Remove Barkskin VFX permanently

[SN]

As it is now, I believe a certain level Barkskin gives the vanilla NWN Barkskin visual..

As in the title, maybe we could have it removed once and for all.

Why?

• It makes screenshots ugly!
• It makes other PC's instantly go 'Druid!'
• Allows others to instantly have an inclination as to how powerful a PC is (not).
• It IS ugly.

[Knight Of Pentacles]

Leads players to make OOC decisions they shouldn't be able to make, knowing that your character is atleast level 7.

[Pandip]

The biggest and most frustrating issue here is metagaming. People are prone to hollering about druids and whatnot if they see someone with bark skin. Outside of blur and high level affects (stoneskin, elemental shield, acid sheathe, etc.), there are no other VFX's still implemented on the server. It's a dead give away that someone has an additional AC and access to casting the spell and, worse yet, an even bigger giveaway when the spell dissipates and suddenly people are emboldened to PvP.

[Blue41]

Alternatively, as some have suggested, apply barkskin vfk at all times.

[Ebok]

Seeing someone with a better animal companion, casting really any high level spell, or preforming a class ability tied to level will always act as an indicator of power. All they can determine really, by seeing you with this spell cast––is know that someone of that level cast it upon you. That being said, if a wizard decides to cast teleport, is that an OOC understanding of their power level? ... Or an IC understanding?

I had always thought of the Barkskin visual for druids being entirely intentional. It had a mechanical difference between levels 6 and 7, that it was decided would be the turning point of the spell. It was -actually- more powerful and more visible. That way the druids could still showcase the visual changes of wilderness magic while the caster level 3 and 6 potions or spell effects we see do not (and not everyone in the server screenshots would be walking tree shapes. Which is as SN pointed out, very not cool)

Stoneskin is another defensive buff that is visible. Casting it reveals a certain level, and its effects ending show a real change in the character's description. In otherwords, this isnt really metagaming at all. It's playing with the fiction as it is presented. Maybe pay closer attention to your spell's effect timer.

I have seen many many druids play up the spell's effects in different ways, marked by the very drastic change in their appearance. I would lament the loss of the spells visual effects for one reason: It was very cinematically cool flavor that brought proof of power over the natural world into the visual realm. Many druids that I had spoken with over the years used this spell to showcase their connection to the natural world. Granted, some just spammed it like any other spell, but sometimes... it added that extra flavor that actually brought the given scene into perspective for me.

[Tyshalle]

Yes, I too am a fan of the visual, and don't find such a thing to be metagamey at all. If your character can see it, then they should be able to infer certain things about your character's power.

[Dillusionist]

This may add an extra burden on DMs, but maybe there can be a toggle for the visual? I'm not a huge fan of it but if you're playing a plant-attuned druid I can see why you might want to walk around covered in vines and bark and really play up the distinction.

As far as metagaming characters' levels goes... unfortunately there's some information that just can't be concealed for players: opting out of quests, the spells you cast, how much flame weapon damage you give, all hint at character level. I don't know if its really fair to say people are using it to metagame druid status, though, since if someone is surrounded by beasts and part-way turned into a plat half the time what else can you assume them to be?

[PanamaLane]

I believe this has been brought up in the past. As far as I am aware, the DM's are happy with the status quo. Part of the reasoning was that if you are a powerful druid, the appearance of your spells should reflect that additional power. The only way I see this being changed is if the additional +1 ac is also removed and I don't see PCs clamoring for that either.

[Ebok]

I found this old 2009 thread on this topic.

[LiAlH4]

Powerful druids produce spell effects that are noticeable. We would not remove the VFX from stoneskin merely because it is ugly or marks a PC as a mage or a cleric with the good domain. Far-less-potent barkskin potions can be roleplayed as applying a bark-like quality to the skin, if people care to emote such things.

Druids can deal with the repercussions of running around looking like living trees; that is exactly what the spell is supposed to make them look like. You will look like an ugly tree-man just like a mage with stoneskin will look like an ugly stone-man.