Rules Update: Superior Traits

The New Dynamic of “Superior” Traits

With the re-writing of higher lists we are taking the opportunity to make a change in the difference between the Lower List skills and the Higher List skills. This difference is the “Superior” trait.  In general all new Offensive and Defensive skills on the higher lists will have the “Superior” trait.  Keep an eye on all new Higher List abilities to see whether they contain the Superior trait and assess how they function.

Superior attacks, can only be defended against by Superior defenses.  In practice what this will accomplish will be to bridge the gap between mid level and high level characters. It will also in general help to bring back a little bit of fear to the high level characters of the game. Overall they will need to be more aware of their position in battle, because any Superior attacks that target a 80th level character can only be blocked against by Superior defenses… the same number of Superior defenses that a 20th level character would have if they both maxed out.  

On top of this change, Higher Lists will also be broken up into paths that will force the players to make choices. Do you want to be a master warrior that focuses on offense or defense? This also in effect helps to make them more unique, so that not all master warriors are the same.

With this we will be more closely watching how monsters and encounters are sent out.  Random encounters should never have superior skills, unless very deliberately put out by staff for a purpose. Low levels should not have trolls break down their door and hit them with Superior attacks… however if low levels force themselves onto a high level mod, the error is theirs.  We are not promising any new formula, simply stating that we will adjust the way we send out NPCs to fit around this new game dynamic.

All in all we strongly believe this will be a very positive thing for the game environment and we hope that you will either immediately recognize the value of the change, or at the very least discover it and realize it for yourselves after a few months.

Since promotional skills are unique and usable once per event, will they be superior or remain lesser defenses?

Can Nocturne of Undisturbed Dreams negate a superior attack?  (I assume the answer to this is no).

Since promotional skills are unique and usable once per event, will they be superior or remain lesser defenses?

These will stay superior.

Can superior defenses also block non-superior attacks if needed?

Yes.