Greetings fellow Achaeans!

I have been listening intently to the many arguments and sometimes
rages over the newest change in the Devotion skillset for the Priest
and Paladin guilds. At first I was just curious, and often witheld
my opinion which I'm sure most of you greatly appreciated.

But recently, as I overheard yet another of the arguments an idea
came to me. A theory of balance and why things are the way they
are right now.

The darker guilds, for example the Occultists, Infernals, Kharon,
ShadowSnakes, and now the Warlocks, tend to attract a certain type
of individual. Individuals with a competetive nature and a strong
dedication to do whatever it takes to win. History has proven that
these individuals grow quickly in might and fighting ability alike.
They quickly outstrip their guilds enemies, usually the Priests
and Paladins, and establish a certain level of dominance.

I'm not saying that the Churche's guilds do not possess of equal
competetiveness and dedication as the dark guilds, just that they
do not have as many of them within their ranks.

This creates an unbalance which the Logos cannot tolerate. So he
downgrades the dark guilds and upgrades the Priests and Paladins.
This is all well and good in principle, and in effect as well,
but it doesn't take into account the attitudes of the multitude of
warriors who have trained so hard to attain that level of mastery,
only to have it taken away by the addition of new abilities to
their enemies skillsets.

And so a new unbalance is created, the scales shift and the dark
guilds are on the defense. According to my theory it is only a
matter of time before they prevail again. So the real question
now becomes, how long will it take before the balance is restored?

My suggestion would be minor changes to everyone's skills at once.
Then to watch and wait, and to see what works and what doesn't.
I believe it only makes things more difficult when one skillset,
shared by two guilds of a common purpose, to be given such a
drastic change with nothing in place that even comes close to
balancing it.

I leave you with one example. Tarlin and Mordyval, both extremely
accomplished warriors, met On the Clouds to battle. I paid mute
witness to their fight. Tarlin had around eight rites going, and
the first two times Mordyval attacked him, the encounters ended
with Tarlin soulcaging Mordyval and forcing him to flee. I sat
and waited. And after some time had passed, and only two of
Tarlin's rites remained, Mordyval once again attacked and this
time the story was different. Tarlin fled within ten seconds of
the first blow being struck. My conclusion was that Tarlin was
relying too heavily upon his newly aquired ability, and could
not, at that time, face Mordyval's skill.

Thank you for your time.

Penned by my hand on the 10th of Daedalan, in the year 260 AF.