old age

[psg188]

I'm not liking the death by old age, I mean sure it happens in real life, but what... after 80 years? so putting in a time span that big in the game doesn't make sense, and it would be dumb to have your player age and die after a year...

so what are you planning the old age to be? It might be based on your healthiness of your character, and I know different races/creatures live different lengths, its just... I'm kind of turned off by the old age thing, the reproduction sounds cool... but I'd rather try and stick with my character, it would be very annoying to have all this story and quests and political power built around your character and then have him suddenly drop dead of a heart attack cause the game thinks your character has been alive long enough...

I think the permadeath and disease/poisons should be enough for population controls...

does the old age death bother anyone else?

[joshisscifi]

Perhaps there should be a sytem implemented that causes you to age if you do not take care of yourself, which would keep the population of "idle" characters to a minimum. For instance, you create a character, play for a month, then decide your sick of the game, so you log out and never log back in. Slowly your character starts to die because you haven't eaten or gotten nutrients, however that system is implemented. And in a month or two, you are dead.

[azgalor]

I don't think it is too bothersome. Like you said, what if someone with all that political power dies of old age? Their power is passed on. I mean, there will only be one person in the "emperor" seat at a time, and they will be quite mighty indeed.
If they spend all their money and resources making sure they stay there, via loyal guards, assassinations, etc, what would slow their gain of more and more power? You could implement a system of dynamic government, but you would see few in power who would let that idea catch on.

[therayven]

Well, let's put it this way: In D&D, your character can die from old age. But who has ever played a D&D campaign long enough for that to actually happen? You get eaten by a grue or something way, waaay before age would ever even begin to be a consideration. And in cases such as emperors, if you can spirit-jump into your own kids, you can continue your dynasty that way.

Old age will probably have a negligible impact unless it's highly accelerated (from cradle to grave in a month or less). If your character dies in even six months of play, that's still a long time to go without meeting your end from some other threat.

[morkdaorc]

Well if there is full PvP then you most likely won't live to see old age. And if you do you will just pass on to your childeren. If I am right about the way this game goes.

[Mkm]

I'm afraid that both old age and permadeath both rub me the wrong way. Both of these concepts have the be handeled very carefully to avoid sploits and frustration. For example: currently I see nothing stopping me from making a mid-level character and repeatedly ganking your ass when you are wounded or when I have a group. Ditto old age. I sure hope your character doesn't age when you are loggeed off

[alexwoolery]

I also think that death from old age is going to have a minimal impact, relative to other gameplay factors.

Aging, on the other hand, might have a better chance to affect you and your abilities, before you even get to that point.

[therayven]

Aging, on the other hand, might have a better chance to affect you and your abilities, before you even get to that point.

Good point. Will there be a penalty/bonus curve for age? Negatives in youth and old age and positives in the prime of your life?

[morkdaorc]

therayven said:

Aging, on the other hand, might have a better chance to affect you and your abilities, before you even get to that point.

Good point. Will there be a penalty/bonus curve for age? Negatives in youth and old age and positives in the prime of your life?

Eww... theres a line between Realism and good gameplay and because your old or young you don't have the skill like a "prime" man/woman is jsut going to mess the gameplay up.

[alexwoolery]

therayven said:

Aging, on the other hand, might have a better chance to affect you and your abilities, before you even get to that point.

Good point. Will there be a penalty/bonus curve for age? Negatives in youth and old age and positives in the prime of your life?

According to Gavan, there will be some minor penalties towards old age. They don't really start affecting you much until you get close to death.

As far as youth, you start out with really low stats anyway, but you quickly pick up some of your parents' traits from exercise, etc.

[morkdaorc]

alexwoolery said:

therayven said:

Aging, on the other hand, might have a better chance to affect you and your abilities, before you even get to that point.

Good point. Will there be a penalty/bonus curve for age? Negatives in youth and old age and positives in the prime of your life?

According to Gavan, there will be some minor penalties towards old age. They don't really start affecting you much until you get close to death.

As far as youth, you start out with really low stats anyway, but you quickly pick up some of your parents' traits from exercise, etc.

Well I could live with that. Maybe something like slow(er) movment or little less fighting but lets not make a (huge) change.