Suggestion: Single Blade Utility Buff - "styles"?

[MXXVI]

At the moment, it feels like single blade weapons (like the Skana, Cronus etc) are a bit...lacking.

 

In theory, they're supposed to be the "vanilla" middle-ground choice between fast, dual weapons and slow heavies. They're supposed to be the "jack of all trades" choice for melee. But instead, they're "crap at all trades". At least, that's how it seems to me.

 

I mean think about it - they don't do as much damage as heavy weapons, and only do that limited damage to a single target...meanwhile their jump attacks are just as limited as smaller, faster weapons.

 

Where's the strength? Other than sheer aesthetic preference, is there currently any tactical reason to use a single blade instead of a heavy, or a dual?

 

I can't find one. And I've been trying.

 

 

So, how about this:

 

To further enhance the notion that a single blade is a "balanced" approach to combat, we give their attacks two possible styles (which could be toggled via a single key, with some simple HUD icon to show which style you were currently set to).

 

One style would be "heavy" (or whatever you wanted to call it), in which your attacks were focused on single target damage, and each swing would be a little slower but gain a damage bonus (or maybe a higher stagger chance, depending on the weapon). Charge attacks would have the same bonus, but multiplied accordingly.

 

The other style would be "light", in which your attacks would be faster, do less damage per swing (and maybe cause less stagger), but hit at least 3 targets.

 

 

In order to maintain the balance, and not screw with the status of dual and heavy weapons, neither of these styles would be "better" than the more specialist weapons (for example, a single blade using the "heavy" style couldn't do more damage per swing an actual heavy weapon), but the ability to switch between heavy and light attack styles would buff single blades through sheer versatility.

 

Example: you could hack up a group of small infested with the "light" style, then with the press of a button, switch to the "heavy" style when an Ancient showed up.

 

 

If you so desired, you could implement the "styles" system for the other weapons too, but where single blades would gain the ability to effectively switch roles, the specialist weapons would have a more limited adjustment (like, a Scindo's "heavy" style would only buff stagger chance at the cost of attack speed, and its "light" style would only give a slight boost to attack speed at the cost of damage output).

 

 

 

The idea of melee combat styles has almost certainly been thought of before...but since nothing seems to be happening concerning single blade balance, I thought I'd offer this.

 

 

Any thoughts? Any ideas?

 

Are you happy/unhappy with the state of single blade weapons?

 

 

 

PS: Alternative idea -

 

Give single blades a big defensive boost to their blocking ability (like, a significant % damage reduction effect while blocking)

[Jordan_McBeast]

Dark sword is a single sword, and its amazing.

[MXXVI]

It's also an entirely random drop (I've only ever seen the blueprint drop once, in weeks of playing), and personally...I find myself defaulting back to multi-target weapons every time I play with it.

Edited May 29, 2013 by MXXVI

[Maxodis]

I think maybe your idea might overcomplicate the decision process between choosing a weapon. On one hand, dual weapons that hit multiple targets quickly, on the other, heavy weapons that stun/stagger and do strong damage. In the middle, single-blade weapons that have different styles and attacks and ups and downs and what-have-you. I think the dev team was really trying to keep the process simple, and to implement something like that might be mildly terrifying to new users.

 

Instead, maybe improve upon something that's already implemented, but scarcely used? There is a block key, that (As far as I can tell) blocks a majority of incoming fire. Perhaps single-blade weapons could have a stronger block, as a defensive pick, in opposition to the full offensive dual weapons and the utility heavy weapons.

 

EDIT: I didn't see the bit on the bottom of your post, but I'm glad that we're already on the same page. :)

Edited May 29, 2013 by Maxodis

[SilentStriker74]

Let's think real, two handed light weapons like long swords have the advantage of more control and force when the dual weapons are less acurate but are faster, what if the devs give better damage to long swords and much more speed to the duals but having separate damage on each sword and having an sweet spot when they hit with both weapons and all the weapons to be able to hit all the targets in their range.

[FollyGuy]

Honestly if they gave one-handed weapons a parrying ability that required player skill, but when successful the next hit on the parried target would do double damage i would probably pick up a one-handed weapon. While your suggestions are nice they would basically allow a player to take a one-handed weapon and choose to either hit fast like a dual weapon or hard like a 2-hander. Personally i just want a one-handed weapon to bring something different to the game that distinguishes them from the other 2. Styles are a good idea, just need some that make them have there own use. I personally have all 3 weapon types but only use my dual zorens and reaper prime as the one-handed weapons really just aren't worth it right now.

 

Edit: Yes i realize there is a block feature but that would be more suited for dual and heavy weapons. I think a skill-based parry feature for single-handed weapons would provide them with a utility that distinguished them from the others. Providing them with both an ability that allowed them to dodge a single enemies attack and then strike back with your force plus their momentum causing double damage.

Edited June 6, 2013 by FollyGuy