Philisophical question.

Dirty Meg · 10-23-2004, 02:12 AM

When you take a wardstone to be identified, you don't actually learn anything new about it. The item description doesn't tell you anything about the object that you didn't already know. So, how exactly is the object considered to be identified?
If you don't think this question is baffling epistimological quandry, don't attempt to answer it - you don't understand it.

ElfBane · 10-23-2004, 08:27 AM

Here is what you *know*...
1. You need wardstones.
2. You have found a stone(s) with a rune on it.
Here is what you DON'T know...
1. Is this stone with the rune on it a wardstone?

BTW, sold all your "Identify" scrolls,, didn't ya?!?

Dirty Meg · 10-23-2004, 10:35 AM

The teleportation wardstone is called 'teleportation wardstone' even before you identify it. So what does the identifier actually do?

Blunderbuss · 10-23-2004, 11:15 AM

Well it means that you don't need to identify it anymore. Wait, you didn't need to identify it before. And even when you have identified it, you get no more information then before you identified it. And it doesn't need to be identified to use it. So if you do identify it all you've done is waste your money but at least you don't need to identify it anymore. Wait....

....I've come to a conclusion: don't identify it.

CerebroDragon · 10-25-2004, 10:22 AM

I've wondered this myself actually...

The identification process in this case is rather cruel and one can't help but feel ripped off when the name of the object but not its actual purpose is revealed. (Which explains the annoying 'I already knew that! feeling)
But insofar as an objects name is equated with it being identified, it is identified. (Alas though, not its actual use!)
(Hmm...that might not make sense...but anyway)

My theory is the programmers didn't want to reveal too much about the utility of these objects and to keep us all guessing as to whether they really are useful, fakes or merely taking up valuable space.
It would be like a spoiler if we were told exactly what an object is for each time.

Erm, but enough blather...there's gaming to be done! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Cheers,
CerebroDragon

SixOfSpades · 10-25-2004, 03:45 PM

There's also the fact that the Identify spell would ideally give you a sense of where that wardstone was meant to be used--for example, it creates a mental vibration that is similar to the mental vibration of where it's meant to go. But if you haven't yet been to where it's meant to go, you haven't felt that mental vibration, so casting Identify to learn the mental vibration of the wardstone would tell you precisely....what you already knew.

Maj · 10-26-2004, 08:17 PM

Don't you sometimes end up with a fake wardstone, so you have to identifiy it to see if it is the real one? Or am I just imaginging things?

And I'd like to make the point that it's not a waste of money if you identify it yourself. [img]smile.gif[/img] Unless that's a waste of a spell...

Edit: Yeah!!! I leveled up!!! It sure took me long enough. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 10-26-2004, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: Maj ]

10-23-2004, 02:12 AM	#1
Dirty Meg Baaz Draconian Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Here, or there abouts. Age: 80 Posts: 703	When you take a wardstone to be identified, you don't actually learn anything new about it. The item description doesn't tell you anything about the object that you didn't already know. So, how exactly is the object considered to be identified? If you don't think this question is baffling epistimological quandry, don't attempt to answer it - you don't understand it. __________________ A stitch in time is worth two in the bush.

10-23-2004, 08:27 AM	#2
ElfBane Mephistopheles Join Date: March 21, 2004 Location: Cape Canaveral, FL Age: 70 Posts: 1,451	Here is what you know... 1. You need wardstones. 2. You have found a stone(s) with a rune on it. Here is what you DON'T know... 1. Is this stone with the rune on it a wardstone? BTW, sold all your "Identify" scrolls,, didn't ya?!? __________________ They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790), Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759. Iraq and Afghan fatalities: 6,855 and counting. Silence IS consent.

10-23-2004, 10:35 AM	#3
Dirty Meg Baaz Draconian Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Here, or there abouts. Age: 80 Posts: 703	The teleportation wardstone is called 'teleportation wardstone' even before you identify it. So what does the identifier actually do? __________________ A stitch in time is worth two in the bush.

10-25-2004, 10:22 AM	#5
CerebroDragon Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: March 2, 2003 Location: Ballarat, Australia. Age: 46 Posts: 878	I've wondered this myself actually... The identification process in this case is rather cruel and one can't help but feel ripped off when the name of the object but not its actual purpose is revealed. (Which explains the annoying 'I already knew that! feeling) But insofar as an objects name is equated with it being identified, it is identified. (Alas though, not its actual use!) (Hmm...that might not make sense...but anyway) My theory is the programmers didn't want to reveal too much about the utility of these objects and to keep us all guessing as to whether they really are useful, fakes or merely taking up valuable space. It would be like a spoiler if we were told exactly what an object is for each time. Erm, but enough blather...there's gaming to be done! [img]smile.gif[/img] Cheers, CerebroDragon __________________ Diddledy High, Diddledy Low, Come Brave Blood Sheep, You've a goodly way to go. - Brilhasti Ap Tarj

10-25-2004, 03:45 PM	#6
SixOfSpades Dracolisk Join Date: September 16, 2001 Location: Bellingham, WA, USA Age: 48 Posts: 6,901	There's also the fact that the Identify spell would ideally give you a sense of where that wardstone was meant to be used--for example, it creates a mental vibration that is similar to the mental vibration of where it's meant to go. But if you haven't yet been to where it's meant to go, you haven't felt that mental vibration, so casting Identify to learn the mental vibration of the wardstone would tell you precisely....what you already knew. __________________ Volothamp's Comeuppance Everything you ever needed to know about the entire Baldur's Gate series......except spoilers.

10-23-2004, 11:15 AM	#4
Blunderbuss Zhentarim Guard Join Date: October 11, 2004 Location: England Posts: 328	Well it means that you don't need to identify it anymore. Wait, you didn't need to identify it before. And even when you have identified it, you get no more information then before you identified it. And it doesn't need to be identified to use it. So if you do identify it all you've done is waste your money but at least you don't need to identify it anymore. Wait.... ....I've come to a conclusion: don't identify it.

10-26-2004, 08:17 PM	#7
Maj Drow Warrior Join Date: December 30, 2002 Location: Colorado, USA Age: 39 Posts: 272	Don't you sometimes end up with a fake wardstone, so you have to identifiy it to see if it is the real one? Or am I just imaginging things? And I'd like to make the point that it's not a waste of money if you identify it yourself. [img]smile.gif[/img] Unless that's a waste of a spell... Edit: Yeah!!! I leveled up!!! It sure took me long enough. [img]smile.gif[/img] [ 10-26-2004, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: Maj ] __________________ ...

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