Pikeman Archive
Thread: New Message sent to SOE!!!
To everyone at SOE for taking notice to our concerns about the pikeman class. I believe I speak for everyone on my profession's board when I say Thank you!
1) Accuracy modifiers on weapons, to low for us to use effectively.
There are concerns among the users that the -58 modifier on the vibro weapons is a mistake, and that it is too detrimental to our fighting abilities. XorSystem writes, "My biggest gripe is accuracy... because we're slow, we should be accurate and powerful, just like a fast swordsman is accurate and speedy but not strong..." Many feel that the mods on our weapons are too low. Some players quotes include, "Can't hit the broad side of a barn." and "Modifies on VL and LVA are absurd."
The players have suggested many alternative solutions to this issue. One such solution includes a gap between the range mods. "the problem is the -55 at any range on our weapons. It should be that at 0m, we get negative, since it's harder to use a 6 foot pole when your standing just inches from the guy, but at the farther ranges it gets easier to use," Gunman21 says. Another player states, "Even if it's like -30/0/-60.....that's still better than -60/-60/-60."
2) The Block ability is broken and is not allowing us to block.
Concerns have been brought up that the feature of block is non-functional. Players have stated that throughout reaching Master pikeman they have never blocked once. Blocking would solve a lot of problems with fighting both PvE and PvP to even things out a bit.
Our solution is to ask you to check into this matter, to see if indeed block has gone MIA during battle.
3) HAM costs are too high.
"it's not worth doing any specials while exping," writes Slistak2000. Players agree that the HAM costs on weapons are too high. One player has taken an extreme response to this imbalance by stating "I never use special attacks with my Long Vibro Axe." People are disenchanted with the fact that in a battle we have the ability to do more damage on ourselves then our opponents, especially since we miss too often with our negative accuracy mods.
Lower the HAM costs for our weapons. That would give us a fighting chance in battle. Sorry lame pun 
4) Mind damage is taken down too fast.
A few players have expressed concern with the Mind stat being hit too often, that is for a stat with no healing ability attached to it. Action and Health may be healed via stimpack, but mind is left in the dust.
Solutions: Make mind damage healable. Or as Slistak2000 writes, "Melee damage from PvE only damages mind on head hits." that would allow for a better balance in melee fighting.
5) This is dealing with the physical aspects of our weapons in this virtual world.
The polearm's range should be increased. Polearms throughout history have been weapons that were used to ward off enemies and attack them without being in range for them to attack. The pikeman on the board agree that our weapon's base range be changed to reflect our weapons physical parameters. DukeP writes, "TKA's have 5 meters, we should have 10 - we DO use the longest stick in the SWG universe."
Personal Note: Not enough weapons at the Pikeman's disposal.
We thank you for the altercations to the skill tree with the weapon certs, now, we need newer better weapons that can be used higher up in our elite profession.
Our solution is to add weapons such as halberds, pikes, and force pikes.
On a final note to Q3PO and the ones handling the Correspondents at SOE. I would like to Thank you all for allowing me to be the Correspondent for the Pikeman Forum, but I believe that one person's judgment on what to report will become clouded, much like a jedi who walks the line between light and dark. No, j/k I am stepping down from my role as Correspondent because I would like to see some diversity in who reports for this profession. It would not be fair for one to hold this position too long. I believe my term is up and would like to pass the torch on to the next Pikeman. I ask if I am allowed to select my successor. No offense, but I believe I have gotten to know the people who regularly post on this board, and would have a better outlook on the potential Correspondent. Also, if the next correspondent is bad, then everyone can blame it on me... lol. It has been an honor working with SOE and the players to help this game become more enjoyable. Perhaps I will step up to this role again in the future, that is if I am needed.
Sincerely,
Alex Ball
Pikeman Correspondent
I hope this contains what you feel are the main issues, I chose to take a little poetic license on 4 and 5, I hope that I was not too far off. It was a judgement call on choosing what else to write.
Khrim...
antares
That should just about cover it.
Oh...that and the fact that while in PvP combat i can stand in the same spot as their character and lunge still won't work.
That is a bad thing. But not as bad as the things you mentiond.
Sorry to see you want to go. I think you tried very hard to be balanced and fair in your comments. I think all the areas covered are what we are looking for. Developers please hear our pleading, fix accuracy and block ASAP. Just doesn't make sense.
Thanks again Alex
But if you do leave, thanks for all your help and support.
Lol I'm honored to be quoted
Khrim, you've done an excellent job and I hate to lose you as our correspondant 
Maybe you'll take the job again in a few months?
Thank you all for your kind words. Iam glad to have helped you all, and SOE to fix our proffesion. Though I would like to step back to the role of player for a while. I'm sure the next correspondent will be as good as you think I have been ( ), maybe even better. I hope that is the case.
Thank you all for supporting one another in this board. It has been our unity and the ability to not just fight amoungst ourselves which have been the greatest achievments. Though I have tried to be unbias in my posts, I have added a little of my own opinions here and there, but I have tried to make up for it in my letters to SOE, by not including my own ideas for the "personal note," I believe that any amount of topics we are allowed to add must be everyone's, and not just one person's. I don't care if that was the only bonus to this role, for me just helping out and making the pikeman proffesion better was well worth it.
Over the next month or so, I plan to phase out of posting on the board, and then taking about a two month "vacation" from posting. A clear head, and getting away from the issues will help me as well as this board, I think. Also, I need to play the game more, and get some sleep 
... plus there is the job issue... haha, I have to earn money if I am going to play more. I'll still be around somewhere, probably gorath, trying to solo the meanest monsters around, and trying to hone my pikeman skills.
I hope to see you fellow pikeman out on the feild! So, to sum it up, Polearms ready, Vibro units charged, and away I go off into the tatooine sunsets... Ok, too hollywood... sorry
See you space cowboy! 
Khrim...
Silver,
What a class act!
I'm a TK and am sure the Pikeman community will be sad to not have you as the class spoksman. My post really has nothing to do with the the quality of reports, issues fixed, expert knowledge of the class. I just am amazed that you had the insight to look for more diverse views on your class. Often when chosen in a role like you have been folks hold on as if it's last ticket on the ArK. You have shown that your choice was a great one as correspondent. Asa player of SWG I hope you change your mind and stay, as all players benifit by quality correspondents. (no matter what class)
/bow
dB
Looks good.
I would like the addition of a completely new ability: The /guard <target> ability.
Polearm users in SWG are guardsmen. We are then ones that bounces unwanted intruders, and guards against assasination attemps. Even the EMPEROR himself (not the weakest person in the SWG continuium) have a few Polearm wielding guards (and they look KEWL to both!).
Let the /guard be able to block attacks and divert aggro. PvP should transfer part of damage to guard (perhaps even dissipate a %?). That way, High ranking and rich players / guild leaders, merchantsetc, can employ pikearm wielders as guards. = more "free" content for players.
Oh. And a /standguard "stand to attention" animation would be kewl as well.
WhiteFur
silver. send them a msg..no 30 sec timer.. that will only ruin us more then we already are!!!!!! i just got knockdown and have been able to attack bigger creatures.. and i love it!! if they ad 30 secs.. im gonne be relegated to attacking lower lvl non xp making creatures again.. or try to mooch xp off ranged players when in groups, which isnt fun theyt shott..by time i get to creature its already3/4th dead means little to none xp for me.
my biggest worry for next oatch is the 30 sec timer on knockdowns ..that is such a bad move to make.