A simple approach to making your characters seem more macho is to gimp the NPCs they encounter. Reducing their AC, HPs, offensive spells they cast, effects, etc. You should not necessarily have to tweak a players abilities... because that's what the gear itself does. Not sure of your familiarity with EQ, but gear past the noob areas have stats... those stats hunk up your characters - thus, making them more macho like you propose to do anyway.
By tuning DOWN the NPCs, those stats and abilities of your player characters would seem much greater. Try making yourself level 255 sometime... (if that still works). Talk about sick power.
Threaded Mode
