CNR Skill Focus

[Pen N Popper]

Probably an idea for MMO, but would apply to current Layonara too.

I've always wished that CNR took focusing on a single skill into account. I'll use an old PC I have as an example:

Rolan's personal mission was to become the best rapier weapon master in the land. As part of his player-driven-CDQ, he only used rapiers crafted by his own hand. He never made any other kind of weapon (maybe daggers at the very start since rapiers may have been too high level). Naturally this mean a lot of failures and he could have leveled faster in weapon smithing by doing other items too.

While one could argue that making other weapons would have made him a more well-rounded smith, it could also be argued that his singular focus would lend him greater technique for the rapier.

The same could be said for the CNR cook that just made bread. Or the brewer that only made a single style of ale, or just ales in general. Perhaps the weapon smith that makes swords is different than one that just makes axes.

I'm not saying that everyone should focus on one thing; sometimes that's not feasible in a low player-count world. Should some consideration be given to the CNR crafters that focus on a single thing? Consider, if you will, that they are likely focusing solely for RP reasons. I bet if you ask them, their CNR craft helps define who their PC is.

Ideas for judging focus:

• % of overall CNR XP gained in their chosen profession
• Ratio of number of items made in their profession versus other things (eg. someone may decide late in their CNR life to do bread so it would take longer to get the ratio of loaves of bread to everything else made higher, but still be possible to do)

Bonuses for focus:

• 1/2 ingredients required
• % chance of ingredient returned on success
• higher % chance at success
• higher % chance at exceptional

Imagine the jeweler that only made rings. Now consider the jeweler that's made 100x more diamond rings than any other kind. Where would you go for your engagement ring?

[Pen N Popper]

P.S. It was the request for four mithril rapiers that got me thinking of this. How cool would it be if there was a master rapier smith in the world. Yeah, so the weapon hack at the K-mart guild can bang out a weapon (no offense!) but is it a blade worth naming?

[Dorganath]

While there's no "skill focus" or...even feats (or their equivalent) planned for the MMO, it will be possible to truly be a master crafter if one works at it.  What are the benefits? Higher quality and more durable goods than the less-accomplished crafter.

[drakogear]

Rolan's personal mission was to become the best rapier weapon master in the land. As part of his player-driven-CDQ, he only used rapiers crafted by his own hand. He never made any other kind of weapon (maybe daggers at the very start since rapiers may have been too high level). Naturally this mean a lot of failures and he could have leveled faster in weapon smithing by doing other items too.

Hmmm, interesting suggestion and this example you gave... reminds me of the old feudal japan smiths, particularly those that made the Katanas. (very few decedents of witch still exist today.) They each had there own highly secreted way of making there blades (even going as far taking there's secrets to there grave) and by witch was about the only thing they ever made. So a specialized craftsman does sound really interesting... and again... I am thinking of making a samurai... O.o

Not that Katana smiths were really samurais themselves... some were perhaps but not all.

[mixafix]

Another way to go at this on the short term and one the Dumas Brothers ordering those rapiers are considering is.
 
 When completed we may enter CDQ territory to try and finish off the rapiers RPwise.
 
 This could be extended perhaps to a PC crafter too rather than an NPC
 
 There would be no mechanical benefit in such a choice unless some twist or other was added to such weapons but certainly for NWN it would seem a good compromise on rewarding crafting specialization without creating any new work on scripting.
 
 Great to hear it is being implemented in a way in the MMO