But you aren't obligated to do so. The level 1 character may be as strong as 42 level characted in CF against a hero. And the way from 42 to hero can be made much longer. You well get system where people may invest time for perks (called RPG) and at the same time fights will not be extremily unfair.

Sorry, you can't do both meaningful perks and minimal development.

If development is highly meaningful, you end up with a system where someone with enough perks will trash a newer player. CF is towards this end of the spectrum, but not so much. An experienced player can reach the top level in tens of hours if they focus on it, much shorter than many MUDs. The skill system is capped, not open-ended. Equipment is 'capped' because it's a finite resource-- you cannot create endlessly better equipment.

As development becomes less meaningful, you move away from an RPG model towards something akin to Quake where the system enforces character equality, and there's no reason to invest in a character. Incentives for quality of play go down, because your effort isn't rewarded with anything of note. As this happens, griefing goes up because the game lacks the ability to meaningfully punish or restrict the character.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com