The One True Path

[The Avatar]

Actually, I declined the thief preps. I suspect that Matron is doable, ad so is vicious HoS, but I'm more skeptical about Namtar. I almost beat his 3rd form... The again, past his third form he's pretty much easy...

[gjaustin]

[q 3]

Maybe bosses should leave a 3x3 field of bloodpools upon death.

[Gorgon]

[gjaustin]

I'm not so sure that 45% Sanguine will be nearly as useful at 90 health.

Then again, GG or JJ into Dracul could get around that problem.

[Darvin]

[gjaustin]

[Darvin]

Off the top of my head, gold and max MP are the two significant ones. On average over 10 levels, Patches will pay more gold than you'll get from the Black Market prep so you really lose nothing if you hold on to him (easy for a Vampire). Usually you'll get 2-4 MP over the course of 10 levels, which is pretty great for anyone and one of the primary reasons to use Patches.

[The Avatar]

Also he occasionally grants max hp (Not sure how much) or 5% attack boost.

[Fran]

How about exchanging the downsides of the new altar preparations by an effect similiar to monotheism:

Let the player start as a follower of the diety but don't allow conversions. Punishment still applies, until you are a paladin.
You'd trade the scumming for less options. Propably too powerful for paladins.

Alternatively:
Start the game as a follower of the chosen deity, but start at negative piety (is this possible to code the way punishment works?).

Alternatively:
Increase the cost of the boons of the chosen altar by a fixed percentage.