Baldur

Baldur followed the others out into the battle field, still none the wiser about they were going into, but confident that whatever it was, he and his team could overcome it. Just before the enemies arrived, however, a field effect was laid over him with some new debuffs he had never seen before. That's odd. His steel blue eyes suddenly became more alert as he looked around the dark and gloomy floor. Having a cooldown was going to make things more difficult, though the reduced stats didn't bother him too much... yet. As demons of darkness rose from the ground in a huge number, Baldur was reminded of the 300 battle and bloody necklaces everyone was useless without. It seemed that might be a similar setup here. What's with the system and necklaces during horde fights? But his anxiety was relieved when Zandra leapt recklessly into the midst of the enemy. It was something very Zandra, but when she whirled her axe and struck down the demons she hit, he suddenly felt much better about what they were doing. When Itzal followed, slaying the enemies with his own AoE, Baldur became even more confident. If Itzal was taking them down with his AoE then these were fodder meant to reduce their resources. Well, he could play that game too. The two parties clashing with the demons as they came charging in, party 1 being slightly ahead and taking the brunt first without much retribution. "Stick close together, and don't let them separate us from the other." Baldur waited until they were almost upon his party, before releasing his <<charge>> sword art <<AoE>> and began to dance around the area as the system controlled his movements. (rolling) (Does not include Morgenstern's updated energy) @Seul

The problem I have with option 3 is that you get the skills you need out of the way very early... then all that's left at later floors are making alternate options for yourself. There aren't enough skills, currently, to need 12. If the curve goes as shown, then you get all the skills you need very early. After the first 2-3 skills, players move to mods. So while it has the benefit of getting new players up to speed, it also removes the need to plan or have long term investment in the build, and you end up with a bunch of characters that can do everything.

What if we went with something like a rock-paper-scissors/fire emblem weapon triangle system? These weapons are good against heavy armor, these weapons are good against light armor. These weapons are good against natural armor. And leave it at that?

I love the idea you're going for, Shield, but unless staff were excluded from getting the bonus from a boss fight, I wouldn't want a system like that. Metagaming becomes too easy. But I do think the core idea is neat.

Baldur smiled slightly, an amused line across his face that broke his mood into something more light hearted. It was an interesting question, that if Baldur had to be honest, he felt that most people wanted to know the same about themselves. He listened to Hestia's description of Hikoru, her discomfort was palpable to him, but it was an awkward, if enlightening question to ask someone. "That's a good question Hikoru-kun. I think most of us wonder that as well... though I had to give up on caring about that a while ago when I donned this persona." Baldur turned his head as he sat back in his seat and offered the amused smile to Hestia as well. "Obviously I am not Japanese, but I have taken on the guise of a Samurai. I also don't follow the code of Bushido, or at least what modern media has pretended the code of Bushido was. But I have settled into this..." He picked at the haori he always wore, the sky blue with the white flames along the edge, "... and to be honest, this is perhaps more true to myself, and who I am, than I ever was on the outside world. Some people... " his mind jumped to Heathcliff at the boss meeting, "... perhaps think less of me because of that... but honestly... I could not care less. Being true to myself is the most empowering thing I have ever done." He looked back and forth between the two, perhaps giving away more than he had wished to do, but that was the purpose of what they were doing here. Opening up so that strength could be shared. "To thine own self be true."

Baldur tried to recover quickly from his miss, and whirled on his feet, targeting the weak bat once more. Cal had wanted him to stun them, but that had failed, and his stun attack was so much lower in damage than his other attacks, it would take twice as long for him to kill them. He needed to be better buffed for this fight than they were, but his haste in preparing was equaling danger and extra work on Cal and Hestia's part. Do better. Baldur could scold himself later, for now they needed to whittle this fight down further. "Here I go!" Baldur called out through gritted teeth as he unleashed another <<San Ge>> upon the first of the cave bats. This time his attack found true and he chunked a small portion of the bat's health away. It was now teetering in the red. Another hit or two should finish it off. His charge attack was much stronger, and he had a damage potion he could use to bolster himself once this one was dead. "I'll take down the first bat, and then use a damage pot to help with the others!" Calrex was finally able to break free from the other bats as his paralysis finally wore off and he was able to get out of the way of them. "Come on Cal, let's see some AoE!" ID# 107627 BD: 6+3-3=6 (hit) San Ge: 19*14=266-75=191 DMG Bat 1: 107627 MD: 3+1-3 (miss vs Baldur) Bat 2: 107628 MD: 7+1-2=6 (hit) 175 DMG - 89 = 86 * 0.6 = 52 DMG Bat 3: 107629 MD: 3 (miss) Bat 4: 107630 MD: 3 (miss) Baldur: 1090/1090 ENG: 93/106 MIT: 79/39 EVA: 3 | DMG 19/36 Bleed (Miss, -2 energy, +1 regen) Hestia: 1425/1425 ENG: 107/138 MIT:151/75 DMG: 16 EVA:-1 Regen: 3 on CD:6 Recovery: heal 45 HP when hit BH: heal 57 HP Thorns:54 Calrex: 1626/1765 ENG: 162/172 MIT:89/44 DMG: 16 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 2 | ACH: 0.6 | Thorns: 30 (Battle Healing +89) (4/0/3) Cave Bat 1: 371/1250 MIT 75 EVA 3 ACC 1 DMG 175 | 225 + Para | 275 + Para (ignores half mit) (0/0/3) Cave Bat 2: 1220/1250 MIT 75 EVA 3 ACC 1 DMG 175 | 225 + Para | 275 + Para (ignores half mit) (0/0/3) Cave Bat 3: 1250/1250 MIT 75 EVA 3 ACC 1 DMG 175 | 225 + Para | 275 + Para (ignores half mit) (0/1/3) Cave Bat 4: 1220/1250 MIT 75 EVA 3 ACC 1 DMG 175 | 225 + Para | 275 + Para (ignores half mit) @Hestia

"After this drake, let me change out my load. This is pissing me off so much, I'm going to drag out the <<Muramasa>>. I usually try to avoid using it for quests, but in this case I'm doing it for my own sanity." Baldur took aim at the last drake and focused on it with his steel blue eyes, selecting it as the target of his next attack, a <<Charge>> <<San Ge>>. He streaked across Shield's field of vision as a blue and orange flash of color as he launched into his attack with determination, but his timing was misjudged, and instead his sword art slashed at the air just below the drake, the height of the flying wyrmling just out of reach of Baldur's katana. "Damn it. These things are really pissing me off!" Baldur vented his frustration and then just had to chuckle. They were in no danger, but he felt like he was playing wiffle-ball with a toddler when it came to these bats. They were just unpredictable and didn't follow the normal rules of combat. "Let's kill this thing so I can take this fight seriously."

Baldur listened to Hikoru's tale of power and happiness and loneliness. It hit the gaijin samurai very close to home, as he remembered what felt like not so long ago, being in shoes similar to Hiikoru's. His thoughts drifted back to Tyger, and her situation. He still did the same as Hikoru, and checked the wall every day. What will I tell her family? But he pushed that thought away, and refocused his blue eyes on Hikoru. "I know what you mean, Hikoru, about Vale. I check the wall every day myself... I think there's a lot of us who do, but I look for her name first. Then all of the others. I've gotten to the point where I've memorized where everyone's name is... and I check my friend list to make sure everyone's name is still there every time I wake up... I even... find myself randomly checking it in the middle of the day several times, just to be reassured that everyone is okay." Baldur idly played with the tea cup and the saucer that came with it. "This is not a lesson that someone can teach you, it's a lesson you have to learn the hard way, but no one else can ever make you happy. No one else will ever make you feel complete. No one else will ever make you feel whole. You have to do that yourself. No one wants to be with half a person... well... I say no one, there are lots of people out there, but no one you want to be with, wants to be with half a partner. You need to be a whole person on your own. Complete. Confident. Happy. Once you've found that, then you'll be ready for someone who has done the same, and is worth your time. I spent a lot of time in my life chasing after people who made me feel whole, or damaged people who needed savings, though I didn't realize that's what I was doing. It wasn't until I had grown, accepted myself, and become someone that I could respect, that I was ready to find someone who was my equal, who challenged me to be better." Baldur tried very hard to control his thoughts. He should be thinking about Tyger, but instead he was thinking about Lessa. He spoke the words with conviction, though his mind wandered. "You want to find someone who is your equal, and you'll only do that once you're a whole person yourself."

Baldur nodded to @Hestia and @Shield when they mentioned the balance of the teams DPS. He had come late to the mix, so it made sense. He turned to the young woman who would be his tank for this fight, and he had no reservations about trusting his life to her. He was as prepared as he could be. "No problem. I go where I am needed, and that makes sense Hestia." He gave her a reassuring smile, but didn't fail to miss the look that Shield gave him when once again their group was split up, though last time it was Baldur's own advice that had split the would be team. Their time would come soon enough. They as people, and the frontline in general, needed more groups with strong bonds to prevent things like... what happened that time... from happening again. They had already proven the potency of a well supplied raid, now they just needed to show a well planned and coordinated one. It would be a long road. He put a hand on Shield's armor, "Just make sure that Lilith is looking after you and I'll feel okay looking after this other team." He gave the other tank a laughing pat on the shoulder and then moved over to Hestia's team so he could take stock of his fellow teammates. None of them were new to him, but he wanted to mentally run through what he expected to happen so that he could instinctively call for the correct help or give good direction should the need arise. Between Hestia, Calrex, Morgen, and Macradon, they were a tough team, Baldur himself was no slouch since he had maxed out his own mitigation, though he used the protein buff which lowered it. Baldur himself was the fastest of them, but he would not be leaving anyone in the dust either. Macradon was capable of outdamaing the gaijin Samurai, and Calrex could switch easily between single target damage and AoE at the drop of a hat. Morgan's build was something he was less familiar with, but the man was a tank at heart, or at least he was. There wasn't a single person in their group who couldn't take a hit, and their squishiest person was himself. With Hestia as their healer, they were safe. He gave each of them a nod in turn. "So do we know anything about this fight or are we going in blind?" @Calrex@Morgenstern@Macradon

There's not a lot of detail to go on, but I think I like option 1 the best. My pet peeve is this: these systems have never planned for the future. If you're going through the trouble of rebuilding the system from the ground up, plan for the long game. I don't think we need to plan for floor 75 or 100, but we do need to plan for floors 30, 35, 40, maybe even to 50. It's not going to help us to rebuild the system, only to break it in 5 or 10 floors. I am all for the level cap. I am all for making myself weaker for the benefit of the game. Honestly the thing I will regret losing the most, is my skills. Not necessarily the value, but the... options it gives me in a post. For example, if I was limited to 3 skills, it would feel much more crippling than if the value of those skills were reduced. I hope that makes sense.

Baldur, the Azure Samurai, the Gaijin Blade, the wielder of the cursed blade <<Muramasa>>, the late-to-the-party showed up decked out and ready to fight. He made his way over to the merchant selling buffs, and picked out exactly what he needed. How convenient. I wish I could stock up on everything here... He then proceeded to spend several seconds eating and drinking food and potions as he saw buff after buff light up next to his health bar. Once fully buffed, Baldur walked over to @Hestia. "Sorry for being late and throwing this into chaos, but just throw me onto @Shield's team." He gave the tank and healer hybrid a smile and then made his way over to the with the manticore mask. "Sorry I'm late my friend, I had a few personal things to take care of." He smiled and then slowly unsheathed the <<Muramasa>> the evil blade had an unsettling aura... or particle effect if you wanted to get technical about it... that surrounded the wicked looking sword. "I got the message about the event, but not the details. Can someone give me the elevator pitch?"

I've been toying with the same idea for years, we if you just went with stuff like slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning. I'd really have to see your suggestion, but if it could be done right, I'd be all for it.

I kinda want to keep it in some form. In the show it's not just the last hit, it's that you get a bonus for getting a special type of hit that kills the boss. There's supposed to be done measure of skill to it. It's also not the only thing that drops in the show. Several items drop and the raid agrees on how to divvy them up. So you could come up with something that mimics last hit and may that drops a weapon. But then there could also be other drops. It's weird that bosses drop less than normal mobs. Drop high level mats and Col and you could do a 3 slot items with unique enhancements and just have one special 4 slot. They're still good and rare items without being 4 slot. Maybe drop stuff like a demon egg or a snow flake or an unidentified item with a higher chance of identifying as unique. There's lots of options.

The steel eyed Samurai's heart was conflicted, but only for a moment. Hirru had been someone Baldur had relied on, they had been through thick and thin, and Baldur would have taken a blade for Hirru... but after what Hirru did today in the boss fight.... Baldur never would have guessed that Hirru could do something that would change the gaijin samurai's opinion so much. He had admired the Jade Hunter when he gave his oath to Evahira, but now...? "Sorry, Hirru. You have broken your blood oath." And with that, Baldur took the emotions he had been feeling, and as he taught @Calrex he fed them to the flame that burned within them all, and turned his no-longer wild eyes onto Isaxi. Hirru, and his betrayal, no longer something that concerned him. Pulling out another readily available healing crystal, Baldur crushed it into his hand, giving another small burst of healing to his party. He may not feel the same about Hirru, but Baldur would not let anyone die if he could help it, and they all needed healing. "Shield, Beat, Let's finish this fight, there's been enough pointless chaos, and we may have failed this fight already with Durares' retreat. If we don't complete the objective, the door ahead may not open, but we won't know until they're dead." His eyes never left Isaxi, as he focused all his concentration on reading her moves for an opening as he attacked. Crouching down, Baldur <<charged>> the leader of the band of insubordinates, unleashing his <<San Ge>> in crimson bands of light trailing behind the cursed blade of the <<Muramasa>> as they carved into her pixelated body, tearing open red gashes that revealed the wire mesh frame of her model. "Give my regards to Kayaba." Bringing down the final overhead slash, the wanna-be Samurai split her form in two with the bloodthirsty blade. He had no fear in his eyes for her, only contempt and control. This was going to end, and his blade carried the finality of their fight with it.

Baldur tsked and clenched his jaw in annoyance at Hirru's actions. It was rare for the Samurai to display any negative emotions, especially in battle and he hesitated, but only a moment. He had, until Shield's actions, considered going for Durares anyways. Baldur had been impressed by Hirru's early display, and had felt proud of the Jade Hunter for pronouncing his code and connecting with the enemy Tank in a surprising manner. The NPC seemed a likable one, but it was an NPC. It was bits of code that Hirru was valuing against the lives of their fellow players. Even were the AI particularly good, it's value was not comparable to that of the other lives trapped in this tower. And there were few people who loves this tower. "Hirru..." Baldur cursed under his breath. He thought of the fellow merchant as a close brother in arms. Baldur greatly liked the man, and felt him kindred. They often partnered together. Baldur held in check his urge to curse, or berate, or countermand orders. He wanted to yell at Hirru, he wanted to yell at Shield for supporting him, and he wanted to yell for Beat to follow him and cut the boy down, but at the corner of his eye, he saw that Beat had been knocked down and stunned, causing him to be slow to recover. Glancing at the corner of his vision to see Beat, also cause the Samurai to see the health bars of his party. Ruby was yellow, Hirru was yellow, Beat had just been healed and his HP was low, even Baldur's was near yellow. Quickly, Baldur pulled out one of the AoE healing crystals he kept handy, and had kept handy through many raid fights where they were never needed, and crushed one in his hand. The effect was not large, ultimately, he had planned with Calrex and Shield in the past, that if everyone in a party had AoE crystals, and needed them, everyone could use them in conjunction to heal their party. It would be an effective way to get through a dangerous burst of damage. This was the first time he had ever used one. Had Hirru not interfered, he still would not have used one. Looking at Dura's HP, Beat and he could have ended the boss right then and there, and continued to end this fight. Turning his steel blue eyes to Isaxi, Baldur walked over to the DPS player his eyes filled with annoyance and rage looking for an outlet, yet his physical demeanor was calm, as if her were merely walking over to end prey beneath his notice. When he got to her, he unleashed his strongest sword art <<San Ge>> but his heart was not in it, and she was able to evade or parry all of his blows. "Surrender. Or resist. I don't care, but you've lost and we're proceeding whether you admit defeat or not. It's your number next."