cRPG

cRPG => Suggestions Corner => Game Balance Discussion => Topic started by: Jarold on January 22, 2014, 12:39:31 am

Title: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 22, 2014, 12:39:31 am
Crossbows are simply too easy to just pick up and shoot with little skill investment. There needs to be a required skill for Crossbows besides just wpf. I know it's realistic but first we must make the game balanced then we can talk realism.


Taking out Crossbow WPF and putting in a Skill Requirement will solve this problem I think. Taking this skill will make you more accurate with your crossbow. I'll just call this skill "Steady Hands, or SH", and it will be governed by Agility. But before you get on me about it being governed by AGI therefore creating more kiting here's the second part to the idea.

Give all crossbows higher STR requirements. So that if you wanted to use a Heavy Crossbow you would need to have 18 str to use it. Therefore you couldn't get as much "SH" because you needed more strength making you less accurate but you would have a high damage output.

The Steady Hands skill i'm proposing should give you 30 wpf per level but it should be like the Horse Archery skill. So instead of every 3 points of AGI you will need 6 points of AGI to level up the skill. How much wpf you get per level is debatable and for now it's just there for a placeholder.

In short adding this skill and giving higher strength requirements for crossbows will make the high damage crossbows less accurate and the lower damaging crossbows more accurate. Giving you an obvious trade off of accuracy vs potential damage. It will also hopefully eliminate some of the kiting.




In reply to Grumbs comment I thought i'd post the little conversation here.
I think a lot of how xbows function is hardcoded, but if possible i'd just give them a difficulty like bows and use PD (maybe change the name of it to Ranged Acuity or something).
This doesn't change how it functions. It changes how accurate you are with a crossbow. It simply gives you crossbow wpf. Also changing a crossbow's STR requirement is easy.

I'm not saying you need SH to use a crossbow, but you will need it to be remotely accurate since it's the only way to get wpf in Crossbows.

I don't like the idea of something like a PD requirement, but a strength requirement I do like, with an optional skill requirement to be accurate. It makes sense to me because you need strength to pull the string back and then you will need a steady hand to keep your weapon stable and to actually hit someone.

You will still be able to pick up random crossbows this way but you won't really hit anything without luck or someone who's really close.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Grumbs on January 22, 2014, 12:52:44 am
I think a lot of how xbows function is hardcoded, but if possible i'd just give them a difficulty like bows and use PD (maybe change the name of it to Ranged Acuity or something).
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 22, 2014, 02:10:21 am
I think a lot of how xbows function is hardcoded, but if possible i'd just give them a difficulty like bows and use PD (maybe change the name of it to Ranged Acuity or something).

This doesn't change how it functions. It changes how accurate you are with a crossbow. It simply gives you crossbow wpf. Also changing a crossbow's STR requirement is easy.

I'm not saying you need SH to use a crossbow, but you will need it to be remotely accurate since it's the only way to get wpf in Crossbows.

I don't like the idea of something like a PD requirement, but a strength requirement I do like, with an optional skill requirement to be accurate. It makes sense to me because you need strength to pull the string back and then you will need a steady hand to keep your weapon stable and to actually hit someone.

You will still be able to pick up random crossbows this way but you won't really hit anything without luck or someone who's really close.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Sari on January 22, 2014, 03:16:01 am
I agree on adding more strength to xbows but really add something like PD(example) to crossbows? It is fair because throwing and archery do a lot more damage and are faster than xbows all together. Ok, hunting is way faster at reloading than longbow but short bow can reload even faster than hunting.

I been going 18/18 on my hx hybrid and Tydeus(or however you spell it) was talking about making the strength for xbows higher than they are now. I also love after retiring and getting to 6 strength so I can actually help my team out than being free kills for the enemy.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Apsod on January 22, 2014, 06:27:13 pm
I like the way the mod called Mercenaries handles crossbows. They added a new skill which increases reloading time for crossbows. To use crossbows you have to have skillpoints in this new skill the same way bows need PD.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Algarn on January 22, 2014, 06:35:51 pm
I like the way the mod called Mercenaries handles crossbows. They added a new skill which increases reloading time for crossbows. To use crossbows you have to have skillpoints in this new skill the same way bows need PD.

The reloading skill ?

Even if this mod is crap, I have to admit that skill requirement is a good thing, but people should be able to pick crossbows up, and get a medium low accuracy (enough accurate to kill a horse archer at 20 meters).

Of topic, they also got rid off PT requirement for throwing, like in real life, everyone can pick up a jarid or a throwing axe, but with a low accuracy and low damage. Just want to point it out , since it can be a good new feature. (Also, make it for shields, allow everyone to pick up a shield on the ground to protect, but without the benefit of a forcefield and some other speed malus).
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: oohillac on January 22, 2014, 06:36:12 pm
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The slot change damaged crossbow (over)usage a lot, things are fine now.

"Picking up a crossbow" is a negligent point.  a), the game isn't balanced around finding random weapons on corpses, and b) taking a crossbow without decent WPF investment is far less effective than you seem to think it is.

And the "accuracy vs damage potential" is ridiculous.  Balance around "missile speed/reload speed vs potential damage," using inaccurate ranged weapons is no fun at all.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 22, 2014, 06:56:06 pm
"Picking up a crossbow" is a negligent point.  a), the game isn't balanced around finding random weapons on corpses

It's not purely balanced around random people picking up crossbows, it's about the guys who have 170 wpf in crossbows without any investment besides a normal agi build that can kite and s-key out of all your swings while still dealing shit loads of ranged damage. If they wanted to they could be a strength build with decent accuracy and do massive damage in melee and ranged. I don't think any other class is capable of that since they all have to invest in some form of skill to use their weapons.

taking a crossbow without decent WPF investment is far less effective than you seem to think it is.

Taking a throwing weapon with low wpf isn't effective, and taking a bow with low wpf isn't effective. So why should crossbows be different? Also they can still achieve good accuracy with the Steady Hands skill. They just won't be able to use an arbalest or heavy crossbow if they wanted to be a super accurate sniper. They'd have to use a normal crossbow with low strength requirement so they could be a sniper with their agi build.

And the "accuracy vs damage potential" is ridiculous.  Balance around "missile speed/reload speed vs potential damage," using inaccurate ranged weapons is no fun at all.

That's even more ridiculous! There's no down side to using the best crossbow since they still reload extremely fast, they can hide behind cover, and they get a full 360 degree look around of their surroundings while doing so. Right now the higher damaging crossbows have the highest accuracy, highest missile speed, but the "slowest" reload speed. Which doesn't matter to any crossbowman who's played for 10 minutes.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: oohillac on January 22, 2014, 09:48:57 pm
It's not purely balanced around random people picking up crossbows, it's about the guys who have 170 wpf in crossbows without any investment besides a normal agi build that can kite and s-key out of all your swings while still dealing shit loads of ranged damage. If they wanted to they could be a strength build with decent accuracy and do massive damage in melee and ranged. I don't think any other class is capable of that since they all have to invest in some form of skill to use their weapons.

With the slot change, odds are they have a one-slot weapon, so "s-key out of all your swings" doesn't really apply.  Taking enough WPF to shoot accurately dents melee WPF significantly, hindering their ability do do "massive damage in melee".  And a strength build crossbowman who also shoots with "decent accuracy" and has room left over for pure-build-equivalent melee skills?  Please.

Taking a throwing weapon with low wpf isn't effective, and taking a bow with low wpf isn't effective. So why should crossbows be different? Also they can still achieve good accuracy with the Steady Hands skill. They just won't be able to use an arbalest or heavy crossbow if they wanted to be a super accurate sniper. They'd have to use a normal crossbow with low strength requirement so they could be a sniper with their agi build.
Crossbows are different because they have long reload times.  Try using one with low WPF, you'll miss most shots and take forever to reload AND be limited to one slot for a melee weapon.  That is penalty enough.  Agility crossbowmen might get some nice sniper kills but it's not like they are overpowered in melee.  Lower PS than most dedicated melee, probably low IF, slowed down by the crossbow/bolts, and likely lighter armour.  At that point it becomes about player melee skill and not a class issue.

That's even more ridiculous! There's no down side to using the best crossbow since they still reload extremely fast, they can hide behind cover, and they get a full 360 degree look around of their surroundings while doing so. Right now the higher damaging crossbows have the highest accuracy, highest missile speed, but the "slowest" reload speed. Which doesn't matter to any crossbowman who's played for 10 minutes.
There are absolute downsides.  Reload times make a huge difference, and the heavier ones do not "reload extremely fast."  You might get one or two shots off at an approaching force with the Arbalest, and do high damage for those two shots.  With a Light Crossbow, you might get four or five shots, with appropriately less damage dealt per bolt.  This is balance.  What you said is basically what defines crossbows as a weapon.

From what I gather you got sniped by some crossbowman, hunted him down next round, and he ripped you apart in melee too.  Instead of making a "balance" thread, go invest a point in Shield or practice melee.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Nightmare798 on January 22, 2014, 09:55:45 pm


Thy contracted Parkinson disease and can no longer useth thine crossbow.

Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 22, 2014, 10:00:50 pm
With the slot change, odds are they have a one-slot weapon, so "s-key out of all your swings" doesn't really apply.  Taking enough WPF to shoot accurately dents melee WPF significantly, hindering their ability do do "massive damage in melee".  And a strength build crossbowman who also shoots with "decent accuracy" and has room left over for pure-build-equivalent melee skills?  Please.

I beg to differ you need very little melee wpf at all to be effective. I love my strength build with 40 two handed wpf.

Crossbows are different because they have long reload times.  Try using one with low WPF, you'll miss most shots and take forever to reload AND be limited to one slot for a melee weapon.  That is penalty enough.  Agility crossbowmen might get some nice sniper kills but it's not like they are overpowered in melee.  Lower PS than most dedicated melee, probably low IF, slowed down by the crossbow/bolts, and likely lighter armour.  At that point it becomes about player melee skill and not a class issue.

I played a 15/24 crossbowman and I know what i'm talking about when crossbowman fight in melee. 5 PS, 8 ATH, 50 one handed wpf, warhammer, and medium armor. It was like heaven I would run away if I didn't want to fight the guy who came after me and then I would s-key him and slap him with my warhammer and do the lame knockdown kick maneuver. Easy win, especially against str builds. Also I was super accurate with my arbalest.

From what I gather you got sniped by some crossbowman, hunted him down next round, and he ripped you apart in melee too.  Instead of making a "balance" thread, go invest a point in Shield or practice melee.

I haven't played this week at all so it's definitely not a rage topic.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: oohillac on January 22, 2014, 10:10:31 pm
I beg to differ you need very little melee wpf at all to be effective. I love my strength build with 40 two handed wpf.

I've seen you play, you get shit on by anyone who can block your first few swings.  Having high powerstrike/low WPF and getting kills is a matter of getting the first hit in a lot of the time. 
This is about crossbow-users.  They won't have a high enough PS to make up for the lack of WPF.

I played a 15/24 crossbowman and I know what i'm talking about when crossbowman fight in melee. 5 PS, 8 ATH, 50 one handed wpf, warhammer, and medium armor. It was like heaven I would run away if I didn't want to fight the guy who came after me and then I would s-key him and slap him with my warhammer and do the lame knockdown kick maneuver. Easy win, especially against str builds. Also I was super accurate with my arbalest.
Yeah, I played one too, and winning duels isn't a big deal in melee in regards to class balance.  This isn't balanced around duels.  In a larger fight, you are relatively ineffective compared to an equivalent pure-melee build player.  That is balance.

Super accurate with your arbalest?  And you were a 15/24 crossbow build?  Remarkable.

I haven't played this week at all so it's definitely not a rage topic.

Instead it is a random-thought-entered-my-head-how-could-this-possibly-not-work topic.  It doesn't work.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: San on January 22, 2014, 10:24:10 pm
A lot of this just sounds like extra work that may not end up the way the topic creator intended. Wpf differences do make quite a difference, you're probably just noticeably more skilled than those melee that you defeat. Accuracy tops out around 160-185 wpf, so that 30wpf isn't enough. It also seems to negate the WM skill?

I like the way the mod called Mercenaries handles crossbows. They added a new skill which increases reloading time for crossbows. To use crossbows you have to have skillpoints in this new skill the same way bows need PD.

This sounds interesting with another modifier for reload speed while keeping wpf mainly for accuracy. If a melee picks up a crossbow without this 'deft hands' skill, he'll be out of the battle for a while. If someone ever feels like implementing a skill requirement for xbow, this sounds like it will work.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 23, 2014, 01:25:22 am
I've seen you play, you get shit on by anyone who can block your first few swings.  Having high powerstrike/low WPF and getting kills is a matter of getting the first hit in a lot of the time. 

Uhhh, I rarely get on and only on odd hours and I've never seen you on when i'm playing. So I doubt you've seen me play except from a long long time ago when I played more.

This is about crossbow-users.  They won't have a high enough PS to make up for the lack of WPF.

Unless of course they use the abundant blunt and pierce weapons or their weapons stab. In my play through it felt high enough with only 50 wpf and 5 PS.

Yeah, I played one too, and winning duels isn't a big deal in melee in regards to class balance.  This isn't balanced around duels.  In a larger fight, you are relatively ineffective compared to an equivalent pure-melee build player.  That is balance.

Considering the fact that with the high athletics you can be the master ganker of the group fight. Which ensures the most survivability because you can run out of the group fight if it goes badly and still get hits in. Yeah but you may not be able to tank as many hits without a pure melee build but athletics makes up for it, just like power strike.

Instead it is a random-thought-entered-my-head-how-could-this-possibly-not-work topic.  It doesn't work.

Maybe, or you just don't want to see crossbowman have to invest anything to be a feared ranged and melee player. I don't know if you've noticed but HELLO you can still be accurate you just might have to invest a few of your precious skill points into your class. Sorry. :(

But maybe you're right, after all i'm not a balancer i'm just trying to spark ideas.




This sounds interesting with another modifier for reload speed while keeping wpf mainly for accuracy. If a melee picks up a crossbow without this 'deft hands' skill, he'll be out of the battle for a while. If someone ever feels like implementing a skill requirement for xbow, this sounds like it will work.

Just as long as they actually need to invest into a skill it's good enough for me. Just like every other class has to in this mod.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Aleta on January 23, 2014, 03:44:56 pm
This whole suggestion ties into cRPG's obsession with not allowing hybrid ranged/melee characters to be effective. There are currently two ways to go on this at the moment, which is Thrower and xbower. Archery is so imba that it's fair that it can't be used in a hybrid build as easily. When it comes to throwers, the accuracy is pretty random, the damage is low compared to the ammo you have and the range is crap. The xbow requires less investment in skill points, has high damage AND is accurate on long range. "Whaaat!?! Nerf NAOW!" However, the xbow takes forever to reload, in which time you are extremely prone to being shot by someone else, or attacked by someone in melee. The xbows are also pretty damn expensive, and the slot system makes your options of melee loadout very limited.

In my opinion xbows are fine. It's not like we have a gazillion xbowers. There are actually much more archers. Having the arbalest be 18 STR to use could force xbowers into being the "heavy alternative" where archery is the "light/AGI alternative". Not sure if that's really necessary though, but if one is supposed to make xbows require more investment, that would be the change I'd go for.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Grumbs on January 23, 2014, 04:16:50 pm
Simply being able to counter melee with manual block counters better than a shield against range and you don't need anything for that. These melee fights can last forever, and the 1 handers are very strong atm. Thats if the melee player has got into range after getting shot from any direction. Then you add the lack of skill sink, that some will take a shield as well and you have a pretty unbalanced char set up

Hybrid melee with range pushes melee players to take some ranged ability too, its just overall bad for the mod imo
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Ronin on January 23, 2014, 08:49:20 pm
Two equally skilled fighters meet up on the battlefield, what happens? Yes the one with the better equipment and stats most probably wins.

Crossbow + steel bolts = 3 slots ---> only one 1 slot is left. Crossbow and steel bolts also tend to weight a lot (not like arrows and a bow but it's still a lot). The player with the 2hand/polearm with practically better armor or faster movement will have an advantage over the crossbowman in melee fight.

Yes the crossbowman can still win, and personally speaking I mostly do. That's because, however I mostly face with players that are worse than me in melee (I think I'm above avarage in melee). So I somehow counter that effect. If I face with someone with an equal skill or worse someone better, then I am the one having a harder time mostly. In high level duels, those differences make up the whole difference! If you can't use your advantage against a hybrid, you're already a worst fighter than him!


Raising the STR requirement does not sound like an extremely effective idea. One can always do well with a less powerful crossbow if he can't use... say... arbalest, for example. Personally speaking, I use a crossbow with 21/21 build. I feel pretty effective, so unless you make even the lightest crossbow 30 STR requirement or something this won't really change all that much. 15 STR is a bit of a joke, but 18 STR won't really cut it off too. It will only make a few players angry when they can't use their favourite crossbows with their current build. It is only a matter of time before they get used to another crossbow.


Before someone criticizes me for being a lobbyist, I want to say... well ... whatever. Those people are idiots already.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 23, 2014, 09:02:04 pm
Yeah good points but at least they won't be using the super charged high tier crossbows. :P

It seems like you think 1h weapons are underpowered but in my experience they are really effective if you use the right ones. A crossbowman with a spathovaklion or something similar are pretty hard hitting in melee, especially with knockdown and speed bonus.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Grumbs on January 23, 2014, 10:29:14 pm
Two equally skilled fighters meet up on the battlefield, what happens? Yes the one with the better equipment and stats most probably wins.

Crossbow + steel bolts = 3 slots ---> only one 1 slot is left. Crossbow and steel bolts also tend to weight a lot (not like arrows and a bow but it's still a lot). The player with the 2hand/polearm with practically better armor or faster movement will have an advantage over the crossbowman in melee fight.

Yes the crossbowman can still win, and personally speaking I mostly do. That's because, however I mostly face with players that are worse than me in melee (I think I'm above avarage in melee). So I somehow counter that effect. If I face with someone with an equal skill or worse someone better, then I am the one having a harder time mostly. In high level duels, those differences make up the whole difference! If you can't use your advantage against a hybrid, you're already a worst fighter than him!


Raising the STR requirement does not sound like an extremely effective idea. One can always do well with a less powerful crossbow if he can't use... say... arbalest, for example. Personally speaking, I use a crossbow with 21/21 build. I feel pretty effective, so unless you make even the lightest crossbow 30 STR requirement or something this won't really change all that much. 15 STR is a bit of a joke, but 18 STR won't really cut it off too. It will only make a few players angry when they can't use their favourite crossbows with their current build. It is only a matter of time before they get used to another crossbow.


Before someone criticizes me for being a lobbyist, I want to say... well ... whatever. Those people are idiots already.

Part of the problem is that taking ranged just compliments a melee player's skill set. You will beat players in melee and you will left click on shit from distance for kills.

A good melee player with just a 2 hander will kick ass in melee, a good player with a 1 hander and xbow with have best of best worlds. He will still kick ass in melee and do these ranged hits. One handers are amazing atm with or without shield, and you have no requirements for the xbow besides some WPF
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: En_Dotter on January 23, 2014, 11:54:05 pm
I already posted a similar thread like ages ago:
http://forum.melee.org/suggestions-corner/%28suggestion%29crossbow-rebalance/
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Nightingale on January 24, 2014, 12:38:06 am
It's not purely balanced around random people picking up crossbows, it's about the guys who have 170 wpf in crossbows without any investment besides a normal agi build that can kite and s-key out of all your swings while still dealing shit loads of ranged damage. If they wanted to they could be a strength build with decent accuracy and do massive damage in melee and ranged. I don't think any other class is capable of that since they all have to invest in some form of skill to use their weapons.

As if 170 isn't an investment, wm to use the arbalest is an investment, It may not be enough to statisfy your definition of "investment" but it is still an investment. Just increase the usefulness of WPF and decrease the usefulness of no wpf. If all you are worried about is people picking them up and being "effective" with 1 wpf.  The damage is mediocre at best if you have any armor on at all. Athletics are needed as well so we can reload more than once or twice. I have yet to see a "Strength" xbow build be overly effective.

I can name maybe 4-5 notable Arb users NA side (That are dedicated builds). I have no idea what EU looks like they always seem to have an abundance of range period.

This is just my opinion- I think they went about the wpf change all wrong in the first place, instead of giving everyone more or the same amount of WPF they just needed to make WPF actually mean something so people feel the need to invest more wpf in the second proportions of their hybrid builds.

Arb users can't kite very effectively if one single enemy chases you... You will not ever be able to reload. Most of the time when this happens to me on siege I just run for the nearest teammate or for awhile if they dont let up I jump from a high place. I guess you could say I'm suicidal.
 
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 24, 2014, 12:42:05 am
As if 170 isn't an investment, wm to use the arbalest is an investment, It may not be enough to statisfy your definition of "investment" but it is still an investment. Just increase the usefulness of WPF and decrease the usefulness of no wpf. If all you are worried about is people picking them up and being "effective" with 1 wpf.  The damage is mediocre at best if you have any armor on at all. Athletics are needed as well so we can reload more than once or twice. I have yet to see a "Strength" xbow build be overly effective.

I can name maybe 4-5 notable Arb users NA side (That are dedicated builds). I have no idea what EU looks like they always seem to have an abundance of range period.

This is just my opinion- I think they went about the wpf change all wrong in the first place, instead of giving everyone more or the same amount of WPF they just needed to make WPF actually mean something so people feel the need to invest more wpf in the second proportions of their hybrid builds.

Arb users can't kite very effectively if one single enemy chases you... You will not ever be able to reload. Most of the time when this happens to me on siege I just run for the nearest teammate or for awhile if they dont let up I jump from a high place. I guess you could say I'm suicidal.
 

I can confirm the bolded. I've seen it multiple times. It is funny.

Also desire.. who else is there that uses arb well besides you and phan? I don't think phan even uses the arb anymore either. I might be forgetting some people though but I can't think of them.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Thomek on January 24, 2014, 05:49:16 am
Something that could be reasoned to be realistic would be to tie Reloading speed to strength.

You can be accurate but will shoot extremely slowly. *Slower than now
OR
Pump up your char with strength, but sacrificing lots of accuracy for reloading speed.

OR
Just put higher STR requirements on xbows. You should be gorilla to use the heaviest crossbow around.

I suggest 24 str for arbalest.

Just guess what it is now.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 24, 2014, 06:12:22 am
Something that could be reasoned to be realistic would be to tie Reloading speed to strength.

You can be accurate but will shoot extremely slowly. *Slower than now
OR
Pump up your char with strength, but sacrificing lots of accuracy for reloading speed.

OR
Just put higher STR requirements on xbows. You should be gorilla to use the heaviest crossbow around.

I suggest 24 str for arbalest.

Just guess what it is now.
(click to show/hide)

Had you said 18 str for arb, maybe. But 24.. ok bro. 24 str to carry and load an arb but a great maul, the heaviest 2h, is 20.

No.

An extra skill or something to up the need for crossbow skill sink. Fine, if it can be implemented well. But the above suggestion? lol.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Nightingale on January 24, 2014, 06:32:38 am
Also desire.. who else is there that uses arb well besides you and phan? I don't think phan even uses the arb anymore either. I might be forgetting some people though but I can't think of them.

I honestly just said 4-5 because I can only think of 3 so I put 4-5 to give me some room to be off a bit. Sorry if I do forget someone.

Phantasmal - No longer uses arbalest because its just not a very viable weapon.
dBrooks - His main is still uses an Arbalest but he mostly plays on alts now.
Desire - Stubbornly refuses to give up ancient Arbalest.
I'm sure there are at least 2 others that play "frequently" and are notable.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: HappyPhantom on January 24, 2014, 11:20:10 am
I honestly just said 4-5 because I can only think of 3 so I put 4-5 to give me some room to be off a bit. Sorry if I do forget someone.

Phantasmal - No longer uses arbalest because its just not a very viable weapon.
dBrooks - His main is still uses an Arbalest but he mostly plays on alts now.
Desire - Stubbornly refuses to give up ancient Arbalest.
I'm sure there are at least 2 others that play "frequently" and are notable.

Oh god, I'm breaking out in sweats at the mention of dbrookz, I forgot about that headexploding aim bot!
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Thomek on January 24, 2014, 02:03:48 pm
Had you said 18 str for arb, maybe. But 24.. ok bro. 24 str to carry and load an arb but a great maul, the heaviest 2h, is 20.

No.

An extra skill or something to up the need for crossbow skill sink. Fine, if it can be implemented well. But the above suggestion? lol.

Basically, xbowers will not take more STR than they need to use their weapon. My suggestion would of course kill the long range snipers (What a tragic loss..), but a shotgun-like STR xbower is still a class to be feared.

If you would like to snipe, you should just take a lighter xbow than the arbalest.

Hiding in a bush and doing 1-shot kills never required any skill anyway.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: En_Dotter on January 24, 2014, 04:13:46 pm

Hiding in a bush and doing 1-shot kills never required any skill anyway.

Jesus man... You need a sharp eye to find a good bush... Its an amazing feat to achieve that...
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 24, 2014, 08:20:06 pm
Oh god, I'm breaking out in sweats at the mention of dbrookz, I forgot about that headexploding aim bot!

I did too. Heh.

Basically, xbowers will not take more STR than they need to use their weapon. My suggestion would of course kill the long range snipers (What a tragic loss..), but a shotgun-like STR xbower is still a class to be feared.

If you would like to snipe, you should just take a lighter xbow than the arbalest.

Hiding in a bush and doing 1-shot kills never required any skill anyway.

And 24 str is not the way to do it. The dedicated arb users only go to 15 so they can use the arb yes. But they pour skill points into wm to get the wpf so they can be accurate. It takes a lot of wpf to get it really accurate. They are dedicated to it and this destroys pure arb builds to make it 24.

18 would not nor would a skill sink of steady hands. I actually understand why that makes some sense especially with the heavier xbows. I'd be alright with the steady hands thing tbh. It'd make it so crossbows would take a long time to reload without the skill. No problems there. Not sure how to implement the skill well though but that'd start with how long it should take to reload a crossbow without wpf and this skill and then go from there. You'd need data from how long it takes to reload crossbows now with certain wpf lvls and the different crossbows to see where it'd work.

Using an stf, making it 24/15, the reverse of the usual pure arb build is, I get a max of 139 wpf which is considered average accuracy at best. I think desire would say that at least 180 or higher wpf is needed to be accuracte. Desire would know better than me though on the details. And that was with 8 PS, 5 ath and 5 WM. I had 5 points left over. I could throw things around with less PS to see if I could grab another WM so I did. Got 6 PS, 5 ath, 6 WM at 24/18. 155 wpf. With no wpf elsewhere. A far cry from what a pure arb build is supposed to have wpf wise.

My point is just making arb 24 doesn't solve the problem and makes it worse. You want to wreck arb builds because you hate people who use them (the 6 or less people that actually do) then go ahead but just know a 24 str requirement for an arb is completely asinine. Its a quick fix that actually makes it worse.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on January 24, 2014, 09:48:02 pm

A lot of this just sounds like extra work that may not end up the way the topic creator intended. Wpf differences do make quite a difference, you're probably just noticeably more skilled than those melee that you defeat. Accuracy tops out around 160-185 wpf, so that 30wpf isn't enough. It also seems to negate the WM skill?

This sounds interesting with another modifier for reload speed while keeping wpf mainly for accuracy. If a melee picks up a crossbow without this 'deft hands' skill, he'll be out of the battle for a while. If someone ever feels like implementing a skill requirement for xbow, this sounds like it will work.

yes WPF differences do make a noticeable difference in shooting of crossbows.  But that doesn't explain why of all the weapons in the game, crossbows are the only one without a governing skill to them. Melee has power strike, archery has power draw, throwing has power throw.  For balance sake, crossbows should also have a governing skill.

Your argument would basically work the same for removing PD from archery, or PT from throwing.  It doesn't make sense from a balance standpoint. 

I think the time for adding a skill requirement to crossbows has passed however, the time to do so would have been when people were getting free respecs. 

I honestly just said 4-5 because I can only think of 3 so I put 4-5 to give me some room to be off a bit. Sorry if I do forget someone.
Phantasmal - No longer uses arbalest because its just not a very viable weapon.
dBrooks - His main is still uses an Arbalest but he mostly plays on alts now.
Desire - Stubbornly refuses to give up ancient Arbalest.
I'm sure there are at least 2 others that play "frequently" and are notable.

Rohypnol also uses an arb and dominates with it (he said he only had 135 WPF also). 
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Nightingale on January 24, 2014, 10:52:50 pm
yes WPF differences do make a noticeable difference in shooting of crossbows.  But that doesn't explain why of all the weapons in the game, crossbows are the only one without a governing skill to them. Melee has power strike, archery has power draw, throwing has power throw.  For balance sake, crossbows should also have a governing skill.

Your argument would basically work the same for removing PD from archery, or PT from throwing.  It doesn't make sense from a balance standpoint. 

I think the time for adding a skill requirement to crossbows has passed however, the time to do so would have been when people were getting free respecs. 

Rohypnol also uses an arb and dominates with it (he said he only had 135 WPF also).

I thought about throwing Rohypnol in there but the reason I didn't was because he doesn't actually kill very many people with the arbalest itself. He racks up kills with his melee proportion of his build which is normal. At least from what I have seen.

Taser I'd say 150 to 160 is decently accurate I have 185 so I can shoot further and reload faster. staying a safe distance away from the enemy means I need to be able to shoot accurately over a larger distance. The average person that uses an arb doesn't actually go for very many long shots.

Also side note I'd say 185 is either the cap on accuracy or very close to it.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on January 24, 2014, 11:01:15 pm
Can you explain (in your opinion) why crossbow users shouldn't have to have a skill investment to be "as effective" with using a crossbow?  Any other type of weapon also benefits from having WPF, so therefore has a WPF investment as well.  Any other weapon type also has a Strength requirement to use them.  Someone could certainly fight with 0 power strike (you can't do the same with bows or throwing unless you're using the lowest possible tiers, and even then you probably still need at least 1 PT or PD), but you aren't going to be effective at all. 

I don't see why crossbows are justified in not having an overarching "skill" that governs their usage, or at minimum, how much more effective they are versus not having that skill.  I think it would make sense to have a PD or PT type of skill associated with crossbows, you need "X" skill to use "Y" crossbow.

Although I think this is a moot point, because to be fair, if these changes were made, you'd have to give people a free respec (or at least people with WPF in crossbows), and I don't see that happening. 
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Thomek on January 24, 2014, 11:03:14 pm
They are dedicated to it and this destroys pure arb builds to make it 24.
Its a quick fix that actually makes it worse.

No shit. That's the point. The class is retarded. Way too easy to play for its power.

Still, i can easily hit and kill people at close to medium ranges with just 116 wpf in xbows on my lvl20 alt.

At lvl 34, which is not unreasonable for a specialist, they would have 7wm, and I guess around 160+ wpf and that's decent.

Besides, 8 PS is nothing to laugh at in Melee.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: San on January 24, 2014, 11:06:33 pm
yes WPF differences do make a noticeable difference in shooting of crossbows.  But that doesn't explain why of all the weapons in the game, crossbows are the only one without a governing skill to them. Melee has power strike, archery has power draw, throwing has power throw.  For balance sake, crossbows should also have a governing skill.

Your argument would basically work the same for removing PD from archery, or PT from throwing.  It doesn't make sense from a balance standpoint. 

I think the time for adding a skill requirement to crossbows has passed however, the time to do so would have been when people were getting free respecs. 

By wpf difference, I was talking about the melee difference of a pure build vs the xbow hybrid once the melee approaches. The wpf difference in melee makes it harder for the xbower than it initially seems is what I was trying to say. In the second part, I was questioning some of the more intricate parts of his suggestion that confused me.

It does make sense for xbows to require a skill requirement, but it needs to make sense and worth the work of implementing it. A skill based on reload time made more sense to me than removing crossbow wpf and working off some new formula. I think we are generally in agreement, so I think I may have misread somewhere?
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 24, 2014, 11:08:49 pm
I thought about throwing Rohypnol in there but the reason I didn't was because he doesn't actually kill very many people with the arbalest itself. He racks up kills with his melee proportion of his build which is normal. At least from what I have seen.

Taser I'd say 150 to 160 is decently accurate I have 185 so I can shoot further and reload faster. staying a safe distance away from the enemy means I need to be able to shoot accurately over a larger distance. The average person that uses an arb doesn't actually go for very many long shots.

Also side note I'd say 185 is either the cap on accuracy or very close to it.

Yeah that's Roh though. He's great at crossbow on his HX however.

I know its adequate but 170 or higher is what I've heard to be considered good for wpf. Afaik 185 is around the cap for arb to my knowledge as well.

Also did Tin (aka Queef) use arb before? He uses heavy crossbow now but I can't believe I forgot about him.

Can you explain (in your opinion) why crossbow users shouldn't have to have a skill investment to be "as effective" with using a crossbow?  Any other type of weapon also benefits from having WPF, so therefore has a WPF investment as well.  Any other weapon type also has a Strength requirement to use them.  Someone could certainly fight with 0 power strike (you can't do the same with bows or throwing unless you're using the lowest possible tiers, and even then you probably still need at least 1 PT or PD), but you aren't going to be effective at all. 

I don't see why crossbows are justified in not having an overarching "skill" that governs their usage, or at minimum, how much more effective they are versus not having that skill.  I think it would make sense to have a PD or PT type of skill associated with crossbows, you need "X" skill to use "Y" crossbow.

Although I think this is a moot point, because to be fair, if these changes were made, you'd have to give people a free respec (or at least people with WPF in crossbows), and I don't see that happening. 

Who is doing this?
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion and More -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 24, 2014, 11:14:29 pm
No shit. That's the point. The class is retarded. Way too easy to play for its power.

Some would say that about people who use katanas and how fast they are.

Quote
Still, i can easily hit and kill people at close to medium ranges with just 116 wpf in xbows on my lvl20 alt.

At lvl 34, which is not unreasonable for a specialist, they would have 7wm, and I guess around 160+ wpf and that's decent.

Besides, 8 PS is nothing to laugh at in Melee.

There's a difference between decent and good wpf. There's also a difference between good suggestions and bad ones. Your suggestion of making arb 24 str is a bad one.

A skill sink like jarold suggesting isn't a terrible idea. It'd need tinkering since we need to know how long reloads are now with the different xbows and how long we want to make them if this skill was in for 1 point in, 2 points in, etc. It'd be interesting.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on January 24, 2014, 11:19:59 pm
By wpf difference, I was talking about the melee difference of a pure build vs the xbow hybrid once the melee approaches. The wpf difference in melee makes it harder for the xbower than it initially seems is what I was trying to say. In the second part, I was questioning some of the more intricate parts of his suggestion that confused me.

It does make sense for xbows to require a skill requirement, but it needs to make sense and worth the work of implementing it. A skill based on reload time made more sense to me than removing crossbow wpf and working off some new formula. I think we are generally in agreement, so I think I may have misread somewhere?


No it was me who misread your post (or read it too quickly more likely). 


Who is doing this?

Just trying to see if anyone can find a reason why crossbows shouldn't have a skill requirement governing their usage (or at least their effectiveness).  I've never understood why this was never addressed. 
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 24, 2014, 11:25:03 pm
My main beef is that crossbowman are saying that they do invest in their class with Weapon Master. Helloooooo, all classes have to do that I recently upgraded my strength build with 3 wm but I also had to give myself a lot of powerstrike so my build could be effective. It's every class but crossbowman who do not need to invest in anything other than WM.

Maybe to compensate if there is something like a PD requirement that decreases reload speed you could make crossbows more accurate for loss of wpf....maybe.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 24, 2014, 11:25:46 pm
Just trying to see if anyone can find a reason why crossbows shouldn't have a skill requirement governing their usage (or at least their effectiveness).  I've never understood why this was never addressed.

Yeah I have no problem with a skill requirement for reloads or usage. I just want to know how they'd be implemented.

A skill for reload time might be handy. Like a regular crossbow takes 20 seconds to reload with no skill but 5 seconds with 3 skill points in the skill. Kinda like that. Make it so dedicated crossbowmen actually have to put points somewhere but that it actually helps in some way so wpf isn't the only factor.

Obviously the times for reload is just to illustrate what I mean but I think something like that would work out well. It'd make it so a crossbow would take forever to reload for a regular person who just picks it up and forces some skill sink for a dedicated crossbow user so they can be effective.

But as you have pointed out, this screws crossbow users now since they'd have horrible builds without this skill and would be forced to respec. It'd still be worth looking into.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 24, 2014, 11:29:49 pm
My main beef is that crossbowman are saying that they do invest in their class with Weapon Master. Helloooooo, all classes have to do that I recently upgraded my strength build with 3 wm but I also had to give myself a lot of powerstrike so my build could be effective. It's every class but crossbowman who do not need to invest in anything other than WM.

That's ranged in general really. They always need as much WM as possible in order to have the best accuracy they can get. Which is why archers, throwers, crossbowmen always max out WM and get lots of agi.

Quote
Maybe to compensate if there is something like a PD requirement that decreases reload speed you could make crossbows more accurate for loss of wpf....maybe.

Hmmmmmmm a skill to reduce reload time? I dunno about that  :lol:
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 24, 2014, 11:55:52 pm
That's ranged in general really. They always need as much WM as possible in order to have the best accuracy they can get. Which is why archers, throwers, crossbowmen always max out WM and get lots of agi.

True, but what do throwers and archers have to also do, invest in PD or PT.


Hmmmmmmm a skill to reduce reload time? I dunno about that  :lol:

San (or Apsod) suggested that one, I just used it as an example.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 25, 2014, 12:04:24 am
True, but what do throwers and archers have to also do, invest in PD or PT.

Yeah I agree.

I don't think it should be mandatory though but be a major detriment if you don't have it. Like my example in my previous post. If it were changed to 20 seconds for a regular crossbow reload for a person with no reload skill then maybe a person with 3 reload skill would reload that regular crossbow in 5 seconds. Something like that.

Not sure if wpf would need to be tampered with after that. But I'm not sure this can be done or not. I do think it'd help a lot though.

Quote
San (or Apsod) suggested that one, I just used it as an example.

Didn't read my above post did you?  :(
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Nightingale on January 25, 2014, 04:53:13 am
Can you explain (in your opinion) why crossbow users shouldn't have to have a skill investment to be "as effective" with using a crossbow?  Any other type of weapon also benefits from having WPF, so therefore has a WPF investment as well.  Any other weapon type also has a Strength requirement to use them.  Someone could certainly fight with 0 power strike (you can't do the same with bows or throwing unless you're using the lowest possible tiers, and even then you probably still need at least 1 PT or PD), but you aren't going to be effective at all. 

I don't see why crossbows are justified in not having an overarching "skill" that governs their usage, or at minimum, how much more effective they are versus not having that skill.  I think it would make sense to have a PD or PT type of skill associated with crossbows, you need "X" skill to use "Y" crossbow.

Although I think this is a moot point, because to be fair, if these changes were made, you'd have to give people a free respec (or at least people with WPF in crossbows), and I don't see that happening.

I never said we shouldn't have some type of skill to invest in to use certain xbows. PD requirements or something like PD at least could possibly work if implemented carefully. I just don't want to see this class destroyed by people that don't even play it and just want to see it nerfed and gone because it kills them occasionally.

No shit. That's the point. The class is retarded. Way too easy to play for its power.

Still, i can easily hit and kill people at close to medium ranges with just 116 wpf in xbows on my lvl20 alt.

At lvl 34, which is not unreasonable for a specialist, they would have 7wm, and I guess around 160+ wpf and that's decent.

Besides, 8 PS is nothing to laugh at in Melee.

Like this guy here, if he had his way not only would the Arbalest no longer be used as a long range weapon it would become even more rare to see anyone actually using it and to be completely honest I don't understand his posts here at all... why should it be that someone must level to level 34 to be semi effective with any particular weapon... and your justification of 8 ps being good in melee sure... it is but at that point we would be by far more effective with the melee weapon than the weapon we choose to actually spec in. If this happened what is even the point in bringing an Arb with you.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Thomek on January 25, 2014, 04:56:48 am
Perhaps I was a bit rash. Point is, I think most of these mechanics are hardcoded, and are not going to happen.

Only very simple things can be done at this point and not be completely unlikely to be implemented.

(Simple things such as editing item requirements.)

The community have asked for xbow skills for nearly 4 years. (!)


So sorry to break it to you if you weren't aware. There is nothing wrong in the basic idea. It just won't happen..  But then again, 24 was perhaps a bit extreme since you would want 1h wpf too. 21, is still hybridizable xbow since it just requires wpf, besides many xbowers probably have 18+ strength already for melee purposes.

EDIT:
Arbalest is very common on EU. Dunno whats up on NA.. I guess you just like to melee more.

FYI, the Arbalest is an extremely powerful weapon. Shoot any target of opportunity and 1 shot lots of people. It breaks the lameness scale. When you get 1shotted, there are no second chances. It's the weapon for people that Hide and Wait. It would still be with my nerf suggestion, just they would have to wait a bit closer to the battle, and they could no longer just run away too! :D
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Nightingale on January 25, 2014, 05:07:53 am
Perhaps I was a bit rash. Point is, I think most of these mechanics are hardcoded, and are not going to happen.

Only very simple things can be done at this point and not be completely unlikely to be implemented.

(Simple things such as editing item requirements.)

The community have asked for xbow skills for nearly 4 years. (!)


So sorry to break it to you if you weren't aware. There is nothing wrong in the basic idea. It just won't happen..  But then again, 24 was perhaps a bit extreme since you would want 1h wpf too. 21, is still hybridizable xbow since it just requires wpf, besides many xbowers probably have 18+ strength already for melee purposes.

EDIT:
Arbalest is very common on EU. Dunno whats up on NA.. I guess you just like to melee more.

I am aware that the community have asked for it for a long while I've been playing since they started asking.  :oops:
and for the most part I agree xbows need something to invest in other than just wpf... but it should give stat boosts like PD and PT but you would need to nerf the stats on the arb accordingly to stop it from becoming OP. Ideally you would want low investment nerfed and high investment relatively the same as now.

As for EU there have always been an abundance of range for every class it seems. NA its mostly just archers and some throwers.

Replying to your ghost edit : I don't know about it 1 shotting a lot of people either... almost always I have to shoot the guy at least twice. I did notice last strat when EU would accept me to their battles I felt like I could do more damage there than on NA. (especially to EU archers and medium infantry.)
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 25, 2014, 05:27:13 am
Perhaps I was a bit rash. Point is, I think most of these mechanics are hardcoded, and are not going to happen.

Only very simple things can be done at this point and not be completely unlikely to be implemented.

(Simple things such as editing item requirements.)

The community have asked for xbow skills for nearly 4 years. (!)

So sorry to break it to you if you weren't aware. There is nothing wrong in the basic idea. It just won't happen..  But then again, 24 was perhaps a bit extreme since you would want 1h wpf too. 21, is still hybridizable xbow since it just requires wpf, besides many xbowers probably have 18+ strength already for melee purposes.

Maybe. Its just if one was going to do anything, I'd rather it be a skill put in rather than raising item requirements. Its a lame bandaid imo.

But I get where you're coming from. It's a much simpler thing to do to simply raise an item requirement than add a completely new skill, whatever it might be, to weigh upon game mechanics.

Quote
EDIT:
Arbalest is very common on EU. Dunno whats up on NA.. I guess you just like to melee more.

FYI, the Arbalest is an extremely powerful weapon. Shoot any target of opportunity and 1 shot lots of people. It breaks the lameness scale. When you get 1shotted, there are no second chances. It's the weapon for people that Hide and Wait. It would still be with my nerf suggestion, just they would have to wait a bit closer to the battle, and they could no longer just run away too! :D

Ranged as a whole seems to be much more abundant on EU so I think that's an EU problem. NA has its share to be fair but EU seems to be overwhelmed with it. My apologies to you and yours.

We only have a few people that use arb on NA and they use it well. I actually think desire is the last to use it as a dedicated crossbowman now. The few others have moved onto heavy I believe.

But the skill for reloading I think would greatly mitigate this issue if it could be added. Perhaps for MB:G. I think you'd be right that they won't code it in for this mod at this point. Unfortunate but understandable.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Awea on January 25, 2014, 07:25:44 am
It's harder to shoot eagle in Zelda guys...

Sorry.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Huscarlton_Banks on January 27, 2014, 05:08:01 am
It'd be pretty easy to make crossbow wpf tied to a skill since it'd just involve "removing" crossbow wpf from the website/ingame menu and making a skill that determines wpf instead.

The other suggestion of adding a +reload speed skill probably can't be done easily, since agent_set_reload_speed_modifier is a 1.153+ operation.

I recall crossbows being much, much slower in mercenaries, but they also had some sort of mechanic that caused a very long stun from close range.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: urface on January 27, 2014, 02:51:34 pm
Remove rain and ill put points where ever you want me to.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 27, 2014, 07:49:34 pm
Before they start adding new skills, how about they fix the skills we already have?
-Riding does practically nothing above the horse's requirement. Should increase mount/dismount speed, reduce rear time, improve whistle, etc.
-Shield above the requirement only increases durability, which is usually superfluous. Should increase lateral coverage against melee, reduce effective shield weight, increase lateral projectile coverage, etc.
-Ironflesh is nice for people with a lot of armor, but practically useless with light armor.

What specifically is the problem with crossbows anyway?
-Hybrid xbowmen are limited by slot requirements (Longsword+hunting xbow isn't exactly an OP combo)
-Dedicated xbowmen have significantly lower "Damage per second" than archers, and in exchange they are better in melee and can kind of kite (except for the reloading part)
-Horse xbow-dunno, I only play siege, but it seems like the best counter to mounted ranged would be hybrid melee to pew-pew their horses.

The recent shield stat buff means even with no skill points in shield, you can stop one arbalest bolt for only 1 slot+2kg (Hide Covered Round Shield), or for only 1 skill point +1 slot +2.7kg you can stop 2 arbalest bolts (Wooden shield). Bolts penetrating shields is basically a thing of the past.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Tomas on January 27, 2014, 09:45:16 pm
First some history

In the past the Arbalest was the domain of the highly skilled, complete noobs and myself :D
 - noobs would use them because they could hit things easily, but then after being tormented by archers and especially HAs (Spleen!!!!) they would give up.
 - highly skilled players would use them because they knew they didn't need the survivability offered by IF or a shield and they had the manual blocking skills to go toe to toe with just a 1Hander or a Mace.
 - I used it because I knew i was useless in melee anyway and was therefore happy taking a shield and the hand axe in order to survive and escape.

0-slot weapons changed all that.
 - suddenly you could not only survive with a shield but you could also do real damage as well!
 - this means there are no drawbacks to xbow/shield classes at all, although I am still at a disadvantage to any equally skilled pure melee player.  On average they probably need 3 less Agility and 2 less WM in order to reach the same melee wpf and mobility as myself (i only have 130 Xbow wpf so have quite high melee wpf).  This translates into either more strength, more IF or more armour with the same mobility.

Does this mean Xbows are OP........no..........but it does make the class unbalanced since it has no significant downsides whilst every other class does (except HX, which has survivability due to being able to move whilst reloading - they should just be removed from the game imo).

The real problem was that 0-slot weapons were added to give archers melee options but they inadvertently and unnecessarily buffed Xbow hybrids as well.

The real solution is to revert 0-slot weapons to 1-slot, limit ammo to 1 quiver per player and then double the amount of arrows in a quiver.


This:
 - maintains the current status quo on bows as it is now (although I think they still need a separate re-balance anyway) with heavy bows having 1 slot spare for a melee weapon and lighter bows having 2 slots spare.
 - nerfs xbow/shield hybrids back to using the hand axe/hammer, giving them a proper drawback again
 - maintains the status quo on xbow/no-shield hybrids/non-hybrids since they still have the drawback of lacking survivability
 - means there's no need for any skills or a change in requirements (although I wouldn't be against an additional wpf requirement on them to stop them being spammed in Strat Castle defenses.  Say 25 wpf per level of xbow).
 - rightly buffs Tenne with more ammo but he is too manly an archer to use them anyway ;)
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: San on January 27, 2014, 09:53:48 pm
I've never seen many xbow+shield+1h hybrids in-game, so what makes the shield so great on an xbow hybrid?
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 27, 2014, 10:03:17 pm
The real solution is to revert 0-slot weapons to 1-slot, limit ammo to 1 quiver per player and then double the amount of arrows in a quiver.[/b]

 - maintains the status quo on xbow/no-shield hybrids/non-hybrids since they still have the drawback of lacking survivability

I'm one of these 0-slot 1h/shield/2-slot xbow hybrids you are talking about, and I'm actually surprised that you think my "class" is the primary problem with xbows. I can't even think of another player on NA 2 with this loadout (maybe Taser uses a 0-slot 1h now, haven't seen him on NA 2 in ages).

I only equip my Heavy Xbow during my first life on siege defense (so roughly 10% of the time overall), because the huge weight penalty of xbow+bolts would be too much of a hindrance while attacking or defending later in the round. I also drop my xbow+bolts before engaging in melee (10 kg!). If they instituted the change you proposed, when I felt like using my xbow I'd just bring the 0-slot buckler instead of my normal shield, or I just wouldn't bring a shield when using the crossbow. Bringing a Hand Axe or Hammer or whatever wouldn't even be a consideration.

It's not like shield+crossbow provides any real synergy (like throwing+shield or cavalry+shield do), other than the occasional projectile that hits the shield on my back. It's uncommon because shield+xbow+bolts weighs nearly as much as plate armor.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 28, 2014, 03:51:54 am
I'm one of these 0-slot 1h/shield/2-slot xbow hybrids you are talking about, and I'm actually surprised that you think my "class" is the primary problem with xbows. I can't even think of another player on NA 2 with this loadout (maybe Taser uses a 0-slot 1h now, haven't seen him on NA 2 in ages).

I only equip my Heavy Xbow during my first life on siege defense (so roughly 10% of the time overall), because the huge weight penalty of xbow+bolts would be too much of a hindrance while attacking or defending later in the round. I also drop my xbow+bolts before engaging in melee (10 kg!). If they instituted the change you proposed, when I felt like using my xbow I'd just bring the 0-slot buckler instead of my normal shield, or I just wouldn't bring a shield when using the crossbow. Bringing a Hand Axe or Hammer or whatever wouldn't even be a consideration.

It's not like shield+crossbow provides any real synergy (like throwing+shield or cavalry+shield do), other than the occasional projectile that hits the shield on my back. It's uncommon because shield+xbow+bolts weighs nearly as much as plate armor.

This. I don't see 1h/shield + xbow. Phew uses it sometimes but like he mentions its pretty rare and it really slows you down which takes away any ability to kite plus it sucks for melee as well since footwork is terrible with the added weight.

I use my military cleaver and arb + a stack of bolts if I use my crossbow. I wouldn't put the two together even with the 1 slot xbows. If I'm using my shield (which is a 2 slot anyway, board shield ftw, so I wouldn't have the room), I'm not using a xbow. No 0 slot weapons for me when I go xbow.

I will admit its an awesome hybrid (shielder with xbow wpf) but its not one of those hybrids I think works effectively at the same time. But perhaps with a 0 slot weapon or shield, one could do that. I guess. But I don't think its a problem to be worried about.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Tomas on January 28, 2014, 01:59:12 pm
This. I don't see 1h/shield + xbow. Phew uses it sometimes but like he mentions its pretty rare and it really slows you down which takes away any ability to kite plus it sucks for melee as well since footwork is terrible with the added weight.

The lack of Xbow/shield hybrids on NA1 is just one of those unpredictable things.  Just like HX/HA/HT or NA's Longsword users.  In fact there aren't too many xbow/shields at the moment on EU1 either but balance should never be about popularity like it seems to be at the moment. 

Just because something is popular does not make it OP and at no point have I said that pure Xbow users or even Xbow/non-shield hybrids are OP.  This is why I deliberately came up with a solution that maintains their current position.  This isn't a "there's too many of them - plz nerf" suggestion - it is an opinion that my own xbow/shield class is a little unbalanced compared to other xbow classes due to the lack of drawbacks and a suggestion to bring them back into line.

On EU 1 last night there were around 6-8 Arbalest users online so not that many in total for a server with 80+ on it at the time.  The split between shield and non-shield was roughly 40/60 towards non-shield users however at the end of the round it was the same 4 of us that were alive time and time again which was myself, Farewell, Massassin and Macbeth_Pliskin_the_Cat (or whatever his name is).  Of those only Massassin doesn't use a shield and he is ridiculously good at melee.  The rest of us are average to good melee players at best (no offense intended) but we've been elevated to the top of score boards because we survive.  Take us away and it will just be the likes of Massassin, DaveUKR and Segd at the top again on EU which is fair enough imo since they are highly skilled players.

Finally, for the record I've never struggled to outrun anybody except Ninjas and Kinngrimm on EU1 and I usually use:
 - Arbalest
 - Steel Bolts
 - Short Arming Sword
 - Heavy Round Shield
 - Mail Shirt with fur
 - Red Wisbys
 - Barbutte
 - Rus Cav Boots

I don't drop the xbow to fight either as doing so delays me running away again if I do kill my enemy in melee or an ally comes to help.  Yes there's a noticeable difference if i do drop the xbow or lower my armour level.  But its not necessary to do this to stay ahead of the vast majority of melee players in terms of agility/movement/footwork.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Grumbs on January 28, 2014, 05:44:16 pm
I've never seen many xbow+shield+1h hybrids in-game, so what makes the shield so great on an xbow hybrid?

A 1 hander with some WPF and 5 or 6 PS with some agi is all you need to do well in melee. One handers were way over buffed and you have these 0 slot ones now too (they were good before the 1 hand buff patch even). Then add that you can have as much armour as you want, add a shield if you want, add the xbow and you have a class that is too good in too many areas. If you want good ranged why should you have a decent shield and melee capability at the same time?
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 28, 2014, 05:53:28 pm
A 1 hander with some WPF and 5 or 6 PS with some agi is all you need to do well in melee. One handers were way over buffed and you have these 0 slot ones now too (they were good before the 1 hand buff patch even). Then add that you can have as much armour as you want, add a shield if you want, add the xbow and you have a class that is too good in too many areas. If you want good ranged why should you have a decent shield and melee capability at the same time?

If you are carrying a crossbow+bolts+shield and wearing medium armor, that's the weight equivalent of wearing full plate armor. Full plate 1h users are comically easy to fight (just backpedal and kick during your attack).

The Hide Covered Round Shield costs 420g, weighs 2kg, has no skill requirement, uses 1 slot, and will deter almost any crossbowman from shooting you (since the bolt will no longer penetrate thanks to new shield armor values). Sure, an arbalest will break the shield in one shot, but then he has to spend forever reloading, so he'd rather shoot someone without a shield.

The devs have given us the tools to counter nearly any class. If you choose not to use them, don't cry for nerfs. Especially since the class people apparently want to nerf (melee+xbow hybrids) happens to be the counter to mounted ranged, one of the most annoying classes.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Grumbs on January 28, 2014, 06:40:15 pm
Any sane xbow user will drop his xbow when he is forced into a melee fight so the weight is moot.

Shield is not a counter to ranged. Its a defensive ability. A counter to ranged is taking some ranged ability of your own to shoot other ranged with. The way shields counter ranged is to allow you to get into melee range. Then you can fight melee vs melee which is the same for a xbower as a normal melee guy
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: San on January 28, 2014, 06:42:09 pm
I should have rephrased that. Every xbow+Shield+1h hybrids I have ever seen in-game did not portray to me any of the qualities of why their build is overall better than other xbow hybrids.

@Grumbs

What I'm trying to get at is the shield is more limiting more often than not. You get a few shots off and now you're just a mediocre shielder once someone gets close... It just seems to me that the skill point allocation could be handled better. It also seems easier to shoot other ranged rather than chase them with a shield if you have a crossbow. The wpf difference between a melee+ranged hybrid and a pure melee is larger after the wpf patch and it would take a larger skill difference to come out on top.

I believe the class can be very strong , but I wouldn't classify it as OP or even the best hybrid build. Stats on 1h have been reduced to being extremely close to their old stats in performance. More stab animation tweaks are also in the pipeline (although the extra stuns/delays currently help).

@Tomas
I understand your sentiments, but I disagree that spending 3-5 points in shield and sacrificing a good chunk of your crossbow wpf is an optimal strategy for xbows.

When I read this:
I don't drop the xbow to fight either as doing so delays me running away again if I do kill my enemy in melee or an ally comes to help.  Yes there's a noticeable difference if i do drop the xbow or lower my armour level.  But its not necessary to do this to stay ahead of the vast majority of melee players in terms of agility/movement/footwork.
I just think of opponents that do not know how to utilize their own advantages/ you vastly outskilling them. Fighting with a crossbow+bolts on your back +shield + non-optimal melee build doesn't seem all that great to me. Skill requirements for xbows would be enough of a solution.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 28, 2014, 07:07:49 pm
Shield is not a counter to ranged. Its a defensive ability.

Carrying a shield makes you a lower-priority target for ranged players (especially crossbowmen, since it takes them so long to reload), so they won't bother shooting at your frontal arc unless there are no other options. Crossbows are popular because there are so many idiots that run around with free slots yet no shield, so there are lots of easy targets. I know I don't bring my xbow on siege D when the opposing team is heavy on shields (I bring an axe sidearm instead).

The devs/balancers gave the player base a gift (the 0 and 1-requirement shields that are low weight and high armor), but most people have refused this gift. If I had a dollar for every time I shot a 2h hero in the face while he walked up a ladder in siege, despite him having 2 free slots...
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Tomas on January 29, 2014, 11:48:12 am
I should have rephrased that. Every xbow+Shield+1h hybrids I have ever seen in-game did not portray to me any of the qualities of why their build is overall better than other xbow hybrids.

Its not about being better - its about having no weaknesses.  Without the shield a crossbow is at the mercy of the map for cover and if you get caught in the open by a horse archer even the best player is fundamentally screwed.  This forces most crossbows to the edge of the fight, limiting the effectiveness.  I meanwhile am happy to run into the open because I know that if I do get into trouble I can just put my shield up and make my way back to cover.  I can also escape better players this way and simply s-key my way out of trouble whenever I come up against someone I know I can't kill. 

What I'm trying to get at is the shield is more limiting more often than not. You get a few shots off and now you're just a mediocre shielder once someone gets close... It just seems to me that the skill point allocation could be handled better. It also seems easier to shoot other ranged rather than chase them with a shield if you have a crossbow. The wpf difference between a melee+ranged hybrid and a pure melee is larger after the wpf patch and it would take a larger skill difference to come out on top.

I believe the class can be very strong , but I wouldn't classify it as OP or even the best hybrid build. Stats on 1h have been reduced to being extremely close to their old stats in performance. More stab animation tweaks are also in the pipeline (although the extra stuns/delays currently help).

@Tomas
I understand your sentiments, but I disagree that spending 3-5 points in shield and sacrificing a good chunk of your crossbow wpf is an optimal strategy for xbows.

You are thinking like a pure xbow.  I have 160 1H wpf (140 at level 30) as 130 crossbow wpf is enough for me.


When I read this:I just think of opponents that do not know how to utilize their own advantages/ you vastly outskilling them. Fighting with a crossbow+bolts on your back +shield + non-optimal melee build doesn't seem all that great to me. Skill requirements for xbows would be enough of a solution.

You've obviously never seen me fight.  Ask any Fallen and you'll find that "outskilling" is not something I am known for. 

Skill requirements for xbows would be enough of a solution.

What we have now is 4 types of Arbalest player

1) Pure Xbows that are good at melee.  Pros - high accuracy, can melee despite low wpf.  Cons - need to drop the xbow to fight, need cover to reload and move around the map
2) Other pure Xbows.  Pros - high accuracy.  Cons - dead if they get into melee, need cover to reload and move
3) Non shield hybrid.  Pros - can melee.  Cons - need cover to reload and move
4) Shield hybrid.  Pros - can melee/survive.  Cons - none

A skill requirement would kill the hybrids since they would lose their melee ability or become inaccurate with the crossbow.  The pure xbows that can't melee meanwhile would lose their only Pro leaving just the already good players with a decent class to play since they would still be able to maintain decent accuracy.

Its already been pointed out that xbows are one of the key classes for countering cav, especially ranged cav - we do therefore need them.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 29, 2014, 03:15:44 pm
4) Shield hybrid.  Pros - can melee/survive.  Cons - none

How about Cons:
-Heaviest gear loadout of the crossbow options, limiting mobility
-Most skill investment of the crossbow options; those points in shield would otherwise be used for more agi/WM/ironflesh/etc
-Best weapon option is a 0-slot 1h, whereas a xbowman without a shield can use the longer and much more damaging Langes Messer in 2h Mode (38cut at Masterwork I believe)

Your Option 1) above can have a build like 15/27, which has far more ability to escape harm and dodge projectiles than a guy lugging around a shield.

Throwing+1h+shield has much more synergy than crossbow+shield (I know, I spent the previous year or so as a Huscarl), since you can actually use the shield while throwing AND while using the melee mode of your throwing weapons. You make it sound like crossbowmen can shoot/reload their crosswhile while their shield is raised.

Tomas, I'm confused by your agenda. You state that 1. Your own build is OP but that 2. you don't perform well. Contradictory.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Grumbs on January 29, 2014, 08:20:22 pm
Think he means its cheesy and he does better than he aught to
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 29, 2014, 08:23:02 pm
Think he means its cheesy and he does better than he aught to

The historical role of crossbows was a means for rich guys that sucked at fighting to still have a means of killing people in battle. I'd say their role in cRPG matches up well with their historical usage.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Jarold on January 30, 2014, 03:11:32 am
The historical role of crossbows was a means for rich guys that sucked at fighting to still have a means of killing people in battle. I'd say their role in cRPG matches up well with their historical usage.

No, rich guys used plate armor and huge horses so they wouldn't have to worry that much compared to the lower class crossbowmen. :P
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 30, 2014, 04:43:43 am
How about Cons:
-Heaviest gear loadout of the crossbow options, limiting mobility
-Most skill investment of the crossbow options; those points in shield would otherwise be used for more agi/WM/ironflesh/etc
-Best weapon option is a 0-slot 1h, whereas a xbowman without a shield can use the longer and much more damaging Langes Messer in 2h Mode (38cut at Masterwork I believe)

Pretty much. A shielder/xbow hybrid that tries to do both at the same time is at a disadvantage vs a pure shielder or xbow or even a hybrid shielder/xbow that is just focusing on one or the other. So I don't see why a shielder/xbow hybrid is such a big deal.

Quote
Throwing+1h+shield has much more synergy than crossbow+shield (I know, I spent the previous year or so as a Huscarl), since you can actually use the shield while throwing AND while using the melee mode of your throwing weapons. You make it sound like crossbowmen can shoot/reload their crosswhile while their shield is raised.

Tomas, I'm confused by your agenda. You state that 1. Your own build is OP but that 2. you don't perform well. Contradictory.

Phew making so many good points man.

Throwing + 1h/shield is an excellent combo and in NA, the ravens did a great job of combining the two (as did NH in their day, which was basically ravens anyway). I'd rather go throwing/1h shield than use a 1h/shield with a xbow. Its much more fluid and effective imo.

Its not about being better - its about having no weaknesses.  Without the shield a crossbow is at the mercy of the map for cover and if you get caught in the open by a horse archer even the best player is fundamentally screwed.  This forces most crossbows to the edge of the fight, limiting the effectiveness.  I meanwhile am happy to run into the open because I know that if I do get into trouble I can just put my shield up and make my way back to cover.  I can also escape better players this way and simply s-key my way out of trouble whenever I come up against someone I know I can't kill.

I didn't know that with a shield a crossbowman is protected from range and doesn't need cover while reloading vs without a shield. 

:|
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Angantyr on January 30, 2014, 11:59:48 am
You'd have to have shameless class bias to not support this necessary balance suggestion.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Andswaru on January 30, 2014, 12:33:05 pm
Force people down onto the weaker missile types via increased upkeep costs, neatly nerfing the effect of massed ranged while still leaving them with an effective build.  It can also be easily revesered later when the level or ranged returns to an acceptable % of players on a server.
Simple yet effective.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Tomas on January 30, 2014, 07:36:44 pm
Pretty much. A shielder/xbow hybrid that tries to do both at the same time is at a disadvantage vs a pure shielder or xbow or even a hybrid shielder/xbow that is just focusing on one or the other. So I don't see why a shielder/xbow hybrid is such a big deal.

Just because a pure build is better does not mean the hybrid build has a con.

I don't consider 140 1H wpf, 5PS, 8Ath and 5Shield (@lvl 31) to be disadvantaged enough to be classed as a con.  Yes, its not the strongest but its definitely not weak either.  Likewise, I don't consider 130 xbow wpf to be a con either.

I didn't know that with a shield a crossbowman is protected from range and doesn't need cover while reloading vs without a shield. 

Since we are deliberately misconstruing what other people write, I didn't know that a thrower's shield was active whilst they were aiming either.  Alternatively if it wasn't deliberate and needs explaining here you go......

Xbow runs into open field -> HA comes along -> xbow fires and misses or fails to kill -> HA torments xbow who never makes it back to cover (unless the HA is utterly crap)

I run into open field -> HA comes along -> I fire and miss or fail to kill -> I pull out my shield and simply walk back to cover where i can reload and continue fighting


Throwing + 1h/shield is an excellent combo and in NA, the ravens did a great job of combining the two (as did NH in their day, which was basically ravens anyway). I'd rather go throwing/1h shield than use a 1h/shield with a xbow. Its much more fluid and effective imo.

Throwing isn't comparable - It has a skill associated with it to make a significant enough difference in melee build when using a shield so that it has a con - but throwing doesn't suffer from poor reload times and so the skill is justified in my opinion.  Adding a skill to xbows would definitely unbalance them compared to throwing in particular as they would have similar melee capabilities but still have way slower reload times - another reason not to have an xbow skill although if throwers were more realistically limited with ammo then i guess this point would disappear.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 30, 2014, 07:58:16 pm
Just because a pure build is better does not mean the hybrid build has a con.

I don't consider 140 1H wpf, 5PS, 8Ath and 5Shield (@lvl 31) to be disadvantaged enough to be classed as a con.  Yes, its not the strongest but its definitely not weak either.  Likewise, I don't consider 130 xbow wpf to be a con either.

The hyrid build you're suggesting is OP is at a disadvantage vs a pure 1h shielder or xbow build or even a copy hybrid build that isn't trying to do both shielder and xbow at the same time.

So again, I don't see why its a big deal. It does alright but in order to do both shielder and xbow you have to get a 0 slot wep and/or 0 slot shield. If you have a problem with xbow/shielder hybrid builds, I would think your problem is with the 0 slot weapons rather than the build itself.

Quote
Since we are deliberately misconstruing what other people write, I didn't know that a thrower's shield was active whilst they were aiming either.  Alternatively if it wasn't deliberate and needs explaining here you go......

Xbow runs into open field -> HA comes along -> xbow fires and misses or fails to kill -> HA torments xbow who never makes it back to cover (unless the HA is utterly crap)

I run into open field -> HA comes along -> I fire and miss or fail to kill -> I pull out my shield and simply walk back to cover where i can reload and continue fighting

I was just poking fun at you since you didn't mention that a xbow/shield hybrid still needs cover anyway to reload. So they might be covered if they mess up vs a hx/ha but they still need to get somewhere to reload if they want to do so. So while they'd be protected with the shield, they still have the disadvantage of not being able to reload unless the HA/HX moves on or they find a place the HA/HX cannot access/shoot them.

Plus a pure build might not have missed with their better wpf and more focused gameplay. Always a trade off. If you think the shield addition is too good for the potential additional wpf and etc then.. ok.

Quote
Throwing isn't comparable - It has a skill associated with it to make a significant enough difference in melee build when using a shield so that it has a con - but throwing doesn't suffer from poor reload times and so the skill is justified in my opinion.  Adding a skill to xbows would definitely unbalance them compared to throwing in particular as they would have similar melee capabilities but still have way slower reload times - another reason not to have an xbow skill although if throwers were more realistically limited with ammo then i guess this point would disappear.

Are you trying to say that xbows shouldn't have a skill?

A throwing/shield build is fantastic and I've seen very good players use it to great effect. Its an excellent build to get in dirty and its seamless to fight that way vs a xbow/shield build. You throw a couple axes/jarids/etc then pull out your melee weapon as you close in. Its very effective, especially to force people to come to you and fight.

A xbow/shield build isn't as seamless and like I've said xbow/shield hybrid builds are ok but not as effective as doing one or the other even when one is a xbow/shield build.

Plus there should be, imo, a xbow skill that isn't necessary to use xbows but drastically helps when you are a crossbowman. Like a reload skill. If you made xbows take longer to reload but add a skill to shorten the time, you'd see less people using xbows as a backup weapon (maybe they'd still use it as a shotgun weapon though..) and the people who actually focus on using xbows would shine as they would have the reload skill in order to do well.

Obviously there should be something added since xbows do enjoy a special niche as a very good ranged/melee hybrid (shield or no shield, no shield is better imo for a xbow focused build). Doesn't have to be my suggestion or jarold's but something does need to be added. I don't think it should be a requirement like bows but should be very much needed to do well which is why I like a reload skill. However it would require making all xbows reload slower in order to make the reload skill noticeably helpful and useful.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 30, 2014, 08:12:21 pm
A reloading skill is a good idea, but I have no confidence that the devs are willing or able to do this. They have commented multiple times that most of the skill system is hard-coded.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Taser on January 30, 2014, 08:45:00 pm
A reloading skill is a good idea, but I have no confidence that the devs are willing or able to do this. They have commented multiple times that most of the skill system is hard-coded.

Yeah most likely not. Maybe something like it for their own game though.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Thomek on January 30, 2014, 10:29:53 pm
A reloading skill is a good idea, but I have no confidence that the devs are willing or able to do this. They have commented multiple times that most of the skill system is hard-coded.

That's what I tried to say on the first page.. Upping the STR requirements on xbows is a fix other than just nerfing the stats of it, and the only one I believe in atm. It also makes sense that you have to be strong/trained well to use a heavy xbow irl.  Oh and give free respecs afterwards to the xbowers.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Kafein on January 31, 2014, 09:37:20 am
The devs/balancers gave the player base a gift (the 0 and 1-requirement shields that are low weight and high armor), but most people have refused this gift. If I had a dollar for every time I shot a 2h hero in the face while he walked up a ladder in siege, despite him having 2 free slots...

Those 0 and 1 slot shields would have shattered instantly and your bolt would still have damaged them.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Phew on January 31, 2014, 03:32:48 pm
Those 0 and 1 slot shields would have shattered instantly and your bolt would still have damaged them.

Damage to shields beyond its breaking point doesn't "carry over" to the the player. And any shield over ~20 armor won't be penetrated by bolts.

A +3 Wooden Shield only requires 1 shield skill, weighs only 2.7kg, and will stop at least 2 bolts from an Arbalest, sometimes 3. That's a big enough deterrent that no xbowman is going to waste shots and reloading time on you if there are any other targets available, especially horses.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Heinrich_loves_Anabol on January 31, 2014, 07:22:19 pm
I have a x-box char and i recognized two things:
-The absolutly ridiculous high repaircosts. I cant even play with a hunting x-bow and steelbolts without making losses nearly every round. I heared that repaircosts depend on wpf skill but still i had to pay nearly every round for my heavy x-bow and steelbolts when i had a wpf of 191. I lost over 80k gold in just several weeks. Im wondering how anyone can afforad playing with an arbalest and medium armour wthout transfering thousands of gold every day.
- After the patch the x-bows have an unrealistic reloadingtime. If you have a high wpf you can shoot with a heavy x-bow every 3 seconds, like a machinegun. I mean that might be good for me but its just to unrealistic, the team should fix that.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: El_Infante on February 05, 2014, 03:27:46 am
If shitty things like this that is proposed happens, prepare for an archer invasion. And I will be the first that will change the class. And we will hear the same raging about archery. ;)
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on February 05, 2014, 04:24:37 pm
If shitty things like this that is proposed happens, prepare for an archer invasion. And I will be the first that will change the class. And we will hear the same raging about archery. ;)

That's fine with me.  Crossbows should have a governing skill to them, just like throwing has power throw, archery has power draw, and melee has power strike.  Shields have shield skill, riding a horse requires the riding skill.  Hell everything in the game has a governing skill except crossbows.  That's a glaring problem.  And you're quite biased if you cannot see that.

Have fun doing 1/4 or less damage to people (unless you go a super high str archer build, then good luck hitting them accurately). 
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Grumbs on February 05, 2014, 04:37:49 pm
If shitty things like this that is proposed happens, prepare for an archer invasion. And I will be the first that will change the class. And we will hear the same raging about archery. ;)

Archers have more noticeable WPF impacts from taking too much armour and they generally want to take 2 lots of ammo more than xbowers do, which means they need to think about reducing armour so they don't run too slowly. Xbowers have less weight with 1 stack of ammo even, and they don't need as much because of the reload time and higher damage

Add on top of that that you need more WPF to be accurate with archers and you have to dedicate some skill points into PD

Not saying archers are UP (they shoot fast, have this crazy stagger, decent damage and still have good melee weapons). Just xbowers are really badly implemented into the game

BTW I think if 1 handers are nerfed everyone will go back to the still secretly OP Mace, but at least it doesn't have the stab. 1/0 slot weapons are just too good in general

Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on February 05, 2014, 04:56:13 pm
So no counter-argument El_Infante, just a negative rep to my post?  Sounds like a great point you bring up, you've totally convinced me now that crossbows should be the one thing in game without a governing skill.   :rolleyes:

Get a brain moran. 
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: El_Infante on February 05, 2014, 11:26:24 pm
And another -1 for your next post. And infinite -1 to all of antiranged lobby. And dont tilt, I don't care. The reason is so simple. Archers gain benefits from PD. 16% damage to damage poll for every point in power draw. Throwers get a +/-10% damage bonus from each PT. Cavalry get bonus from each riding point. Do you want to add a skill for xbow? Ok. Power reload. 10% decrease reload time for each skill point ;) Oh! And I guess you won't find it fair. I also do not find it fair.

Steady hands, power reload, and that all bullshit you are trying to convince yourselves that xbow + 1h is op. You want to ruin our class. Not asking only for a non-benefit skill for nerfing the class. You are asking on other thread suggestions to increase STR requeriments. Ok. I accept. Increase in +3 the STR requeriment of all kind of armor, because I feel or I think the requeriments are too low. No. Stop the nerfing rage.  What is OP? xbow? 1handed stab? Is just rage about all kind of ranged? I remember everyone that xbow have suffered no important changes. Arbalest was nerfed about 1 year ago. The only thing that changed is xbow population. A new fever. A ciclic crpg history. And i'm bored of one man army heroes crying on forums 24h/7/365. I don't ask for a nerf never as long as I remember and I blame the bunch of forum whiners crpg have. Is exhausting.

The most horrible crpg disease is the massive nerf the game suffered in two years. If I nerf A, B becomes powerful. Forum ragers whining about nerfing B. Devs nerfed B so C become powerful. Another rage campaing to nerf C and we can repeat this history to the infinite. And nothing changed. Ranged still kill. 2h heroes are superb op. Expert pikeman jumper metagamers. The thing, that I notice, is that very skilled players changed their class to xbow after 1h stab was buffed. In a slow progression. And you are all suffering the consecuences of game unbalance. Insane amount of cav? Insane amount of ranged. Insane amount of 2h heroes? Insane amount of cav & ranged. Rock, paper, scissors.

And things that break balance didn't change at all since crpg 2010. Unfair autoteam balance. 20 byzantium playing against 20 peasants & random players (for example, I have nothing against Byz). 10 cav in team A. 0 cav in team B. So I know, that devs will do that they think is the better option for the game. But I played this game since two years. And I played all kind of classes. HA, HX, footman, polearm, 2h, archer, xbowman. And I have a global idea of the game balance. And we are not breaking it at all. Is just an increase of population. And I have to see how a bunch of my old friends is asking to nerf my class because they do not accept that we can kill from the distance. Just it.

Play and let us play. And let us play the class we want. No the class you want for me. If you don't like xbow class do not play it. But don't ask for unnecesary changes because we are not breaking the balance at all. Stop the inquisition.
(click to show/hide)

And I wish that devs learned from this pathethic nerf history on melee battlegrounds. And not to do the same again. Play and let all classes play.

Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Kafein on February 06, 2014, 12:22:26 pm
And another -1 for your next post. And infinite -1 to all of antiranged lobby. And dont tilt, I don't care. The reason is so simple. Archers gain benefits from PD. 16% damage to damage poll for every point in power draw. Throwers get a +/-10% damage bonus from each PT. Cavalry get bonus from each riding point. Do you want to add a skill for xbow? Ok. Power reload. 10% decrease reload time for each skill point ;) Oh! And I guess you won't find it fair. I also do not find it fair.

That just means you are biaised as hell.

Steady hands, power reload, and that all bullshit you are trying to convince yourselves that xbow + 1h is op. You want to ruin our class. Not asking only for a non-benefit skill for nerfing the class. You are asking on other thread suggestions to increase STR requeriments. Ok. I accept. Increase in +3 the STR requeriment of all kind of armor, because I feel or I think the requeriments are too low. No. Stop the nerfing rage.  What is OP? xbow? 1handed stab? Is just rage about all kind of ranged? I remember everyone that xbow have suffered no important changes. Arbalest was nerfed about 1 year ago. The only thing that changed is xbow population. A new fever. A ciclic crpg history. And i'm bored of one man army heroes crying on forums 24h/7/365. I don't ask for a nerf never as long as I remember and I blame the bunch of forum whiners crpg have. Is exhausting.

Xbows have always been bullshit. And if you think those things are cyclic, tell me when exactly did the xbow population decrease ? And why would it decrease in the future if nothing changes ?

The most horrible crpg disease is the massive nerf the game suffered in two years. If I nerf A, B becomes powerful. Forum ragers whining about nerfing B. Devs nerfed B so C become powerful. Another rage campaing to nerf C and we can repeat this history to the infinite. And nothing changed. Ranged still kill. 2h heroes are superb op. Expert pikeman jumper metagamers. The thing, that I notice, is that very skilled players changed their class to xbow after 1h stab was buffed. In a slow progression. And you are all suffering the consecuences of game unbalance. Insane amount of cav? Insane amount of ranged. Insane amount of 2h heroes? Insane amount of cav & ranged. Rock, paper, scissors.

There's little evidence of such nerf A, B has become too powerful phenomenon in cRPG. And most importantly, not with crossbows. If tomorrow xbows were nerfed somehow, what other class would become too powerful relative to the others ? Would shieldless infantry become too powerful compared to cav or shielders ? I doubt it, since cav and shielders also suffered from xbows.

And things that break balance didn't change at all since crpg 2010. Unfair autoteam balance. 20 byzantium playing against 20 peasants & random players (for example, I have nothing against Byz). 10 cav in team A. 0 cav in team B. So I know, that devs will do that they think is the better option for the game. But I played this game since two years. And I played all kind of classes. HA, HX, footman, polearm, 2h, archer, xbowman. And I have a global idea of the game balance. And we are not breaking it at all. Is just an increase of population. And I have to see how a bunch of my old friends is asking to nerf my class because they do not accept that we can kill from the distance. Just it.

It's an increase in population that the game is not able to autoregulate by itself. More xbowmen attract... more xbowmen.

Play and let us play. And let us play the class we want. No the class you want for me. If you don't like xbow class do not play it. But don't ask for unnecesary changes because we are not breaking the balance at all. Stop the inquisition.
(click to show/hide)

And I wish that devs learned from this pathethic nerf history on melee battlegrounds. And not to do the same again. Play and let all classes play.

Well that's extremely egoistic for someone that doesn't let other people play the game through ingame griefing. Do you think I want being shot at? No, I don't, I never do. Yet your kind of asshats keep on shooting me and interrupting my gametime with useless and undeserved deaths for your own egoistic enjoyment. Do you think that's fair? Do you think that's more fair than me coming here on the forums and saying that your bullshit has to be toned down? You contribute nothing to the fun aspect of this game, I don't see any reason to maintain your egoistic playstyle.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: El_Infante on February 06, 2014, 03:03:32 pm
Do you think kafein that we should change our style because you like to play naked? Seriously, fuck you all. All your lobbyism. You are justifying a nerf on xbow population, just because it increased. A dangerous precedent. Adapt your playstyle and learn to play.

Your arguments (in general) are tendentious, fallacies. Stop the inquisition I said. And I say it again.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Kafein on February 06, 2014, 03:16:59 pm
Do you think kafein that we should change our style because you like to play naked? Seriously, fuck you all. All your lobbyism. You are justifying a nerf on xbow population, just because it increased. A dangerous precedent. Adapt your playstyle and learn to play.

Your arguments (in general) are tendentious, fallacies. Stop the inquisition I said. And I say it again.

Suddenly it's only me when one post earlier you were addressing the whole cRPG population. My arguments are as valid as yours when you try to justify yourself demanding that other people shut up about obvious problems in the game because the statu quo suits you better.

Also you fail to address any of my rebuttal of your points and instead take refuge in the "get to adapt use shield learn teamwork" defense.
Title: Re: Crossbow Skill Requirement Suggestion -- "Steady Hands"
Post by: Nightingale on February 06, 2014, 03:37:08 pm
And another -1 for your next post. And infinite -1 to all of antiranged lobby. And dont tilt, I don't care. The reason is so simple. Archers gain benefits from PD. 16% damage to damage poll for every point in power draw. Throwers get a +/-10% damage bonus from each PT. Cavalry get bonus from each riding point. Do you want to add a skill for xbow? Ok. Power reload. 10% decrease reload time for each skill point ;) Oh! And I guess you won't find it fair. I also do not find it fair.

I don't think you quite understand. Those classes are balanced with the idea that they will invest into those points giving them more damage and because they have to, to play the class they intend on playing. So the stats on those weapons (bows and throwing weapons) seem relatively low compared to the Arbalest since 0 skills effect the damage/reload speed/accuracy other than wpf.

Ideally if "PD" for xbows was implemented that "PD" would give 10% bonus damage wait a second wouldn't that make Crossbows more OP than now? No because you are gonna nerf all Crossbow stats by 50% damage and make the minimal investment 5 resulting in pretty much the same value of damage as it was. I don't know how you could make it so going over 5 "PD" would negate the 10% bonus damage though.

Xbows have always been bullshit. And if you think those things are cyclic, tell me when exactly did the xbow population decrease ? And why would it decrease in the future if nothing changes ?

I'm not saying El Infante is correct, but the recent influx of crossbow users has more to do with side arms and 1h stab being super easy to land a hit with minimal investment. I'm pretty certain tydeus knows 1h is a bit out of wack at the moment and I'm thinking once its put back in balance with the other melee classes the amount of xbowers you will see is gonna go down due to can't have the best of both range and melee anymore. I still think some skill sink would be a good idea like steady hand or whatever it is.

It decreased about a year ago if I remember correctly, a range nerf patch came through and nerfed all range damage by 16% and for the longest time there was very few xbowers NA side.

Well that's extremely egoistic for someone that doesn't let other people play the game through ingame griefing. Do you think I want being shot at? No, I don't, I never do. Yet your kind of asshats keep on shooting me and interrupting my gametime with useless and undeserved deaths for your own egoistic enjoyment. Do you think that's fair? Do you think that's more fair than me coming here on the forums and saying that your bullshit has to be toned down? You contribute nothing to the fun aspect of this game, I don't see any reason to maintain your egoistic playstyle.

All I have to say about this part of your post is enjoy your -1 from me for being way to egoistic.

Archers have more noticeable WPF impacts from taking too much armour and they generally want to take 2 lots of ammo more than xbowers do, which means they need to think about reducing armour so they don't run too slowly. Xbowers have less weight with 1 stack of ammo even, and they don't need as much because of the reload time and higher damage

Just xbowers are really badly implemented into the game

Whats the point in bringing 2 slots of ammo if all we are going to use is 3-4 shots in 1 round of battle...


I'm a Crossbow user myself, specifically the Arbalest and have been for about 2 and a half years my build is 15-27 5 ps 9 ath 9 wm 6 shield at level 34 92 wpf in 1h and 185 in xbow.