Parasites

[Icefalcon]

Heh I say we just stick with poison... there could be alot on different kinds of poison if you are worrying about the job of healers...

[DepthBlade]

Bah it would be to much of a hassle catching a plague when your busy doing something!

[Wormtail_]

Parasites can be spread unintentionally by NPCs, players, friendly monsters, swamps, and so on. Poison is spread delibrately, unless someone was brainwashed, in which case it is still delibrate since the brainwasher wants the brainwashed to do something.

As for plagues... Well, they should only come up only once in a while, and when they come, the healers will have a field day healing patients.

Parasites can add to gameplay. Healers or self-healers may find healing similar to a mini-game, or they should if only for the sake of gaming.

Will add more later.

[Xanaroth]

Originally posted by Icefalcon
Heh I say we just stick with poison... there could be alot on different kinds of poison if you are worrying about the job of healers...

maby this is better. if we can believe the descriptions of the part in char creation where you can choose adsv/devs there will be several poisons and deseases... all different and thus all different duration and strength and all needing a cure for its own.

poison immunity
this will make you immune to some of the poisons in the game

[ShadowFish]

i was looking at the magic system...getting rid of disease poison and and bacterial stuff including parasites is purifieing isnt it.... a cleric would be a healer...heals open wounds and cuts and mends bones....never heard them able to cure something of poison

[Draco Whitefire]

I think parasites and similar cratures would implement a whole range of new and interesting possibilities. On the one hand, there would be the pure parasites as mentioned above. But there are more options. Think of creatures that give something for what they take: trading HP for mana, or sucking away a strength-point, but giving faster stamina recovery. Possibilities are limitless.

[ShadowFish]

parasites only take..... not a symbiosis.....

[Wormtail_]

There could be parasites and other organisms that use symbiosis in PS. And since people tend to think poison would be better than parasites, organisms that take and give would certainly be unique, and give gameplay value. Such as added strategy for using characters, depending on how dedicated you are. Are you going to be a warrior that forgets about magic (in general)? Somehow get a creature that takes mana and gives something else.

I like the idea of having symbiosises in PS.

[Skizzik]

Those symbiotic creatures are indeed a _very_ good idea. I didn\'t like the whole parasite idea too much since it would have the same impact on the game as a contagious disease (so no real need for it). Symbiotic creatures that give you something good but have a drawback are a very good idea. If something like that idea is worked out in the right way it could be tons of fun.

[ShadowFish]

yah but they cant be called parasites because by definition that isnt what they are....

but symbiotic creatures would be cool.... take something useless from you and give you some thing you can use

[Skizzik]

Well, not something useless or they wouldn\'t have a drawback. Something that you value less than the thing it gives you. Symbionts or symbiotic creatures is a good word for it since both organisms profit from the relationship.

[ShadowFish]

yah but mana is useless to a warrior

[Wormtail_]

So basically we shall have symbionts and leave parasites out of the picture. And mana may be useful to warriors, as they might just need some healing boost.

Now to expand on the idea of symbionts. Should the symbionts be divided into a dweller of the inner body and skin, or just the latter? Also, should the symbionts be bought, found in random areas (such as caverns), or other areas? And what should the size of symbionts be?

It might be intriguing to see a character walking around with a... thing... on his/her/its body. The latest fashion! Wear a creature that sucks your mana away! And gives you stamina in return! Buy at the Symbiotic Creature Tamer\'s shop today!

[ShadowFish]

both, people could find them in shops from people who found them and want a profit from them.....also they could be found in caves and other environments....maybeb some would go inside your body but those could only be the stat exchangeing ones

would they grow as they gathered more mana or health? also a symbiont could be a lot of things...it could take health and offer you protection like it attacks andything near you or just give mana for stamina etc....

parasites are too much like poisons

[Wormtail_]

If a symbiont has the ability to grow, it might become too large for the host to carry around. But that might be a plus if it controls the characters carrying symbionts around.

As for protection, perhaps other types of symbionts can offer resistances against certain types of magical Ways or poisons. Or your character can provide protection in exchange for something. Protection for protection would be pretty much the same as a familiar.