A Humble Suggestion for future developmentFollow

New Frontiers is fantastic. The subject of balance has concerned Mythic to the extent that modifications have been made to overcome the numerically different populations and strengths in the three realms. I do not know if the world automatically shifts balance on a pre-programmed basis or not, but I do think that this was a good idea.

However, I once participated in another world that took this idea even farther, not merely for the sake of _balance_, but also for _spice_, _variety_, and _excitement_.

The current idea of balance is a nebulous subject, that, if taken to extremes would defeat all of the variety of the game. (I admit thats from a simplified view. There are many factors in the game that add variety, and winning or losing, living or dying is only a part of the world; yet it is the most exciting aspect of New Frontiers.) True, it should be _possible_ at least, for a realm to defend itself, and even be victorious in a battle in another realm if they try hard enough. To that end, Mythic has a free level system, and a "friend" bonus program to attract more players to under populated realms.

Now, leaving that the way it is on the steepest level that is deemed healthy for the play of the game, I propose other changes in principle that lie along this same spirit. I have no _specific_ changes in mind, merely a _principle_ of a set of modifications. The natural DAOC world is understood to be imbalanced due to population, and level maturity of members. I have been viewing this as being balanced by shifting the playing field. A tiny bit of extra power here or there....a bit of extra stamina. You name it. Lets think of this as the "_basic_ field balance".

In addition to that, I propose that (leaving the basic adjustment aside) that other more minor modifications to the overall field be added. For example, imagine that each characters race cycles in power slightly depending on the "season" (a cycle in the stars). It does not stay flat as it does today, but waxes and wanes with the day of the month gradually over the course of a week.

Additionally imagine that a class also comes with periods of ascendance and decendance. If the periods are based on different prime numbers, then they will sometimes align, and sometimes be out of phase.

There really is no reason why a realm as a whole cannot be imagined to go though ascendance and decendance as well, but it really should be slight as oppose to the overall "balance" adjustment. The cycles could also steepen slightly, and shallow out depending on the year. The "balance" equation could come into this. Those realms that are underpopulated could be given a steeper cycle, so that, from time to time, they really do have an advantage.

This kind of thinking could add a lot of spice to the game. If the rules of the cycles of the various races and classes were clearly known, then good strategists could calculate times and attacks that reward careful planning. Furthermore, the cycling would be a good guard against a powerful realm from _necessarily_ taking over an opposing territory nearly forever. (Midgard on my server has not had its own power relic in many months.)

Lately I have had the feeling that each realm has a fairly steep (maybe too steep) advantage in their own territory. While I agree that they should have an advantage there, if it is so steep as to keep everyone in their own territories, then it is a bit too steep.

Well, I just wanted to mention it, since it occurred to me.

See ya later!!