Shattered Kingdoms

I was playing with a merc for a while and I was thinking about the zillions of options available with specialize. I had always wanted to try the centaur merc spec'd in a bow as compared to a scout archer, but the recent change to armor v archery has dissuaded me. That got me to thinking about mercs specialized in swords as compared to swashies. I would be interested to know the thoughts other people have about how these scenarios would play out if these different characters went against each other- all other factors being the same (armor, level, cabal, experience, etc) except those noted? Maybe I should make this a poll?



Merc A:
specialized in high accuracy sword
wielding high accuracy sword
using a shield

Merc B:
specialized in fast sword
wielding fast sword
using a shield

Merc C:
specialized in a big mofo sword
wielding big mofo sword

Swash A:
wielding high accuracy swords

Swash B:
wielding high speed swords

Dude.

What mercenary in his right mind would use a SWORD to fight a swashbuckler? You make my face hurt with this silliness.

If you think you're going to be fighting bucklers, don't bother specing a sword, man. Unless you want to get roflpwned.

You also need to account that given the relations between speed and accuracy in our weapon system, Swashi A and Swashi B are the same swashi.

As are Merc A and Merc B also the same mercenary.

I'm not suggesting that anybody SHOULD use a sword against a swash. That was not my question- I've been away from the game for a while but I haven't developed sudden onset retardation.

I'm just interested to know what would be the specific flaws/strengths of these comparisons- what benefit would the merc get who's using his spec as a high-accuracy sword as opposed to a big high-damage sword or a high-speed sword. What real difference is he going to see by using higher speed or accuracy or damage when it comes down to swordplay? Which of these would fare best against those swashes (or least-badly if it feels better to think of it in those terms).

You left an important factor out. Race. I'd say also stance, but after the last mood changes the warrior classes have almost lost the defensive option. For example a few months back I'd go easily for a Merc A with a helf/halfling and mood defensive. While now Merc C and aggressive stance seem more attractive. Oh and Inzy is always right when his mind is not occupied by thoughts that have to do with orcs and goblins.

I still see a lot of good stuff from the moods. I do a lot more dodge/parry when Im on mood defensive...its nice when you're tanking!

That's why I said almost. It depends on the role of your character in a battle. I used to be in mood defensive permanently. You were getting something for nothing. Now there is a cost for that, which most of the time doesn't worth it.

In general if you're going to take a swashy in melee as a merc, your best bet is a very high accuracy two handed weapon, mood aggressive, aim for the arms.

I actually tried out a lot of different scenarios against swashies when I had my merc, and in my experiences, if a merc is specialized in a heavy hitting high accuracy weapon, the merc will usually come out on top, assuming he's got good armor.

You don't really stand a chance using a low accuracy weapon against a swashy however, unless it's something ridiculously powerful like a greataxe, and you chop off an arm in two hits. Otherwise you'll just get the hell parried/riposted/dodged out of you.

As far as I'm aware, with the weapon change weapon type no longer is taken into account for parrying, just accuracy/parry skill. I see no reason why using a high accuracy sword isn't just as effective as fighting a swashbuckler with any other weapon.

Merc with high accuracy/damage weapon vs. swash. If you exclude mid-fight immobilize/damage skills from the equation =

merc has: specialize, more accurate weapon, only one weapon needed to enchant, heavy armor, more hitpoints, the possibility of rallying cry

swash has: two parry checks, finesse, riposte

Unspelled, merc should win pretty handedly.

Haste disproportionately benefits slow weapons. Giant strength disproportionately benefits 2h weapons.

Both spelled, merc kicks the -shit- out of swash. Mercs parry nearly as often as swashbucklers do (and if the swash is using kama/khopesh the merc might parry more than the swash does), they take less damage than swashbucklers do, they have more hp than swashbucklers do, their attacks do more damage than swashbucklers do..it's just a rout.

On another note: nobody knows if using a polearm vs. a swash makes him parry less than if you use a sword, conclusively. It hasn't been tested and as of yet, there has been no coder who has responded in the affirmative or negative.