[DF] Talents for the Standard Templates

[b-dog]

DF seems to be about optimizing points and one thing I think is strange is that the original templates wouldn't have the various Talents suitable for their classes right from the start. Theyy run about 5 points per level and can be bought up to 4 levels so it seems that any class would automatically buy the maximum Talent level possible even before he buys attributes or skills. The Talents are so much cheaper than learning individual skills or increasing attributes. So for this reason I think it would be interesting to see what the Standard Templates would be if the Talents were included to optimize the points.

[zoncxs]

chi talent is 15/lvl. which would cost the player 60pts!

sure that is cheaper than spending 112+pts in the seven skills the template ask for you to choose, but I would rather spend 40 of those points in DX.

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by zoncxs

chi talent is 15/lvl. which would cost the player 60pts!

sure that is cheaper than spending 112+pts in the seven skills the template ask for you to choose, but I would rather spend 40 of those points in DX.

Yeah the buying of attributes is the cheapest way to go but it sort of goes against the whole niche protection thing. I mean DX increase helps you with everything not just skills for martial artists but also thief skills, knight skills and just about any physical skill.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by b-dog

DF seems to be about optimizing points [snip]

While the class templates are generally pretty optimized for what they're meant to do, leading a large number of a certain type of noobs to want to use them for non-DF, I would hesitate to say that's what DF is about...

Originally Posted by b-dog

and one thing I think is strange is that the original templates wouldn't have the various Talents suitable for their classes right from the start. Theyy run about 5 points per level and can be bought up to 4 levels so it seems that any class would automatically buy the maximum Talent level possible even before he buys attributes or skills. The Talents are so much cheaper than learning individual skills or increasing attributes. So for this reason I think it would be interesting to see what the Standard Templates would be if the Talents were included to optimize the points.

Several of the standard templates do use Talents to optimize points, when it is actually optimal for their niche to do so. The Barbarian, for example, has Outdoorsman maxed out right from the gate, and the Knight has two levels of Born War Leader. The Scout and Holy Warrior get half of those, respectively, and the Artificer gets four levels in a custom "do what the Artificer does" Talent of his very own. The Thief gets a bunch of non-Talent advantages that add to his iconic skills.

What other classes would you like to see get Talents, and which Talents would you use?

[mlangsdorf]

I've offered Knight characters a "Master of Arms" talent that applied to all melee weapons, shields, and unarmed combat for 10 points/level. Helps keep them out of the Swashbuckler/Thief niche.

Chi talent is good because about half the skills it covers aren't even DX skills.

Most of the other templates got their own talents in Powerups: Close to [Earth/Heaven/Hell] for Druids/Clerics/Evil Clerics, Allure and Craftiness for Bards and Thieves, Mr. Smash for Barbarians, etc.

Swashbucklers are the only people I can think of without a talent (well, other than Knights, see above) and I can't think of a good one for them.

[Jerander]

And let's not forget the Magery for spellcasters...

[Gnome]

In the case of the Thief, I agree. The Thief in DF1 is very weak (in my opinion). The advantages are way over-priced, and the Thief's combat usefulness is over after that first sneak attack, which often ends him up in hot water behind enemy lines in any case.
The Craftiness talent from power-ups makes a big difference, and represents a big cost savings in the long term. I recommend offering it to starting Thieves.

[b-dog]

I just don't know why there wouldn't be something like a Knight talent that include the skills under the wildcard skill Knight!. The same would be true og all the classes. And they should be maxed out at 4 levels to optimise point value.

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by Gnome

In the case of the Thief, I agree. The Thief in DF1 is very weak (in my opinion). The advantages are way over-priced, and the Thief's combat usefulness is over after that first sneak attack, which often ends him up in hot water behind enemy lines in any case.
The Craftiness talent from power-ups makes a big difference, and represents a big cost savings in the long term. I recommend offering it to starting Thieves.

And why not just call Craftiness the Thief talent instead. It would be easier to remember and would include the skills that are a thief specializes in.

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by Jerander

And let's not forget the Magery for spellcasters...

I thin k Magery is the least fair talent because it boosts all spells and spells are basically magic powered skills. It is sort of like having Awesome as a talent where you get to add a bonus to every skill you have cheaply. And you have no limit as to how many levels you can purchase unlike the other talents.