Old Serpent Returning to a New World

Calamus

Hey guys, it's been a long while since I last played. I tried logging in and found the game's completely changed. Alchemists, no more Shallam, new racial system (I heard about this one at least), new theft system, etc.

I have a few questions to get back up to speed.

Theft:

You can no longer force actions to give items away right? If so, how does pickpocket work? It just takes a portion of a target's gold after a channeling time?

Races:

I'm currently a level 68 Mhun, and I notice I have the following options:

You have one free reincarnation.

You have one free trait reset.

You have the ability to select a racial specialisation.

My understanding is that all races can pretty much work with all classes now, so I don't think I'll need to use that reincarnation (unless I'm convinced otherwise). But do you have any insight on what "specialization" and "trait" I should be aiming for (ideally more group PvP/raid oriented than anything else).

I also have 80 credits to spend. I'm currently trans in subterfuge and venoms, but inept in hypnosis. Given my goals of group pvp (and assuming theft no longer needs hypnosis), do you think I should devote those credits to hypnosis... or should they be used elsewhere, like survival, tattoos, etc.?

Also, the new html5 client is pretty cool, but is there a full-on system for that yet, or is everyone still using svo?

Finally, any other necessary triggers/reflexes I should begin building for a serpent character outside of a full on curing system?

Any other tips would be great!

Sena

Pickpocket takes a small portion of the target's gold from their inventory (not from containers) after a few seconds (assuming you don't fail), or possibly a random stealable item (mostly things like letters and quest items) if they have one. It's stopped by selfishness, and your success/stealthiness depend on dexterity, subterfuge skill, target's vision skill, and a few other things.

You'll still need hypnosis a lot of the time for things like forcing someone to get their gold out so you can pickpocket it and forcing them to drop selfishness (which is legal now). And certain items (vials, pipes, tinderboxes) can still be forced like before for combat purposes.

You can also pickpocket denizens.

Eiredhel

Welcome back!!!

That's about as helpful as I can get. T_T

Vayne

Pickpocket
-Take a percent of their gold after about a 10 second set up
-Hiding skills and skill in subterfuge increase your success
-Target's skill in vision reduces your success rate
-There is a chance in the various stages of the pickpocket that the target might get a message indicating someone is stealing from them, or they might not see anything.
-We can use hypnosis action to move their gold around, since it needs to be in their inventory to pickpocket
-We can legally strip selfishness, which will stop pickpocket otherwise
-If no gold is in reach there is a chance to steal letters, keys, sigils, shards from players and various trinkets from denizens
-You can pickpocket denizens too

Races:
They recently introduced specialisations which are essentially statpacks allow all classes to be somewhat viable for Serpent.
Traits give various combat and RP perks. For example Raja balance has been removed but all classes have the options to select a trait called nimble that increases their balance recovery time(and is a must for Serpents to doublestab). You open up trait slots as your progress through the levels, 3 major which allow skills that will help combat and hunting(increased stats, more healing from pots, and other combat boons), and 5 minor slots which are more RP oriented and give perks to things like crafting, social aspects of the game, and other random stuff.

I would get some help in setting it all up, you would not want to waste those free resets.

Credits:
If you want to go 1v1 I'd go with hypnosis but for raiding you won't really need it, survival or vision would do you more good for the various defenses you can learn.

Systems:
The HTML5 client is pretty cool, especially for new people coming into the game, I'd say most people use the mudlet client though and many use SVO.

Triggers:
Join the Serpentlords and I'd be happy to help you out

Strata

I was in your shoes when I came back. Played serpent back in the early 2000's and much has changed. Wasn't ever any good at combat and I still suck now. Anti-illusion in newer systems will likely negate anything you're used to from before - so it will be up to you to experiment with this stuff to find out what works and what doesn't. Just keep in mind that it's no longer about "what magic illusion string can make them eat something." (though that still exists) - it's more like "what affliction(s) could cause them to be unable to check for a certain illusion that would otherwise be ignored." Just gotta dig deeper

Edit: Hit up @Iocun if you want your mind blown. One of the most knowledgeable serpent fighters in the realms.

Jurixe

Stop trying to steal my Naga, @Vayne. Once you go Naga, you never go back.

Welcome back, @Calamus. Very pleased to see you return, and good timing. Most of your questions were answered here, but always feel free to ask me stuff IG too!

Vayne

I didn't know he was a Naga.

Harmonia

Vayne said:

I didn't know he was a Naga.

- and soon you will be too, Vayne

Antidas

I was about to offer to teach him theft, but now that I know he's Naga...ha! As if! Also - 

Vayne said:

Pickpocket
-If no gold is in reach there is a chance to steal letters, keys, sigils, shards from players and various trinkets from denizens

I am going to assume Vayne does actually know what he's talking about and merely worded this incorrectly. But either way, and just for the record, its got nothing to do with whether or not there is gold in the inventory. There's a small chance to steal said items from someone's inventory if they are present, whether or not gold is there as well. Its just a much higher chance to get the gold instead.

Sena

Antidas said:

There's a small chance to steal said items from someone's inventory if they are present, whether or not gold is there as well. Its just a much higher chance to get the gold instead.

Also, even if there's no gold in the inventory, you still have that same high chance to try (obviously unsuccessfully) to steal gold instead of one of the stealable items.

Antidas

Sena said:

Antidas said:

There's a small chance to steal said items from someone's inventory if they are present, whether or not gold is there as well. Its just a much higher chance to get the gold instead.

Also, even if there's no gold in the inventory, you still have that same high chance to try (obviously unsuccessfully) to steal gold instead of one of the stealable items.

Yes, I thought that was clear in my post, but maybe it was just clear to me :P

Sena

Re-reading your post, it does seem clear enough now. Or maybe not, if I still missed it at first. :P

Jarrod

Wait, should we be recruiting for our Houses on the forums now?

Crap, I'm behind the times.

As for races, (stuff not already covered) the only things you might consider would be Raja if you're planning to maximize dodge chance, but it's probably not worth it without the trait and some Dex to go with it. Mhun gives you a celerity effect for chasing/running/walking, Dwarf gives you poison resistance for envenomed arrows, Atavian gives you fly. Other races I can't really think of a benefit for Serp.

Jiraishin

People have been forum-recruiting for -ages-.
He's been Naga for ages though, so probably not the best person to start with.