I'm not going to play as a smith/miner with the current mechanics. I felt I should share my reasons why, and make some positive suggestions for possible changes. Please no-one interpret this as a rant! I enjoy Clok, and will continue to play my othe character.
1) Permits
I understand why personal workstalls for every trader were unrealistic and unbalanced. I don't even mind the stuff I lost when they were removed!
That being said, I find running out for permits to be annoying. Could there be a monthly or yearly fee instead, for Coalition traders?
2) Guild Tasks
These are new to me. I want a lot of the new abilities, so I took one and started working on it.
It took me two hours to smelt, cut, heat, forge, and vice the shortswords for a task. (Hace any smithing roundtimes changed? I could swear at 1500 smithing I used to be a lot faster).
I was paid 200 riln and 50 GP.
I could have sold the copper for the riln I got. The two permits I bought meant that I lost 100 riln performing this task (as well as 2 hours). If I had spent money on training I would have lost even more. Perhaps the riln recieved should be bumped up, or reflect the quality of the weapons turned in? (mine were exquisite)
As for the 50 GP, I need 4000 for my next ability. That's 80 50 GP tasks at 2 hours, or 160 hours total (Four work weeks) for my next ability. Maybe the points for tasks should be increased?
3) Mining
I didn't try mining out again, so some of this may incorrect, but I understand that:
- Player mines collapse more quickly, and require supports
- Picks require two hands and so lights need to be dropped
- Handcarts require two hands to pull
- There are no hireswords or lamp carriers
- There is no way to buy new mines or mine guards
- Many of the special events in mines (glittering caverns, crypts) have been disabled or made much less frequent
- armor strongly effects roundtimes
- pickaxes need to be regularly repaired
I understand this is an alpha, and guilds and professions are subject to change. That being said, I'm not convinced that permits, profession changes, and guild tasks have made being a trader more enjoyable, and I certainly have a lot more fun as other classes!