded asphyx and psychic damage, which were very rare, so they had a good allround protection, although mostly at low levels. Now their resistances exclude those two, of which psychic is now more common, and they exclude divinus and excoro, both of which are not exactly uncommon as is, either. That makes their former allround protection not very allround any more.