Concerning the Listen Check While Invisible

[The Almight Red]

I think this is a great feature, to be honest. Makes a lot of sense, all things considered. However, it is a bit perturbing by how it spams your chat box with the result.

It does it practically every second. Last night, when Dmytri walked by a group of us RPing, I literally lost sight of my entire chatbox in a flood of the message (of something akin to), "You hear something over there." I mean, it was just one massive flood into my chatbox.

If I might make the suggestion, either tone down how often it tells you you're hearing them, or possibly change it so it displays it in your combat log. Otherwise, it's going to really interrupt people's RP greatly. Especially if there are multiple people running around invisible in one area.

[richardleitch5]

that would improve it but what if people are talkign in elf? it would flood them just as badly.

[Urithrand]

This is already being worked on

[cmosier]

It makes a little sense. I still think its odd to hear a strange sound and when you turn to look, nothing's there. I don't think the first thought is "somebody is invisible." It's different with a stealthy character. because the Listen check might grab your attention which in turn allows for a Spot a check.

I would like to see the final result though. I've not been moving while invisible, and everybody who walks by gets a check.

[Fezzik]

Then there isn't any point to the listen skill either; if spot is an omni skill that means you can sense something isn't right by look, smell or feel, then listen should have the same sort of effect, otherwise, get rid of it?

[Thief Of Navarre]

Hey some of us have invested very heavily in listen (Rangers, Dwarven Defenders e.t.c.)

Listen should be encompass hearing, spot should exemplify sight and a wisdom/sense motive or supernatural talent should cover anything that cant be covered by spot or listen! Listen is the best defense for those who are being assailed from the rear; even those with uncanny dodge

[Fezzik]

Hee hee... I was trying to prove a point about spot and listen, thanks Thief; that's what I meant to get across.

[Thief Of Navarre]

errr, no problem :S lol *confused* I did something right?

[cmosier]

Listen has several more uses, you just have to be creative. You can attempt to listen to whispered conversations or listen through doors. And if you did hear a serious of odd sounds, it might make somebody smart enough to take their private business to a private place... where somebody can then attempt to listen in through the wall... There was a small point, no need to jump to the "Just get rid of it" defense.

[Fezzik]

Hyperbole!!! * grumbles and walks off throwing hands in the air * I meant to have that reaction, but I was the one that was giving it .... * thumps head on desk *

[Dayledose]

Well just throwing my two cents in, I have found that this implementation has made Invisibility useless for Vigo when other PC's are around. While it's great for PC's that don't use invis, It's not so fun considering many wizards don't put points into Move silently. *shrug* So much for Invis. being used in PVP, which means that now Wizards aren't as powerful as they could be. eh, I'm sure things will work themselves out eventually. Good thing Warlocks aren't so prevelant. They'd be next

[Kaeldorn]

How it is now (on Sundren) is better for the invisibility caster than how it was before Obsidian's weird move. You are not permanently detectable by a person after he/she hears you on a single check, and you can't even actually be seen.

The only (unfair) advantage that old system had compared to this was a psychological one. Namely, the 'victims' of invisibility didn't want to be bad sports about it and gave invisible folks free reign, despite how they saw them on screen (and thus had already succeeded on a listen check against them at some point). That, and nobody makes repeated listen checks using the skill roller because it's tedious to both ends.

A level 2 spell was never meant to give free reign by becoming completely unnoticeable without opposing magic, sorry. Invisibility makes you invisible and not inaudible unless you apply other means to be left unheard, that is the way the spell is supposed to function and it is far from useless. On a side note, official D&D rules state that on making a move silently check while running and invisible, you get a -20 penalty (opposed to their Listen). Sundren's implementation lets you take 20 to compensate for low MS skill values. It's mild.

And please, please, please do not complain about mages/priests slinging around 9th level spells being too weak on our low-magic world where fighters struggle to get a +3 item, thanks. They are already the most powerful by far, and it is not relevant to the workings of invisibility as it affects everyone. Including potion drinkers and assassins using spell-like abilities.

[Urithrand]

I'm completely with Kaeldorn on this one, there are MUCH higher level spells which give inaudibility, why should a level 2 give the same effect as the level 9 spell etherealness?

[Dayledose]

You're right of course, my only complaint is there is no roll from the caster for move silently, at least from the last time I tried the invis. spell. If this has changed , great. I just found it odd that I was putting out a static number while those who were making opposing listen checks were rolling for them. I hope you can understand why it was becoming frustrating. Seeing static 1's and 5's (when buffed) can be a little frustrating, when you can see opposed rolls. As I said, if this has been changed, then disregard and I'll quietly give a thumbs up

[Urithrand]

If the wizard enters stealth mode they get a roll.