"Fine" tools

[vencedor]

Hello.

I have a suggestion that, in my opinion, will make transitions between tiers much more smooth, and that is fine tools. Like "Fine Yew Quarterstaff", "Fine Iron Mining Pick". These tools would have their skill requirement increased by 100 compared to normal tools, but their cap would be 100 skill points higher than the optimal skill for that tier. For example, a Fine Iron Mining Pick would have a cap of 525 skill. To compensate, the skill cap for normal tools would be adjusted to match the optimal skill.

The formula for these could be dropped by humanoid/undead monsters, like the fine weapon and armor forms do, or they could be received as a crafting quest reward, upgraded from normal tools with some sort of resource, maybe a drop from an elemental corresponding to the type of resource used to make the tool (wood -> treants; stone -> stone golems; metal -> metal golems). There are many possibilities.

What does everyone think about this?

[Machaeon]

I certainly wouldn't be against it.

But I don't see it as all that necessary either. The transitions between tiers I think are already fairly smooth, you qualify for the next tier of tool before you hit the skill cap of your current one. Even if you don't immediately have the tool upgrade on hand, you have 50 skill points to gain before your current tool becomes a hindrance and you do actually need to upgrade.

Example: The transition point between t2 and t3 mining picks would be between 400 and 450 skill. The t2 one caps you at 450 skill and the t3 one only requires 400 skill to use.