Hello IMC and TOS Community.
I’m looking to improve the rather bland flavoring of Swordsman classes as I see them with a few suggestions.
-ATTRIBUTES-
I find a lot of classes lack additional attributes or really, Passive skills that set them apart from each other. Additionally, Swordsman attributes seem rather weak in my opinion as they don’t add anything that skills wouldn’t do themselves save for a few effects. Some attributes I’d recommend:
1-Handed Sword Mastery - While a 1-HS is equipped, damage increases by 1% and attack speed is increased by 1% per level up to a max of Level 15. (All Swordsman classes)
2-Handed Sword Mastery - While a 2-HS is equipped, damaged increases by 1.5% and Crit damage is increased by 3% per level up to a max of Level 15. (Highlander, Barbarian, and Doppelsoldner)
Focus - Increases accuracy when a melee weapon is equipped by 5% per level up to a max of Level 5. (All Swordsman classes)
Rigid Guard - Blocking an enemy’s attacks has a small chance to stun them for 1.5 seconds. (Peltasta and Rodelero)
Spike Defense - Being attacked while having a shield equipped has a chance to return 50% damage back to the attacker. (Rodelero - This class needs some SERIOUS rework)
Assault Guard - Blocking an enemy’s attacks confers a buff to your own attack by 20% for 5 seconds. (Peltasta and Rodelero)
Berserker’s Charge - If targeted by more than 2 enemies, attack increases by 10% by each additional enemy targeting you up to a max of 6 enemies. (Barbarian)
Backbreaker - All attacks from behind an enemy have increased Critical Hit chance and Base Damage by 5% up to a max level of 6. (All Swordsman classes)
Momentum - With a shield equipped, 25% of defense adds to attack. Increases by 5% per level up to a max level of 3. (Rodelero).
-NEW CLASSES-
The fun part. I find that it seems a bunch of the new classes which for now are speculation at best, neglect other aspects of the Swordsman ranks. Even the current classes don’t do their best to focus on certain weapon types or maximize defensive and utility based roles of Swordsmen. What I propose adding in on top of the coming classes:
DUELIST - Would be interesting to see a semi-evasive DPS class that focuses on 1-handed swords and debuffs rather than Rapiers. Perhaps to bridge that illusory gap between Corsair and Fencer as well as create more build diversity.
Rank 8
Characteristics - Red class icon featuring 3 swords and a skull. Utilizes multiple tricks, a few debuffs, fast attacks, and enhanced dual wielding to take down an opponent. Has an elite focus on One-handed Swords but gains the ability to utilize a second SWORD in their off-hand with a small penalty.
Level 1 Attacks:
-Sand Toss(Earth) - Sends silicon and dust particles at a high velocity cone in front of you to deal heavy damage and cause Darkness for 15 seconds.
-Falling Moon(Slash/Dark) - Launch a 3-stage attack with your weapon with an enhanced chance to critical hit and cause slowness. After the last hit, gain a buff which increases evasion by 10%. ATTRIBUTE ENHANCED BY AGILITY.
-Swingline(Slash) - Slash your weapon sideways in a straight line emitting an oblong, purple shockwave which hits enemies in an arc in front of you multiple times. Further levels increase the size of the wave and increase the amount of hits.
-Switchout(Pirece) - Stab your opponent’s head and then jump back by 2 tiles. Causes Unbalanced for 20 seconds and increases your evasion by 15%. ATTRIBUTE ENHANCED BY AGILITY
-Heretic Cross(Slash/Poison) - Hit your opponent twice with powerful slashes which cause poison. The debuff lasts for 15 seconds and causes an explosion for 2x weapon damage upon lifting of the poison effect.
-Lethality - Grants Evasion +30%, Crit Damage + 30%, and HP Regen UP for 40 seconds.
Attributes:
-1 Handed Sword Veteran - Your alignment with your sword has increased your efficiency. Gain an additional 5% bonus damage and 2% crit rate per level to a max of 3.
-Dual Sword - Gain the ability to wear a second 1-handed sword in your off-hand. Skill damage while wearing a sword in your off-hand increases by 30% but initial damage of your off-hand weapon is limited to 70%. Leveling this attribute increases the amount of damage your off-hand weapon deals by 5% to a max level of 5.
-Near Miss - Permanently increases evasion by 3% and movement speed by 3. Raising this attribute increases both by 3 to a max level of 5.
RONIN/SWORDMASTER - Since we have Shinobi, it only makes sense to have another class of Eastern descent. Would bring “Katanas” into the game…or would require a different type of 2-handed sword.
Rank 7
Characteristics - Blue class icon featuring 2 katanas crossed over a cherry blossom. Utilizes a series of counters, self-buffs, incredibly fast attacks, and group block-boosting measures. Has access to many elemental-based attacks but with lower damage than other classes of a similar rank. Gains many gap closers and short-range teleports. Utilizes Katanas which would deal less damage than 2-handed swords but with an innate crit rate, block rate, and also deal Piercing damage.
Level 1 Attacks:
Flowing Fang(Ice) - Readies your weapon for the next 5 seconds and retaliates a physical attack with a counter that does your attack + skill dmg + attacker dmg. Freezes the attacker for 3 seconds and causes bleeding for 10 seconds. Leveling this skill increases the ready time-window. ATTRIBUTE ENHANCED BY CONSTITUTION
Solemn Gale(Wind/Pierce) - Slash your opponent 4 times with quick strikes and leave them under a “Solemn” debuff. They will not be able to cast magical attacks for 10 seconds and any additional damage taken will cause an additional 10% damage. ATTRIBUTE ENHANCED BY AGILITY
Thunder God Fang(Electric/Pierce) - Strike down with a powerful smash of lightning that hits surrounding opponents 3 times, leaving them stunned for 2 seconds.
Severance(Dark/Pierce) - Slash your sword horizontally at high speeds, launching a thin but powerful vacuum of dark energy. Extends up to 10 tiles in front of you. Targets hit by this while Bleeding will take double damage.
Transcendence - Increase Block rate and movement speed for yourself and your party by 30%.
Savage Flare(Fire/Pierce) - Convert your mass into fire particles and arrive at your target with a powerful upward slash. Lifts targets and causes them to burn for 10 seconds. Targets hit with another debuff while Burning from Savage Flare will have the Burn effects extended for 3 seconds each. ATTRIBUTE ENHANCED BY STRENGTH
Draw Stance - Lower your center of gravity and sheath your weapon. Increases Block Rate by 10%, Crit Rate by 20%, Evasion by 10%, and Defense by 15, but reduces attack speed for 40 seconds. Duration and attributes affected increase based on level.
Attributes:
Katana - Able to equip Katanas and manually block with them.
Katana Mastery - While a Katana is equipped, block rate and critical hit chance are increased by 5% to a max of level 3.
Stalwart Swordsman - While a Katana, One Handed Sword, or Two Handed Sword are equipped, CONSTITUTION increases attack by a factor of .75 per point of Constitution.
Fierce Guard - Blocking opponent’s attacks with Manual guard will extend their stagger time and confer a chance to drop their attack by 20% for 5 seconds.
As a secondary note: You guys at IMC are doing a lot right with this game - My suggestions are simply to improve what I see can be fixed.
I’d certainly be interested in hearing community opinions as well.
With All Due Respect,
Excellence