Ranged Combat?

[ArcaneSaint]

In the FAQ it says combat will be mostly sword-based. But will there also be some sort of ranged "combat". I'm saying "combat" because bow-and-arrow tactics usually involve covering a large area of the battlefield with a rain of arrows (though this has as much chance of hitting your own men as the enemies). Or soldiers equipped with a sword and bow, who are not necessarily skilled with the bow but will just fire arrows in the general direction of the enemy until they get within melee range.

So I'm not expecting expert snipers, but just something to break down enemy morale from a distance. Especially in town sieges that'd be nice. You're leisurely strolling through the streets of a besieged town when suddenly *thump* you get hit by a stray arrow! (or in the case of sieges, flaming arrows.)

Or if there is a strong samurai/ninja influence, shuriken?

[Captain Deathbeard]

Much later on in development, there will be bows, crossbows, harpoon guns, and harpoon turrets for town/building defence. At least thats the plan at this point.

[ArcaneSaint]

Yay! Harpoon guns and turrets sound... painful. And now I want to create a character named Vlad the Impaler, try to guess what weapon he's gonna use.

[Felklaw]

Just read this post...

Harpoon guns and harpoon turrents! Man! I can't wait to see those cruise missiles in this game!!

J/K

But harpoons sound truly BA. Imagine you shoot them with the harpoon gun, then run off dragging them around, maybe even off a cliff.... Sorry, over creative imagination here got away from me.

[toaster Assassin]

-*thump* message for you sir (Henchman falls down).
Oh, Concord your death shall be avenged!
-I'm not dead!
Your mortally wounded...
-I'm getting better!!

Are the stationary turrets strong enough to impale multiple enemies? Also, how would the the enemy be balanced to prevent people like me from charging the battlefield with a harpooning platoon. (my guess would be armor/blocking or a possible "reload time" for ranged weapons).

[Felklaw]

And also would want it so that you can't be snipers. Maybe crude aiming devices (like sighting pins on a real compound bow) but still wouldn't allow sniper headshots at 500m ...

I feel the idea of the ranged weapons would be to harm and thin out the ranks a little, but not to be a sole method of combat.
Lucky headshots would be awesome, but seeing an enemy get into sword range with you who is limping because he has a harpoon or arrow through his leg... now that is legendary stuff!

EDITED TYPO...

[Zalak123]

@Toast


lol

[toaster Assassin]

Judging by the games' combat system, I don't know if the player is actually going to be able to aim. I think the player just clicks on the enemy and (based upon the henchman's skill) if the skill is sufficient the enemy will be hit.(if not it hits somewhere else). Just a guess.

[OzyTheSage]

bow-and-arrow tactics usually involve covering a large area of the battlefield with a rain of arrows

From my understanding the game is going to support huge battles, so this may become a valid tactic depending on just how large the armies are.

As for harpoon turrets... I'm slightly confused. Are you talking about the fishing instrument or did you really mean to say Giant Fricken' Crossbow? It seems like crossbows (Ballista or otherwise) would make more sense than harpoons, honestly. Crossbows would require less training and strength than bows would, but would be slower to arm and such.

If stealth and assassination comes into play shurikens and darts etc. would be nice, or to throw at your opponents as you rush towards each other, could be entertaining.

[toaster Assassin]

There is assassination skill (and climbing for infiltration) so there will probably be some sort of stealth weapons. It will probably work like a Ballista, but instead of a bolt it will be a big fishing harpoon. (There are weapon proficiencies for both crossbows and harpoon guns in Kenshi). As for the shurikens, many people really want those.

[CookieEatingHuskarl]

All this talk of shurikens reminded me. I would really like spreading caltrops all over the ground to be a valid escape tactic to either make opponents run around them, which would buy you more time and distance between you and them or force them to get their legs hurt while trying to get to you.

Edit : Also, how is evading attacks currently calculated? I would actually like to suggest a system with characters being less able (suffering from a fixed penalty to their defense skill?) to avoid projectiles/attacks from their blind spots, accompanied with a stat/skill involving situation awareness, which minimizes said blind spot as it levels up (usually from having to guard attacks from multiple enemies from different directions.)

[OzyTheSage]

As far as I know dodging hasn't been implemented at all. I imagine fights will become a lot more interesting when it does though, melee included.

[toaster Assassin]

CookieEatingHuskarl said:
Also, how is evading attacks currently calculated? I would actually like to suggest a system with characters being less able (suffering from a fixed penalty to their defense skill?) to avoid projectiles/attacks from their blind spots, accompanied with a stat/skill involving situation awareness, which minimizes said blind spot as it levels up (usually from having to guard attacks from multiple enemies from different directions.)

hmm.... by that do you mean a perception skill?

Would go good with the projectile weapons skills, higher perception = greater battlefield awareness (for sniping or the character's "peripheral vision" in melee battles).

[CookieEatingHuskarl]

Would be more of a perception stat, but yes, something like that.

[OzyTheSage]

If you guys look at the attributes (where strength and dexterity are) Perception is one of them. I imagine it will help with ranged combat and dodging to an extent, as well as perhaps spotting units on the world map, or something. (I heard there would be a fast travel system like in Fallout 1/2 )

[CookieEatingHuskarl]

Ye, but recall that we have no idea what Chris plans to do with it, so I'm just hoping to push enough stimuli his way to influence his decision making mechanisms.

[Zalak123]

Are you new to the forums cookie?

Have you been lurking?


Well welcome to the forums!

[CookieEatingHuskarl]

In actuality I lurked for quite a while, then registered for the forums the same day I gave my prepaid mobile credit money to Chris. But holy shit, you post a freaking lot.

[Felklaw]

Yeah, Zalak is working on his forum achievments.