[Kuromaku's Dojo]

Diffuse light streams in through the ricepaper shoji screens which enclose this large room. Thick cotton-wrapped tatami mats cover the polished pine floor. Wooden weapon racks are set against the walls filled with assorted weapons, both rattan and metal. You also see the Pyranth disk, the Ruffelin disk, an elegant freestanding bamboo cage and a sliding screen.

Also in the room: Lord Reife, Lord Blaqtar, Lady Mistytwilight (seated), Lord Bleys, Lord Heindel (seated), Lady Kythyn, Lord Kerl (seated), Lord Thrudh (seated), Lord Ravinold (seated), Lord Pyranth (seated), Lord Ruffelin, Lady Titaniia (seated), Lord Dracoblood, GameMaster Lord Kuromaku (seated)

Obvious exits: none.

You see Lord Kuromaku Hikoemon the Giantman Warrior.
He appears to be in his 80's, has short, straight black hair, dark eyes, and black skin.
He is in good shape.
He is holding some full leather in his left hand.
He is wearing a dark shirt, a jade-inlaid sheath, a large sack, a crafter's apron, an ancient enruned urnon key, some dark trousers, a dark silk satchel, a dark hood, a gold ring, a blackened mesh belt, a crystal amulet, and a heavy backpack.

Kuromaku whispers, "Lord Hyoko, please feel free to open the screen, and look in the next room. :)"

[Kuromaku's Zendo]

Soft light streams in through the ricepaper shoji screens and soft shadows of gently waving bamboo across the soft tatami mats set your mind at ease. The sound of gently falling water comes from some unknown source, further adding to the calming presence of this chamber. You also see a sliding screen.

Obvious exits: none.

You gaze in wonder at your surroundings.

[Kuromaku's Dojo]

Diffuse light streams in through the ricepaper shoji screens which enclose this large room. Thick cotton-wrapped tatami mats cover the polished pine floor. Wooden weapon racks are set against the walls filled with assorted weapons, both rattan and metal. You also see the Pyranth disk, the Ruffelin disk, an elegant freestanding bamboo cage and a sliding screen.

Also in the room: Lord Reife, Lord Blaqtar, Lady Mistytwilight (seated), Lord Bleys, Lord Heindel (seated), Lady Kythyn, Lord Kerl (seated), Lord Thrudh (seated), Lord Ravinold (seated), Lord Pyranth (seated), Lord Ruffelin, Lady Titaniia (seated), Lord Dracoblood, GameMaster Lord Kuromaku (seated)

Obvious exits: none.

Kuromaku says, "Please have a seat."

Kuromaku says, "OK, let's go over the rules. This is for discussions/status on the state of warriors. We accept complaints, suggestions, comments, and other assorted talk. However, rules are that when I am talking, no one else is. When one of you is talking, no one else is. If you wish to be recognized, raise your hand. I will recognize everyone. Please keep the whispers to me to a minimum, as there's plenty going on around me. Further to that, keep the squirming down."

Hyoko says, "With your permission, honorable Lord Kuromaku. If anyone wants a log of last week's proceedings. Please to give me a location where I can send my homing hobbit with it."

Kuromaku says, "OK, I'm going to start with giving you status on the events of the last week, and what I'm doing to either implement the suggestions of last week, or why they won't happen. First, Dalimar's suggestion for making warriors resistant to fear met with chuckles and general approval. I will be scoping it out this week, and hopefully, it will be approved. Guild changes. You now know that 3 masters are required for underage admission. This has met with general approval with a few exceptions. Except from the people you would have expected. They can, and I quote, choke on it. If the three of them band up and continue their idiocy, I'll make it 5. And, Lord Thrud, you can now promote all you like."

Bleys says, "The trainers all seem to have the same accent."

Kuromaku says, "Yes. I noticed that."

Bleys says, "Roleplayingwise, I thought it would be better if they had different ones."

Kuromaku says, "The Rogue's Guild trainers all seem to have a Brooklyn accent. I can't figure it out. It would be better, I agree. It would also require substantially more coding. Unless you didn't care which trainer had which accent, and they changed regularly. I can look into it as a possibility."

Titaniia asks, "I just kind of figured that they all came in on the same wagon train. Doesn't bother me RP wise. If they came here together to start the guild, why not have the same accent?"

Kuromaku says, "Well, 'cause they're all different races, and all three guilds have the same accent. So I'll have a look. It should be possible. If it's too much work, I'd rather spend the time doing more practical things."

Kythyn asks, "Can we have guildmasters dismiss? Make any number ye like. I can get agreement on at least one."

Kuromaku says, "It's long been a discussion between Giacomo and I, and I have to admit I've seen his point. We COULD allow 5 people to dismiss. But then, like some people, they'd just get reinstated. So it'll turn into a clique."

Heindel asks, "Maybe needing 10 guildmasters to agree on this idea of Kythyn's? A semi-bane of lost status for 30 days? Rechecked by you, the warrior guru, for reasons? 10's a large clique."

Kuromaku says, "Jim, if I need to approve it, I can kick 'em out for good on my own. I don't need the permission of 10 warriors to do so, or if 10 masters decided to pool up, they could literally chuck everyone else out and keep them out. I think it's better that I leave it the way it is. I've dismissed 3 players this week alone for misbehavior."

Bleys asks, "Original proposal said that once you get removed from one guild you will never join ANY guild. Has that changed?"

Kuromaku says, "No, Bleys."

Hyoko says, "This is perhaps a small request. The plaque outside the Guild. I was hoping it would list the Guildmasters in order of their ascension to Guildmaster. However, I notice when a Guildmaster leaves, another just replaces him or her. Could it be made to list them in Order of service? If Lord Canardly leaves, for example, the newest one will become first on the list."

Kuromaku says, "I would have to check that. I don't believe that I could do it any more. Allow me to ask Giacomo. It's a good comment, though."

Blaqtar says, "Being a master of berserk and being able to bust out of stuns, webs, and immobility. It seems we could possibly be able to get enraged when webbed or bound and bust out. I can also understand being stunned not being coherent to gain that rage."

Kuromaku says, "It's been discussed before. Giacomo feels, correctly, that it's probably too powerful. Perhaps I can convince him to implement it, but at a huge penalty. Giving us a chance, but not as good as normal."

Ruffelin asks, "Perhaps *only* for Masters of Berserk?"

Kuromaku says, "I could see that. Another good idea. Perhaps masters could."

Kerl says, "The warcry skill. With the constant use of pure potions, half the warcries are essentially useless. Could something be done to make that a more usefull skill? Perhaps make them add on top?"

Ravinold asks, "Is Ophion gonna change it's CS and TD workings, to a unique warcry coding?"

Kuromaku says, "Ophion has nothing to do with warcry. The code is Giacomo's. The issue is that if you make it stackable, it's easily abusable. The skill was created to allow warriors to be self-sufficient, or more so, not to be able to stack more on."

Blaqtar says, "The short druation, I think, kinda limits its abuse."

Kuromaku asks, "Perhaps a longer duration?"

Kerl says, "It only lasts one minute, and cannot be used unless you're in a group. Longer duration would be a benefit."

Kuromaku says, "I like the fact that you must be in a group. I think ALL defensive spells should work that way, especially clerical ones."

Bleys says, "Wonder if Zealot works that way."

Kuromaku says, "I hope so, Bleys. I've made my case for it."

Pyranth says, "I was wondering if the "circle" was discussed at all? The idea of a warrior "spell circle."

Kuromaku asks, "You mean maneuvers, or alternate attack modes of some sort? I'll get to that in a bit. It's a big conversation."

Titaniia says, "Well, I think my biggest question with warcries is their nature. Are they magic? And if not, why are they effected by spells? Oh, actually, I was thinking more of why bravery negates all our group cries."

Kuromaku says, "OK. Warcries use the CS/TD system because there's an absence of any other system to carry it. We all agree that we wish it weren't so. No one likes warcry being "magic" based. I'm looking into it already. When I have an answer that might satisfy you all, I'll share it."

Titaniia asks, "Why drag a warrior along to give you a one minute boost when you can drink a potion for a half hour?"

Heindel says, "OK, I know the Warriors' Guild is the first guild, and the others will be coming along anytime real soon now..."

Kuromaku says, "No, they won't. I've never said it. And since I'm coding it with Giacomo, the dates haven't been set for ANY guild."

Heindel says, "And we know that the guilds were made to be roleplaying additions. I was being sarcastic."

Kuromaku says, "Well, some people seem to think that we have set release dates for that project, which patently isn't true."

Heindel says, "The point I guess I want to make about the guilds, and how they tie into roleplaying as they were stated, is that they are roleplaying add-ons, not crutches for any profession. That said, I think, and I could be wrong with this forecast, that many of the future guilds might end up being more useful to their professions than the Warriors' Guild is to warriors. I'm talking in regards to warcries, disarm and tackle, and how they work right now. Do ya follow where I'm going with this? I'm basing this on the spell lists, etc."

Kuromaku says, "Boy, are you deluded. Here's the deal, in a nutshell. The guilds were intended to be RP aids. Patently, they aren't. If that's all they are, they're over achieving. I can state honestly, that the skills that are being coded for the Rogues' Guild are no better or worse than the skills in the Warriors' Guild. If the rogues expect much more, they're going to be sorely disappointed. I will ALSO say that it is likely that one of the Rogues' Guild skills will likely be considered to be "Too good/cool," and the warriors will gripe. I'm coding it, so I'm biased. However, that skill is being coded and being designed with future additions to the Warriors' Guild in mind, so they'll balance."

Bleys says, "Id go out on a limb and guess poisons, and probably be wrong."

Kuromaku says, "You're very wrong. Poisons absolutely will not be happening for the Rogues' Guild on release. Might as well say it. In fact, I think it likely that it never will. Sounds more like an empath skill to me, anyway."

Bleys asks, "How about making warcry MS based?"

Kuromaku says, "Discussed. Rejected. Using that for something else."

Kythyn asks, "Why are the critters on Teras being held, if ye know, and can we get back on status of last week's suggestions?"

Kuromaku says, "I do know, and can't say. And we are, sorta."

Reife asks, "Barring the change of the system for warcry, is there any chance of increasing our CS for warcry? For example, I can barely hit things my age or younger, especially when they spell up. But I would prefer a different system alltogether as I think the rest of us have said."

Kuromaku says, "The boosting issues for warcry should address that, Reife. I'm trying to make it so that a warrior with 32 ranks can warcry a creature at his/her age approximately 25% of the time. Which, if you think about it, is really quite high."

Bleys says, "I have seen physical CS attacks that ignore spells."

Kuromaku says, "Not many, Bleys."

Heindel asks, "Plus charisma bonus too, Kuromaku?"

Kuromaku says, "No, Jim."

Reife asks, "Does that take into account the creatures base TD or spelled TD?"

Kuromaku says, "Base."

Reife says, "That's the problem."

Kuromaku says, "No, it isn't. Hear me out. The average warrior will hit a critter his age roughly 60% of the time. That's no spells, no bonus. That ALSO doesn't include major tweaked critters like trees, 'thags, and elementals. Anyway, forget the math. Point is that, if you could warcry a critter your age with any sort of certainty, it'd be way overbalancing. As it's TD/CS based, the result of this would essentially be more spelled critters and more critters that could cast spells. I'd kinda like to keep that down."

Titaniia says, "Why is that different than having the ability to stun/web/sleep?"

Kuromaku says, "It's not, Tiny."

Thrudh says, "You have to be basing things on the warcry master after a certain point. Everyone will be one, if the skill is that good."

Kuromaku says, "No, Thrudh."

Titaniia asks, "Then why are we and rogues the only classes not allowed access to a disabling ability?"

Kuromaku says, "You aren't. Tackle, disarm, and warcry all serve."

Titaniia says, "Yes, but not with near the same amount of oomph."

Kuromaku asks, "Because they're overpowered, we should be too? Sorry, I don't play that game."

Bleys says, "Eventually you will be having mages in the warriors guild."

Kuromaku asks, "Yes, so, Bleys? Stupid ones. It takes, at the moment, SIX times as many training points to rank for a wizard in the Warriors' Guild, and they don't get the warrior bonus. I will not be a party to rapid escalation of critters and players. That there needs to be balance, I agree. That we have to try to show we have the biggest swords, I don't. Leave that kinda testosterone at home."

Thrudh asks, "We've discussed an AS adder, and come to the conclusion that it wouldn't help the swingers out, really, right? Based on the fact that an extra 15 AS wouldn't do much more damage?"

Kuromaku says, "Believe so. Not at your age, no. At 2, sure would."

Thrudh says, "I guess that I'm not seeing how stacking the songs with Bravery would be abuse."

Kuromaku says, "OK, when bravery becomes a group only skill, or spell, rather, I'll debate stacking it."

Kythyn grows indistinct. Slowly it dawns on you that she isn't there anymore.

Kerl grows indistinct. Slowly it dawns on you that he isn't there anymore.

Kuromaku says, "Here's my position. Whine all ya want. I'm not making it so that warcry is gonna get stacked on top of anything that a warrior uses magically to enhance. That is, if a warrior has to cast it in some way, no dice. If some spells are group only, I'm up for that, but if I gotta read a scroll, drink a potion, or have it cast on me, uh-uh."

Titaniia says, "OK, if we can't have an offensive skill that's going to help the group as far as warcries goes, how about this. What if we could have a cry that would add, say, +20 to the groups DS while taking -20 from the warrior yelling? Really make us a valuable part of the team and encourage the magikers to keep the warrior spelled up."

Mistytwilight says, "But Tani, some of us don't have the defense to sacrafice -20."

Titaniia says, "Misty, the point is, if you're in a group you don't need it that much."

Kuromaku says, "It's not BAD. It's just too silly. I like the idea of DEFEND, which basically does the same, but requires more warriors. Gimme three casters and three warriors and DEFEND, and you've got a serious army."

Ravinold says, "Not if yer opponent casts."

Kuromaku says, "Then use the old warrior adage, Ravinold. They can't kill us all at once. Rush 'em!"

Kuromaku says, "OK, maneuvers and stuff. Defend's being scoped. Still writing it. News on maneuvers. Concept approved. Now the hard part. Timetable. It's a combat related issue, so it's Ophion. At any rate, I've seen the initial list that Ophion has, and it ain't bad. I've got a basic idea on how they'll work, as far as who gets 'em and how. But that's still being worked on. Not finalized. Nor is the list of skills. The concept is those of katas. If you know what a kata is, you're set. If you don't, get a dictionary. At any rate, I've seen a list of 20, and I suspect that there'll be more. And I further suspect that the list will be drastically changed in both content and implementation. But they'll happen. I have NO news on timing. It won't be soon. The coding hasn't started."

Bleys asks, "What will they be based on, generally. Skill training?"

Kuromaku says, "Right now, the proposal is that it's based on a variety of factors, so you can't minmax. You WON'T be good at all of them. Can't be. Some, rogues will be better than warriors, some the other way around. I can honestly say that some of the proposed/approved skills are far more powerful than I would have thought would have gotten approved. Some are just darn cool to watch. I ain't answering ANY more questions on it. You already know about a ton more than you did."

Ravinold asks, "Any news on forgin, breakage and repair?"

Kuromaku says, "Only what we discussed last week."

Ravinold asks, "How about horseys?"

Kuromaku says, "Not today. Gonna be a LONG time. Like not this year. The concept of being on horseback, or being astride any animal, changes the game mechanics in just about every way. Think about it. Critters attack your mounts, not just you. Racing, breeding, training, combat, stabling, riding. All are being discussed. Now, it seems likely that rangers will take the lead on some of those things. Training, capturing, and other things. Warriors, naturally will be better at mounted combat on horses."

Mistytwilight asks, "Kuro, will there be wild horses, like the horses of Silver Valley where we must tame them?"

Kuromaku says, "There are plans right now to allow for catching, taming, and training creatures, yes. There will also be horse genetics to allow for different characteristics of horses. Some will be better at racing, some combat, some will be too skittish to train. Some will be big, small, and the size of the horse will also be relevant to the rider. The genetic square currently has 32 characteristics on each axis, and some traits are recessive."

Bleys says, "Someone must really be a horse breeder or into genetics."

Kuromaku says, "No. Someone must have had medical training."

Mistytwilight asks, "So say if we have a certain kind of horse in mind we can get a person to breed them for us?"

Kuromaku says, "Yes, Misty. And I suspect that certain horses will be well sought after for their qualities. Additionally, stabling and care will cost. Also in my scope, as is running combat."

INTERMISSION

(actually, I got booted)

Titaniia asks, "Any chance of more "warrior only" weapons being introduced into the game as a stop gap fix for elder OHE and blunt users?"

Kuromaku says, "No. There will be no class specific weapons made any more. I don't agree with them, and I think none of the existing GM staff does either. There were. They make no sense at all. Mainly a direct rip of the AD&D magic item system."

Heindel says, "Mostly I think the racial thing might be a nice concept, where it worked better for one race."

Kuromaku says, "The racial thing has merit and will probably still apply in some cases. Dwarven metals, elven bows, that sort of thing. Oh, I got NO'd on beards and foothair. I'll try again some time."

Mistytwilight asks, "How about combs just so we can actually comb the hair we do have?"

Kuromaku says, "And hairstyling."

Bleys says, "Could steal DR's hair mechanics."

Kuromaku says, "No, we can't, Bleys."

Heindel says, "Too bad. They did that well."

Kuromaku says, "They also did it 4 years after our system. I proposed a system to lie on top of ours, but it might cause too many problems with existing systems and items."

Hyoko asks, "Lord Kuromaku, is it possible to put in a 'peer <direction>' verb, similar to the one in H&X?"

Kuromaku says, "We have one. It just doesn't work. Has to do with room mechanics. I agree with it not working, by the way. Some rooms are several miles big."

Pyranth asks, "Just looping back to the list I offered, three items that were not maneuver-based, but abilities to tell the properties of weapon and armor. Comment?"

Kuromaku says, "I like it, Pyranth. Always have. I always thought that warriors should be able to determine weighting and padding. Not better than bards, but as a supplement to them. I still might do it as a function of forging skill, so don't rule it out. Was a suggestion I made months ago."

Blaqtar says, "A thought/suggestion back on the berserk thing that might fly. If a master berserks while webbed/immobile, break out normal, but will immediately wear off in the weakened state."

Kuromaku says, "Good suggestion. Let me ask Giacomo."

Bleys asks, "Any ideas on how to make weapons like rapiers more useful again?"

Kuromaku says, "Yeah. Make 'em easier to use, or a bonus on AS based on trained skill. Rapiers get 1.10xEWSkill, for example."

Dracoblood says, "And Tiger Claws ;)"

Kuromaku says, "Tigerclaws are mighty fine as they are. Take two weapon, brawling, and spin attack, and tigerclaws will shred any unarmored critter alive. Bless 'em, and they make short work of pookas and the like."

Dracoblood asks, "Erm, how does a spin attack work?"

Kuromaku says, "WTR SATT. Warrior trick."

Kuromaku stands up.

Kuromaku lets out a shrill yell and leaps, spinning through the air and into the fracas!

Kuromaku swings a closed fist at Dracoblood!

AS: +0 vs DS: +238 with AvD: -23 + d100 roll: +42 = -219

A clean miss.

Kuromaku sits down.

Thrudh says, "Tried 'em on monks & initiates? They just can't crit anything."

Kuromaku says, "They have little to no crit value. Use Spin Attack."

Titaniia says, "OK, here's my number one biggest peeve and I refuse to stop whining about it. Spitting!"

Kuromaku says, "Then don't spit."

Titaniia says, "Take spitting out of tricks so those of us who are trying to roleplay knightly types can learn the good ones. You're punishing us for roleplay."

Kuromaku says, "OK...let's discuss. My rationale: Spitting is a dumb, useless skill, and as such, makes for good discipline. A master tells you to spit, SPIT. And while I see the point, I also see that I'm not going to be able to replace it. So ya might as well get used to it."

Ravinold just disappeared.

Titaniia says, "If I do that, I might as well ambush from hiding and ask for spells. I don't see a difference."

Kuromaku says, "No one is telling you to ambush. A training master is TELLING you to spit."

Titaniia says, "Assuming I'm not a complete moron, which is sometimes questionable as Titaniia, I'm well aware of the fact that if I train in tricks they are gonna ask me to spit, and I gain a reward with Sperf and spin attack."

Reife asks, "Could anyone who has some knowledge of feint tell me if its up to snuff, and, if not, what can we do to make it so? I have heard rumors its hard to do on things your age."

Kuromaku says, "It is. Working on it."

Dark storm clouds suddenly gather overhead. As you look up, a crack of thunder splits the air and a trail of fire pierces the roiling gloom. The fiery trail quickly veers towards you and hurtles earthward. As the streaking light approaches, you see a massive white stallion galloping on flaming path of air. Sitting atop the mighty charger is a knight in gleaming plate armor, seemingly poised for battle. Just as you think the fiery apparition will smash into you, the lordly knight deftly reins his mount in and lands next to you in a thundering *BOOM*. With a flourish, the knight leaps from the saddle and meets the ground in a blinding flash of light. When your vision clears, the magnificent steed is gone and GameMaster Aldrek stands before you.

Aldrek sits down.

GameMaster Aldrek Honorblade appears to be ageless. He has flowing golden blond hair, piercing deep blue eyes, a dashing full moustache, and a knowing smile.

He is wearing some veil iron full plate armor engraved with ancient runes and emblazoned with a bleeding black heart being pierced by a gleaming sword, a silver-trimmed pure white cloak that seems to billow against an invisible breeze, a massive mithril alloy-trimmed back scabbard, a gleaming mithril alloy mesh kilt, and some mithril alloy spurs polished to a mirror finish.

Thrudh says, "This is a bit different. Are there any plans to have areas where we need climbing and swimming to enter? Warriors and rogues typically have a lot, and there is nowhere where you need 'a lot' to get in. I don't know of anywhere in the lands that requires more than 6 ranks of climbing. Perhaps the Rift does."

Kuromaku says, "I made one, and the powers that be lowered the required ability. Thrudh, most of Pinefar does, and Aenatumgana DEFINITELY does."

Thrudh says, "No, it doesn't. I went there with Zyanna. She had 6 ranks, and she never fell once. Just go offensive before climbing, it's a piece of cake."

Kuromaku says, "Thrud, I can't get into climbing mechanics. Those areas don't just take climbing into account. Let's leave that alone from there."

Ruffelin says, "Going back to tricks a moment. Always thought it would be kind of neat to have a TAUNT command for warriors. Things like banging your sword on your shield or waving your weapon under your opponent's nose. Something like you see warriors do to other armies and such."

Kuromaku says, "I think it more likely a rogue skill, but I'm trying to make a taunt verb. Strictly RP."

Pyranth asks, "Any thoughts on a second tier set of skills for guild masters?"

Kuromaku says, "Yes. I'm working on Master Skills now, and hopefully two more ranks for Guildmasters to attain."

Thrudh asks, "Requiring only 2 more slots?"

Kuromaku says, "No more slots, Thrudh. You just continue from 63. Folks, Aldrek here wanted to speak to you a sec."

Aldrek says, "Gonna be putting in some new pole arms soon. Wanted to see if ya folks had any ideas or requests. Ensnaring is being looked at, yes."

Thrudh asks, "Would a wrapping ability, net with trident work?"

Kuromaku asks, "Aldrek, we getting thrown nets? We need more thrown and brawling weapons."

Aldrek says, "It's already in, would just have to be re-worked. I was thinking more on the lines of a knock down with certain pole arms in addition to the normal attack."

Kuromaku asks, "Set charge?"

Aldrek says, "On the list."

Kuromaku says, "They'd work great with DEFEND."

Aldrek says, "As far as breakge goes, I'm gonna wait and see what the new system looks like. If the pole arms break too easy, I'll tweak em a bit. If you've ever held a real pole arm, they ARE NOT fragile lil' weapons. Some of the pole axes are like tree trunks with a battle axe blade attached. Which brings up the berdiche I have planned. Looking at a weapon similar to a claid for pole arm users. Course they have to approve."

Kuromaku asks, "Oh, yeah...Aldrek? Keep pole arms outta sheaths, please?"

Aldrek says, "I made and sold some axe sheaths awhile back. Not many folks bought em."

Kuromaku says, "An axe is NOT a polearm."

Aldrek says, "Was talking about handaxe types."

Kuromaku asks, "And when do I get my ES?"

Aldrek says, "Oh, spears. In for a major up-tweak. I'm asking for the stars. That way when they cut me down, I'll still get the moon."

Kuromaku says, "I did the same thing. I got dirt."

Aldrek says, "That's all I had. Drop by the BB if you wanna add anything."

Titaniia asks, "Any chance of a few modified polearms for us OHE users? Or is that utter silliness?"

Kuromaku says, "All pole arms can be used one-handed."

Aldrek says, "You wont be seeing any pole arms under OHE or two-handed. Oh, did anyone like the Silver Gryphon goodies I been makin for the boxes? More on the way."

Thrudh asks, "Were you still looking for ideas for items?"

Kuromaku says, "Yes, Thrudh, I am."

Thrudh says, "I still want a war horn. Even just a fluff one, or one that has an effect like flares do. "You hear a horn sounding from somewhere in the direction of Stone Valley."

Kuromaku says, " Kinda like that, Thrudh. Let me make a general announcement. I'm trying to come up with really good items for warriors, both merchant and auction. If you have any suggestions, please mail me. I think the folks that have mailed me know that I appreciate it. I haven't replied, but I've gotten a lot of good suggestions and comments."

Hyoko asks, "Honorable Lord Aldrek, do you have any idea what percentage of players actually train in pole arms?"

Aldrek says, "About 3-4%. But I hope to change that. It's an untapped weapon that has been neglected too long."

Kuromaku says, "23 out of 539 have trained in pole arms. The average number of trainings for those who have trained is 27. That's all classes, 20-50."

Kuromaku says, "Multi-opps, 74 of 539."

Kuromaku says, "OK. Thanks all. Let's get you all home. Oh, one more thing. Are these conversations worthwhile?"

Dracoblood nods to Kuromaku.

Titaniia nods to Kuromaku.

Thrudh nods to Kuromaku.

Ruffelin nods to Kuromaku.

Blaqtar says, "Aye"

Reife nods to Kuromaku.

Thrudh says, "Definitely"

Mistytwilight nods to Kuromaku.