Fencer Archive

This applies mainly to the specialized melee fighters but I think it could be worked into the brawler profession, too. The examples I give are based around the TKA tree because that is what I have experience with. I think this idea is very feasible and would not unduly balance the game.

Maybe melee classes as, they progress, can get HAM or susbstat bonuses. Bonuses to substats would probably work better. Imagine if you would gaining in between 50-150 strength for every power technique skill box, the same bonuses to focus for meditation, and again with quickness for balance conditioning. I think this would be a great representation of progressing as a martial artist in that maneuvers would become easier to use (less expensive) as you master the techniques. This way we would not have necessarily higher HAM, but our special attacks would be more useful as we progress.

The HAM bonuses would be a lot harder to get past all the ranged users, I think. HAM bonuses would be very justifiable in that as martial artists we work out physically and thus would be in better shape than ranged users would. Since we're meant to be the tanks (people who take the most damage for the good of the group) I think we should get some extra health, action, and maybe even mind...though mind is harder to justify based on working out physically. Mind could be justified by the fact that martial artists require mental discipline to become proficient in their arts.

Anyway, just a quick idea I was wanting to get out there and test for support. I'm posting this on all the melee profession boards but I would like the main thread to be the one in the Brawler forum since this concerns all melee professions. Please, let me know what you all think.

Original thread is at:
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=brawler&message.id=3310

On the surface, I think it looks like a good idea ...

However,I think increasing HAM in any way based on a profession is the wrong way to go. You don't wan't people taking portions of a skill set just to get additive HAM increases.

The current system solves this by using bonuses like 1-Handed-Toughness. This skill decreases the damage you take when hit, but only if you have a 1-handed weapon equipped. This has the same effect increasing your HAM, but can't be exploited, because a Fencer/Rifleman (for example) won't be getting the bonuses unless he has his sword equipped.

Along this line, I would suggest adding bonuses analagous to the Toughness line, but for the secondary stats. Perhaps "1-handed-efficiency" bonuses that would decreaseHAM cost on specials. Doing it this way, the HAM bonuses would not be additive by taking multiple skill sets.

I think this method would have the same result you are looking for, while preventing exploits where people try to stack HAM increases. Also, this method should be easier to implement than actually increasing HAM stats, since it is just an evolution of the existing system.

- Washu

Good point Washu, that is one of the better suggestions I've heard for levelling the playing field between melee and ranged. We should be able to take more punishment, and I can;t see any way this could be easily exploited. This idea should be put on our ptiorities list I think...so...*bump!*
EVERYONE READ, COMMENT ON THIS IDEA PLEASE.