I see glowy people

[Xus]

I had a thought...

You see, I'm just now getting to that point in the game (and when I say "the game", I mean PlaneShift; just specifyin') where at long last, I am actually becoming ever-so-slightly more powerful than other people!  Mwahahaha!  I have to tell you, it feels good.  But in order to even know this, I have to right-click people, click the little eye ball, scroll to the bottom, and read whether or not someone is stronger than me.  Well that got me thinking... if I have to do that to know how strong other people are, then they have to do that to know how strong I am (logically), so a true tragedy might very well occur, and that is that NO ONE would get to see that I over-power them! 

So, I was thinking that perhaps a system something like that used in Fable could be used.  In Fable (if I recall correctly; it's been awhile since I've played, so give me a break), I believe you start to glow more red as you become more evil, and glow more blue if as you become increasingly benign.  Similarly, I thought that perhaps as your stats increase through gameplay in PlaneShift, you could start to glow brighter and brighter, so that people could know at a glance how very very awesome I am.  This would not necessarily undermine the need for Intelligence in order to judge someone else's power; I suppose the levels of brightness could go in increments even, and the more Intelligence you have, the smaller the brightness increments so that you know more exactly what power someone has.

In addition to fueling my ego, this would also, I think, make it more fun and interesting and compelling to up your stats.  Perhaps I'm suggesting this a bit prematurely, as all the 3D models for the game are not even completed yet, but I just thought I'd throw the idea out there...

[lordraleigh]

One of my characters will glow red and blue, red and blue.....

Seriously, can someone see if other characters are evil by just looking if they glow red IC?

[ThomPhoenix]

Look at me, I'm so evil, I'm all glowing red!
Wait...
...
I'm on fire! Help, help, heeeelp!

[One and only tanner]

secret guild option now just about useless we now know who you are evil ppl!

[Xus]

You've misread me... terribly terribly misread me.

The glowing wouldn't be red or blue depending on how evil a character is, it would be brighter or dimmer depending on what level of power a character has attained.

And maybe it's not very realistic... but neither are floating green name labels, or multiple classes of magic, or winged blue people, or living in a hollowed out stalactite, or the pretty, spinny little red cursos that hovers under your current target... If you want to put a more scientific or logical twist on it, just feel free to see it as some mystical, magical by-product of physical prowess that occurs within our happy, lovely little stalactite world.

[Karyuu]

It's too competitive and combat-oriented.

[...] so that people could know at a glance how very very awesome I am.

This is not how we want people to work with each other. Other characters should talk to yours to know how very awesome yours are. A "mystical magical glow," while cool-sounding, is very out-of-place with the sort of setting and goals PS has.

[The Shadow Nose]

Perhaps replace the big blue aura with a simple arrow that shows up after their name (which can be turend on or off in the option menus). Like if a player is stronger than you, then you see a red colored arrow pointint upwards, and a weaker player has a blue arrow pointing down.

It would be a bit more discrete than a big shiney aura, and if a person with a big shiney aura started casting spells... would they just start to look too shiny?

[Narure]

It should be done by the characters posture, no glowyness or symbols. Just the way you would analyise someone in real life.

[Karyuu]

Precisely, Narure :] You shouldn't be able to tell whether someone is stronger or weaker than you by any way other than visual, or with the aid of magic. Anything else is too out-of-character.

[Xus]

Yei, actually, I can see where you're coming from... I just thought it might be kind of neat, in a way.  But really I would prefer it even to my own idea if the character models themselves actually got bigger and stronger looking with experience, I just never fancied something like that could be practically implimented because it would be too difficult.

That won't ever happen... will it?  Because if it did, that would be even cooler.

[emeraldfool]

Yei, actually, I can see where you're coming from... I just thought it might be kind of neat, in a way.  But really I would prefer it even to my own idea if the character models themselves actually got bigger and stronger looking with experience, I just never fancied something like that could be practically implimented because it would be too difficult.

That won't ever happen... will it?  Because if it did, that would be even cooler.

That could screw up people's characters. For example, I have a character 'Vexus' who's a skinny, frail, psychotic Lemur, but (hopefully in the future when magic and psionics is useful) can own people with his mind

[bilbous]

What makes you think Psionics is in the cards for this game? Did you see anything in the settings or is it just wishful thinking?

[Radiant Memphis]

See my idea would be to have a magic spell (very high level) that would read the invisible aura of the char. to give a more detailed description of said char. Then also add subterfuge skill to those who would want it to hide their skills and true nature. Making only the spell the only true way of telling the true nature of the individual. Although, that would also cause problems in the wrong hands. Of course you can have the spell have a high chance of miscasting as well and giving dis information or at best unclear info. I would like to see where this goes in the future of the game. Mostly as I, (way back when) when first starting this game tried training in hide in shadows and other subterfuge type skills only to find them not implemented as of yet. It's one of the things that still keeps me interested in the game as well as the RP.

[emeraldfool]

What makes you think Psionics is in the cards for this game? Did you see anything in the settings or is it just wishful thinking?

The School of La'harr focuses on using inner-energy to move objects and take control of people's minds. (Or was it Argan? One of those schools anyway).

That's pretty much what psionics is.

[lordraleigh]

Psionics... how to make them creepy.

Emotion-driven Psionics + Religious Fanaticism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_%28film%29

Wonder if it would be interesting concept for a character...

BTW, from their descriptions

Lah'ar = Externally foucused Psionics(Offensive mostly) - Telekinesis, mind control, ESP, etc.

Esteria= Effect on objects focused(Offensive and Defensive) - Using pyrokinesis to make literal fire swords, etc.

Argan = Effect on the body of the one who uses it(Defensive) - Increasing resistance to blows, etc