Daenks/Meridian59_103 — pull request #232 by M59Gar (2014-01-20 09:04:19+00:00)
Title: Phase

Phasing is client-supported logging.

What does this mean for you? Everyone gets a level 1 Riija utility spell called Phase. This spell is unique in that it **can be cast at any time - blind, held, dazzled, or otherwise indisposed.** It has no cast time, no post-cast timer, no mana or vigor cost, and no reagents.

When you cast it, you will turn into a logoff ghost. Your vision will be black & white. You cannot be attacked, cast on, harmed, or helped in any manner. Negative PEs, such as Hold and Blind, will gain a 3 second bonus to their duration just like they do when you log off in combat.

While phased out, your penalty timer will run down exactly as if you are ghosted. You ARE a ghost for all intents and purposes. If you log off while phased out, phase will end, and your logoff ghost will replace you as normal. Getting back online or unphasing will freeze your penalty timer as normal. When you enter a no-combat room, your penalty time will be restored (you don't need to log off and on there anymore).

A cast of Phase while phased out will phase you back in, allowing you to make a run for it.

**If I can just log off, why would I Phase out, if it's the exact same thing?**

Phasing has several advantages.

* Text messages tell you how long you have left until you pen in seconds, both when you phase out and when you phase in. Phase also tells you how many items you dropped and %s you lost if you pen while phased. When you pen, you go to the last safe room you were in, just like with ghost pens.

* You can still see the room you're phased out in, albeit in black and white. There is no need for a scout mule. You can communicate and call for aid.

* Without having to log in and load the room, phasing back in is probably much faster for you than logging on, depending on your computer obviously.

**Why are you doing this? This sounds crazy!**

Closing the client to exit the game is very unprofessional. Games that let people alt f4 at any time look bad from a design standpoint. As Meridian has made logging off part of the game by adding logoff ghosts and penalties around which combat revolves, so too are we making logging a *part of the client* by making it a real spell.

In addition, phasing levels out computer playing fields. Have you ever noticed that some people can log in and begin moving supernaturally quickly? Well now you can too, by phasing in and running like a bat out of hell. No log-in loading delay required.

Third, it mitigates the need for scout mules and alts to communicate with allies. You can phase out, be your own scout, and tell your guild where you are.

And, finally, new players will start with phase, so they'll see it, use it, and understand it more organically than closing the client to escape combat.

Basically, closing the client is stupid and bad and nobody should ever do it again. Phasing out is simply better. Logoff ghosts remain for times when you really do just lose connection.