Post by tenaciousTheseus on Feb 27, 2013 23:37:21 GMT -5
Bane's a hard class to be, and a hard class to understand. I've seen a lot of people with potential to be great with the ears and mask fail because they didn't quite understand how. Nearing the end of my fourth roll as Bane, I feel I should give my thoughts so that people can perhaps get a better idea about it.
As anyone who's read the guide can tell you, a Bane's a champion, the passive version of Sylph. In the same vein as Rogue, Knight, Guard, and Maid, it's one that focuses on other people. Specifically, it's fighting for someone else's cause instead of your own.
No one really seems to grasp the gravity of this. We're in a murdergame. It's tough and endless and there's no respite, no peace and contentment to be had. All of that that we do find is fleeting at best and snatched away from us and leaving us broken and scarred at the worst. We all need something to drive us, some inner fire and tightly clutched ideal to get us out of our bed, whether that's to see someone again or to help people or to learn more about the game or to finally leave its dread grip.
Now. Imagine taking that idea, that drive, that reason to be. And putting it aside. Not following it. Not listening to it. You take the thing that gets you through Hell and makes you human and you ignore it. That's what being a Bane is about. Not guarding you and yours (although that comes about as a side effect), not being an instrument of retribution (although again that occurs as a side effect), but lowering yourself below being human. You're not a person, with ideas, dreams, hopes, desires. The old name for the Bane class was Hound, and that's what you are. You're an animal, a beast, an attack dog and a guard dog and a blood hound.
Something to note, here: A Bane is an animal, someone who does not think a thought about themselves and their own wants and needs and desires. This does not make them weak. Like hell does it make them weak. Banes are strong. In terms of raw power, a Champion is outmatched only by a Cataclysm, and Champions tend to have more control than Cataclysms.
Their aspect is the Bane's tool, their armor and helmet and sword at their hips, the fur on their shoulders and their teeth and claws and piercing eyes. A Bane of Space (using myself as an example here) can twist space around their little finger, warping around the battlefield and portal cutting and ripping enemies apart with the might of the World.
Their aspect is also the Bane's drive, in some cases. The ideals of the aspect is the banner they hoist, the collar and leash around their throat that pulls them where they are required to go, whether or not they want to be there. A Bane of Law (again using myself as an example) upholds the law. All of the laws, all of his promises, every oath he has sworn, whether or not he's happy with them. Especially if he's unhappy with them, in fact.
So. There's Bane in a nutshell. Or. Seven nutshells. Hopefully, when you roll Bane, you'll have an idea of what to do so the choke chain doesn't throttle the life out of you. And when your coplayers roll Bane, you'll have an inkling at the sacrifices they'll make and maybe help them out a little. After all, every dog likes a treat.
As anyone who's read the guide can tell you, a Bane's a champion, the passive version of Sylph. In the same vein as Rogue, Knight, Guard, and Maid, it's one that focuses on other people. Specifically, it's fighting for someone else's cause instead of your own.
No one really seems to grasp the gravity of this. We're in a murdergame. It's tough and endless and there's no respite, no peace and contentment to be had. All of that that we do find is fleeting at best and snatched away from us and leaving us broken and scarred at the worst. We all need something to drive us, some inner fire and tightly clutched ideal to get us out of our bed, whether that's to see someone again or to help people or to learn more about the game or to finally leave its dread grip.
Now. Imagine taking that idea, that drive, that reason to be. And putting it aside. Not following it. Not listening to it. You take the thing that gets you through Hell and makes you human and you ignore it. That's what being a Bane is about. Not guarding you and yours (although that comes about as a side effect), not being an instrument of retribution (although again that occurs as a side effect), but lowering yourself below being human. You're not a person, with ideas, dreams, hopes, desires. The old name for the Bane class was Hound, and that's what you are. You're an animal, a beast, an attack dog and a guard dog and a blood hound.
Something to note, here: A Bane is an animal, someone who does not think a thought about themselves and their own wants and needs and desires. This does not make them weak. Like hell does it make them weak. Banes are strong. In terms of raw power, a Champion is outmatched only by a Cataclysm, and Champions tend to have more control than Cataclysms.
Their aspect is the Bane's tool, their armor and helmet and sword at their hips, the fur on their shoulders and their teeth and claws and piercing eyes. A Bane of Space (using myself as an example here) can twist space around their little finger, warping around the battlefield and portal cutting and ripping enemies apart with the might of the World.
Their aspect is also the Bane's drive, in some cases. The ideals of the aspect is the banner they hoist, the collar and leash around their throat that pulls them where they are required to go, whether or not they want to be there. A Bane of Law (again using myself as an example) upholds the law. All of the laws, all of his promises, every oath he has sworn, whether or not he's happy with them. Especially if he's unhappy with them, in fact.
So. There's Bane in a nutshell. Or. Seven nutshells. Hopefully, when you roll Bane, you'll have an idea of what to do so the choke chain doesn't throttle the life out of you. And when your coplayers roll Bane, you'll have an inkling at the sacrifices they'll make and maybe help them out a little. After all, every dog likes a treat.
