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Main Forums => Suggestions => Topic started by: Drakill Tannan on April 12, 2009, 07:34:57 PM

Title: Stoneskin, Barbskin and Shadowsheild Visual effect
Post by: Drakill Tannan on April 12, 2009, 07:34:57 PM
I hate the Visual effects of barbskin/stoneskin, don't mind much about the shadowshield one, but the others are just disruptive to me, even in a fantasy world, i feel they are out of context, if you are a druid you'll likely won't be able to have a nice outfit because most of the time it will be made entirely of dull stone/wood, probably happens to wizards too (although they have more choices). Also i find it ilogical, supposedly the character's skin turns into stone, not all his/her clothing, helmet, shield... i guess it makes more sence on animal compaions, but i still hate it.

So i thought, maybe there should be an option to remove the visual effect of this spells, while keeping the benefits, it could be done though a chat command or a player tool maybe, activated after the spell has been cast, that removes the visual effect.

Anyway, i know it's doable, although i don't know if it can be made for each player to individually decide, but it could improve the visual game for me, and maybe for others.
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Post by: Sandstorm on April 12, 2009, 07:46:15 PM
It is doable, but I'm against it. Very clear visual effects should remain very clear.
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Post by: ExileStrife on April 12, 2009, 08:06:03 PM
I don't mind the stoneskin one that much, but I hate everybody walking around and looking like TREES.  Removing the visual effect unfortunately isn't the best choice since I think the spell does warrant some kind of representation.  However, surprisingly, very recently there were some changes to combat the army-of-trees effect that may soon become more prevalent in game.
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Post by: The Crimson Magician on April 13, 2009, 05:00:44 AM
We don't want you to hide your buffs. :(
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Post by: Letsplayforfun on April 13, 2009, 08:39:16 AM
Leave as is, IMO. It shows the buffs, the powers of the person, the probable allegiance (bark), etc. Tuning down all visual effects is kinda sad. We don't have to like them all.
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Post by: Cruzel on April 13, 2009, 11:49:10 AM
The BARK effect could b replaced with the BROWN GLOW. (On caster choice maybe?)
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Post by: AllMYBudgies on April 13, 2009, 12:35:54 PM
I have always liked Barkskin, myself.
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Post by: War horse on April 13, 2009, 12:43:55 PM
You can also disgusie yourself as a statue with stoneskin. Help's when your trying to listen in! >_>
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Post by: IxTheSpeedy on April 13, 2009, 01:01:00 PM
I like both affects but I do find it slightly silly when some folks walk around covered in barkskin all the time.  That's just personal preference though.
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Post by: Ivan on April 13, 2009, 04:50:14 PM
These folks are called "druids" and have rather limited armor option on EfU:A :D.

I like being able to see if someone's buffed with obvious powerful defensive spells. It can even be an intimidation factor if they are suspicious of a potential attack.
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Post by: IxTheSpeedy on April 13, 2009, 05:14:28 PM
I know they're called druids...  I was trying not to druid-bash, I love em' but just think it's semi-funny looking en masse.
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Post by: Porkolt on April 13, 2009, 05:14:59 PM
Quote from: Drakill Tannan;119719if you are a druid you'll likely won't be able to have a nice outfit because most of the time it will be made entirely of dull stone/wood

Because Druids really do their best to show off the latest Armani loincloths.
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Post by: Porkolt on April 13, 2009, 05:15:33 PM
Quote from: Porkolt;119901Because Druids really do their best to show off the latest Armani loincloths.
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Post by: TheMoonlightBecomesYou on April 13, 2009, 06:20:16 PM
Quote from: Porkolt;119901Because Druids really do their best to show off the latest Armani loincloths.

I lol'd.
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Post by: Egon the Monkey on April 14, 2009, 11:13:28 AM
I'd say go for this, because then it's one of the reasons for the duration nerf of Stoneskin removed (It looks ugly if every wizard is a statue), and wizards/sorcs can finally have their Level 4 defensive buffer doing what it's supposed to do. Being able to give you any-time protection from a first strike you aren't expecting, and buy time to set off spells.
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Post by: The Crimson Magician on April 14, 2009, 02:39:04 PM
Quote from: Egon the Monkey;120066I'd say go for this, because then it's one of the reasons for the duration nerf of Stoneskin removed (It looks ugly if every wizard is a statue), and wizards/sorcs can finally have their Level 4 defensive buffer doing what it's supposed to do. Being able to give you any-time protection from a first strike you aren't expecting, and buy time to set off spells.


lol egon, everyone knows that wizards are just buff bots who nobody cares about except for potions and wands and buffs, cuz, lol, people want to rock out themselves instead of going, 'OMG, EPIC' to some lame wizard dude and stuff
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Post by: Drakill Tannan on April 14, 2009, 04:24:25 PM
Quote from: Porkolt;119901Because Druids really do their best to show off the latest Armani loincloths.

Well no, but as a player i'd like my character to look nice. Not meaning that facny cloathing, and brigh colours, or make a druid look like a wealthy wizard, but just nice. A brown casual robe still looks good, and i don't think that is really so off-druid RP. Also the head model, har and skin color not to metion any tatoos are covered by barbskin.

But on other thing i don't see how hiding the buff is so bad, i mean you can't see mage armor or other buffs, You can't see the challenge raiting of other player, you can't see the effects a character has by examinating him, you can't see a character's level and/or class(es) when loggin into EFU, you can't see how much HP you gained on a level in the summary screen. I'm surprised the HP of your party memebers isn't hidden as well. Not that i mind any of this btw, but does it really makes such a great diference hiding 2 buffs more?

But if you really need to see them, can i suggest alternative visual animations? when you cast stonesking on certian creatures they don't trun to stone, but instead have a rock flying arround their heads, this could be an alternative animation for stonekin, as for barbskin you could probably add a brown glow (i liked that idea, thanks) and for shadow shield you can have another kind of glow.. do many people use ehteral visage? it could use that one.

Because i insit, francly it's strange to see walking statues and trees walking arround. Even in a fantasy world, it shouln't be as seeing a dog walk by.
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Post by: Howlando on April 14, 2009, 04:53:53 PM
Shadowshield should absolutely be shown. Stoneskin should too, considering its low duration/high impact.

Barkskin should be shown also in my opinion, it is after all a giant protective coating of bark.

There are other ways to get temporary natural armor protection that don't have this visual effect.
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Post by: Ebok on April 14, 2009, 06:55:56 PM
I think it would be very dangerous for people to be able to use these buffs without it being apparent. They seriously swing the way of a battle and both spells are /skins/ not invisible magic effects. I say keep them up.

Also: If you like looking at your clothing, don't cast barkskin! Or when your done barking the battle-- use /c dispel skins and there you go.

On the other side of this, the visual effects are one of the few ways to tell if the buff is still active on you. And I think it'd be awfully silly not to be able to tell if you've been turned to stone or not.
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Post by: Underbard on April 14, 2009, 08:13:43 PM
Leave as is.  I want to be stoned.
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Post by: Drakill Tannan on April 14, 2009, 08:22:48 PM
Quote from: Ebok;120111I think it would be very dangerous for people to be able to use these buffs without it being apparent. They seriously swing the way of a battle and both spells are /skins/ not invisible magic effects. I say keep them up.
 
Also: If you like looking at your clothing, don't cast barkskin! Or when your done barking the battle-- use /c dispel skins and there you go.
 
On the other side of this, the visual effects are one of the few ways to tell if the buff is still active on you. And I think it'd be awfully silly not to be able to tell if you've been turned to stone or not.

/C dispell skins = no benefits. -3 AC and whatever damagre reduction the stoneskin gives. yay me.
 
 
As for uberbrand's comment: what i was proposing was an optional command so that a player might chose -not- to be re-skined-
 
And i still don't understand if most things are hidden anyway, what's the real problem...
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Post by: Listen in Silence on April 14, 2009, 08:29:59 PM
Would you be able to, by watching someone, come to the conclusion that they have been blessed by some deity? That their intelligence, wisdom, dexterity has been enhanced? That they're sped up? (when standing still)

Would you be able to, by looking at someone, realise that their skin has been turned to bark, stone or shadow?
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Post by: AllMYBudgies on April 14, 2009, 08:36:03 PM
Honestly, as the spell is called barkskin/stoneskin.. it makes no sense for it to not apply a graphic to the skin, imo.
I don't think it really matters, simply so someone can look at the graphics of their outfit?
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Post by: Cruzel on April 14, 2009, 08:42:54 PM
AFAIK client side changes are possible so that Drak can remove these VFX for himself!

I will look into it, so people who really want these effects gone, can download the ovverride.
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Post by: Cruzel on April 14, 2009, 08:52:53 PM
Here, Download this if you want to no longer see Stoneskin, shadow shield, or barkskin!

This will make it so NONE of these effects show at all, on anyone. You will still receive the bonuses though!


[ATTACH]48[/ATTACH]

edit; You need to unzip it and put it in your override folder.
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Post by: Drakill Tannan on April 15, 2009, 02:33:22 AM
Quote from: Cruzel;120130Here, Download this if you want to no longer see Stoneskin, shadow shield, or barkskin!

This will make it so NONE of these effects show at all, on anyone. You will still receive the bonuses though!


[ATTACH]48[/ATTACH]

edit; You need to unzip it and put it in your override folder.

Cruzel i think i love you.

Being a simply personal preference if i knew this was in i wouln't have suggested the change in the first place, it solves it all for me.

Close, deleate, burry in thousands of other suggestions or whatever you want to do. Ty
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Post by: AllMYBudgies on April 15, 2009, 02:42:16 AM
All's well the Ends well!
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Post by: 9lives on April 15, 2009, 02:43:07 AM
Does this affect NPCs? We often use visual effects to distinguish and vary character appearance.

Nor will you know if the person you are facing is buffed to the nines.

Dumb choice, tbh.
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Post by: Drakill Tannan on April 15, 2009, 02:48:06 AM
Quote from: 9lives;120173Does this affect NPCs? We often use visual effects to distinguish and vary character appearance.

Nor will you know if the person you are facing is buffed to the nines.

Dumb choice, tbh.

I can't see the challenge raiting, aint' that enough? i could be fighitng a level 40 badger, and think it will be an easy fight.

But the NPCs will matter, i can always use a tell to ask if they are made of wood/stone/shadows though.
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Post by: Cruzel on April 15, 2009, 06:41:26 AM
I do not think I can substitute the permanent VFX as I am pretty sure that is dealt with in the script itself not the override, but I will look into that as well, so there is a 'less obvious' way to see if these spells are active! (Do not hold your breath on that though!)

See Cruzel for all your game modding needs tbh.
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Post by: The Crimson Magician on April 15, 2009, 03:05:26 PM
Quote from: Drakill Tannan;120175I can't see the challenge raiting, aint' that enough? i could be fighitng a level 40 badger, and think it will be an easy fight.

But the NPCs will matter, i can always use a tell to ask if they are made of wood/stone/shadows though.

TBH, the challenge rating was OOC, and easily metagamable.

These effects like bark, or stoneskin, or shadowshield [which I have never had the poleasure of viewing] are easily identifiable from an IC perspective, rather then seeing that their armor gives them a +12 to con, strength, and dex, and that they have freedom of movement + haste.