Couple of question re info i have read

[Keir]

Hi all,

I have read through the FAQ's, plus a whole range of other stuff and a few things have confused me so I want to check if the advice/comments was related to older versions.

In a thread I read on couched Lance usage there was a somewhat confusing description of how you "paint an arc" over the target with your lance - I would have posted on that thread  but I can't find it now sorry. The poster said you don't need to hit the target with the tip just any part of the lance. Well I tried this and it didn't seem to relate to anything. I couldn't find anyway of using the lance other than aiming its tip at the opponent - which is really as it should be. Is the advice out of date or am I missing something? Hopefully the former.

I was also somewhat bemused by a thread I read on thrown weapons which described them being used with deadly affect at a range of up to 100 metres and at rates of fire higher than a bow. Obviously no thrown weapon should have a range anywhere near that but then again none I've encountered so far in M&B has seemed to have a really long range so I wonder if that was a comment regarding a previous version. The rate of fire thing struck me as somewhat odd to - I've read up on ancient usage of throwing weapons and personally used throwing axes, replica Frankish Francesca's (sp?), and they are a short range weapon due to the necessity to calculate where in their revolution they will strike so the head of the axe is presented - not essential but very important. Also the rate of fire is not particularly high if you want accuracy or force. I would have thought a short bow, or comp bow using Turko/Mongol rapid fire techniques (which traded off impact for rate of fire) had the highest rate of fire. Reading on historical warfare gives the impression that generally speaking most thrown weapons were capable of achieving one shot per person before impact - you need to change weapons in time to be ready for impact. Multiple volleys before impact seemed to require trained use of multiple ranks rather than individuals making many throws.

Cheers, Keir

 

[Merentha]

Couched lancing is done exactly like you seem to think, run them down with a lance, without touching the attack button.  I never understood the 'painting an arc' line either.  One thing though : on the longer lances, if you have a good ride skill and good horse, you can turn sharply, and provided the side of the tip hits the target, couched damage still applies.

Regarding ranged weapons-throwing weapons have a high speed and high damage, which is partially a game-balancing feature.  The high speed doesn't make that much sense to me (they should be very quick to release once the throwing weapon is in the hand, but have a decently long cooldown between the throws).  The major historical use of throwing weapons - to open holes in formations before a charge - isn't really important in M&B because there are no formations.

 

[sheek]

I was also somewhat bemused by a thread I read on thrown weapons which described them being used with deadly affect at a range of up to 100 metres and at rates of fire higher than a bow. Obviously no thrown weapon should have a range anywhere near that but then again none I've encountered so far in M&B has seemed to have a really long range so I wonder if that was a comment regarding a previous version. The rate of fire thing struck me as somewhat odd to - I've read up on ancient usage of throwing weapons and personally used throwing axes, replica Frankish Francesca's (sp?), and they are a short range weapon due to the necessity to calculate where in their revolution they will strike so the head of the axe is presented - not essential but very important. Also the rate of fire is not particularly high if you want accuracy or force. I would have thought a short bow, or comp bow using Middle Eastern rapid fire techniques (which traded off impact for rate of fire) had the highest rate of fire. Reading on historical warfare gives the impression that generally speaking most thrown weapons were capable of achieving one shot per person before impact - you need to change weapons in time to be ready for impact. Multiple volleys before impact seemed to require trained use of multiple ranks rather than individuals making many throws.

What about javelins? Ever watched the Olympics? And whoever said that probably meant with high Power throw skill.

An average starting character in M&B can hit someone relatively often with throwing knives at about 20 meters.

 

[Keir]

Thanks for the prompt responses - this board seems very well frequented.

What about javelins? Ever watched the Olympics?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Olympic Javelin throwers have a range of about 60-70 metres though ancients, in combat situations, seem to have had an effective range of much less than that.

And whoever said that probably meant with high Power throw skill.

An average starting character in M&B can hit someone relatively often with throwing knives at about 20 meters.

Sounds fairly resonable and if range is affected by Power Throw that is really nice.. The poster(s) I read were talking about bands of sea pirates, plus one other I don't remember, and complaining about how deadly they were. They may have been engaging in a bit of exageration.

cheers, Keir

 

[Merentha]

Sea raiders are infamous for their ludicrously long range throwing weapons.

 

[thesneakster]

plus IR googles (just go attacking them in the morning )

Also bow's are the speed that their at because they are aimed extremely accuratly (unlike other techniques)

 

[Bearhugger]

all weapons can be "fired" faster with progressing skill proficiency.
With about 120 in throwing you can already throw without holding down the mouse button to aim and hit near targets.
I bet at even more skill you'll be able to hit targets even farther away.
Bows - at least in TLD mod - don't get considerably faster with 300+ proficiency.
One-handed and two-handed weapons, on the other hand  , get much faster with progressing proficiency.
For example, when your two-handed skill is considerably higher than your opponent's one-handed, you'll be able to "slash-slash  " him.