Multiplayer balance

[Mattressi]

Singleplayer seems fine from what I've seen so far, but multiplayer balance is a bit...off.

Two-handed/polearm weapons are INCREDIBLY slow. I see the point of a slow, long, hard hitting weapon in the mass bot battles of singleplayer, but in multiplayer they are kinda horrible. I've tried using them and found that the 2H swords are so slow that I literally cannot get a swing in after I block a swing from someone's 1H sword. What exactly is the point of 2H weaponry in multiplayer then? Are they to be solely used for crowd battles? They seem like a support weapon because they're slower than a pike...but they're also shorter than a pike. If you want to support your team mates, you'd do it from as great a distance as possible if you've got a slow weapon, so the pike is clearly the better support weapon. They're horrible at duels and their ability to crush through blocks is laughable - if you don't crush through the first block (when you're able to strike a 1h user and they can't hit you) then you're screwed; you literally cannot get another hit in. About the only thing that sort of works here is backpedaling a lot and using footwork, but that is easily countered by anyone with a decent experience level.

Bows also seem pretty useless to me as anything but gun-counters. They're inaccurate and do little damage, making them bad for long (or even medium, really) ranged use. However, they're fast enough to shoot between reloads of a gun, so I guess they must really just be in there to counter guns, which is fine I guess.

I think my biggest issue really is the two-handed weapons (aside from pikes). I honestly cannot see a purpose to them in multiplayer.

That's not to say I hate the game; singleplayer has been fun so far and I like that it feels different to Warband and multiplayer has been fun for me too - I just avoid using 2H swords/axes, as does everyone else. So, I have some issues with the balancing, but with any luck they'll be sorted out. I'm not asking for 2H swords and polearms to have 90+ speed like in Warband, but having enough speed that they can actually attack after blocking a 1H sword would make them have some kind of use in MP.

Thanks for making another great game guys

 

[Archonsod]

Bear in mind the time period. If you want to duel, you should be doing it with pistols. And no closer than twelve paces away from the other gentleman. Or you could use rapiers ...

The two handers would be used to counter the heavier armours. They'd also be useful against pikemen. One handers however are your anti-infantry (particularly with shields), your support should be provided by a musketeer. Or at least that's how they did it in the 17th century. Might work, worth a try.

Can't say I've noticed any accuracy issues with bows, unless of course you're adamant for the sniper rifle that was the short bow; a skilled archer should still manage to be deadly at range with them. Damage is poor, but the speed is a lot better than the musket. Also, the bows can be used from horseback, most of the muskets can't.

I'm finding the balance is good at the minute, it could of course stand a little fine tuning, but nothing major.

 

[Mattressi]

The two handers would be used to counter the heavier armours. They'd also be useful against pikemen.

Yeah, I can see what you mean. Still, I find that using a pike or a 1H sword is usually easier to beat a pikeman with; it's possible with a 2H sword, but it seems you're at a disadvantage (seeing as they have 200 more range and at least 7 more speed).

One handers however are your anti-infantry (particularly with shields), your support should be provided by a musketeer. Or at least that's how they did it in the 17th century. Might work, worth a try.

Yeah, I guess so. I kind of assumed that back then all musketeers carried 1h weapons, but dedicated melee users would use 2H to gain an advantage. But I honestly know every little of the time period. I think I'll try playing support using those 1h thrust weapons and see how it goes (should be interesting ).

Can't say I've noticed any accuracy issues with bows

Admittedly, at the time of typing I'd tried out mostly only melee weapons and muskets - I'd only tried out the composite bow and didn't realise that the less powerful bows were more accurate. Sorry, my mistake

I'm finding the balance is good at the minute, it could of course stand a little fine tuning, but nothing major.

Yeah, I think that teams are well balanced and that most weapons are well balanced as well. The guns are fun to play with and the new style is refreshing. My only real issue with it now is that I feel that 2H/polearms (non-pike polearms, that is) don't really have any place on the battlefield. As it is, they could sort of take the place of the great maul from Warband, but they're slower and crush through less (plus there are less shielded players in this game, so crush through isn't need so much). Ultimately, I'd like to see their speed raised up into the low(or even high) 80s or so; then they're still at a disadvantage against the 1H weapons which are signifcantly faster than them, but they can at least compete. It just feels a bit ridiculous having to carry around a 1H sword when you've got a 2H sword, simply so you can fight 1H users too.