KoS Strength line AAs - Axe? Why only axe?

[Turiann]

Hi all,

 

Maybe it's a misunderstanding, in fact it's so weird that it may well be erroneous. Here is my question/worry/annoyance

 

I was wondering how many others were surprised and disappointed that the Crusader's Strength AA-line was based, for 2 of the major abilities, on using an Axe. Just the idea of restricting it to one weapon is already annoying, but then an axe... An axe?

I realize that's ok for the dwarven knights, and it's not about annoying those who favor axes, but if there is one weapon that symbolizes knighthood, from any fantasy setting and story to historical accounts, from Excalibur the the annointment of a knight, from epics of paladins and shadowknights in Everquest, it's the... sword.

 

I have not a single clue who among the devs thought that the best weapon for crusader specific AAs was the Axe. I prolly would put that weapon behind sword, mace, flail, lance, hammer as typical knightly weapon, except maybe for the dwarven knight.

 

I'm hoping this... "weird" decision to put it calmly, will be recalled, and the limitation on the type of weapon on that AA line removed, or if anything reduced to "slashing" weapons, that at least will make both sword and axe wielders happy.

 

Can any designer explain how you came up with the "axe" idea? Really really I'm honest, I want to know, lol.

 

 

[PhozFa]

All classes have weird things like that. Like my friend's ability has a spell that requires a dagger. My bruiser has a whole line of attacks that require a 2 handed staff. How many of those classes do you see with those weapons? /shrug.

[Mistmoore-Milaga]

I consider the executioner's axe the staple of any shadowknight.  There is nothing quite so satisfying as cleaving your opponents in two.  Sometimes, after a hard day fighting for harvest nodes, camping that durn crocodile hunter for court of coins faction or just fending off spectres that noobs pull to the docks, it is a good way to unwind.  Much more satisying than impaling, eviscerating, or smooshing something with a big hammer. It just chafes the tail a bit.Besides, an axe is a classic strength weapon while a sword is a bit more about finesse.  As for the mace/hammer, I'll leave those to the templars.

[RavCossa]

Yeah a sword is all about finesse and cleaving depending on the sword, and that's kinda how I feel about being a Knight even an evil one.  Kind of a superiority over other classes...

[Ishnar]

Well axes are also about fear.  No weapon strikes fear into the hearts of your enemies more than an axe.  As a shadowknight, I believe in letting the enemy fear you.

 

ooc- plus I was one of the many people fighting for axes in the first place, so of course I use them preferentally.  I've always considered the sword more of a paladin weapon.  The sword is about finesse and skill, the axe is about brutality and strength.   Far more fitting a weapon for a Shadowknight.  We aren't a bunch of pretty boys like a pally.

Message Edited by Ishnar on 02-13-200606:09 AM

[Mathe]

Actually the Lance is the more traditional symbolic weapon of knights not the sword.

[mikeyswizz]

Each path requires a different weapon for some abilities. Str has an axe. One requires a hammer, one requires a piercer (agi i think), one requires a sword.

 

The purpose of this is too make the SK class more diverse so no one is the same. They are trying not to run into the same problem they did in EQ1. The issue being that each class had AAs they NEEDED to be effective. With the way they have it now each SK can pick which path he wants, and therefore making certain people more effective in some situations and less effective in others. Thus diversifying and still keeping each path useful.

 

For example, if you take the AGI path you need to be on a mount for a bunch of the abilities. Making this SK more effective at tanking mobs outdoors but less effetive in dungeons.

[Caeldo]

@Matheau:Sry Mate, but you re wrong. The Horse and foremost the Sword are the Symbols of a Knight. But it is true that the Lance was the main attack weapon of a Knight and their sword was the secondary option.If a Squire finaly got to the "Schwertleite"( my translation of this ancient german word would be path of the sword or guidance of the sword) he was given Knighthood with 2 tips of a sword; the Horse and his Sword were also the only things he was always allowed to keep. For example if he owned a debt to lets say a higher noble and all his other goods and his land were taken away from him.If you condsider the oriental equivalent as a knight, the japanese samurai, this was especially true. These Guys were allowed to kill anybody who touched their Katana without their permission and were furthermore allowed to test the sharpness of their blade anytime they felt it was necessary (eg. by decaptitating a commoner).But back to business :Yeah, i also would like to see the Shadowknight`s AA involving a Sword or yet better a two handed Sword. The Axe is something for Barbarians, Berserkers and Dwarves. True, the Shadowknight is a vile creature that inflicts hate and fear in the hearts of most living beeings (except Dev`s ... they somehow got immune and just laugh at us but they should do this with a dark finesse. This makes us different from all the other evil and gruesome folks. We are not only dumb Fighters of chaos and destruction but also masters of the arcane art and champions of the /darth vaders voice on/ emper ... err ... Overlooooooord /darth vaders voice off/.And have a nice, bright and shiny day,Celim, SK40, Splitpaw

Message Edited by Caeldorn on 02-13-200609:04 AM

[KagekDahung]

Screw axe, screw sword, give me a Giant Flail and let me at em, WARGHHHHHH!!!!

[Jaso]

A massive two handed sword is hardly a weapon of finesse.  They crushed more than they cut.

[Datro]

I guess what kills me most about this is that I havn't seen a fabled axe since T5... I spec'd STR & INT and would love to go that route in AAs but not if I have to give up my fabled weapons to do it. 

[Rylight]

The fact of the matter is (as an sk) I really dont see myself using an axe, and for a few reasons:

1. When I think of knight, I think of a sword, I dont remember alot of "real" knights weilding axes, not saying they didnt, just the majority seemed to be weilding a sword. and as for the lance, lances were moslty used for jousting when knights dueled each other in arenas in horseback imo (not saying they were not also used in real combat, as im sure they were)

2. when I think of a zerker, I think of him weilding dual axes going crazy with them, slicing his opponent to shreds, or even a 2 handed axe for that matter.

3. our cursed caress proc and many other procs go off when you hit a mob, so the more you hit a mob, the better chance you have of setting off your proc, 2 handed axes do alot of damage but have a long delay, for that same amount of damage over time, a sword gives less damage, but you hit faster with it. in conclusion a two handed sword that hits fast is actually more suited to our class (not to say I have never used an axe, I loved my Mammoth from the greenhoods quest)

4.I REALLY HAVENT SEEN ALOT OF SK'S USE AN AXE LATELY, it just doesnt seem like the right thing to give us because we (as a majority on my server) just dont seem to use them alot, e.i. we seem to favor swords, mostly claymores and greatswords from what I've seen

[Nocifer Deathblade]

Restricting Knight to axe for str path is basically dumb thing to do. Str line sounds more sense to use 2h stuff or blunt weapons. Harder you hit, more dent in the platemail of your enemy if good hit.

Axes are more of zerker's and warrior's field.

Lance is not primary weapon for knights. Lance main purpose is only to dismount your enemy off horse and finish him off with sword or mace or whatever..

Blunt weapon for Knight is a popular use against armored enemy cuz its more effective against platemail. A hard hit by spiked mace could create a severe dent in platemail creating a hole. The bent fragments of that platemail can pierce skin and STAY there to continue bleeding unless knight take that platemail off to mend the wound. It will not stop bleeding  if he keep damaged armor on. That's painful..  1h sword against armored enemy is less effective but more effective against unarmored enemy. You would rely on lunge or piercing with sword trying to puncture the platemail.  Try slash it, it is largely ineffective..  The flail is pretty good to create a dent on armor or to disarm enemy or very effective to bypass shield thanks to its chained ball that can go around shield to hit enemy.

You are right that axe is more effective by hacking hard to create crushing blows against armored enemy but seems not preferred use for knights so far I see.

Remember that during 1st year of EQ2, knights CANNOT even use axes. SOE finally added that and now they require us to use it if we want to go str path? Funny..

[Keredh]

My SK is my second alt... I always had axes down as the zerker's weapon of choice.

Ker

[KULV]

the part i find funny that from launch, SKs couldnt even use axes in this game for like the 1st 4 or 6 months LOL. Greataxes are included in this so halberds are in as well for this line. Pris. 2.0 should work so i'm not mad at the selections for 1/2hded axes. I'm considering doin only this line since it is all about what i think SKs lack hate and dps. Rest of the lines are primarly worthless cept the resists and hp gain in the sta line.

[MarcHudgi]

All I can hope is that this is the inspirational source for the Shadow Knight (gimme that hat and horse and I'll take the axe):

[Dogm]

Look through the rest of the AAs and you will find some that need  :  A Hammer,  A Spear, A Symbol, and OMG A Sword.    Now you may say that you dont like those AAs , but there you go there are options out there that require a sword.

[Sinuvil]

It's one thing to require an axe. My beef is, I've never seen one good axe I actually wanted to use. I don't even REMEMBER any fabled axe. If they are going to require such specific types of weapons, I hope they will be putting more of these type of fabled items in the game. Spears and axes are to my memory quite rare if not non existant in fabled. Quite frankly I haven't really even seen a legendary I wanted to use. Crafted stuff is meh, I want more fabled variety.

[Margen]

Agree with above poster, I have no problem using an ax, but put axes in that I WANT to use.  Right now I use Sandstorm one handed, or legendary morningstar that drops in Courts (can't remember name), if going two handed I use the captains sword.  I raid a lot and I have yet to see a axe even drop.

[KULV]

talkin T6 weapons is kinda pointless will be a whole new tier of weapons out there in a couple of weeks, and hopefully some axes in it. as for DoF axes, pris. 2.0 rewards a really [Removed for Content] 2hded axe, and there is 1hded axe that is awsome(check out battleaxe of vindication).

[Ishnar]

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Jason_ wrote:A massive two handed sword is hardly a weapon of finesse.  They crushed more than they cut.

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http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html

 

[troodon311]

We couldn't even use axes at launch, if I remember correctly.  Makes it an even odder restriction