Pikes skill: Difference between revisions
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== '''General Information''' == |
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{{RTOC}}[[page type is::skill| ]] |
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Historically a pike is a long thrusting spear, used often by infantry units to combat heavy cavalry from a distance. The long shaft and deadly point of the pike turned a horseman's own momentum against them, impaling the horse under its own weight. Within DragonRealms, there are two classes of pole arms: halberds and pikes. Almost all spears and javelins fall under the Pike weapon category in DragonRealms. Unlike traditional pikes, many pikes in DragonRealms can also be thrown, such as the short hunting spear sold in Arthe Dale. Examples of pikes within DragonRealms include spears, javelins, and throwing spears. |
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==Pikes== |
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Pole arms fall into two categories. Nonstandard weapons such as glaives and halbers are usually (but not always) considered halberds, while items more closely resembling spears tend to fall into the pike category. |
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Pikes tend to be extremely heavy and favor puncture damage. Many are also heavy thrown weapons, and a good number of them are usable with one hand, freeing the other for a [[Shield Usage skill|shield]], a [[Offhand Weapon skill|second weapon]], or [[Magic|spellcasting]], as certain spells require a free hand. This is unusual for heavier weapons, so it is considered one of the primary assets of the pike. Many pikes can also hit from pole range, and [[Barbarian|Barbarians]] and [[Paladin|Paladins]] can use them to [[Parry Ability skill|parry]] ranged weapons with them at that distance. |
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Given the diversity of weapons represented by pikes they are a surprisingly versatile weapon class. Generally, pikes come in two varieties: heavy and powerful pole-range hitters and lighter melee-range hitters (many of which can also be thrown using the heavy thrown skill). The weapons light enough for new players to use do not tend to be very powerful; likewise, the truly dangerous pike weapons tend to be very cumbersome and heavy, making pikes a somewhat tricky class for newer players to use. |
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Sadly, the pike templates available to players to forge are all rather useless, being extremely poor in regards to weight versus damage (extremely heavy, not very powerful). Pikes sold at stores tend to either be overwhelmingly heavy or extremely weak. The effective combos for pike weapons are inferior to those used for other weapons, and even a pike weapon with high damage [[Appraisal skill|appraisal]] will pale in comparison to other heavy weapons, like [[Halberds skill|halberds]], [[Twohanded Edged skill|twohanded edged]], and [[Twohanded Blunt skill|twohanded blunt]]. Much of this is the result of a change by GM Ssra, who was of the opinion that pikes were historically a weak weapon for one-on-one combat, and had planned to implement some sort of bonus for using the weapon in a group. This development never came about, and the weapon seems to currently be in a state of flux. |
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Sadly, the pike templates available to players to forge are all rather useless, being extremely poor in regards to weight versus damage (extremely heavy, not very powerful). Unlike some other weapon categories, however, the difficulty of learning pikes as a new player eventually pays off quite well, as there are several rare Festival pikes available which are arguably among the most powerful weapons in the game. These pikes all weigh in excess of sixty stones, however, so they are certainly not recommended for younger players. |
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Pikes are generally poorly balanced, with long roundtimes. It is important to stick to effective combos, rather than relying on the attack command. |
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For standard, puncture pikes: |
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Jab -> Thrust -> Lunge -> Repeat |
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For Ngalios and Pike-based Khujs, or any other slash pike: |
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''Note: Pike skill can be used during jousting.'' |
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Jab -> Sweep -> Slam -> Repeat |
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In either case, it may be advisable to replace the thrust, lunge, and sweep attacks with feint thrust, feint lunge, and feint sweep, depending on the offensive skill of your opponent. |
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== '''Advantages and Disadvantages''' == |
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'''Advantages''' |
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*Many weapons available hit from pole range, often giving pike users the first hit in a melee engagement. |
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*Potential for heavy damage |
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*Respectable versatility in weapon and tactic selections |
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'''Disadvantages''' |
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*Most powerful pike weapons tend to be heavy, making pikes somewhat difficult for younger players to learn. |
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*Truly heavy damage maneuvers are all puncture-based, and puncture maneuvers like thrust and lunge have notable defensive penalties associated with them. Use with caution when hunting at-level. |
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*Not as accessible or as potentially powerful as halberds. |
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== |
==Guild-Specific Abilities== |
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*Barbarians can WHIRLWIND with any pole or melee weapon. This will attack all targets within range of their chosen weapon (melee or pole), including hidden targets. Hidden targets will be pulled from hiding if hit by whirlwind. WHIRL can also be used to one's self or another free of webbing. ''Requirements:'' 350 in the weapon skill and 32 agility. |
*Barbarians can WHIRLWIND with any pole or melee weapon. This will attack all targets within range of their chosen weapon (melee or pole), including hidden targets. Hidden targets will be pulled from hiding if hit by whirlwind. WHIRL can also be used to one's self or another free of webbing. ''Requirements:'' 350 in the weapon skill and 32 agility. |
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*Barbarians and Paladins can parry ranged attacks, so long as the attack occurs from within their weapon's range. In the case of pikes, this usually includes pole. |
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==Recommended Weapons== |
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*{{ilink|w|short hunting spear}} (Pike and Heavy thrown, light with decent damage, good for new players) |
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*short |
*{{ilink|w|short hunting spear}} -- Pike/HT, good for new players. |
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*{{ilink|w|ngalio}} -- One handed, so can be used with a shield, available from the [[Wooden_Shack|Wooden Shack]] in [[Leth Deriel]]. |
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*ox-togue spear with a stout iron-studded haft (Pike/Quarter Staff swappable, more powerful than short steel spear but probably too heavy for younger players. Also rare and expensive.) |
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*{{ilink|w|short steel spear}} -- Pike/SS swappable, good for new players but expensive, from festival merchant. |
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*{{ilink|w|ngalio}} (They are sold in Leth. Can be used with a shield which is helpful since many pike weapons do not have good construction.) |
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*{{ilink|w|Ox-tongue spear with a stout iron-studded haft}} -- Pike/QS swappable, from festival merchant. |
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[[Category:Weapon Skillset]] |
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[[Category:Skills]] |
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[[page type is::skill| ]] |
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{{RefAl}} |
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Latest revision as of 20:59, 2 September 2014
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This article is obsolete. The information described here is no longer valid in the game, |
Pikes
Pole arms fall into two categories. Nonstandard weapons such as glaives and halbers are usually (but not always) considered halberds, while items more closely resembling spears tend to fall into the pike category.
Pikes tend to be extremely heavy and favor puncture damage. Many are also heavy thrown weapons, and a good number of them are usable with one hand, freeing the other for a shield, a second weapon, or spellcasting, as certain spells require a free hand. This is unusual for heavier weapons, so it is considered one of the primary assets of the pike. Many pikes can also hit from pole range, and Barbarians and Paladins can use them to parry ranged weapons with them at that distance.
Sadly, the pike templates available to players to forge are all rather useless, being extremely poor in regards to weight versus damage (extremely heavy, not very powerful). Pikes sold at stores tend to either be overwhelmingly heavy or extremely weak. The effective combos for pike weapons are inferior to those used for other weapons, and even a pike weapon with high damage appraisal will pale in comparison to other heavy weapons, like halberds, twohanded edged, and twohanded blunt. Much of this is the result of a change by GM Ssra, who was of the opinion that pikes were historically a weak weapon for one-on-one combat, and had planned to implement some sort of bonus for using the weapon in a group. This development never came about, and the weapon seems to currently be in a state of flux.
Recommended Combos
Pikes are generally poorly balanced, with long roundtimes. It is important to stick to effective combos, rather than relying on the attack command.
For standard, puncture pikes: Jab -> Thrust -> Lunge -> Repeat
For Ngalios and Pike-based Khujs, or any other slash pike: Jab -> Sweep -> Slam -> Repeat
In either case, it may be advisable to replace the thrust, lunge, and sweep attacks with feint thrust, feint lunge, and feint sweep, depending on the offensive skill of your opponent.
Guild-Specific Abilities
- Barbarians can WHIRLWIND with any pole or melee weapon. This will attack all targets within range of their chosen weapon (melee or pole), including hidden targets. Hidden targets will be pulled from hiding if hit by whirlwind. WHIRL can also be used to one's self or another free of webbing. Requirements: 350 in the weapon skill and 32 agility.
- Barbarians and Paladins can parry ranged attacks, so long as the attack occurs from within their weapon's range. In the case of pikes, this usually includes pole.
Recommended Weapons
- short hunting spear -- Pike/HT, good for new players.
- ngalio -- One handed, so can be used with a shield, available from the Wooden Shack in Leth Deriel.
- short steel spear -- Pike/SS swappable, good for new players but expensive, from festival merchant.
- Ox-tongue spear with a stout iron-studded haft -- Pike/QS swappable, from festival merchant.