cRPG

cRPG => General Discussion => Topic started by: Banok on September 27, 2012, 02:42:14 pm

Title: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Banok on September 27, 2012, 02:42:14 pm
I feel that the drastically increased prevalance of long stabbing weapons, especially long spear and hoplites, has made mele fights more about numbers and less about skill. The argument being it is much harder to fight outnumbered when enemy has these weapons, for (hopefully) obvious reasons. This may have reduced the skill ceiling of the game.

The counter argument would be these weapons promote teamplay, make the game more about teamplay less about ramboing. I think this is also valid arguement, so it comes down to ones opinion on what is more important; teamwork or personal skill.

What do you guys think, is my reasoning valid? if so which is more important to you?
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Lorenzo_of_Iberia on September 27, 2012, 02:47:21 pm
Anything that encourages team play and reduces ramboing is a good thing imo. Every class performs better when supported.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Mlekce on September 27, 2012, 02:48:14 pm
meh mode bacame shit.
If archers doesn't bully you,you will get killed by arabian pony lancer,or get ganked by hoplites who insta stab,or get spammed by 2h mace users or glaive poleaxers who backpedal.
If this combination doesn't kill you,you will die to 35 lvl shielder.

I am pray for all classes now. :( Q.Q
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: karasu on September 27, 2012, 02:48:16 pm
>nope.jpg


   Alas, the game was already dumbed down by all the slow ass animations and co. where a single fight between two good players would turn out to be an endurance test rather than e-skill or visual memory.


   This dumbing down on the bright side, encouraged team-play and the multiplicity of "classes".
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Miwiw on September 27, 2012, 02:49:03 pm
Day 1: Archers
Day 2: Archers and Crossbowmen
Day 3: Cavalry
Day 4: Archers
Day 5: 2h nerds
Day 6: Long Spears and Pikes
Day 7: Cavalry
Day 8: Archers
Day 9: Crossbowmen
Day 10: Shielders
Day 11: Throwers
Day 12: Throwers
Day 13: Throwers
Day 14: Archers
Day 15: Cavalry AND Archers
Day 16: Cavalry
Day 17: Long Spear and Pikes
Day 18: Long Spear and Pikes
Day 19: Archers
Day 20: Cavalry, Archers, Archers, Archers and Cavalry
Day 21: Long Spear and Pikes
Day 22: Throwers
Day 23: Long Spear and Pikes
Day 24: Throwers and Shielders AND Cavalry
Day 25: ARCHERS ON HORSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Day 26: Long Spear and Pikes
Day 27: Working all day, no crpg
Day 28: Long Spear, Pikes, Archers, Cavalry, Shielders, 2h nerds, Throwers, Crossbowmen, Archers ON HORSEEEEEEEEEEEE
Day 29: Death

ye, thats my diary of rage (or Wiltzu's plan when to respec)
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Haboe on September 27, 2012, 02:49:21 pm
I think all those long spears and such inspire for teamwork, and force melee players to better battle positioning.
Using your longsword when there are so many spear in front of you is hard, so you have to find other ways then simply charging straight in.
Attack from the side/ from behind.

Also shielders are more needed to protect those pikemen from ranged attacks. I often see pikeman and shielders stick together, making a very effective couple.

So yea, they promote teamwork and better battle awareness.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Banok on September 27, 2012, 03:00:20 pm
Haha I find it funny people are downvoting, does that mean you think these weapons don't promote teamplay? ;p maybe you should actually read the thread not just the title.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Tzar on September 27, 2012, 03:06:07 pm
I dont care about archers cav or pikemen or soft super agi 2h´s ......

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Son Of Odin on September 27, 2012, 03:16:38 pm
Haha I find it funny people are downvoting, does that mean you think these weapons don't promote teamplay? ;p maybe you should actually read the thread not just the title.

Did you consider the possibility that the only thing they read was your name? :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Zanze on September 27, 2012, 03:16:53 pm
So because you now actually have to make the decision of whether or not you will join the specific fight, and if you do who you will gun for the skill ceiling is...lower? So being forced to make actual decisions ingame is making the game...dumber?

Seriously, if you are having trouble with certain people using teamwork you should consider getting some friends. If you have some already, start playing together instead of running off. Pikes/Hoplites/Longspears sacrifice their 1v1 capabilities to excel in teamwork situations, you chose to be a duelist they chose to be a teamplayer. I'm not saying they can't 1v1, but they have a much easier time in groups. Just like you kinda have an easier time 1v1 while struggling in groups.

There is more to skill than just knowing how to feint/hold or block.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Skyline on September 27, 2012, 03:21:05 pm
There is more to skill than just knowing how to feint/hold or block.

There is, but its unbelievable how many people dont block at all lol....
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Haboe on September 27, 2012, 03:22:48 pm
There is, but its unbelievable how many people dont block at all lol....

As far as i know there is 1 of them on eu servers. Ivani
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Grumpy_Nic on September 27, 2012, 03:41:25 pm
Pikes/Hoplites/Longspears sacrifice their 1v1 capabilities to excel in teamwork situations, you chose to be a duelist they chose to be a teamplayer. I'm not saying they can't 1v1, but they have a much easier time in groups. Just like you kinda have an easier time 1v1 while struggling in groups.

This. In almost every game I've played I rather chose the support role cuz I'm better at it. Polearms give me the possibility to be a supporter in this game... so yeah thats cool.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Corsair831 on September 27, 2012, 03:53:54 pm
I feel that the drastically increased prevalance of long stabbing weapons, especially long spear and hoplites, has made mele fights more about numbers and less about skill. The argument being it is much harder to fight outnumbered when enemy has these weapons, for (hopefully) obvious reasons. This may have reduced the skill ceiling of the game.

The counter argument would be these weapons promote teamplay, make the game more about teamplay less about ramboing. I think this is also valid arguement, so I could it comes down to ones opinion on what is more important; teamwork or personal skill.

What do you guys think, is my reasoning valid? if so which is more important to you?

whilst i do think that long ranged weapons have dumbed down the game (if your weapon is longer you can hit many more people in a fight much easier without having to think about your placement *cough* greatswords), i think that what's worse than long ranged weapons for skill is armour.

 use a shield to defend yourself and you know you can block every attack in front of you, use a directional block and you cant block 2 attacks at the same time, meaning you need armour, and using armour just takes literally no skill whatsoever.

saying all that though, i'm not that bothered about either issue ;)
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Exitialis on September 27, 2012, 03:57:26 pm
so I could it comes
You messed up my brain.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Banok on September 27, 2012, 04:06:03 pm
You messed up my brain.
]

fixed, I cant proof read for shit. you should have seen my dissertation ;p
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on September 27, 2012, 04:16:32 pm
I think it's good that teamwork and teamplay is promoted more than individual skill.  2 skilled players working together will still be better than 2 unskilled players working together.  But it makes sense, it's a medieval war simulator and I'm glad we've reached the point where you're better off 2v1 (or 2vmany) than 1v1 or 1vmany.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 27, 2012, 04:47:11 pm
Ho god, back in the days when only 5 people out of 100 actually knew what to do when fighting with a numerical advantage, how awesome was it to be slightly better than the others. The joy of slaying a dozen of enemies as the last survivor of your team. All of this is long forgotten now, not because of the weapons, but because people know how to (team)play. Game's getting old, that's all there is to it.

As I remember very well how awesome it was either to do it yourself or being shattered like other puny opponents to a god of the battlefield, I can wholeheartedly say it is a shame we lost that aspect of cRPG, but there is alas nothing that can be done about it.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: LordBerenger on September 27, 2012, 05:18:33 pm
meh mode bacame shit.
If archers doesn't bully you,you will get killed by arabian pony lancer,or get ganked by hoplites who insta stab,or get spammed by 2h mace users or glaive poleaxers who backpedal.
If this combination doesn't kill you,you will die to 35 lvl shielder.

I am pray for all classes now. :( Q.Q

Constantly thrust with your 2h greatswords whilst pressing the S key at the same time.


There, now i just made you effective again!
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Tydeus on September 27, 2012, 05:21:25 pm
It's not just long stabbing weapons, it's long weapons in general. Length is worth too much, especially with all the ganging up that people do. Take the most effective weapons right now and compare their stats to each other. The one thing almost all of them have in common, is length. I don't really think these weapons need a huge nerf, but there is certainly a disparity of effectiveness that is directly related to weapon length, and that is an issue.

Glaive
weapon length: 160
weight: 2.8
difficulty: 16
speed rating: 90
weapon length: 160
thrust damage: 22 pierce
swing damage: 39 cut

Hafted Blade
weapon length: 132
weight: 1.7
difficulty: 13
speed rating: 94
weapon length: 132
thrust damage: 20 pierce
swing damage: 36 cut

Four speed is somehow worth 30 length, 3 cut damage and 2 pierce? Really? I know the hafted blade is just a shitty weapon in general and greatly in need of a buff, but that's a bit excessive.

Danish Greatsword
weapon length: 124
weight: 2.5
difficulty: 15
speed rating: 92
weapon length: 124
thrust damage: 24 pierce
swing damage: 40 cut

Two-Handed Sword
weapon length: 110
weight: 2.2
difficulty: 12
speed rating: 95
weapon length: 110
thrust damage: 22 pierce
swing damage: 38 cut

Three speed for 2 cut and 10 length? No thanks, length, even if it is "only" 10 is way too effective, especially because you have to think about all the people that you're now able to out-range because of that 10 extra length.

As weapons get progressively shorter, the ratio of speed:length and Damage:length needs to be increased as compensation for increased loss in effectiveness due to being so much shorter than the average. It doesn't make sense that 5 length should always translate into x damage. The difference in effectiveness between 150 length and 160 length polearm weapons for example, is rather minimal but the difference between 110 length and a 120 length two-handed weapons, is quite large. The 150 length weapon has a range advantage on almost all of the weapons that the 160 length weapon has, but the 120 length weapon has a range advantage over the majority of the weapons in crpg while the 110 length weapon is only average or slightly above.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Lorenzo_of_Iberia on September 27, 2012, 05:32:39 pm
I think the OP is talking mostly about pikes, long spears, ashwood pikes and shield and spear. I dont often see glaives or 2h's being used as a stabbing support weapon.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Gurnisson on September 27, 2012, 05:35:31 pm
Alas, the game was already dumbed down by all the slow ass animations and co. where a single fight between two good players would turn out to be an endurance test rather than e-skill or visual memory.

This, pretty much.

However, the only reason I'm piking is that the skill ceiling is extremely high, and there's always room for improvement. Even though it's a 1 direction weapon I find the amount of possible options great, and getting it all to work out is a great feeling :wink:
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 27, 2012, 05:37:14 pm
It's not just long stabbing weapons, it's long weapons in general. Length is worth too much, especially with all the ganging up that people do. Take the most effective weapons right now and compare their stats to each other. The one thing almost all of them have in common, is length. I don't really think these weapons need a huge nerf, but there is certainly a disparity of effectiveness that is directly related to weapon length, and that is an issue.

Glaive
weapon length: 160
weight: 2.8
difficulty: 16
speed rating: 90
weapon length: 160
thrust damage: 22 pierce
swing damage: 39 cut

Hafted Blade
weapon length: 132
weight: 1.7
difficulty: 13
speed rating: 94
weapon length: 132
thrust damage: 20 pierce
swing damage: 36 cut

Four speed is somehow worth 30 length, 3 cut damage and 2 pierce? Really? I know the hafted blade is just a shitty weapon in general and greatly in need of a buff, but that's a bit excessive.

Danish Greatsword
weapon length: 124
weight: 2.5
difficulty: 15
speed rating: 92
weapon length: 124
thrust damage: 24 pierce
swing damage: 40 cut

Two-Handed Sword
weapon length: 110
weight: 2.2
difficulty: 12
speed rating: 95
weapon length: 110
thrust damage: 22 pierce
swing damage: 38 cut

Three speed for 2 cut and 10 length? No thanks, length, even if it is "only" 10 is way too effective, especially because you have to think about all the people that you're now able to out-range because of that 10 extra length.

As weapons get progressively shorter, the ratio of speed:length and Damage:length needs to be increased as compensation for increased loss in effectiveness due to being so much shorter than the average. It doesn't make sense that 5 length should always translate into x damage. The difference in effectiveness between 150 length and 160 length polearm weapons for example, is rather minimal but the difference between 110 length and a 120 length two-handed weapons, is quite large. The 150 length weapon has a range advantage on almost all of the weapons that the 160 length weapon has, but the 120 length weapon has a range advantage over the majority of the weapons in crpg while the 110 length weapon is only average or slightly above.


This.


Also, 2h and polearms collision with walls are horribly broken. You can happily attack with a greatsword starting your swing in a wall, no problem. If the detection was more accurate we'd at least see less greatswords where they don't make any sense, like in a castle corridor.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Gurnisson on September 27, 2012, 05:40:46 pm
Also, 2h and polearms collision with walls are horribly broken. You can happily attack with a greatsword starting your swing in a wall, no problem. If the detection was more accurate we'd at least see less greatswords where they don't make any sense, like in a castle corridor.

Two-handers and polearms get stuck in walls a lot, definitely a ton more than one-handers. You just see what you want to see, I guess.

I've been 2H, 1H + shield, 1H without shield and polearm, all for more than 1 gen, and I can definitely say that for close quarters one-handers is a lot better (which they should be).
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Elindor on September 27, 2012, 05:46:09 pm
This.

Also, 2h and polearms collision with walls are horribly broken. You can happily attack with a greatsword starting your swing in a wall, no problem. If the detection was more accurate we'd at least see less greatswords where they don't make any sense, like in a castle corridor.

I think Kafein has touched on something here. 

Long weapons SHOULD have an advantage at distance....
THE PROBLEM is that they don't necessarily LOSE an appropriate amount of that advantage when forced into closer range because of limits to the physics engine of the game...

EDITED FOR BREVITY

--------------

I think if anything these weapons just need more hit detection with surrounding objects (getting stuck) and more reliance on actually hitting with the tip of the spear for max damage.  Also maybe slower parrying based on weight x length?  These are giant 12+ ft poles (not sure exactly) and you shouldnt be able to hoist them around like quarterstaves.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 27, 2012, 06:07:06 pm
Two-handers and polearms get stuck in walls a lot, definitely a ton more than one-handers. You just see what you want to see, I guess.

I've been 2H, 1H + shield, 1H without shield and polearm, all for more than 1 gen, and I can definitely say that for close quarters one-handers is a lot better (which they should be).

That's true when you swing randomly.

But let's say you start a 2h right swing and hold it, move in order to be touching a wall to your right, you can totally swing in this situation even though the weapon is almost entirely in a solid object. Same with polearm side swings.

This issue is not nearly as bad with 1h, primarily because the animations and hit detection windows are not as forgiving. Especially with the right swing, there's no way you can swing though walls with a 1h.


EDIT : I think the best and most realistic way to go around this issue would be to add a passive collision mesh to all weapons. You can't pass a doorway holding a pike sideways. Nor can you make a full 360 spin near a wall while holding a 2h swing.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Osiris on September 27, 2012, 07:11:43 pm
Its called human nature, battles will resemble rl more and more as people group up and use spears shields and ranged more. There is a reason that they were the most used weapons in history over suicidal 2h :-P luckily this game has stuff for all so you can be a fantasy 2h lightsaberer and be effective just remember its a battle your not supposed to be able to kill whole groups just because your better individually
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Pejlaen on September 27, 2012, 07:52:53 pm
I think that teamplay should always be the core of the game, and then there will sometimes be the excessive elements of really really good players that with their skill levels stand outside most equations and pull of things that doesnt seem realistic to others.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on September 27, 2012, 07:54:08 pm
You still have really great melee players who stand out on the battlefield. 
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Taser on September 27, 2012, 07:59:59 pm
I'm glad and not glad that people are using long spears/pikes along with hoplite builds. I'm glad because now people are getting into different builds and supporting their team (and a few long spear users are just as effective 1v1 as they are support).

I'm not glad because I like fighting groups solo. Not because I'm suicidal or love the challenge (although it is fun to fight outnumbered) but because group fights as a shielder are, a lot of the times, easier than individual fights. People drop their guard more and I can get a hit in easier on someone because they think I'm going for the other guy, etc. Long spears mess that up since its hard to reach them so it makes group fights harder than an individual fight when one of those is in the mix.

So tbh I'm very glad they're becoming more popular. They're a boon to a team when they're used correctly and when they stick to their team. Even if they mess me up in group fights.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Joker86 on September 27, 2012, 08:25:07 pm
I think teamplay should always be more important than "duels". I mean, after all it's a battle, and numbers should count in battles. I see no reason to cater those veterans/no-lifers who win fights against 5+ people on a regular base, as they definitely don't represent the majority. I don't think any good about a game which is fun for 10%, and the remaining 90% are working to have that fun the upper 10% already enjoy.

That said, I also think that "dumbing down" is the entirely wrong expression. It is not dumbed down, rather the opposite, because now not only skill, but also teamplay matters. First of all you need to influence the preconditions of a fight by good teamplay, so that the advantages and numbers are about even, and then, when two equal groups meet, the skill will decide which group will win. So skill still matters a lot, but it's not the only decisive factor. Don't tell me this is dumbing down the game. A game which determines the winner by pure reflexes is dumb, like Counter Strike or Call of Duty.

Edit: I forgot something, but Teeth wrote it down a few posts below: it's not the long stabbing weapons which brought the change, they always existed (most of them). It's the slower gameplay, the long weapons are only the reaction. But I would recommend to only increase it slightly, for the reasons I told in my first two paragraphs. Don't make this game a stage for no-life skill monsters and their one-man-show.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Spanish on September 27, 2012, 08:27:15 pm
I love 1v groups and actually find it more challenging to fight with teammates because I have trouble predicting where they will be and end up getting team hit a lot.

But fighting a bunch of hoplites and pikes really isn't that much different than fighting a group without these weapons, it still comes down to who's using them. The other day in community I was soloing a group of 5 or 6 guys for a couple rounds then went to siege and got brutally murdered by kutts team tactics and was forced to try and split them up and kill them one at a time. Weapons do matter but to an extent obviously a guy with a stick isn't likely to be very effective but it all depends on the person who's using it, a good example was the Assasino_ATS who just ran around stabbing everybody with a long dagger.

Where I'm goin with this is that pikes and long spears sure are good for teamwork but I think a group without spears is just as effective and this is the way Crpg is going as more people realize they win if they stay together and as the community gets smaller the talent level gets higher as the newbies leave first.

Edit: +1 joker said it way better dumbing Down is the wrong word. And I have a life! D:
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Overdriven on September 27, 2012, 08:32:48 pm
Good melee players can still win/do hellish damage against groups of hoplites and pikes. Naturally only the best should be able to do that, so in standard battle it kind of makes sense that group work and long supporting weapons will win over soloers. Satisfaction comes from conering a 2h with 2 hoplites and taking it in turns to stab in into a stun lock till death.

In all reality though, I think this raises the skill ceiling. Now you have to be very good in order to win over groups. And that's just as it should be. Numbers should win against the average player.

I know it took most of PL with hoplite shields and spears to finally pen Chase and his awlpike in on one particular map. We actually had to surround him to stand a chance against him, otherwise it was death 1 by 1. And that's a perfect demonstration of how a good player can still win, but teamplay and organisation should beat it if executed well.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Teeth on September 27, 2012, 08:32:54 pm
I'm almost feeling flattered that I see an enormous increase in longspears since I started using it a week ago. But I know there must be a different reason for it, cause well, Chase was a lot better than I was. I would like an explanation of the sudden increase.

As for the OP's thesis. I think the mass employment of long stabbing weapons is a sign that the game is too slow. To effectively and quickly kill a lot of people, a long support weapon is really effective in these days of high average blocking skill. Longspears etc. are extremely effective in making people failblock their other attackers or the stab.

Time to speed up the game.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Osiris on September 27, 2012, 08:41:38 pm
making the game faster doesnt really show whos more skilled. only who has better reflexes and a better pc/connection
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Teeth on September 27, 2012, 08:47:59 pm
making the game faster doesnt really show whos more skilled. only who has better reflexes and a better pc/connection
Reflexes are part of skill I'd say, the mod has been much faster in the past and native is still faster. A bit of a speed-up wouldn't harm anyone.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Elindor on September 27, 2012, 08:51:41 pm
Well apparently WPF curve is being reworked so maybe it will get faster, who knows.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Rhekimos on September 27, 2012, 08:56:29 pm
A bit of a speed-up wouldn't harm anyone.

The whole mod shutting down wouldn't harm anyone. Except maybe GTX.

All the rest would find something other to do with their time, but remain unharmed.
 
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: BlackMilk on September 27, 2012, 08:57:25 pm
Well apparently WPF curve is being reworked so maybe it will get faster, who knows.
Yeah, and Strat 2 release date is December 2010. They announced it months ago i bet that they are not reworking the wpf curve at the moment or anytime soon...

Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Piok on September 27, 2012, 09:52:30 pm
Today I saw biggest number of steel pick ever on EU1 :(
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Thomek on September 27, 2012, 10:04:16 pm
(click to show/hide)

Tydeus, thank you for advocating this fact. I've said this since 1 1/2 years, but to deaf ears..
(click to show/hide)

Anyway.. Really really hope the balancers take to their senses and re-think the balance formula. At one hand, they want "realism" on the other hand, what is the most effective are the conan swords..


Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Butan on September 27, 2012, 10:23:06 pm
A game which determines the winner by pure reflexes is dumb, like Counter Strike or Call of Duty.


There is good positioning/strategy and numbers in those two games, it just happens with weapons capable of dealing damage with the speed and range of a bullet :D
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Vodner on September 27, 2012, 10:29:41 pm
Quote
A game which determines the winner by pure reflexes is dumb, like Counter Strike or Call of Duty.
There's a lot more to winning a 1vN (or a 1v1 for that matter) than reflexes. Being able to block quickly is important, but footwork, timing, and unpredictability are all also very important. Personally I feel that player skill should be the most important element of any player vs player game.

For that matter, Counter-Strike is also far from a purely reflex driven game (at least in organized play). Reflexes are important (mandatory, really), but there's an enormous amount of effort that goes into predicting what your opponents are doing and setting yourself up accordingly.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Joker86 on September 27, 2012, 11:02:26 pm

There is good positioning/strategy and numbers in those two games, it just happens with weapons capable of dealing damage with the speed and range of a bullet :D

There's a lot more to winning a 1vN (or a 1v1 for that matter) than reflexes. Being able to block quickly is important, but footwork, timing, and unpredictability are all also very important. Personally I feel that player skill should be the most important element of any player vs player game.

For that matter, Counter-Strike is also far from a purely reflex driven game (at least in organized play). Reflexes are important (mandatory, really), but there's an enormous amount of effort that goes into predicting what your opponents are doing and setting yourself up accordingly.

Still, with good reflexes, you will get out of most situations. I saw enough videos where someone was shot from behind, then turned around within a split second and placed a headshot. And not only once. In a game I would have designed, letting someone shoot you into the back would mean sure death.

If we assume that a game has only the two factors teamwork and skill, then I would say the importance of teamwork has to be at least 51% or more, skill has to determine the rest. If you have less than 50% teamwork, well skilled players won't need teamwork at all, and a whole aspect of the gameplay concept is being dropped. If a game wants to promote teamwork, the importance of it must be 51% or more. I would say teamwork importance of Counter Strike and Call of Duty is about 10-20%. Rest are reflexes and aiming. Sure, it helps, but if your aiming is mad enough you can run around the map like a headless chicken, as you are close to having an aimbot.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Vodner on September 27, 2012, 11:05:34 pm
Quote
Still, with good reflexes, you will get out of most situations. I saw enough videos where someone was shot from behind, then turned around within a split second and placed a headshot. And not only once. In a game I would have designed, letting someone shoot you into the back would mean sure death.
That very rarely happens in high level games. There's a reason clutch ace videos are enjoyed so much - clutches are a rarity. At high level play everybody has great reflexes and aim, so you can't rely on those alone.

In that example, the first player screwed up by failing to score headshots. His advantage of getting the drop on his opponent would have led to a kill if he did. Positioning is important, but aim is also important.

Quote
If you have less than 50% teamwork, well skilled players won't need teamwork at all, and a whole aspect of the gameplay concept is being dropped.
Only if the teams are stacked skill-wise. And frankly, if they are stacked, then the stacked team should win (and the autobalance should be improved).
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Joker86 on September 27, 2012, 11:14:01 pm
I want to add that I am always talking about playing on public servers with random teams, and the average behaviour on those. Although I never played strategus I assume the amount of lone wolfing, Ramboing and suicide charges is much lower.

It's not difficult to make a game where "clan vs. clan" or "guild vs. guild"-gameplay is really tactical, because the players themselves take care of it, as it's a neccessity.

The art is making a game where random people on public servers work together without need of communication. It is difficult, but not impossible, I've seen a few examples, Global Agenda would be one.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Vodner on September 27, 2012, 11:16:13 pm
I want to add that I am always talking about playing on public servers with random teams, and the average behaviour on those. Although I never played strategus I assume the amount of lone wolfing, Ramboing and suicide charges is much lower.

It's not difficult to make a game where "clan vs. clan" or "guild vs. guild"-gameplay is really tactical, because the players themselves take care of it, as it's a neccessity.

The art is making a game where random people on public servers work together without need of communication. It is difficult, but not impossible, I've seen a few examples, Global Agenda would be one.
People work together when it leads to interesting gameplay. Being forced into a blob where individual skill means little is boring, not interesting. Fighting a 5v1, or singling out an opponent tends to lead to far more enjoyable gameplay than sitting in a group while throwing out backstabs. As things stand right now I can just equip a long awlpike, sit in a blob, and score easy kills with little thought or skill. Effective, but boring.

Best way to make blob fighting interesting is to simply remove any sort of comfort zone for players. Make it so that if you want to contribute usefully to group combat, then you have to be constantly defending yourself. Make is so that you are constantly at risk of getting killed if you screw up even a little.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 27, 2012, 11:24:24 pm
I think cRPG should be a fun game.

Situations such as these :

Satisfaction comes from conering a 2h with 2 hoplites and taking it in turns to stab in into a stun lock till death.

Are unfun. The guy fighting alone can't do anything (that is, how skilled he is has no influence), and the other two are just taking turns poking at him, which doesn't require much effort either.

Fighting in groups require a lot less muscle memory, that's for sure. And it's quite nice. But combat in MnB is also a lot about creativity (and alas, how to stifle that of your opponent). Combat in groups is just poking at someone when you think you have an opening. There are no tricks, and there are a lot of "automatic win" situations (like a long spear + great maul combo).

Imagine we push the concept of "teamplay should win" to the extreme : if 2v1 were always lost by the solo guy, the game would be more realistic but still ultra boring. Or at least not an action game anymore.


Don't get me wrong, teamplay is great and fun, but it shouldn't be an "I win" button or hinder the skill aspect of this game in any way.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Herkkutatti666 on September 27, 2012, 11:27:32 pm
do something to pike and long spear! it is very annoying how 300 reach weapon can stab you when you are 30cm away from the pike user.


This took over year to make on paint. this is how the pike in-game should look like at the moment.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Joker86 on September 27, 2012, 11:29:01 pm
I think cRPG should be a fun game.

Situations such as these :

Are unfun. The guy fighting alone can't do anything (that is, how skilled he is has no influence), and the other two are just taking turns poking at him, which doesn't require much effort either.

Fighting in groups require a lot less muscle memory, that's for sure. And it's quite nice. But combat in MnB is also a lot about creativity (and alas, how to stifle that of your opponent). Combat in groups is just poking at someone when you think you have an opening. There are no tricks, and there are a lot of "automatic win" situations (like a long spear + great maul combo).

Imagine we push the concept of "teamplay should win" to the extreme : if 2v1 were always lost by the solo guy, the game would be more realistic but still ultra boring. Or at least not an action game anymore.


Don't get me wrong, teamplay is great and fun, but it shouldn't be an "I win" button or hinder the skill aspect of this game in any way.

Depends.

You could for example say, that if the 2hd gets cornered by two hoplites, he failed on the tactics part. At some point you need to benefit from tactical advantages.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Formless on September 28, 2012, 12:12:28 am
do something to pike and long spear! it is very annoying how 300 reach weapon can stab you when you are 30cm away from the pike user.


This took over year to make on paint. this is how the pike in-game should look like.
(click to show/hide)

Totally agree with this, getting hit like this  is ultra annoying.  Only the point of a pike should be considered a legal hit.  Every weapon should have its proper place and use.  Pikes and long spears should be gold at long ranges for support and they should be poor choices close up chest to chest. 
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 28, 2012, 12:17:16 am
Depends.

You could for example say, that if the 2hd gets cornered by two hoplites, he failed on the tactics part. At some point you need to benefit from tactical advantages.

Yes, but a tactical advantage shouldn't equal to an "I win" button. What's the point if the 2h can't possibly win ?
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Gurnisson on September 28, 2012, 12:20:20 am
As of now, it's not impossible to win against two hoplites with a two-hander, far from it. Good movement is key. Also, shielders are boss at fighting against multiple opponents, so if one complains about dying in ganks as a two-hander, one could always go shielder instead. Taking on multiple opponents is one of their main strengths.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Rumblood on September 28, 2012, 01:41:59 am
Team play is the most difficult skill in game to master. Don't get mad and say it isn't a skill!
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Sultan Eren on September 28, 2012, 02:23:56 am
Not because i'm a hoplite, i say, the problem is longspears and pikes. Being a hoplite on 1v1 is already hard. But that longspears' jumpstabs are just crazy and fucked up.

Months ago i said remove the blocking ability of these two and people just didn't give a fuck.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Joker86 on September 28, 2012, 03:39:02 am
Yes, but a tactical advantage shouldn't equal to an "I win" button. What's the point if the 2h can't possibly win ?

1 hoplite in the corner against two 2hd. Chances to win? Let alone the pikeman, who can only block in one direction. On the other hand the 2hd in the corner needs to block only in one direction, if he manages to block once.

Tactic shouldn't be an autowin, I agree, but some situations are simply that extreme that you can't do anything about it. Like the one your described. Being cornered by two enemies is always incredibly bad, unless you are a shielder. And even then it's ugly if they block you well so you can't move. 

It's difficult in ArmA2 to hit a helicopter with an RPG, it's close to impossible... unless the helicopter is just landing to drop off troops... you know what I mean?  :wink:


Not because i'm a hoplite, i say, the problem is longspears and pikes. Being a hoplite on 1v1 is already hard. But that longspears' jumpstabs are just crazy and fucked up.

Months ago i said remove the blocking ability of these two and people just didn't give a fuck.

This is a very plain way to nerf them beyond the ground, and would definitely kill this class which already has to suffer from most disadvantages of all classes. And it's the class which is depending most on teammates, as on its own it's completely useless. It deserves being annoying, deadly and efficient in combination with others.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Felix on September 28, 2012, 05:05:27 am
Lol, another hate-love thread.

The longer the weapon is, the lower damage becomes and you lose ability to duel as well. It's that simple. Hoplites have durability (shield) and pretty nice damage + duel capacity, but crappy distance advantage, and pikers have longest weapon in the game, but everything else sucks pretty much.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Grumpy_Nic on September 28, 2012, 08:03:37 am
Not because i'm a hoplite, i say, the problem is longspears and pikes. Being a hoplite on 1v1 is already hard. But that longspears' jumpstabs are just crazy and fucked up.

Months ago i said remove the blocking ability of these two and people just didn't give a fuck.

Yeah, remove blocking. Also, while we're at it remove the ability to attack as a whole because 1 attack direction is just too much for long spear and pike. Jumpattacks are stupid in general, with every weapon. Jumping with plate armour is stupid and jumpshooting is stupid.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Digglez on September 28, 2012, 09:22:17 am
do something to pike and long spear! it is very annoying how 300 reach weapon can stab you when you are 30cm away from the pike user.


This took over year to make on paint. this is how the pike in-game should look like at the moment.
(click to show/hide)

Oh you mean the same mechanic that allows 2h & polearms to hit you with hilt of weapon without weapon animation even firing and not blockable half the time?

visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Joseph Porta on September 28, 2012, 11:18:08 am
Longspears are gay, when you attack them they just block a few times then run away till they have the range and make a silly flexible-chopper-rotation-jump-poke.. And then it repeats, oh oh..

Pikes are fine, thank god only a few know ow to abuse it properly, whilst lngspear is just pick up & play
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Grumpy_Nic on September 28, 2012, 11:45:14 am
Longspears are gay, when you attack them they just block a few times then run away till they have the range and make a silly flexible-chopper-rotation-jump-poke.. And then it repeats, oh oh..

Pikes are fine, thank god only a few know ow to abuse it properly, whilst lngspear is just pick up & play

True. Also ranged is just point & click, crushthrough is just overhead spam, lancer is just pressing W & X, shielder is just right mouse click, etc. No skill in this game, oh sorry I forgot 2h kuyaks, they are the only ones that need skill cuz the whole game is a duel.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Akynos on September 28, 2012, 12:19:46 pm
Anyone who is good at this game has some skill, in a way or the other.

Good ranged have great prediction skills.

Good 2h/polearmers have great blocking/feinting/footwork skills

Good pikers have great team awareness and timing.

Good cav have great sneaking,timing and aiming skills.

Come to think of it, anyone who has a good score / k/d has some degree of skill, otherwise he would not be sucessful.

We all have seen archers who, despite having the best equipment, couldn't predict for shit and missed all the time.

So have we seen kuyak-style newbies who couldn't block for shit.

What about shitty pikers? If you don't know one, remember me ! :D

Bad cavs? I personally take great pleasure slashing them from their horses!


So what does this tell us? Despite some minor unbalances, weapons or classes do not define a battlefield hero. One who has the skills will win. Always. If two hoplites take down a 2hander, let us not talk about how boring/ skilless it is to pinball the 2 hander around. If the 2hander got caught, he is weaker than his enemies, period. Why? Because he /left his team/didnt help his teammates so they died/ is not good enough to parry the attacks. There is no diceroll in this game.
If a group of pikers manages to kill the enemies, its not because they are pikers. Its because they know how to play it.

Anyway, this isn't a reason to not rage at them of course :D Nothing more annoying than being stabbed to death !

Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 28, 2012, 02:12:08 pm
Oh you mean the same mechanic that allows 2h & polearms to hit you with hilt of weapon without weapon animation even firing and not blockable half the time?

This.

All hiltslashers should have their eyes pierced by a very slowly moving drill, their nails shot with a nailgun, their bodyhair plucked one by one, be subjected to one hour of repeated fake drowning, then lose one leg in acid and the other in fire, not simultaneously of course, and die due to their head slowly being compressed by a trash compacter.

Only this way can hiltslashers repay their debts to humanity.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Banok on September 28, 2012, 02:15:42 pm
I'm no expert but seems to me that 2h can hilt slash, polearm cant. and 1h left swing is by far the best at hiltslashing.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 28, 2012, 02:18:27 pm
I'm no expert but seems to me that 2h can hilt slash, polearm cant. and 1h left swing is by far the best at hiltslashing.

No, 1h left swing spam is not hiltslashing (1h are incapable of it)

Some 1h lamers do that by holding a swing, releasing it and immediately attack left while turning to the right. It's basically a timing/mindfucking trick and has nothing to do with broken sweetspots. It's not much better though, it's still a variation on spam.

Also, polearms such as poleaxes, glaives, GLA and GLB are incredibly easy to hiltslash with.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Herkkutatti666 on September 28, 2012, 02:32:58 pm
Oh you mean the same mechanic that allows 2h & polearms to hit you with hilt of weapon without weapon animation even firing and not blockable half the time?

visitors can't see pics , please register or login

2H sword hilt is at least metal so it could do some damage :D Wooden pole  not.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Gurnisson on September 28, 2012, 02:54:56 pm
No, 1h left swing spam is not hiltslashing (1h are incapable of it)

Can hiltslash with any weapon, be it a two-hander, a polearm or a one-hander. However, with the lower base damage of 1H weapons you might be more prone to glancing, depending on the enemy's armor and hp.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Piok on September 28, 2012, 02:59:46 pm
Total amount of pierce/blunt weapons nowadays on Eu is unbearable.
We have pikers, alsopikers(2h stabbast...), pierce archers, xbowmen, plague of miners (pick and so on), plague of smiths, facetrowers, motorised unit of backstabbers.
In this situation one must ask why to hell I am using armor at all. You will see almost no difference between lamellar vest up to rus lammelar cuirras and armors higher are really expansive so you go cav rather.
So its nothing else than evolution that so many goes piker. You are out of reach of enemy you can go lightly armored with strenght build with decent speed and brutal stab damage or go 2h hero like, constant stabbing and when something comes near just switch to spam mode. Or being shielded sewing machine with Op pick and unbreakable shield, all thanks to poleaxers become 2hheroes  or pikers.
Not to mention brutal impact on 4directional polearmers populace caused by turn rate nerf. 

Btw. why any of onehanders does not have unblalanced trait :?:
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Gurnisson on September 28, 2012, 03:06:21 pm
Not to mention brutal impact on 4directional polearmers populace caused by turn rate nerf. 

4-directional polearms was not hurt too much by the turn-nerf, especially compared to other weapons. Two-directional poles were hit the worst, especially the short and fast ones. 1H was also hit quite hard. The higher base speed, the more problems the turn-nerf caused. I found the two-directional worst considering they can't fall back on any good side-swings like the one-handers do. They only have the two nerfed directions, and the faster the animation the harder it is to adjust mid-swing. Forks are pretty shit without shield for example and the polearms stab is fast, which means almost no chance to adjust.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Zanze on September 28, 2012, 03:44:32 pm
Situations such as these :

Are unfun. The guy fighting alone can't do anything (that is, how skilled he is has no influence), and the other two are just taking turns poking at him, which doesn't require much effort either.

Fighting in groups require a lot less muscle memory, that's for sure. And it's quite nice. But combat in MnB is also a lot about creativity (and alas, how to stifle that of your opponent). Combat in groups is just poking at someone when you think you have an opening. There are no tricks, and there are a lot of "automatic win" situations (like a long spear + great maul combo).

Don't get me wrong, teamplay is great and fun, but it shouldn't be an "I win" button or hinder the skill aspect of this game in any way.

If you are a 2h, and you get cornered by two hoplites, and you for whatever reason release your downblock BEFORE getting out of the corner. You deserve to die. If you are in that situation you have played so many wrong moves that there is no reason you should be rewarded anything other than death. Also, you underestimate how hard it is to actually co-ordinate teamwork.

Also, if greatmaul + longspear was such an automatic win, why do they sometimes you know...lose? That combo has 2 glaring weaknesses. 1, easily kitable by archers and destroyed by throwing. 2, they are both using very SLOW weapons that work at extreme ranges (very short range, vs very long range). This is a situation where a 2h greatsword kuyak user is actually optimal (add throwing and it is a complete counter)

Team play is the most difficult skill in game to master. Don't get mad and say it isn't a skill!

Not sure if it was in this thread or not, but this is basically helping the point I made of skill not being determined by your ability to feint or block. I spend my time as a spearman on NH and predicting my clanmates is a mission and a half. Especially Turboflex. I've been playing with him for almost a year and still can't understand his movements. (Hint: I hit him more than the enemy to this day)

Longspears are gay, when you attack them they just block a few times then run away till they have the range and make a silly flexible-chopper-rotation-jump-poke.. And then it repeats, oh oh..
Block down. Also, jumping away? Get more agility and less strength.
This.
...

Only this way can hiltslashers repay their debts to humanity.

Yes.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Piok on September 28, 2012, 03:56:23 pm
4-directional polearms was not hurt too much by the turn-nerf, especially compared to other weapons. Two-directional poles were hit the worst, especially the short and fast ones. 1H was also hit quite hard. The higher base speed, the more problems the turn-nerf caused. I found the two-directional worst considering they can't fall back on any good side-swings like the one-handers do. They only have the two nerfed directions, and the faster the animation the harder it is to adjust mid-swing. Forks are pretty shit without shield for example and the polearms stab is fast, which means almost no chance to adjust.
So because peoples are masochists we have increased populace of pikers and hoplites :shock:
I never guess that.

I can understand poleaxers go 2h because of better reach (specially stab), more forgiving animation and better anticav. And for pikes and longspears they are so slow that you could easily do pikewiggle and other nasty tricks not to mention brutal speed bonus caused by slownesses, it must come from same clever head which "nerfed" heavy lance by reducing its speed.
For forks and other high speed polearms biggest nerf was polestagger gone.
Specially forkers and other under 160 polearmers now have dilemma cause almost everything except 1h shielders has longer reach then them and increase in ranged call for shield. So we have more hoplites with shorter but still fast polearms used by one hand which adds to their range and to compensate damage reduction they become more strenght orientated so slower which means shield is even more needed.
As poleaxer I mean poleaxer with german and other expansive thingies which have antishield trait. They could go 2h(+- same price, no atishield ) or glaive ( cheaper longer, no antishield) or bardiche (better cut, cheaper but no horse rearing and slow).
 
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Swaggart on September 28, 2012, 04:29:54 pm
Not sure if it was in this thread or not, but this is basically helping the point I made of skill not being determined by your ability to feint or block. I spend my time as a spearman on NH and predicting my clanmates is a mission and a half. Especially Turboflex. I've been playing with him for almost a year and still can't understand his movements. (Hint: I hit him more than the enemy to this day)

Wait, what?

Say you have two teams. One team is great at sticking together but can't attack or defend well (feinting and blocking, which is basically individual skill). The other team is also great at sticking together, yet they can block and attack really well. Who will win? The team with the better individual skill. Teamplay is not the be all end all of this game, not by a longshot, it is an excellent supplement but does not replace individual skill.

Team play is essential in battle, yes, but individual skill is far more essential. The Hoplite clan was really good at working together, but their individual skill was not at the same level of the more established clans, and the results showed. In many cases they had numbers but were whittled down.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Zanze on September 28, 2012, 05:12:20 pm
The Hoplite clan was really good at working together.

Hilarious. By this you mean they formed a shield wall, then when the fighting start they broke off to do their own thing?

Anyways, what I mean and by saying that is that just because you can feint and block doesn't make you skilled in this game. Anyone can do it, and most people do. But then there comes the idiots that can feint and block well, but charge solo against the whole team and die then post threads saying they should nerf everything that isn't what they are using that particular generation.

However, your example is kind of one sided. Thats like saying Team A made great guns but no bullets, and Team B made great bullets but no guns. Now in your example, team A has only the guns but B has both. Hardly fair. But keep them separate, Team A would beat B because they have big rifles that can now be used as clubs. (A = teamwork, B = individual skill)

Now that I'm done talking crap, yes you need both. But again I say, because you personally know how to feint and block and fight as an individual you will still lose versus a coordinated effort from other people.

Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Pejlaen on September 28, 2012, 05:20:20 pm


However, your example is kind of one sided. Thats like saying Team A made great guns but no bullets, and Team B made great bullets but no guns. Now in your example, team A has only the guns but B has both. Hardly fair. But keep them separate, Team A would beat B because they have big rifles that can now be used as clubs. (A = teamwork, B = individual skill)



Team B can throw bullets at them though :P
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: peter_afca7 on September 28, 2012, 05:27:49 pm
today it is pikes tomorrow it is ranged day after cav it will never stop QQ
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Swaggart on September 28, 2012, 05:38:38 pm
Fine, Hoplites may be a bad example, but what I said is still true. You said skill is not determined by individual skill, which I think is nonsense

Now that I'm done talking crap, yes you need both. But again I say, because you personally know how to feint and block and fight as an individual you will still lose versus a coordinated effort from other people.

Of course, but team work skill develops after you become better individually. Team work is largely dependent on not team hitting, and that only comes from better duel skills. It is only once you know how to utilize footwork and the various swing animations against an individual opponent can you properly apply them in a group situation with teammates and enemies around. Otherwise, you will either get your swing stuck  on team mates which leaves you defenceless, or you will team wound. Awareness is just as important when battling a single opponent as when fighting many, but it is much easier to learn when you only have yourself and one person to worry about. Throw a person with bad awareness into a group fight and he's a liability.

Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Elindor on September 28, 2012, 05:45:30 pm
Some longspear users are deadly, some are not...my only real complaint is illustrated by this: 

(click to show/hide)

The jump away spin is largely just annoying and silly looking...as Zan said block down.  Although, I have 7 Ath and 21 Agi and its still hard to bridge that gap because I use a short ass longsword which is barely longer than a 1h :(  So I get killed by the jump spin when I forget that they are gonna get the stab off on me before I can reach them....also when I forget that longspears are not subject to the laws of physics....kinda like subatomic particles!

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Zanze on September 28, 2012, 06:05:57 pm
Goddamnit. Elindor, I meant to upvote you. That spoiler made me laugh IRL.

Edit: Nvm...Apparently it changed to an upvote...I knew that...
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: WITCHCRAFT on September 28, 2012, 10:13:52 pm
I agree with others who say that spears promote teamwork. Especially when you are playing with strangers, it is a great feeling when you and some guy get into a rhythm of flanking and taking out enemies who stray too far alone. Some maps like commercial city have great spots for polearms to line up and take down cavalry as well. People complain about cav 24/7 so I think that's a good thing.

I don't feel like there are more spearmen/hoplites/pikemen/whatever than any other class.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Rextard on September 28, 2012, 11:51:48 pm
As long as 2handers can glitch through other models to pull off strikes or turn their torsos more than their flesh bones or armor would allow, til it looks like fabric twisting over itself, long spear weapons should be doin all kinds of retarded unicorn maneuvers.  :D
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Kafein on September 29, 2012, 12:03:07 am
Also, if greatmaul + longspear was such an automatic win, why do they sometimes you know...lose? That combo has 2 glaring weaknesses. 1, easily kitable by archers and destroyed by throwing. 2, they are both using very SLOW weapons that work at extreme ranges (very short range, vs very long range). This is a situation where a 2h greatsword kuyak user is actually optimal (add throwing and it is a complete counter)

A 2h (btw I'm not one myself, if that helps), or any other melee for that matter, is more or less doomed in that situation. The two guys cooperating aren't dumb. The pikeman forces the 2h to downblock, but the 2h is forced to attack to avoid being CTed by the maul. He has to do one or the other. If he blocks, he gets crushed by the maul, if he attacks, he gets pierced by the pike. The slowness of these weapons is not relevant since the pike will be ready to strike before the combat begins.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that about any melee class + a maul or a pike becomes a deadly combo.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: genric on September 29, 2012, 01:10:36 am
     Using the pike in a team situation is fine and anything promoting teamwork is a plus. It is just dumb that if you run up on a pike and they turn around they do massive amounts of damage because they rubbed the pole on you and you got a splinter.
     If they made the poles and spears only able to do damage at the tip it would promote actual teamwork because then these massive polearms wont just hop spin and stab killing people a foot or so in front of them when in truth they should be rendered useless forcing the player to draw a sidearm like a one handed sword making it more realistic and less silly.

(side swings don't need this rule because they are side swinging the spear/polearm)
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Relit on September 29, 2012, 02:28:44 am
Pikes do not hit people that are face-hugging. Long spears do. The more people understand this the better.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Artyem on September 29, 2012, 02:35:26 am
Or if you're Relit, your pike is made of god and will stab people regardless of how close they are to you.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: BlueKnight on September 29, 2012, 04:41:01 am
Sum it up. Long spear wasn't very popular back in time despite it had many more advantages than now. What happened to long spear.

- It lost overhead ability,
- You can't stab with it through the ground,
- It is unbalanced
- It lost some damage (not sure if I remember properly or not),
- Spinning with stab got nerfed,
- Long spear takes 3 slots
- You can't do overhead through teammates anymore, (different point because it was different issue)
- Stun got removed.

Now you can see how the players got better with long spear not how op it is. Those are players who adjusted to the new shape of the field of battle. Evolution etc. After getting nerfed they have to become better with that shit to be effective and you can see this also with other classes.

For example many more archers started aiming to the head when bows got nerfed (dmg nerf or sth). You probably remembr that. After they got unnerfed we have much more aiming and deadly archers now.

Same goes with 2h which was having it's stab animations changed in many patches and it was always supposed to nerf 2h and they are nearly as good with stab as they were because they got to know how to fight again. They adjusted and became better players.

Not to mention that cav lost the angle years ago and was losing damage&speed on heavy lance and had to adjust to backstabbing and perfect timing as it is the best way to succed as a cav. Also increased requirement for horses had it's influence on builds of players.

All I wanted to say is that the more you nerf, the better players  become and do wonders with shit on a stick. If nothing was nerfed people wouldn't have to change and become better to survive but currently the environment of the field of battle forces people to find new ways to survive.


(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Akynos on September 29, 2012, 02:22:51 pm
Blueknight, I want video proof that knights can do a frontflip in full armor :D
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: ThePoopy on September 29, 2012, 02:55:13 pm
long wepons havn't dumbed down game, dumbed down game have long wepons.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Teeth on September 29, 2012, 03:09:30 pm
long wepons havn't dumbed down game, dumbed down game have long wepons.
Basically this.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: BlueKnight on September 29, 2012, 03:19:23 pm
Blueknight, I want video proof that knights can do a frontflip in full armor :D

There was a programme which also showed getting back to the vertical position on a horseback from horizontal position in full plate etc. Knight is str and agi.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Memento_Mori on September 29, 2012, 03:32:04 pm
Sum it up. Long spear wasn't very popular back in time despite it had many more advantages than now.

What......


Back in the day everyone brought a long spear up their ass and would follow around in huge groups over heading through their team mates and hitting the enemy. It was pretty much uber abused by everyone, honestly pretty much became a necessity for melee fights to have at least a few pike guys behind their team mates using over head spam that wouldn't touch your team mates due to awesome warband mechanics (that got fixed thankfully)

That's what I remember.

Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: BlueKnight on September 29, 2012, 03:42:07 pm
What......


Back in the day everyone brought a long spear up their ass and would follow around in huge groups over heading through their team mates and hitting the enemy. It was pretty much uber abused by everyone, honestly pretty much became a necessity for melee fights to have at least a few pike guys behind their team mates using over head spam that wouldn't touch your team mates due to awesome warband mechanics (that got fixed thankfully)

That's what I remember.
Ye it was abused but currently there are more longspearmen than that time.

EDIT: Also we might talk about different times. All in all it's like 2 years so I mean like 1 year ago.

EDIT2: Don't know how it is and was in NA.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Chris_P_Bacon on September 29, 2012, 03:43:39 pm
What......


Back in the day everyone brought a long spear up their ass and would follow around in huge groups over heading through their team mates and hitting the enemy. It was pretty much uber abused by everyone, honestly pretty much became a necessity for melee fights to have at least a few pike guys behind their team mates using over head spam that wouldn't touch your team mates due to awesome warband mechanics (that got fixed thankfully)

That's what I remember.
There's a reason no sheathe weapons happened, and if I remember correctly, this is it. +1 Mori, you sexy, sexy beast.


Also there are totally not "more longspearmen". I know *maybe* 6 dedicated longspear/pikemen, and that's including me, and I'm not really dedicated at all. There may be some people who pick it up for a round or two and then drop it, but they are insignificant.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Herkkutatti666 on September 29, 2012, 07:31:00 pm
Everything was good back then when you could have pike, flamberge, bow and arrows at same time ;_;
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: sF_Guardian on September 29, 2012, 07:35:40 pm
Game is fine atm, really fine :)

I play less and less but have fun when I do,
really feels nice with less heroes and more tactics,
some tweakin at Greatswords, SpamBecDeFrance and Steel Pick wouldn`t hurt though :D
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: Rebelyell on September 30, 2012, 12:31:46 am
Game is fine atm, really fine :)

I play less and less but have fun when I do,
really feels nice with less heroes and more tactics,
some tweakin at Greatswords, SpamBecDeFrance and Steel Pick wouldn`t hurt though :D
that fonts
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: OzyTheSage on September 30, 2012, 08:10:45 pm
*Skips  most of the thread*

As a person who used to use the pike longspear a lot (even during the 'pocket pike' days mentioned before, abusing overheads on not just the pike longspear but other weapons it affected as well) I'm just going to say that almost any fight you encounter with a few of these is going to give anybody but maybe a shielder a hard time. Even a shielder pretty much won't get a chance to attack if the pikeman isn't retarded.

When they fixed the overhead problem they also changed the hitboxes so that polearms hit teammates even more, so swinging or stabbing around teammates has become incredibly hazardous. Plus the fact that they get stuck on every little tiny thing within a 10 meter radius when you try to swing makes it a huge pain. Finally polearms generally have a shorter reach than 2 handers and are a little slower(?) makes them less useful (Am I making this up? It seems to be true from my experience). This only really effects pikemen who have a quarterstaff as backup, but it means people who use shield+spear as a support weapon (1 handed thrust has longer reach) get... shafted when it comes to fighting without teammates. I suppose it sort of enforces the idea that polearms are meant to be sort of formation fighting weapons and support, I've never seen anyone with a greatsword trying to lolstab enemies over their teammate's shoulders, which is something pikemen and hoplites can do even with the hitbox changes.

Nowadays you can carry a bamboo spear (Pike: 300, longspear: 245, bamboo: 200 weapon length) and a 'dueling' polearm and still be relatively effective despite the lower damage and reach because of polearm stagger opening enemies up for attack by more damaging teammates, or interrupting attacks that would hit teammates. But honestly, the longspear has 26 pierce, pike has 24, and bamboo spear has 25 and an overhead so the damage isn't too big of a deal, it's just the length you have to account for.

As for dumbing down the game, I've seen people with (long)awlpikes spamming stabs throughout enemies and cutting them down like nothing, which is a little more worrying to me than people with a pointy metal thing on a big stick. Sometimes it is a matter of knowing when to block down, or even know when the pikeman will strike so you can chamber his attacks.

Now one of the larger problems people have is the spin stab. The spin stab is where the pikeman will stab you at maximum range, then jump backwards to gain some distance from you while stabbing (usually they run facing away from you to get a better jump, then spin in midair to stab). This means they can stab you (and you usually block the first one) and then as you close the distance on them with an attack ready to go, they jump out of reach and poke you. Usually it hits and they can rinse and repeat, but if you just keep blocking for a little longer they won't be able to jump again and you can start hacking away. The problem really come when you're hugging against the pikeman. Sometimes they can still manage to stab you even though the tip of their weapon is 4 meters behind you when they chamber their attack. It's an oddity with the M&B engine, I believe, and sometimes you're lucky and it will just glance off your armor. (EDIT: Also, if you're hugging them, you're generally running towards them which the game might give them a movement damage bonus, which means it doesn't glance...?)

Keeping in mind I haven't played as a 'dedicated' pikeman longspearman in... probably over a year, so what I'm saying may not exactly be quite as valid as it used to be... I will say that I've been seeing more pikemen in siege so they can poke through breakable doors, killing anyone who gets near so it's next to impossible to progress... yeah...
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: San on September 30, 2012, 08:49:15 pm
I don't really notice an increase in difficulty (on NA) compared to before, but it's a lot more difficult to predict when you get hit since stabs hit instantly now. You can't look at your opponent's animation (if they're holding) since you would have already been hit by the time you notice the animation release. Before, they would jump and spin to attack. Now, they only need to jump back. If they jump back, there's a large chance they will hit you first, so it just takes a lot more time to try to kill them before one of their teammates come. In a way, longspear was nerfed, but some earlier counter tactics against them have also been nerfed.

I still think it's very possible to rambo, even when some of the other good players are on.
Title: Re: Have long stabbing weapons dumbed down the game?
Post by: SMEGMAR on October 10, 2012, 08:35:08 pm
>nope.jpg


   Alas, the game was already dumbed down by all the slow ass animations and co. where a single fight between two good players would turn out to be an endurance test rather than e-skill or visual memory.


   This dumbing down on the bright side, encouraged team-play and the multiplicity of "classes".

>Le meme arrows rule! xD