cRPG

cRPG => Suggestions Corner => Game Balance Discussion => Topic started by: Diomedes on May 21, 2011, 09:02:22 pm

Title: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: Diomedes on May 21, 2011, 09:02:22 pm

Once again I was looking through the weapon lists and came across what looks to be an imbalanced weapon.  The regular scimitar has a lot of things going for it and, I think, needs a price increase.  Here it is compared with two other comparable swords:

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Scimitar weight: 1.3 difficulty: 10 speed rating: 101 weapon length: 97 thrust damage: 0 pierce swing damage: 30 cut slots: 1 4,394

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Elite Scimitar
weight: 1.3
difficulty: 11
speed rating: 99
weapon length: 100
thrust damage: 0 pierce
swing damage: 32 cut
slots: 1
8,116

In effect, the significant increase in price buys just two cut damage and three length.  This comes at the cost of the two most pivotal speed points for a 1-hander.  Though two points is often not very considerable in the realm of cRPG weaponry, for 1-handers the 99-101 speed disparity is the difference between Usain Bolt and a flash of lightning.  Either the Elite Scimitar is too expensive or the regular scimitar is undervalued.

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Italian Sword
weight: 1.3
difficulty: 11
speed rating: 99
weapon length: 98
thrust damage: 24 pierce
swing damage: 30 cut
slots: 1
6,807

The Italian Sword has stab capability while the scimitar does not.  This is very important, yes, and certainly warrants it having a higher price than the scimitar.  The Italian Sword, though, has near-equal length and significantly slower speed.  Considered holistically, the Italian Sword should definitely be more expensive than the scimitar but should certainly not be 155% of its price.

Have a nice day! :)

Title: Re: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: Bulzur on May 22, 2011, 12:13:02 am

Didn't scimitar have some kind of invisible range thanks to the curve texture. Wich makes it actually harder to dodge and such, than an italian sword.

Title: Re: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: Gurnisson on May 22, 2011, 07:13:08 am

Quote from: Bulzur on May 22, 2011, 12:13:02 am

Didn't scimitar have some kind of invisible range thanks to the curve texture. Wich makes it actually harder to dodge and such, than an italian sword.

Think so.


Also, Elite Scimitar is a brilliant weapon for 1H cav.

Title: Re: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: Phew on May 22, 2011, 04:53:17 pm

Weapon balance within each category would be so much easier if the devs would just establish some "weapon performance rating" that takes into account length, speed, cost, special attributes, swing options, etc. Then say every weapon above the peasant weapons in each category has the same value of this "WPR".

Obviously, the trick is how to assign the relative value of say a thrust attack or crushthrough, but at least there would be some consistent formula. There are SO many arbitrary balance issues within each category of weapons now.

Title: Re: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: zagibu on May 23, 2011, 02:07:39 am

Good luck finding such a formula. The different stats of a weapon are actually interdependent, so it's near impossible to find a formula that reduces these values to one comparable rating. It's one of the cases where trial and error is the only possibility to get a half-decent result.

Title: Re: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: Diomedes on May 23, 2011, 02:58:20 am

I don't think a formula is possible, mainly for the reasons zagibu posted.  Though the Dev team do great work balancing this nearly from-scratch mod, it's up to use to test things to death and give them the appropriate feedback.

Title: Re: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: MouthnHoof on May 23, 2011, 01:54:59 pm

Quote from: Diomedes on May 21, 2011, 09:02:22 pm

...
Considered holistically, the Italian Sword should definitely be more expensive than the scimitar but should certainly not be 155% of its price.[/spoiler]

Diminishing returns. In all weapon categories and armor, you pay a lot more to get just a little better stats.
Not worth the cost? Don't use it. As long as some players are willing to pay the extra, it probably is not completely unjustified. Laws of the free market.

Title: Re: Regular Scimitar imbalance
Post by: Diomedes on May 23, 2011, 06:06:15 pm

Quote from: MouthnHoof on May 23, 2011, 01:54:59 pm

Diminishing returns. In all weapon categories and armor, you pay a lot more to get just a little better stats.
Not worth the cost? Don't use it. As long as some players are willing to pay the extra, it probably is not completely unjustified. Laws of the free market.

I do use the Italian Sword, and I'm not saying it isn't worth the cost, but that the very comparable stats of the Italian Sword warrant a price increase for the regular scimitar.  The more salient contrast is between the scimitar and the elite scimitar, though, but that case may just show that the elite scimitar is overpriced rather than the regular scimitar being undervalued.

I didn't say any of these weapons aren't worth their price, obviously the worth of a weapon is entirely gauged by the one who's using it.  What I'm saying is that the essential cost of the scimitar, as a weapon which breaks and requires upkeep, is too low compared to other comparable weapons.