Swashbuckler Epic concept art at Massively!

[RuadhTheRed]

SoE was kind enough to give us <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.massively.com/2008/01/30/exclusive-swashbuckler-epic-concept-art-revealed/" target="_blank">exclusive concept art of the Swashbuckler epic "Charm's Way."</a> Being a long time denizen of Norrath (since the original EverQuest), I couldn't help but also cover the history of epics in the EverQuest universe. Check it out!<b>Dan O'Halloran<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.massively.com" target="_blank">Massively</a> <i>- Your Daily MMO News</i><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest-ii" target="_blank">Massively's EQ2 Coverage</a></b>

[Snapdragyn]

<p>Erm... HUH?! I can't even tell what that thing <i>is</i>! PLEASE let this be some other class's concept art by mistake! The drawing on the left even looks a bit like the pic of the bruiser epic that appeared in that magazine, while the one on the right could be an early version of the monk epic from that same article.</p><p>GOOD GRIEF I hope my swash isn't stuck trying to figure out what to do with that monstrosity! It looks like it'd work better as a caltrop than a weapon! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" /></p>

[shadowgate]

The drawing is only of the handguard and handle of what appears to be a cutlass or wide blades rapier. They are not showing the whole weapon!

[Coniaric]

Actually ... to me ... it appeared that the art is showing the grip/handle and guard part of a rapier or a sword.

[Winter]

<cite>Snapdragyn wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Erm... HUH?! I can't even tell what that thing <i>is</i>! PLEASE let this be some other class's concept art by mistake! The drawing on the left even looks a bit like the pic of the bruiser epic that appeared in that magazine, while the one on the right could be an early version of the monk epic from that same article.</p><p>GOOD GRIEF I hope my swash isn't stuck trying to figure out what to do with that monstrosity! It looks like it'd work better as a caltrop than a weapon! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" /></p></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;color: #ff99ff;">Take a very very close look at the left picture <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span>

[Ashford_Hawk]

It looks as though it is just showing the handle and the guard from 2 different perspectives; one from the side and one from the top, as if you are looking down the length of the blade.

[Snapdragyn]

<p>And why would a guard have that bizarre jagged dagger thingie sticking out one side of it? Looks like that'd just end up cutting the user.</p><p>WAIT! I've got it! This is how they're getting rid of DW swashies - by having us <i>slice off</i> our own off-hands!! :p</p><p>(On a serious note, I know - with relief - that concept art often looks drastically different from ingame art, even if there are no major changes in the idea from sketch to animation.)</p>

[Sonnyjim_Grumblestump]

Hehe.. Yeah, the guard on that thing is certainly... ambitious. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img mce_tsrc=" />I don't care. As long as it's a rapier or cutlass. Or Sabre.. anything! I can't get over how many of KoS's 'rapier's are nothing of the sort, graphically. As long as it's something swashbuckler-ey I'll be happy.. I AM somewhat curious if that sketch is trying to show three blades though! There is obviously one central blade, but in the left handed sketch it shows 2 other pairs of parallel lines.. Maybe it's just the world's biggest parrying dagger. [EDIT: I whipped this up for our guild board just now, but it applies. As we all know, even a mediocre weapon can look incredible if they have the right particle effects. Let's hope the Devs are thinking what *I'm* thinking! ]<img src="http://members.shaw.ca/sonnyjim.luclin/mb/beerepic2.jpg" alt="" border="0" />

[Vendolyn]

Nice chops ;p

[ke'la]

<p>Here is a collage I put together with pics of RL Rapiers as well as the SoE consept are from Massively.</p><p><img src="http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n65/kela_012/Swash_Epic.gif" alt="" width="800" height="465" border="0" /></p><p>It looks to me to be a handle shot like the one embeded in the Massively image. The spike thing going down would be the Knuckle Guard, and the one coming out would be the Front Quillon. In the Consept art it looks kinda like a spike, wich consitering fighting with a Rapier includes punching people with the Knuckle Guard, I think can cause some serious damage to an oponant. The back spike thing would be the Finial wich protects the wrist from an opponant from sliding thier sword down yours and damaging your arm.</p><p>Looking at it as a handle design it looks extreemly cool IMO, though I am not shure where any animation would go in it, because remember its been very blatently hinted that the epics will be animated.</p>

[Themaginator]

i love the intricacy we are seeing on the weapons so far, i dont know why people want plain [Removed for Content] unoriginal weapons for their epics lol

[Snapdragyn]

The main problem I have with the front quillon (didn't know the proper terminology, thanks) is that when we look at the righthand drawing, the one which seems to show a 'blade on' view, it has inward-pointing spikes. If one then punches with the knuckle guard, these hooks would run the risk of catching on something (like... flesh), & sticking, perhaps disarming you. A weapon which leads you to disarm yourself doesn't seem like what you'd be looking for in design.

[Rashaak]

<p>Poke your eyes out with that crossguard or quillon thing...  lol</p>

[ke'la]

<cite>Snapdragyn wrote:</cite><blockquote>The main problem I have with the front quillon (didn't know the proper terminology, thanks) is that when we look at the righthand drawing, the one which seems to show a 'blade on' view, it has inward-pointing spikes. If one then punches with the knuckle guard, these hooks would run the risk of catching on something (like... flesh), & sticking, perhaps disarming you. A weapon which leads you to disarm yourself doesn't seem like what you'd be looking for in design.</blockquote><p>Accually the Barbs appear to be on the Knuckle Guard part of the Handle not the Front Quillon, if you look at the guard in the side view thier are 3 distinct "spike like things" one going forward near the Top and 2 going back as you move down the guard. Those would be the barbs you see in the 'blade on' view, while if you look closly at the center of the guard you can see what looks like a little arrow that would be the spike, and unlike in the handle view it is shorter then the guard, so this maybe where the animation is, basicly that spike may be retractable.</p><p>[EDIT]</p><p>here is another image with lines showing what I am talking about above, because after rereading it, it even kinda confused me... and I wrote it! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p><img src="http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n65/kela_012/Swash_Epic2.gif" alt="" width="800" height="465" border="0" /></p>

[Ashford_Hawk]

<p>Well if it does end up being some sort of rapier, then historically (from the real world mind you and not Norrath) a rapier is a thrusting weapon. And in my limited understanding of fencing grips and posture, the way the swash epic is presented shouldn't present too much of a problem for the wielder, at least in terms of poking themselves with the pointy bits on the guard.</p><p>Of course game animations may not lend much credulity to the above statements <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" width="15" height="15" /></p>

[Snapdragyn]

Thanks, ke'la, that actually makes sense! You've a better eye than me for translating the squiggles into images.

[ke'la]

<cite>Snapdragyn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Thanks, ke'la, that actually makes sense! You've a better eye than me for translating the squiggles into images.</blockquote>It helps when you do it as part of your living, though its Floorplans not consepts usually. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Kalin]

Anyone else see the mouse in the knuckleguard? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[DrkVsr]

<span style="font-size: medium;color: #993300;font-family: comic sans ms,sand;">Yes, now that you mention it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span>

[ke'la]

<cite>Kalin@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote>Anyone else see the mouse in the knuckleguard? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" width="15" height="15" /></blockquote>Yep, strange things happen when you flatten 3-D images to 2-D. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />