Swordsman Archive

...and here are the numbers for your consideration.

First, the basic DPS calculationsfor TK. We start with a damage sliced knuckler at 59-175. Unarmed damage +250 brings it to 309-425, then the standard damage multiplier of x1.86 is applied, then x4 again for Unarmed Hit 3, which is done at the speed limit of once per second,so the numbers are 2300-3164, or an average of 2732 AP1 DPS.

Now, Swordsman.The highest DPS weapon (that will not come in under the speed cap with specials and thus harm theDPS)is a speed sliced powerhammer. The damage is 137-468, x 1.86, then x4 again for Two hand Hit 3, which gives us a damage range of 1019-3482, or an average of 2251 damage.Hit 3 can be done once every 2.19 seconds (perfect 35% speed slice, 2.5x time factor on Hit 3, and two hand melee speed +75 for Master Swordsman). Divide these out and you get an average of 1028 AP2 DPS.

Let's see how things work out vs.enemies with varying levels of armor.

Against AR0 (none)

• TK: 3415 DPS


• Swordsman: 1606 DPS

Against AR1 (light)

• TK: 2732 DPS


• Swordsman: 1285 DPS

Against AR2 (medium)

• TK: 1366 DPS


• Swordsman: 1028 DPS

Against AR3 (heavy)

• TK: 683 DPS


• Swordsman: 514 DPS

These numbers are why I have posted elsewhere that our DPS needs to be doubled.

There are many other factors that can be thrown in for comparison, such as our mind bleeds (not reduced bythe target's AR and resistances - currently a huge advantage, but one that will likelychangevery soon), our ability to target the mind pool, the TK artist's superior accuracy, and limitation to a single damage type, etc., but the numbers tell the basic story: the Knuckler is mightier than the Hammer, against any armor level.

I recall a developer saying that TK is meant to be an excellent all-around damage dealer. If that is true, then Swordsman should be a superball-around damage dealer.This is not really the case at present, unless you are lucky enough to have more than doubled your DPS withskill enhancers (another great advantage, but one thatwillbe nerfed once the speed equation is reworked).

Comments?

You need to check your numbers for the PH dps. If you have and average damage for hit3 of 2251 @ 2.19 with a 2.5x time mod and +75 speed, your final delay is 1.36 (2.19*2.5*0.25). 2251/1.36 = 1655, not 1028 AP2 DPS.

AR0: ph = 2586

AR1: ph = 2068

AR2: ph = 1655 (better than TKA)

AR3: ph = 827 (better than TKA)

antares
master pikeman

The average damage per hit is 2251.

As for the speed:

3.5 speed sliced hammer x 2.5 time factor on Hit 3 = 8.75 seconds, reduced 75% via +75 two hand melee speed = 2.19 seconds

Divided it out, and you get an average DPS of 1028

Ah yes, you're absolutely right. I mis-read this part:
"Hit 3 can be done once every 2.19 seconds (perfect 35% speed slice, 2.5x time factor on Hit 3, and two hand melee speed +75 for Master Swordsman)"

I read that the slice gave the weapon a 2.19 speed. (hehe, I should have known better anyway, no ph can hit that. :smileyindifferent My fault. Carry on...We were having a small discussion like this on the pikeman forums as well...I might link here as an example.

antares
master pikeman

And as far as TKMs draining their HAM bar in 10 seconds...please. Swordsmen and Pikemen will do that in 3-5 (inaccurate) swings.

antares
master pikeman

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Momoku wrote:
Also, with Knucklers and using UAhit3, your HAM gets about a 60-80 tick each time (depending on your strength). At master, you can drain an un-Powerboosted HAM bar in 10 seconds.

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Thanks for pointing it out. It's true that your HAM costs are up there. They are also up there for Swordsman, as well. However, in the endgame, with all stats and substats buffed, HAM costs areirrelevant.

Also, just to clarify, I don't want to see TK nerfed.I'mcomparing Swordsman to TK because like it or not, it is the currentmelee standard, having seen enoughtinkering that it's safe to sayyour profession is probably pretty close to where the devs want it.

What I want isfor Swordsman to be buffed, so we deal damage clearly superior to TK.

And as for yourability to go without the knuckler for AP0 with low HAM costs: advantage TK. We don't have that option at all.

• TK: 3469 DPS (2009 w/o vibroknuckler)


• Swordsman: 1610 DPS


• Fencer: 1804 DPS

Against AR1 (light)

• TK: 2775 DPS


• Swordsman: 1288 DPS


• Fencer: 902 DPS

Against AR2 (medium)

• TK: 1388 DPS


• Swordsman: 1030 DPS


• Fencer: 451 DPS

Against AR3 (heavy)

• TK: 694 DPS


• Swordsman: 515 DPS


• Fencer: 226 DPS

The point of this post? I guess there isn't one, unless TH happens across it, realizes what a monster they have on their hands here, and persuades the devs to give us some helpso we aren't sobadlyoutdamagedwhile we wait for the whole combat system to be redone.

How to fix us?Double the damage onour weapons, or make us hit twice as fast, or some combination of the two.That's whatit would take to make us competitive.

TK would still outdamage us on AR0 and AR1 stuff, but we would dominateagainst AR2 and AR3, and I think we're entitled to that.