Architect Archive
Thread: Please help...
I started out to be a TKA when I started SWG, but found the moves of the polearm to be very pleasing eye candy and I enjoyed going toe to toe with whatever I was fighting instead of running like a coward (sorry ranged people wasn't meant as a slam).
I played EQ for 3 years and have a 65 shaman on the Lanys server. I also have 3 other 50+ characters. The reason I bring this up, is after 3 years of "casting" spells, I longed for more up close and personal fighting.
Fast forward to SWG. I started a melee (brawler) character assuming (my first mistake) that the classes would be balanced. I DO NOT expect to do 3000+ damage from 65m away. I do, however, expect something in return for my efforts and the unbelievably slow grind that it takes to become a pikeman. Below are some issues which I know have been addressed, but I would like to post them in a new way of thinking.
1)
yeah, we are no good in pvp,
BUT DONT NERF THE RANGED, FIX THE MELEE!
Ok, I have no idea why my computer just double posted and kicked me out of my post, so I will continue...
1) LVA and VL: The absolute best weapons we can have, yet they have a -55 and -32 point blank range modifier respectfully. So, what is being said is if I am standing right in your face I have a 33% chance of NOT hitting you with a 6 foot pole.
2) As other classes get fixed and/or the game's bugs get fixed and pikeman do not, we just get weaker and weaker. Example: In the latest patch "Dizzy" stacked with knockdown, "could" "possibly" make a character fall down while trying to stand back up. Guess what? Dizzy stacked with knockdown is almost instant death for me...I cannot stand up at all. Continuing to lower HAM costs for unarmed people, yet allow the massive HAM costs for Pikeman to still exist is killing this class.
3) No one wants a Pikeman in their group. This is from my experience. My RL friend who sits in the same room with me has no problem, but the rest of the community knows that the Pikeman class as a whole is a liability, not an enhancer to a group. I can't hit anything well (see #1), I do more damage to myself than the creature I am fighting (see #2) and I am nothing more than a stim pack sponge.
4) This is the sadest thing of all: When there was aBUG that some NPC's could not get up after being knocked down, I finally felt like there was some balance to my class. I could finally fight a creature and only be down about 25% of my health (due to the HAM cost of Polearm Sweep 1) when I finally defeated said creature. It's fixed now...but my class is not. Back to the grind of getting owned.
I enjoy this game, but there have been days I get owned...by another melee. My point is:
I cannot hold my own even against the unarmed opponents.
The TKA has had the HAM costs lowered, speed increased and overall the get to benefit from certain changes made in the game. Pikeman are going stagnant and it is really frustrating that NOTHING is being done to fix us.
The patch on Oct 08 2003 had many many class changes. Notice not one pikeman/polearm change. Not one. I am starting to feel my $15 dollars a month is not as important as a CH or Commando's $15 dollars.
I ask Sony this:
Do you feel you are giving those of us who play Pikeman the fair shake we deserve for our money?
Think hard before you answer, please look over your notes for the last 6 patches.
I don't need to be "super" pikeman...I just want a fair balance with the rest of your customers.
Can I get an Amen from the Congregation.
For those who have played EQ extensively, you know that they finally figured out a way to make ALL classes balanced and needed for specific encounters. What I don't understand, is if this is the same company is there not a need to learn from previous mistakes and correct them before they become repeated history issues? Do you peoplenetwork internally, so that these types of things do not fall through the cracks?
Disclaimer: I am not comparing EQ to SWG, I am comparing the fact that SOE has two particular games where balancing is very important, yet for some reason lessons seem to have not been learned.
Let's look at EQ classes for example:
Warrior: Needed to tank and as the main assist module for almost any encounter
Monk: By far the best pulling class of EQ
Necro: Best soloing class, but then they received the "negative" skills giving HPS or other attributes to the entire party. Also, great when you need your corpse summoned and the best pets in the game. Twitch rules
Mage: Great pets, good nukes, good soloing ability and Call of hero is SO useful. Oh yeah they are summoning fools (items)
Shaman: Slow owns. Many encounters NEED a shaman. The best buffers in the game.
Bards: Useless haha just kidding. Fantastic skills and the AE buffers of EQ. Need mana or protection from the elements these people are awesome.
Shadowknight: Best aggro holders of the game IMO (besides the over nuking wizard)and great secondary pullers.
Wizards: Some encounters are very difficult and almost impossible without the "Nuke at 50%!" Pre PoP taxi cabs and quad kiting fools
Druids: Great all around class, transporting, buffing, snares, and great soloing ability and fantastic secondary healers.
Clerics: Can't live without them (pun intended)
Rangers: Great dps, snares, buffs and trueshot owns
Beastlords: Monk, mage, and shaman. Played one of these for a while, loved the class very nice secondary slower (especially at 65)
Enchanters: One word...MANA. Also, mez, slow, and tash make this the most popular needed class in EQ. I have never seen a chanter turned away, seriously needed all the time.
Paladins: Buffs, decent tanks, Lay on hands, and slay undead is awesome
Rogues: Best melee dps in the game, sneak/hide for scouting and dragging corpses very very useful
My point here is, SOE understood the importance of class balancing at one time, so where did all that knowledge go?
I agree with what was said about these issues, don't nerf the ranged people, understand that we need our special defenses/offenses when up close and personal with what we are fighting. It is a totally different aspect of the game. Do not compare apples and oranges.
Thats PvE balance. In EQ there is NO Balance in PvP. You haven't spent enough time on the Zek servers.
Point taken on the PVP aspect. You are correct, I was always a "blue" server player.
Although I was speaking of Pikeman in a general sense, they are outclassed in PVE as well. Missions that take me 20-30 mins are taking other players far less time and with no HAM loss (other than what specials they do). I go through a stim B (I am not high on the medic tree so my stim B's are 19-21 charges of 150-182 heal)per 2 missions.
Now to add some more salt in the wounds some of the new "Quests" on Corellia involving protecting your contact from 3-4 thugs before actually talking to them... A ranged profession has no problem, because they can pick them off at a distance before they realize you're there and start attacking your contact.... Me on the other hand. I have the choice to go after the brawlers and hope I make it to them before they make it to my contact and allow the ranged thug to take out my contact, or I have the choice to try and taunt the marksman (or kill him) and then try to make it to the brawlers before they take out my contact....
I've tried several times either way, but have not yet completed that mission. I would really like to complete it on my own, but I guess I need the help of a ranged to do that now too....
I'm sorry I'll have to disagree that Pikeman are unbalanced in PvE Well, for one I'm currently recruiting a Guild on my server that's basically made up of 95% TK, hence the name Teras Kasi Order. They will allow non TK members to join their ranks, but it's harder to get in since they want to focus on unarmed combat strat.
Reason I add that bit of information is I'd have to say I'm a pretty good judge when it comes to comparing TK to Pikeman. I rarely get incapaicated. Rarely die. I out damage my fellow TK Guildies, why?
Harder hitting, more well rounded weapons for more situations for one. I can tank solo an Arachnid Warrior just as well if not better then the Master TK's I hang out with.
Honestly, I no longer believe Pikeman is severly out of balance. I do think because there's less of us to figure out the class, it's taking us longer to find out what works for Pikeman.
There must be 535642349 TKA and 6 of us /grin. Seriously, I think you know what I mean.
Few tips on Pikeman. I hope it helps you on the path ot one of the best Professions in the game.
Never compare your Professionto other Class types. Know them and what they can do, so you can better judge yourself, but never say they do this why can't we.
Know what your good at.
Know your limitations and how can you improve them.
Have a full understanding of the strat of the game's dynamics, and you'll be a very happy gamer in SWG.
Ranged has always been more powerful in PvP and in soloing PvE, always. In EQ the best soloists are Druids, Rangers, Wizards, Necros, Bards. Why? They can control the distance. Warriors and Monks can solo, but its VERY limited and they just don't do it well, period. I want to see a 65 Warrior solothe Plane of Tactics on any day of the week. Druids, Wizzies, and Rangers will do it all day long.
If you feel melee should be able to solo as well as a ranged class. I'm truely sorry, but I think your misjudging the function of all melee Professions in this game.
In PvE, however, the Tanks are Required for cave crawling. With out them and a great healer you can not do as well. Not even close.
I asked my TK friends how they PvP using their skills. They test TK abilities all the time. Basically, they feel the only skills that are of any use in PvP that the TKA has to offer are Power Boost and Force of Will.
Unless there are 30 on 30where people get focused onspecific targets and are not aware of their surroundings,this can allow you sneak from behindto dizzy then KD a rifleman and own em before he gets up, your best bet is picking up a gun and learning to use it well.
You get 250 points. Pikeman doesn't use all those points. Round yourself out and if someone get's in your face show em your Axe.
Anyone knows any good websites for macros or tips on how to speed this painful process? Please private message me, I would really appreciate it....(stupid holocron had to give me the painful truth)