Power 'Specialisations'

Musing on how to achieve the 'variation' that is sought after a lot, and came up with this idea.

Specialisations for powersets. Uncertain wether a certain level would unlock them, like with VEATS, or have the options open from the start. Possibly from the start, to allow a degree of mixing.

For example; Sword

Broadsword
Rapier
Two-handed sword

Broadsword pretty much as it is at present. Rapier would be faster and more accurate, with less damage. Two handed would be slower attacks with more damage, maybe added critical chances or such.

Unsure how or even if that principal could be extended to other powers. I suppose VEATs are quite a good model to use. One jack-of-all-trades, two specialists in specifics.

Pros; Diversity, more options, far more variety. Varying play styles.

Cons; Major overhaul. As in, entire issue sized. Would require new models, animations, costume parts for weapons, tons of new numbers and suchnot, plus the mechanics.

So, only a possibility if CoX2 became reality. Still...any views to throw at that?

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My only comment at this stage, because there's really very little detail there, is that the example you've given isn't a great one.

Rapier appears to be katana with added accuracy.

About the only thing I can immediately see as an advantage here is that you would probably be able to swap from BS Scrapper to Kat Scrapper with a respec.

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Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.

Ok, shoddy example on my part.

It was just a suggestion. Perhaps adding certain de-buffs to the Rapier path, to show the fact, if used right, its good at fast fighting? Things that add certain advantages but give disadvantages too (such as less damage)

Another example for something like blasters, have a path that specialises in mass AoE, and another that focuses on Single target attacks. Thinks that allow more choice and more diversity? Again, ideas and speculation.

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Sounds a bit like what i suggested a while back where branching powers could be used to give sets that used a mixture of weapons and fists the option to have either a weapon based attack or non weapon attack.

You just seem to be taking it further so if I'm correct you would have something like.
(using fire melee as a example

Tier. Power a Power b Power c
1 Scorch fire sword slash AOE variant

so when picking your tier 1 power you could pick any one of these but you could only pic one so if you selected the AOE the the other 2 powers would be greyed out. its kinda like adding new power sets into existing sets.

Probably really easy to do


(sorry had to say it) probably take a fair bit of work to get it done for every power set in the game but then not every power would need to have multiple choices especially at first.

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Everyone would want them, though. I can already see the complaint threads forming...

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Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.

yea i knowe that would be the bigest draw back

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Hmm. Yeah, fair point. That was more the point of the 1st path, to be able to mix and match. I guess this goes down a rather windy and tricky path though, so, although it would be nice to add more customisation to the power tress, as such, dont think it will be anytime soon.
Ah well..suggested anyway.

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the brood sword is original already 2 handed, same for the katana.
big difference is how you fight with them, you can't really trow so many swords in one pact when there is a big difference.

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...I cant actually understand that at all, sorry @_@

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[ QUOTE ]
the brood sword is original already 2 handed, same for the katana.
big difference is how you fight with them, you can't really trow so many swords in one pact when there is a big difference.

[/ QUOTE ]

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[ QUOTE ]
the brood sword is original already 2 handed, same for the katana.
big difference is how you fight with them, you can't really trow so many swords in one pact when there is a big difference.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK what i think you said is.
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the broad sword was originally 2 handed same as the Katana. The big difference is how you fight with them.

You really cant throw as many swords into one pack when there are such big differences.
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Now assuming that is what you said here's my reply,

I believe original game wise it was the katana that shared its animations with BS so both were in fact single handed weapons. If were talking about real life what then its important to understand that what CoH calls a broad sword is more like a B******d Sword a true broad sword would be much larger.

While yes there are differences in how blades like the katana and broadsword are wielded many of those differences are because of the way the sword is designed there's nothing stopping you wielding a katana single handed just as there's nothing stopping you wielding a the CoH broadsword 2 handed add to this that if you were of sufficient strength (say if you were a super hero gifted with above normal strength lvls)

So in game how the suggested system would work is

tier 1 attack = katan slash
tier 2 attack = rapier dart
tier 3 attack = broadsword gash

so pulling these moves of would result in you first performing a 2 handed slash attack followed by a quick darting attack followed by a single handed gash attack what blade you were welding of course would be entirely dependant on what model you had chosen so it could be anything from a rusty blade to a Katana or a rapier to a Rikti energy blade.

Now after typing all that i really would love to see it implemented even if it was just for weapon sets

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interesting idea ...but any character with shields would be in trouble

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On one hand I'd sort of love something like this - as long as the actual weapons don't have to do with what the character's fighting style - I want to be able to wield a slender sword two-handed style or fence with a huge one if I want to.

On the other hand, lately I've been getting a bit bored of minmaxing and become a huge fan of stuff like diminishing returns that levels the playing field - Something like this would add yet another layer of minmaxing to the mix and with it the typical "omg, u haev rapeir, 2h r teh 1337 fotm, n00b." discussions.

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I think the problem with this would be that it's all very nice for weapon based sets but their's not the variety for non-weapon sets eg. Electric Blast.

However it has set me to thinking on another front regarding branching power sets.

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[ QUOTE ]
On one hand I'd sort of love something like this - as long as the actual weapons don't have to do with what the character's fighting style - I want to be able to wield a slender sword two-handed style or fence with a huge one if I want to.

On the other hand, lately I've been getting a bit bored of minmaxing and become a huge fan of stuff like diminishing returns that levels the playing field - Something like this would add yet another layer of minmaxing to the mix and with it the typical "omg, u haev rapeir, 2h r teh 1337 fotm, n00b." discussions.

[/ QUOTE ]

The actual styles would be represented, for weapons, in the powers. Actual sword/etc models would be down to choice as they currently are.

For the min/maxing, that is purely down to choice. Hence the suggestion of the 'middleground'. For example, in VEATS, Crabs are AoE ranged monsters, while Banes are close combat nasties. Standard soldier set is a mix of both worlds.

as for the shields point someone made, why is it a problem? Katana and swords are different sets, and should be kept that way. Even using a two-handed sword or a rapier, history has examples of both weapons being used with a shield of sorts. No reason, except engine/programming limitation, that it couldnt happen.

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[ QUOTE ]
If were talking about real life what then its important to understand that what CoH calls a broad sword is more like a B******d Sword a true broad sword would be much larger.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hate to disagree, but you're using the wrong definition of 'broadsword.' A broadsword was named as such because it had a broad blade. It was one handed.

Then you had two-handed swords, like the Claymore, which were much longer and required their very own style to use effectively. It was also important not to stand near someone using one, even if you were a friend.

Then there's the mid-way, which we'll call a hand-and-a-half sword so there's less asterisks, which could be used one or two handed, if you were strong enough (and anyone using one probably was).

Katanas not only could be used one-handed, but were, frequently, especially in katas. However, power strokes and the like would be two-handed because it gives more, y'know, power, as well as better control.

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Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.

He he sorry it was late and its a good long while since i looked into different swords so that was all from memory but i think my basic point still stands that there's nothing stopping you wielding any traditionally 2 handed weapon as a single handed weapon provided you have the strength and skill to do so.

Thinking about ranged sets it could work perhaps giving a "device" and a power animation to each set or it could allow you to more specialise in things like range, AOE or single target etc with each having its on disadvantages for example long ranged attacks would have good damage and exigent range but long recharges and rooting times

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[ QUOTE ]
He he sorry it was late and its a good long while since i looked into different swords so that was all from memory but i think my basic point still stands that there's nothing stopping you wielding any traditionally 2 handed weapon as a single handed weapon provided you have the strength and skill to do so.

Thinking about ranged sets it could work perhaps giving a "device" and a power animation to each set or it could allow you to more specialise in things like range, AOE or single target etc with each having its on disadvantages for example long ranged attacks would have good damage and exigent range but long recharges and rooting times

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats the sort of thing I was suggesting. Say a Fire/ blaster, for example. You might not even need 3 'sets', just more options, much like Kheldians. So their were option for mass AoE, large single damage or longer ranges. But you wouldnt be able to pick them all. And for /devices (seeing as its one I actually know about) you could have devices that gave team buffs, self buffs or enemy debuffs, and you could mix and match, but never be great at all of them, just generalised or specialised. To varying degrees, but the matter is the choice.

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