I'm a ranger, not an old ranger, nor do I ever plan to be. My first character was a warrior, in the days of yore before DFredux was instituted, he also did not get very old.
But this DFRedux, is it really the right way to go? I mean, I remember during the banaltra event, things like the following:
A dark grey banaltra swings a closed fist at a DFredux soldier!
AS: +480 vs DS: +74 with AvD: -5 + d100 roll: +75 = +476
... and hits for 5 points of damage!
A nice bruise to the soldier's neck!
Maybe that's not the greatest example, seeing as it was a closed fist being swung at probably heavy armor, but I've seen well trained warriors take endrolls like that from weapons with similar results.
I just don't think that kind of result should occur. Especially since those with DFredux can still get outside spells, and that particular soldier could have had a DS on par with mine. Except I would have had my heart ripped out on a hit like that.
I think that there should be some kind of temporary DS pushup effect for DFredux untill self-cast is initiated.
Same with Semidux. I believe that there should be some formulaic DS enhancement until self-cast is initiated, and then the possibility of damage reduction should be reexamined.
Many people are of the opinion that armor generated redux should be the main form of redux, but that would still leave normally (and I mean realisticly) trained semis out in the cold. I mean really, can you imagine a ranger sneaking through the woods wearing a heavy chain hauberk?
A lot of people believe that someone very well trained in any armor type means that they can move like greased lightning in it, regardless of its intrinsic clunkyness. I mean, chain is going to clink and shimmer even if you are a master wearing it.
Well, again, I don't ever plan to be old enough for redux to matter, since I am not going to train past companion, or maybe spirit fog. But I never want to have to sacrifice wearing scale armor to survive.
-Revalos
reg