Creature Handler Archive

After digesting this thread and this thread, I sat down to do some analysis of Fleet Footed, to see what impact it has ( if any ) on creatures.

First of all, the above threads both hint heavily that saddles can make a big difference in mount speeds. Since we (1) already have ways to measure mount speeds and compare ( see this thread for details ), I chose to ignore mounts ( which is convenient, since I have no mounts with an innate FF ability ) and focus on non-mounted creatures.

Warning: I haven't had time to do all of my time testing, so I'll be reserving space at the top of this thread to update results once I have them. The initial tests I have performed are, however, somewhat helpful.

I do use the abbreviate TBD ( To Be Determined ) liberally in this post where I have yet to score and finalize testing results.

Test Subjects:

Speedy, a Level 65 Reptilian Flyer with innate Fleet-Footed L2, no taught abilities.

Unnamed, a Level 65 Reptilian Flyer with innate Hamstring Attack L2, no taught abilities. Will be taught FF1 and FF2 over the course of the experiment.

Testing Methodology:

Choose a location that is appropriate for your test ( flat / hilly ), that doesn't see a lot of traffic, and shouldn'tLay out a course using waypoints, and then for a pet use Get Patrol Point to establish a patrol route. Start the pet on the patrol route, and time how long it takes the pet to do a full circuit of the patrol. Repeat the patrol multiple times ( three times is how long I used ) to reduce the effects of minor lag error.

Test Case #1: Hilly (Uneven) Terrain

For this test, I chose a straight line test over hilly terrain, to establish if Fleet-Footed establishes any advantage over hilly terrain ( e.g. by improving the creature's Terrain Negotiation or something similar ). I chose Dathomir for this test, because it has severe terrain, the area around the village is spawn-free, and the village is currently nearly deserted in late Phase 3. The following coordinates were used, in case anyone is silly enough to want to duplicate my test:

• Waypoint #1: 5175, -4301


• Waypoint #2: 5483, -4577

For each test scenario, I chose to run the creature back and forth three times ( total of six movements ), and measure the elapsed time for the creature to make the circuits. Based on simple math ( that I may have done wrong ), I could both establish the effects of Fleet Footed as well as establish an approximate movement speed for the creature. Results:

• Innate Fleet Footed (L2): 11:27.60 total time, averaging 3.61 m/sec.


• No Fleet Footed ability at all: 11:32.2, averaging 3.58 m/sec.


• Learned Fleet Footed(L1): TBD


• Learned Fleet Footed(L1 + L2): TBD


• Learned Fleet Footed(L1 + L3): TBD

Test Result Summary ( Hilly ):

Still many things TBD, but the initial results aren't promising at all. The Innately Fleet Footed (L2) creature finished a mere 0.6% faster than the stock not-enhanced-at-all creature. This discrepancy could be testing error, lag variances, lack of sleep, or any of a number of other causes.

I think it's relatively safe to conclude that innate Fleet Footed (L2) offers no advantage to the user. Whether learned versions exibit the same lack of performance is TBD, but at the moment the board opinion the FF seems "broken" appears to be quite accurate.

Test Case #2:Flat Terrain

For this test, I chose a circuit test over flat terrain, to establish if Fleet-Footed establishes any raw speed advantage. I chose Dathomir for this test, because it has very flat terrain right around the village, the area around the village is spawn-free, and the village is currently nearly deserted in late Phase 3. The following coordinates were used, in case anyone is silly enough to want to duplicate my test:

• Waypoint #1: 5266, -4260


• Waypoint #2: 5162, -4202


• Waypoint #3: 5126, -4020


• Waypoint #4: 5483, -4004


• Waypoint #5: 5452, -4233

For each test scenario, I chose to run the creature the entire loop three times, and measure the elapsed time for the creature to make the circuits. Based on simple math ( that I may have done wrong ), I could both establish the effects of Fleet Footed as well as establish an approximate movement speed for the creature. Results:

• Innate Fleet Footed (L2): TBD


• No Fleet Footed ability at all: 10:58.6, averaging4.92 m/sec.


• Learned Fleet Footed(L1): TBD


• Learned Fleet Footed(L1 + L2): TBD


• Learned Fleet Footed(L1 + L3): TBD

Test Result Summary ( Flat ):

TBD.

this should be interesting i didn't notice much difference in my flyers or my peko pekos
i would love to see the result on this before i start teaching my friends varactyls useless stuff