Honestly unsure if this would be a good idea or not...

[MrTroll]

I've found that meeting the smith in the woods can be an extremely valuable thing, especially for low DK players. Unfortunately for those same characters it's also a rather rare occurance. I was thinking maybe a smith's shop in town would be helpful for the players who find the first few DKs frustrating to the point that they're ready to give up. Having this in town would defeat the purpose of the forest special though, which is why I'm not sure if this would be worth doing. Maybe if it were heavily weighted for older characters. Something like

(Price in Gems) = 3 * (Player's DK Count) + 1

Might just help out the new players while making it less than attractive, and therefore less unbalancing, for higher DK players.

Any thoughts?

[Voratus]

I like that concept. Simple and effective.

[FanboyElric]

It'd also help bleed some gems back out of the games by providing an extra non-permanant thing to spend them on which I gather has been something that has been desired....

[JCP]

And everyone would be okay with spending that many gems on a chance of having your weapon/armor upgraded or downgraded?

[MrTroll]

I think a lot of people would. Especially people still on their first couple DKs. And those that don't like the risk would have no obligation to use the service.

[Sneakabout]

The higher DK cost could be a bit much, but if ye lowered it a bit then some'd buy it for that extra edge. i.e. currently at over 100 gems/chance for me that would be.

[Voratus]

Perhaps, since the smith only asks for 1 gem, and is a random encounter, one based in town could cost, say, 3 gems?
I don't think basing it on DKs would be useful, as higher DK characters already have multiple points in attack and defense added on top of weapon/level damage, so the effect of one more point is lessened (and therefore the cost shouldn't be greater).

Maybe a cost of 2 gems, and some cash based on the current cost of the equipment.
2 gems and 10350 gold to (attempt to) upgrade a level 15 weapon?

[Sneakabout]

The gold cost would really restrict it to the lower levels - higher DKs don't have the time to accumulate that sort of gold. Sounds like a good idea to have it be 2 gems and the gold cost of your weapon.

[Ambrose Dimwit]

I'm finding it tough enough to lay my hands on any gems as a farmie, let alone have enough to fritter away on something like that.

[mysticii]

i agree that farmies have an extremly hard time leveling before they can face the big greenie for the first time. even with best weapon and armour its not always a garanteed victory, especially pvp's. so i think farmies should get some temporary upgrade as a buff, so that they can earn enough gold to buy the weapons upgrade for the forest.

with such upgrades farmies should be able to go thrillseeking to earn more experience, since they usually dont have nice buffs as the higher DKer's with heaps of gems.

[BLOODDRAGON]

well theres also this fact: Who builds a smithing shop in the middle of the forest :wink: ether Smithie is crazy or trying to lose "Bizz-Nazz"

[BoarVolk]

IMHO it is already at a good cost for farmies, dont try to rip them off.
secondly, with less than 5 DK's you need as much help as a farmie.
thirdly you cant charge them more gems, because they are desperatly trying to get a better mount.(as mysticii says they need better buffs)

Maybe a random encounter in the inn? based on DKs?
never done PHP but...
{
int temp =0;
if ( DK > 5)
temp = 18;
else
temp = DK^2;
chance to encounter smithe = 20 - temp;
}

at 0 DKs = 20 % chance to encounter
at 1 DKs = 19 % chance to encounter
at 2 DKs = 16 % chance to encounter
at 3 DKs = 11 % chance to encounter
at 4 DKs = 4 % chance to encounter
5+ DKs = 2 % chance to encounter

this will turn smithe from some weirdo in the forrest to a drunken old blacksmith, thus explaining his chance to royally stuff up your weapon.

It also means that when your desperate, you can continually browse the in trying to find him again, yet of course this doesnt work welll with 4+ DKs.

This solves all three of my points i addressed.

PS: I do realise that farmies have excess gold, but i cant quiet see a fair way to take it form them. Charging gold for this would mean they cant really do it on low lvls, but then again you could have gold cost proportionate to lvl and encounter chance proportionate to DKs.

[Pwyll]

Let the Farmies keep their extra gold, setting bounties on higher DK palyers is a good balance for getting killed all the time!

[neXus]

Most definitely let the farmies keep their gold!

Bribing bartender: 50~700 gold
Killing a Sir two levels up: 0~100 hp
Getting 2000 gold in bounties: priceless