An abstract for my final thesis to the university.
Skills. The dictionary says:
1) Proficiency, facility, or dexterity that is acquired or developed through training or experience. 2) An art, trade, or technique, particularly one requiring use of the hands or body.
A developed talent or ability: writing skills.
Skills or lacking of it. Thats the first thing people whine about when they die alone to a group of 12 people. Skills, or lacking of it. Thats the first thing people whine about when one particular clan recruits so many people, you couldn't tell who from who in irc if you take a sabbatical for a week. That is what skill mean to people. If you want to be elite, you need skills they say. You could be the most spelled up mage, or druid, or kender in the game, but you might just be a follower, a parasite, a beggar following a leader and scavenging for scraps of eq and spells that the leader toss aside. Basically, you might not be skillful. For that, you don't gain their respect, no.
But lets step back, and reflect. Are skills really that pervasive in this world of gnomes, goblins and mavlads? Do they even play a part in our daily lives and most importantly, do they affect the outcome of any conflict? Skills I say, is an excuse, a deflection from the facts. The facts of our inefficiencies, of our failures and of our lack of skills. Your level 20 died to a group of 15 people? That is efficiency. No use trying to show skills by trying to solo you and letting you get away. People are result oriented, and when it comes the the crunch, results are what moves the world, not skills. How about that clan-that-shall-not-be-named recruiting every single bum, rat and rapist? That is diplomacy and great leadership. Even bums and rapists tend to follow leaders. Organizations must grow to face impending challenges. Resources, manpower, knowledge - these are some of the ingredients of creating a sustainable organization. In this world, the strong thrives and strength comes in numbers.
In fact, even for each person, skills play very little part in his or her success. Have (superb) skills in a weapon? How about if the weapon you are using wouldn't even excite a poet? Have knowledge on where all spells will be loaded? Let me introduce you to a new concept: chance. Percentages. And luck. You could try a hundred times, and all it takes is one time for a lucky person to achieve all your efforts, and perceived skills. These will be the defination of how you will succeed in what you do. The most skillful person will fall from grace with just a bit of bad luck. Have you ever thought about "Argh, so close, if only the bash landed." or "Man, I was entry held. I even have good saves". AMS and nobash will help solve these and it takes skills! you claim. Well, every seen a mushroom cloud in your screen? Ever have a router going down on you? Are those skills?
Skills, the enigma that is Arctic Mud.
