Rewarding Skilled Archers, removing luck from arrow repairs

[Nagasoup]

This is a suggestion I've been thinking about for a while now, but never got around to posting.

Solution 1

Instead of a one time cost of buying a set of arrows, and using that quiver of arrows for as many rounds as you want, arrows would be used up by shooting. Instead of having a random chance of arrows breaking with a fixed repair cost, the upkeep for arrows would depend on how many arrows an archer uses up.

For example, instead of spending 5058g to buy a quiver of bodkin arrows, archers would instead buy bodkin arrows for... let's say 5g each*. Instead of buying a set of bodkin arrows, an archer would for example, buy 1000 arrows for 5000g. The number of arrows he uses up from his quiver each round would be deducted from his total number of arrows, and instead of paying a one time repair bill when arrows break, he would simply buy more arrows once he's used them up.

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Solution 2

Another method for implementing this would be instead of having archers buy arrows beforehand at fixed prices, repair costs would depend on number of arrows shot, and the game mode the player is playing.

For example, in siege, archers would use up more arrows than in battle, so having fixed arrow prices might not be balanced in this case. In DTV an archer almost always uses up his entire quiver, so individual arrow costs should not apply in this case. In duel servers there should be free arrows.
 
The game modes should all be carefully balanced.

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Adding this change would greatly increase the skill required for archery, as it would make arrow repair cost skill based instead of luck based - the upkeep for archery would depend on an archer's ability to do the most amount of damage with the least amount of arrows.

This would also reduce the amount of ranged teamhits, as archers would be forced to choose their shots carefully instead of wasting them by shooting blindly into melee.

Another thing to keep in mind: Ever since the last patch, smaller faster bows are much more powerful than slower bows due to being able to headshot easier. This change would balance slower bows with faster bows.

There would be more incentive to use the slower bow due to higher damage per arrow ratio, and thus lower repair costs. It would also remove incentive for the overused hornbow, because archers would be punished if they want to spam bodkins with a fast bow.

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* Arbitrary number used for example.

Note: Archery was used only as an example in this suggestion. This change could apply to all ranged weapons.

[isatis]

seem pretty awesome idea!

one thing i want to precise: an archer should continue having the same maximum limit for arrow. (I don't want evil super rich archer with 1000 arrow per round...)
wasn't clear in your post so.

[Nagasoup]

seem pretty awesome idea!

one thing i want to precise: an archer should continue having the same maximum limit for arrow. (I don't want evil super rich archer with 1000 arrow per round...)
wasn't clear in your post so.

Of course, quiver sizes would remain the same. Archers would still only be able to bring the same number of arrows as they can now, only the repair cost will come when refilling the quivers.

[VR__Alv]

100g per arrow!

[Nagasoup]

100g per arrow!

We might as well remove archery then 

...but then again compared to the current repair costs, 100g per arrow isnt too far off!

[Rumblood]

I would agree if they would remove luck from the reticule and arrow arc.

[B3RS3RK]

If thats possible, I would be all in for it, maybe like 10g per bodkin and some less for the others.

[Zlisch_The_Butcher]

I support it... problem is smart people would pick up missed arrows 

[Dezilagel]

I like it

[Nagasoup]

I support it... problem is smart people would pick up missed arrows 

And risk losing their entire quiver when picking up the wrong type 

I would agree if they would remove luck from the reticule and arrow arc.

What luck? Archery is already mostly skill based, I have both an archer char and a crossbow char, and my misses are usually not due to luck but by own my fault. Stop blaming luck for missing, and get better at archery.

[MrShine]

It would have to be balanced and might be difficult to implement, but if possible it would be a pretty cool change, and would actually make sense.  Going further it might help curb the whole "ranged spam" thing people keep liking to talk about.

[Branches]

I think charging by the arrow is a bad idea and here's why. You assume that less arrows used means a more skillful player, but I feel like that idea is largely inaccurate. I think a bigger factor in arrow usage would be what type of archer build your using. For example if one archer is using a Long Bow and another a Tatar Bow why should the latter be punished for his build selection? He's not doing more DPS if you will, his damage is just distributed differently in smaller doses. Even an archer of equal skill to the Long Bowman would use more arrows with a Tatar bow.

And what if you run out of arrows during a battle, are you just screwed until the website imports some freshly purchased arrows into the game? From my experience this can currently take an unpredictable amount of time unless you leave to the lobby then return, but if you had to do that you would be forced to lose your multiplier and score info. And even if this item importation problem were solved you would still be out of arrows for a round while you purchased new ones.

I think the whole system would just be a needless hassle. I agree that some adjustment to the current system should be seriously considered, I'm just not convinced this is the best route to take. 

And if I'm not fully understanding your proposal forgive me, these are just my initial thoughts.

[Nagasoup]

I think charging by the arrow is a bad idea and here's why. You assume that less arrows used means a more skillful player, but I feel like that idea is largely inaccurate. I think a bigger factor in arrow usage would be what type of archer build your using. For example if one archer is using a Long Bow and another a Tatar Bow why should the latter be punished for his build selection? He's not doing more DPS if you will, his damage is just distributed differently in smaller doses. Even an archer of equal skill to the Long Bowman would use more arrows with a Tatar bow.

And what if you run out of arrows during a battle, are you just screwed until the website imports some freshly purchased arrows into the game? From my experience this can currently take an unpredictable amount of time unless you leave to the lobby then return, but if you had to do that you would be forced to lose your multiplier and score info. And even if this item importation problem were solved you would still be out of arrows for a round while you purchased new ones.

I think the whole system would just be a needless hassle. I agree that some adjustment to the current system should be seriously considered, I'm just not convinced this is the best route to take. 

And if I'm not fully understanding your proposal forgive me, these are just my initial thoughts.

Well, since the last patch, smaller faster bows are now more powerful than slower bows, due to increased accuracy and speed and thus chance for headshots, so this would help balance faster and slower bows.

And for running out of arrows during battle... there could be a feature to buy arrows in game. Or maybe the second idea could be implemented where it calculates repairs based on arrows used up, instead of buying arrows beforehand.

As of now, luck based repair costs, for EVERY class, keeps the game from becoming more skill-based. IMO chance for item breaking should just be removed, and instead be based purely on the player's action.

[Skeith]

This is a suggestion I've been thinking about for a while now, but never got around to posting.

Solution 1

Instead of a one time cost of buying a set of arrows, and using that quiver of arrows for as many rounds as you want, arrows would be used up by shooting. Instead of having a random chance of arrows breaking with a fixed repair cost, the upkeep for arrows would depend on how many arrows an archer uses up.

For example, instead of spending 5058g to buy a quiver of bodkin arrows, archers would instead buy bodkin arrows for... let's say 5g each*. Instead of buying a set of bodkin arrows, an archer would for example, buy 1000 arrows for 5000g. The number of arrows he uses up from his quiver each round would be deducted from his total number of arrows, and instead of paying a one time repair bill when arrows break, he would simply buy more arrows once he's used them up.

-----

Solution 2

Another method for implementing this would be instead of having archers buy arrows beforehand at fixed prices, repair costs would depend on number of arrows shot, and the game mode the player is playing.

For example, in siege, archers would use up more arrows than in battle, so having fixed arrow prices might not be balanced in this case. In DTV an archer almost always uses up his entire quiver, so individual arrow costs should not apply in this case. In duel servers there should be free arrows.
 
The game modes should all be carefully balanced.

-----

Adding this change would greatly increase the skill required for archery, as it would make arrow repair cost skill based instead of luck based - the upkeep for archery would depend on an archer's ability to do the most amount of damage with the least amount of arrows.

This would also reduce the amount of ranged teamhits, as archers would be forced to choose their shots carefully instead of wasting them by shooting blindly into melee.

Another thing to keep in mind: Ever since the last patch, smaller faster bows are much more powerful than slower bows due to being able to headshot easier. This change would balance slower bows with faster bows.

There would be more incentive to use the slower bow due to higher damage per arrow ratio, and thus lower repair costs. It would also remove incentive for the overused hornbow, because archers would be punished if they want to spam bodkins with a fast bow.

-----

* Arbitrary number used for example.

Note: Archery was used only as an example in this suggestion. This change could apply to all ranged weapons.

Nagasoup for president.

[Adalwulf]

The only thing they should be touching about archery is the picking up a random arrow and dropping your bow and losing your quiver. Nothing else is needed. The fact that the bug is still there makes me.....

----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_O1hM-k3aUY#t=09s