Shattered Kingdoms

Specialize is a great skill, really the balancing force behind mercenaries.

However I find all to often on my merc that I'd like to try out a new weapon however I can't really test it to it's full potential since I've used both my specializations. I'm sure anyone whose ever played a merc would agree with me that they'd definately like to be able to play around with weapons more than they can now.

So I suggest two tweaks to specialization to make it not necessarily more useful, simply more user friendly.

1.) Allow mercenaries to unlearn there specialize skill completely at a trainer or with a command or something along those lines. In order to relearn it, they have to pay the gold at a trainer to learn the skill again, and then they get to choose a different weapon to specialize in.

2.) Remove one specialization from mercenaries.

Basically with these two tweaks, mercs can only be spec'd in one weapon at a time, however they can always be spec'd in whatever weapon they happen to have at the time.

Before the flames commence also think of it logically. Say I have a mercenary whose spec'd in battlespear. He gets killed, looted, whatever, he loses his battlespear, and can't find a replacement. So he goes to grab another makeshift weapon, like a trident. After using this trident for quite some time he's become quite proficient at it, while his skills at battlespears have deteriorated from not being used, so this mercenaries specialization is basically trident now from using one for so long.

It makes great sense, it's not like weapon masters stay in perfect practice with weapons they never use. It's also illogical to think that a warrior couldn't become highly proficient at another weapon from fighting with it over a long period of time.

Being able to choose different specializations over the life of a character would reflect this, you'd have to completely unlearn the skill, and re-master it with the new weapon.

This change would also go a long way to diversifying the cookie cutter subtypes. I know I would definately like to try out specialize with as many subtypes as I possibly could, and I'm sure a lot of people would, however the cookie cutter subtypes are tried and true. Thus people funnel towards what works instead of risking it on something that might turn out to be a bust.

What do you guys think?

I agree completely with this, Especially if you decide to specialize for the cabal you join such as Hammer of Light and you get booted or leave the organization.

No. If you spec hammer of light, you should probably do your best to not be a ****up in the organization. You get two specs for a reason, and one of those reasons is so you can have one to fall back on if the first one doesn't work out/can't find that weapon/etc. Furthermore, I remember Dulrik saying that at some point in time (far in the future, no doubt) that mercs were supposed to be getting a THIRD spec.

I see no reason for a second spec, or even a third, if they could just simply respec. I fail to see how this would overpower them at all, or be any more powerful than it's current implementation.

It also makes complete sense logically.

The only way I would think that someone could respec is if they spend an IC year with the wpn.

It's called specialization for a reason. So it doesn't make sense logically. If you want to play with weapons roll a barb and test everything you desire, from a tail to a demon's horn. You can't have 24/7 extra attack with ANY weapon you desire. And GL is right concerning the cabals.



???
Maybe a third spec would make this class playable (because for me it isn't) but I will let you think your op comment after reading this:

player A: "Let's go and kill the bastards."
player B: "Yes I always wanted to kill the giant! One moment!"
A unspecs khopesh.
A specs in elemental orbs.
A wields an arc of lightning.
player B: "No the giant isn't with them! But that bastard half elf is!"
player A:"Aha!"
A unspecs elemental orbs.
A specs in sickle.
A wields a sickle of cold iron.
player A: "I'm ready!!"

PS: I want a barb with trip and retreat.

What part of completely unlearns the skill don't you understand?

Sure you could spam unlearn your specialize, but you'd have to completely retrain it, and level it up with your current weapon before it was mastered again.

Your could iron weapon point is also completely moot, since they make cold iron weapons of just about every major subtype out there.

So once again, sure if you're on a giant hunt, you could unspec your current weapon and respec in something like the elemental orbs. However you're going to have to spend a day or two completely remastering the skill with your new weapon.

I still fail to see how this is overpowered at all, considering racial weaknesses are not required to kill anyone.

Eusd also makes a very good point with Hammer of Light.

Sure you can be a cookie cutter character that goes by every rule, regulation, and change of any cabal there ever in so you never need to risk getting kicked out.

But occasionally characters with a little flare are interesting, and might not agree with every policy of their group, and run the risk of being booted. Doesn't seem to make sense that a mercenary can be a master of a weapon he/she doesn't even use.

I don't like this idea. With my merc I frequently switched between my two specs in the middle of a fight, there's no way I'd be willing to get rid of that. As for changing your spec, I like that you get stuck with whatever you choose. It would be pretty cool if there was a merc guild quest that would let you respec one weapon in case you tried something and made a huge mistake. I'm totally against freely being able change your specializations, though.

I ignored the word "completely" at your first post Sypher. Actually now it sounds like a good idea. Not because of the HoL issue or because mercenaries are boring. But mostly because things like weapon types/availability/other (see xbow update) change once in a while and people have to stay with a character which they have invested time in and who can't find their specialised weapon anymore or because dozens of new weapons, that are not used by others, have been put into the game and the character can't even use.