Earnable Tracking

[ElnAckom]

<p>I'm sure I'm not the first to suggest this, but I didn't find a thread on it. My character is arguably pretty accomplished in Norrath from a lore perspective. I'd think with her time in the field, she'd have found someone who could mentor her in the art and science of tracking. Iksars, after all, call the deep jungle their home... we're pretty sssneaky.</p><p>I'm not suggesting it shouldn't be racially innate or available out of the gate for some classes, but for the rest of us... perhaps a serious, challenging, fun Signature series that leads to learning the Tracking skill?</p>

[Gladiolus]

<p>Then a similar quest so we can learn the spell to call to someone, and another one for invisibility, then one for an Escape ability, then one for a faster run speed, etc.</p>

[Alvane]

<p>don't forget a quest for water breathing, free fall (safe fall), personal transport like a druid or sorcerer......</p>

[Timaarit]

<p>Poor imagination with the 2 repliers.</p><p>Call: Tinkering and veteran call</p><p>Invis: Totems</p><p>Escape: Totem</p><p>Water Breathing: several items and totem</p><p>Invis: Totem</p><p>Faster run speed: totems</p><p>Free fall: several items and tinkering</p><p>So basically none of the ideas were in any way comparable to tracking...</p>

[Levatino]

<p>I would love the idea of a quest to earn some basic tracking knowledge. I also would love quests to earn some other basic stuff.</p><p>Maybe make it trainable so you can expand it so it makes more use later on just like tinkering and transmuting.</p>

[Rokaab]

<p><cite>Levatino wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I would love the idea of a quest to earn some basic tracking knowledge. I also would love quests to earn some other basic stuff.</p><p>Maybe make it trainable so you can expand it so it makes more use later on just like tinkering and transmuting.</p></blockquote><p>So what do all the scouts (and the races that get tracking) get in return for the fact that their tracking skill would be available to everyone else?</p>

[ShadowMunkie]

<p><cite>Rakk@Butcherblock wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Levatino wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I would love the idea of a quest to earn some basic tracking knowledge. I also would love quests to earn some other basic stuff.</p><p>Maybe make it trainable so you can expand it so it makes more use later on just like tinkering and transmuting.</p></blockquote><p>So what do all the scouts (and the races that get tracking) get in return for the fact that their tracking skill would be available to everyone else?</p></blockquote><p>Nothing because just like those races/scouts there are other races that have similar abilities that call to one another, run faster, etc. Those races never got anything unique why should certain races/scouts get something unique as tracking?</p>

[Alvane]

<p><cite>Timaarit wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>So basically none of the ideas were in any way comparable to tracking...</p></blockquote><p>you can track certain items through tinkering item and it's a racial thing and a professional thing</p><p>but then - I understand some peeps want the easy street - have everything, totally self reliant, easy mobs..... nerf, nerf, nerf</p><p>this game is already dummied down 50% since I began playing almmost 5 years ago.</p>

[Striikor]

<p>HeHe  while you are at it, here take my Ranged CA's too. I sucks that you can;t do more damaged from ranged, I would offer more but.... hell it is all I have left!</p>

[Eritius]

<p>Roll one of the 6 scout classes or one of the races that can track. Heck use a race potion if you don't want to reroll.</p>

[ElnAckom]

<p>I think first two reponses were sarcastic. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/136dd33cba83140c7ce38db096d05aed.gif" border="0" /> Indeed, there are existing mechanics to get a lot of additional abilities. But for tracking, I'm not interested in rolling a scout; I'm a Chiksar Bruiser from my frilliks to my tailtip, and I'm not suggesting it be easy or that it be handed to me. I just like the idea of having an immersive, challenging, adventurous, "you really do need to work to learn this" questline that leads to granting me the existing tracking mechanic. Scouts / tracking races would still get it out of the gate.</p><p>Master Tracker "Davida Denbarrow" takes us deep into the wild and exciting underbrush to study the races of Norrath in their native habitats... Notice the graceful Di'zok, striding purposefully as it balances its gait with his long, slender tail... Listen to its majestic call... "Hey Mike, get a load of the crazy old guy with the Gnomish binocs and the freaked out Iksar hiding behind that rock!" Certainly the questline would have to involve hunting crocodiles at some point, on general principle... <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Anyhoo, just a thought. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> It's certainly not top of my list!</p>

[Shotneedle]

<p>There's going to be a station cash item on the new EQ2X server that gives you 5 minutes of tracking for 150 SC, 5 charges.</p><p>You can use that.</p>

[Crismorn]

<p><cite>Rakk@Butcherblock wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Levatino wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I would love the idea of a quest to earn some basic tracking knowledge. I also would love quests to earn some other basic stuff.</p><p>Maybe make it trainable so you can expand it so it makes more use later on just like tinkering and transmuting.</p></blockquote><p>So what do all the scouts (and the races that get tracking) get in return for the fact that their tracking skill would be available to everyone else?</p></blockquote><p>Water breathing items?</p>

[ElnAckom]

<p><cite>Buffrat@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There's going to be a station cash item on the new EQ2X server that gives you 5 minutes of tracking for 150 SC, 5 charges.</p><p>You can use that.</p></blockquote><p>/twitch /twitch /puke</p><p>Turns out Iksar can, in fact, regurgitate without having recently eaten. I learned something today. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Alvane]

<p>I would love to have a way to quest for personal transportation services just like a druid ring or wizzie spire. Then I wouldn't have to spend all that time trying to get to some type of transportation system. And with so many in one area - why can you just hop from one to the other?</p><p>Easier to just quest or earn your own personal transportaion. Besides, druids and sorcerers really don't need those portals anyway.</p>

[Levatino]

<p><cite>Alvane@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I would love to have a way to quest for personal transportation services just like a druid ring or wizzie spire. Then I wouldn't have to spend all that time trying to get to some type of transportation system. And with so many in one area - why can you just hop from one to the other?</p><p>Easier to just quest or earn your own personal transportaion. Besides, druids and sorcerers really don't need those portals anyway.</p></blockquote><p>have np with it if you could. But then again everyone can travel very easy nowadays so we have it already.</p><p>In response to rakk. Tracking is the only usefull thing others can't get through totems. Everything else is getable for everyone. Sounds fair?</p>

[Yimway]

<p>Gnomish Tracking Device</p><p>Just set the range very low compaire to scout track, and done.</p>

[Alvane]

<p><cite>Levatino wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Alvane@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I would love to have a way to quest for personal transportation services just like a druid ring or wizzie spire. Then I wouldn't have to spend all that time trying to get to some type of transportation system. And with so many in one area - why can you just hop from one to the other?</p><p>Easier to just quest or earn your own personal transportaion. Besides, druids and sorcerers really don't need those portals anyway.</p></blockquote><p>have np with it if you could. But then again everyone can travel very easy nowadays so we have it already.</p></blockquote><p>yeah, I know - I rarely use my personal druid call or my personal warlock spire any more. It use to be fun when peeps would ask me to put up the ring to BBM or CL or a spire to Bonemire or TS. It opened up fun conversations, even if brief. I still have the macro that thanked peeps for using Air Druid! Please bring some cheese to feed the pilot - a rat! hee hee</p>

[Pervis]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Gnomish Tracking Device</p><p>Just set the range very low compaire to scout track, and done.</p></blockquote><p>I say set the range to longer than scout track... after all, invis totems last longer than my own invis spell.</p><p>The balance in both cases is that one is free, the other is not.</p>

[Jodokai]

<p>I think it's a cool idea. I've been playing this game since release, and my main used to be a scout. I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually used Tracking. The most use it ever sees is when people are hunting named mobs.</p><p>I don't think it compares in any way to a trasporation ability, it's more of a flavor ability. I mean how many people are playing Scouts because of the "Cool Tracking Ability"?</p><p>Just as a side note, I've ditched my Scout main and moved to my Wizard. He collects Languages. When he hits 90 my only goal will be to learn every language in the game (and hoping NONE of them are as hard to get as Draconic)</p>

[Alvane]

<p>Since SoE is on a mission to homogenize characters, races, places to live, etc., I now see no reason why all characters cannot have tracking abilities, just like the scouts.</p>

[Wilin]

<p>There's a tracking potion on the marketplace now...</p>

[Xill]

<p><cite>Buffrat@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There's going to be a station cash item on the new EQ2X server that gives you 5 minutes of tracking for 150 SC, 5 charges.</p><p>You can use that.</p></blockquote><p>You mean on ALL servers... because its there right now.</p>

[Zutan]

<p>I definitely dont want to see travel dumbed down even more than it already is.  The world is starting to feel too small just like EQ1 did when the Plane of Knowledge came out.</p><p>As for earning certain class/racial abilities. I dont know how I feel about that.  I love the fact my Iksar doesnt need water breathing and get annoyed my other toons do not have it... but it feels like something that SHOULD be for Iksar given their nature.  I do like tracking on the few toons that have it, but never missed it on the ones that dont. I dont think that one should change either really.</p>

[Garlin1]

<p>Can I have a quest to learn Rift, how about one that allows me to wear plate armor.. perhaps another to sneak and assassinate.  You know while you are at it, how about you just let me learn every spell/skill the game offers... one of the reasons we have a class structure is so people can stand out with different abilities and traits.  Allow some of the "class" defining abilities and you just broke the class structure even more then it already is.</p>

[Zehl_Ice-Fire]

<p><cite>Buffrat@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There's going to be a station cash item on the new EQ2X server that gives you 5 minutes of tracking for 150 SC, 5 charges.</p></blockquote><p>There's a 5 charge tracking item on regular servers now that is a huge kick in the teeth. I'ts $1, but only 5 charges.</p><p>Another nice kick in the teeth to long time loyal subscription players. I have been feedbacking for an item like this for years, now I can buy it with cash, no thanks. I have some SC around from free promos but when that's gone I would never buy more.</p>

[Slyg]

<p>Sure it will make it to station cash soon.</p>

[Alvane]

<p><cite>Slyg wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Sure it will make it to station cash soon.</p></blockquote><p>Tracking IS on Station Cash NOW. heh</p>

[MurFalad]

<p><cite>Zutan wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I definitely dont want to see travel dumbed down even more than it already is.  The world is starting to feel too small just like EQ1 did when the Plane of Knowledge came out.</p></blockquote><p>Yep, EQ2 has a fundemental problem with the amount of zoning in it that prevents the travel from being as good as it should do, but there does feel to be a few too many in zone travel options now. </p><p>For me the most perfect zone for travel in EQ2 is the Moors of Ykesha for balance though, there are a few places there that just take ages to get to, but feel worth it just for that alone.</p><p><cite>Zutan wrote:</cite></p> <blockquote><p>As for earning certain class/racial abilities. I dont know how I feel about that.  I love the fact my Iksar doesnt need water breathing and get annoyed my other toons do not have it... but it feels like something that SHOULD be for Iksar given their nature.  I do like tracking on the few toons that have it, but never missed it on the ones that dont. I dont think that one should change either really.</p></blockquote><p>I'm not keen on making the races even more similar, or for watering down the uberness of various buffs by handing them out to everyone.  Simple things like Hydromotion should be for Frogloks only, the glide should be something unique to Fae/Arasia in my book, hence tinkering does seem to homogenise the world a bit with many of the abilities it gives out.</p>

[Landiin]

QQ I want something my class isn't suppose to have so I am gonna QQ. Give me a freaking break! If you want track you should of picked a race/class that could. All you spoiled f'ers just need to stop QQing all over the place.

[Pervis]

<p><cite>Toranx@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>QQ I want something my class isn't suppose to have so I am gonna QQ. Give me a freaking break! If you want track you should of picked a race/class that could. All you spoiled f'ers just need to stop QQing all over the place.</blockquote><p>Racial vision.</p><p>Run speed.</p><p>Invis.</p><p>Stealth.</p>

[Badmotorfinger]

<p><cite>Toranx@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>QQ I want something my class isn't suppose to have so I am gonna QQ. Give me a freaking break! If you want track you should of picked a race/class that could. All you spoiled f'ers just need to stop QQing all over the place.</blockquote><p>right... and I clearly picked Summoner for the Water Breathing stone..  There's nothing unique about these abilities anymore.  Big deal.</p>

[Landiin]

<p><cite>Pervis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Toranx@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>QQ I want something my class isn't suppose to have so I am gonna QQ. Give me a freaking break! If you want track you should of picked a race/class that could. All you spoiled f'ers just need to stop QQing all over the place.</blockquote><p>Racial vision.</p><p>Run speed.</p><p>Invis.</p><p>Stealth.</p></blockquote><p>Your point?</p>

[Finora]

<p>You all reallize that there has been a tinkered tracking device (Gnomish Divining Rod) for a couple of years in game already right? Usable by anyone 44+ and tradable. They sell on the broker for about 15-20 gold per 5 charge item on my server, less if you buy in bulk from a friendly tinker or make them yourself.</p><p>Not defending the crap on SC, just saying there is already an item ingame that does allow you to track. I've personally been far more irritated about the SC evac since I found out it could be used in combat than the track which doesn't have a whole lot more going for it than the ingame version.</p><p>There's a totem or tinkered thing for most non-damage ablities these days.</p>

[Barx]

<p><cite>Finora@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>You all reallize that there has been a tinkered tracking device (Gnomish Divining Rod) for a couple of years in game already right? Usable by anyone 44+ and tradable. They sell on the broker for about 15-20 gold per 5 charge item on my server, less if you buy in bulk from a friendly tinker or make them yourself.</p><p>Not defending the crap on SC, just saying there is already an item ingame that does allow you to track. I've personally been far more irritated about the SC evac since I found out it could be used in combat than the track which doesn't have a whole lot more going for it than the ingame version.</p><p>There's a totem or tinkered thing for most non-damage ablities these days.</p></blockquote><p>That item only allows you to track harvestables, it does not let you track mobs and the like.</p>

[Dreadpatch]

Actually think it's a pretty cool idea and I have a scout as a duel main. As other posters have said, the items exist anyways, so it would be a cool idea to have for extra aa quests and a way to get a convenience upgrade. The quest should be long and a little tedious : )

[Felshades]

<p><cite>Timaarit wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Poor imagination with the 2 repliers.</p><p>Call: Tinkering and veteran call</p><p>Invis: Totems</p><p>Escape: Totem</p><p>Water Breathing: several items and totem</p><p>Invis: Totem</p><p>Faster run speed: totems</p><p>Free fall: several items and tinkering</p><p>So basically none of the ideas were in any way comparable to tracking...</p></blockquote><p>Divining rod.</p><p>Or, roll kerra.</p>

[Felshades]

<p><cite>Alvane@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I would love to have a way to quest for personal transportation services just like a druid ring or wizzie spire. Then I wouldn't have to spend all that time trying to get to some type of transportation system. And with so many in one area - why can you just hop from one to the other?</p><p>Easier to just quest or earn your own personal transportaion. Besides, druids and sorcerers really don't need those portals anyway.</p></blockquote><p>Guild amenitities.</p>

[Alvane]

<p><cite>Arcata@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Alvane@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I would love to have a way to quest for personal transportation services just like a druid ring or wizzie spire. Then I wouldn't have to spend all that time trying to get to some type of transportation system. And with so many in one area - why can you just hop from one to the other?</p><p>Easier to just quest or earn your own personal transportaion. Besides, druids and sorcerers really don't need those portals anyway.</p></blockquote><p>Guild amenitities.</p></blockquote><p>ya - but that's an additional zoning - zone to gh, zone out again.... and every time you zone you risk getting kicked.....</p><p>better to just have a personal transport on your character to anywhere in the world. And you don't have to be concerned about down time of the call...</p>

[Gilli]

<p>A decent map mod like EQ2 maps already trivializes the need for tracking.  It has the whereabouts of all the named, and most mobs and updates needed for quests.  I really only finding myself using track when I want to see if a named is "up" before I bother walking the whole way there, or when I have to kill a certain number of mobs which seem to be scarce and I don't see one in the immediate vicinity.</p><p>The in-game map is slowly going in this direction, at least with regard to mobs.</p><p>Seems to me it's time to give it up as a limited-use craftable/questable item.</p>

[Valdaglerion]

<p><cite>Gilli@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>A decent map mod like EQ2 maps already trivializes the need for tracking.  It has the whereabouts of all the named, and most mobs and updates needed for quests.  <span style="color: #ff0000;">I really only finding myself using track when I want to see if a named is "up" before I bother walking the whole way there, or when I have to kill a certain number of mobs which seem to be scarce and I don't see one in the immediate vicinity.</span></p><p>The in-game map is slowly going in this direction, at least with regard to mobs.</p><p>Seems to me it's time to give it up as a limited-use craftable/questable item.</p></blockquote><p>Thats kind of the main purpose of it IMO. I dont mind earnable skills. Seems like certain things should be earnable so that some classes get those things as a freebie but any class can spend the time to earn them if they choose to.</p><p>Things like:</p><p><ul><li>disarm</li><li>safe fall (arguably since those with this ability still have to skill it up)</li><li>Travel ports: these are out of combat abilities which any class should be able to learn I would think. Originally I had hoped for quested and exploration leading to mastery of zones to open travel to them on a portable travel stone but I think this game is beyond that now with the diminished dev resources available.</li><li>tracking</li><li>feign death (tinkered items are ok for this but reuse is pretty long and its not a learned or earned skill, its an item which is fine but I would like to see the ability to earn the use of this ability with the same recast timers as bruisers or at least close to it.</li></ul></p>