Path of the Vampire forum

I think 'Iris' and 'Every' hit upon 2 valid points. Even before the all purpose ritualist came into the game, some did not want to deal with Zodiac because of her associations with some people/groups. Also, once certain tomes suddenly became available to all it was only natural for some to aspire to master them themselves. I could see this pattern emerging from the beginning. There was a time people came to Zo for everything, then it slacked off the basic rituals to the more harder ones, then finally to the ones only certain people had the tomes. Now many people are getting them to work, so why come to me or others? Add to that a one stop/no questions asked/full service person who saves you the time of hunting for items, and the market changes. The same thing will happen once enchantments finally become a skill. Some of us may dive full tilt into it at first and others will want them to do the enchanting for them till they begin to get a grasp of things themselves. Now Zodiac is dabbling in weapons making and forge skills simply because she is bored. (and has no other place to put stat points that fits her char. She doesn't steal anymore and she has no reason to hunt others.)

It was a great ride. Zodiac alone performed over 30 binding rituals (and a percentage of them are still bound) which fit perfectly into the role play of her char. But like any business, the world changes and people change and what was once a valid way to help the general public now becomes a target for bankruptcy if that was part of your money making system in action.

Zodiac wrote: Also, once certain tomes suddenly became available to all it was only natural for some to aspire to master them themselves. I could see this pattern emerging from the beginning.
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This. I remember seeing them go up at auction and thinking it was the end of an era, lol

Zodiac wrote:I think 'Iris' and 'Every' hit upon 2 valid points. Even before the all purpose ritualist came into the game, some did not want to deal with Zodiac because of her associations with some people/groups. Also, once certain tomes suddenly became available to all it was only natural for some to aspire to master them themselves. I could see this pattern emerging from the beginning.[...]

I actually disagree with you on this, Zo, respectfully.

I don't think people have actually aspired to master them at all strictly because it doesn't fit their character. From multiple individuals, I've actually heard that rituals are way too difficult to even try - so they don't. I know at one point I absolutely refused to do it until I was more aware of how to stat my character and how rituals even worked.

Zodiac wrote:I think 'Iris' and 'Every' hit upon 2 valid points. Even before the all purpose ritualist came into the game, some did not want to deal with Zodiac because of her associations with some people/groups. Also, once certain tomes suddenly became available to all it was only natural for some to aspire to master them themselves. I could see this pattern emerging from the beginning. There was a time people came to Zo for everything, then it slacked off the basic rituals to the more harder ones, then finally to the ones only certain people had the tomes. Now many people are getting them to work, so why come to me or others? Add to that a one stop/no questions asked/full service person who saves you the time of hunting for items, and the market changes. The same thing will happen once enchantments finally become a skill. Some of us may dive full tilt into it at first and others will want them to do the enchanting for them till they begin to get a grasp of things themselves. Now Zodiac is dabbling in weapons making and forge skills simply because she is bored. (and has no other place to put stat points that fits her char. She doesn't steal anymore and she has no reason to hunt others.)

It was a great ride. Zodiac alone performed over 30 binding rituals (and a percentage of them are still bound) which fit perfectly into the role play of her char. But like any business, the world changes and people change and what was once a valid way to help the general public now becomes a target for bankruptcy if that was part of your money making system in action.

I think part of it is to do with Aeryn, but I feel like part of it is to do with the fact that the game is less active than it once was, and people are less competitive and serious about it as they once were.

Kensington wrote:

Zodiac wrote:I think 'Iris' and 'Every' hit upon 2 valid points. Even before the all purpose ritualist came into the game, some did not want to deal with Zodiac because of her associations with some people/groups. Also, once certain tomes suddenly became available to all it was only natural for some to aspire to master them themselves. I could see this pattern emerging from the beginning.[...]

I actually disagree with you on this, Zo, respectfully.

I don't think people have actually aspired to master them at all strictly because it doesn't fit their character. From multiple individuals, I've actually heard that rituals are way too difficult to even try - so they don't. I know at one point I absolutely refused to do it until I was more aware of how to stat my character and how rituals even worked.

Yeah, I agree. Many don't want to waste points on rituals.

Looking at the database, there are only 28 active characters with 15 or more on rituals. Several of those are played by the same people.

Actually, 28 is a lot more than I thought there would be. I'm surprised so many spent points on rituals, considering it's a support skill they could just get their friends to help with.

Mooncalf wrote:Actually, 28 is a lot more than I thought there would be. I'm surprised so many spent points on rituals, considering it's a support skill they could just get their friends to help with.

I can speak for no one but myself. My char was never meant to be a muscle bound monster capable of destroying anything in their path with a flick of their finger. THE single point that finally convinced me to come play Path was that this is not a 'cookie cutter' process where everyone had the same stats and win or loose was determined by how fast you could click the mouse alone. You could build your chars as you saw fit and there would be advantages and disadvantage that would balance things out no matter how fast you could click the mouse. As I told a few before, Zodiac was basically a big brain in a glass jar and I built her that way. Why does this surprise you? Not everyone aspires to be death incarnate. She was built to match the rp surrounding her and was an asset to others. Now she is not so much of an asset in ways, but again that reflects a real life concept into the rp of things.

It doesn't surprise me that players want to play non-brawny characters (I myself prefer them), it surprises me that more people than I thought, a) have the patience for the rituals system, b) care more about RP builds than they do about levelling quickly, and c) chose ritual builds rather than other non-brawn builds such as business, charm, hacking, sneaking, or crafting.

I'm pleasantly surprised, don't get me wrong. I just didn't think there would be exactly 10% of the active characters who are built to tackle big rituals.

Mooncalf wrote:It doesn't surprise me that players want to play non-brawny characters (I myself prefer them), it surprises me that more people than I thought, a) have the patience for the rituals system, b) care more about RP builds than they do about levelling quickly, and c) chose ritual builds rather than other non-brawn builds such as business, charm, hacking, sneaking, or crafting.

I'm pleasantly surprised, don't get me wrong. I just didn't think there would be exactly 10% of the active characters who are built to tackle big rituals.

Ha ha ha. Check my stats. Zodiac is a master at business and hacking as well. It was all mental and willpower with her. I am sure she will want to dive into Enchantments eventually as well. Happy to have surprised you.

Ah yeah, that's part of the issue then, really. Characters are like 50 levels higher than they were back in the heyday of rituals, so they have secondary and tertiary skills.

Maybe the solution is to just have Aeryn offer mastery unlocks only, and not rituals.

personally, I think she’s fine as she is. The price is good, though if you raised it, that’d be fine, too. I play rituals, but I have a lot of characters who don’t, and to access Aeryn is a godsend. Some of mine will reach out to PC for help, but I have those who prefer to act alone and be independent, lmao. I think leaving her alone would be the best. I don’t see it really hindering, especially if ritual players start advertising cheaper prices, etc.

I guess I just see it as an ability to help ritualists, if we take advantage of it.