An old vet's take on the current system.

So, after finally pushing down and dedicating some more time to this client, there are a few stumps and low points that are a HUGE change from the earlier client, and probably one of the reasons we haven't had a huge community in the last few years. Here's a small listing of what immediately pops out from my own experience's over the last dozen years, and the last 2 weeks I've spent dedicating myself to the game again.

Please, realize I am writing these points as a straight new starting character, with no help from anyone else whether its gold, equipment or spells. This is the view of a standard newbie's starting value into the game, and the areas on that alone.  If you have something to comment, please let it be constructive and to the point - I am writing this very specifically to make sure that before a new client is released it will be as fine tuned as can be.

1) Equipment is hard to get as is, currently I've noticed between levels 40-100 there is a HUGE slow-ass stump between player equipment availability, and what you can fight to level with.  I accredit this specifically to blacksmithing/carpentry/alchemy (Not necessarily alchemy, but the lower heals + lengthy drink times of potions keep your survivability rate very very low). 

Ages past, you used to be able to craft out a suit of equipment for yourself and friends, which would help support your character at all various stages up to abot level 200ish, when the grind for the Unique/Artifact items starts taking place.  Over the last week I spent lots of time on a couple characters (Darn you 500 skill point limit!) trying to get to a point where I could get a warrior started in a good manner without resorting to begging.   This is where the game immediately took a large failing stop. Im just under Grandmaster Mining, with enough blacksmithing to craft out the majority of all the items in the list.  The problem herein lies that there is no armor you can craft minus a couple shields that make any difference.  You are still forced to grind your ass off for a few hundred gold per hour to afford an NPC shop item that is vastly superior to anything you can craft.  Then you have to spend the cash to repair said items, or craft new ones as replacements.

I would recommend putting something closer to the old style system of blacksmithing, without the prefix/suffix gain from enchanting; which will help support new players in the long quest of leveling.  Ive been grinding my ass off for hours and hours on orc knights, and zombies, and baby dragons/hell serpents HOPING I can find -anything- better then my current ringmail armor. That hasnt been the case considering the low drop rates we all know on finding a unique item..  it makes grinding in areas typically last for many weeks/months before you find something you can use/want.

2) Solo survivability in the sub-100 level range.

Something has happened between the clients that made the un-supported newbies (Meaning, no help from high level players) die left and right - which I can guarantee is the main cause for the low new-player base.

Its hard to pinpoint if its considered the map design, or if monsters simply start ramping up too much damage at too low of a level.  I personally died probably 20-30 times before level 20 trying to find a place to level at.. and had to resort to killing snakes and rats to afford being able to purchase a set of armor to even take on skeletons/zombies just north of town.  The biggest problem is that I had my blacksmith character already made.. and the only thing I could supply was a couple lousy weapons. 

I think a rework in a newbie area zone should be looked at. 

Just like on the old church map, you didn't have to worry about wandering monsters, or wolves, or slimes that run at the speed of light running up and ganking you.   You had a secure snail area you could grind a few levels out in.. then some rats, and slimes here and there - you felt like you had a comfortable spot to start the game at, which invites more players in.   As the map is currently set up, you have some spawns here and there of low level monsters; but they are IMMEDIATELY surrounded on the sides by much higher monsters that rape you in one or two hits.  Talk about a damned stressful newbie experience!

3) Stats:

Strength -
Works fine as-is, havent noticed any detriments to the stat as it's always worked out just fine in Faldon.

Constitution/Stamina -
I've noticed in a few other posts these were brought up, and I'll put my own views into these.  In prior versions of the game, survivability in PvP was denoted by how much HP you had, and how much damage you could put out.  Fights between mages and warriors very quite well balanced.  The change in this client is that damage has gone up and up, while HP has stayed as low as always.  I would recommend changing Stamina to add 2.5 points of health per point.   With as much damage is tossed around as is, between both monsters and players - you literally die in 2-3 hits.  This was never the case in prior versions because of Agility - but now you will ALWAYS get hit, and that in turn creates a very lopsided PvP Experience.  Constitution is probably fine as is, the biggest change in the latest client was having a separate stat (Energy) relating to how long you can run, with a stat to improve how fast it regens so this stat works out well.. the name might need changed though.. as Constitution generally refers in all games as how much HP you have.. and Stamina is how long you can run.  Maybe swap these two around.

Defense-
Yeah, you all know about this stat.. might as well just remove it, or replace it with Agility again and put the stat to some use.

INT/Mag -
No issues on these, they have always worked out just fine throughout all the versions of faldon.. one thing to point out may be how steep some spells cost in mana vs. there usefulness, but there honestly arent any real reasons to complain really!

Oof.. rather long winded eh?  I'll look over this here and there and fine tune it and probably add more here and there - but realize that while I havent played as much in this client as some of you have.. I CAN guarentee I have put more hours into playing the game throughout all the clients, then 95% of you have put into the entire game.  I have the experience of a HUGE amount of PvP as well as maxing out every usable skill in the game to Godly (250 points in the older clients), so I do have a large repertoire of experience to pull all of these deductions from.