(1.6.3) Ability-attacks too weak ?

[Majo]

Hello,

I am currently thinking of updating my guide and I want to give some hints, which abilities are good and which not, so I was experimenting with some melee-abilities (I play most time melee even with archers/axe-throwers, since I don't know if I can rebuy ammo in current version)

In my optinion, all ability-attacks are much weaker than I expected; I expected them to be quite devasting, since I have to spend resources (ability-points) on them, but most are at best nice to have or even worse than normal attacks.

Some results of my tries (my view):

• Kick: if it works, it is fine because it lowers enemy defense, but: it directly makes low damage (makes sense; sword have been invented because they make more damage than feet), it lowers enemy defense, but if I fight enemies correctly I encircle them, so they don't defend much anyway; if I do a full attack on an encircled enemy, he is down in 2 rounds, so the advantage is not that high (I am 1 attack short, becuase I used it for kicking); sometimes, I have to do a diversion attack to make the enemy turn away from the kicker (that he can kick some ass, what works best from behind - he also is less likely to be blocked or to miss)
• Face-Slash: I don't know if it worsens the condition of my enemy, because I cannot see his state; it seems not to be devasting, I don't think it is much more powerfull than attacking normally since that attack does not hit often.
• Long-Stab: I can bring additional harm to the enemy, that is right but I have to give up my checkerbord pattern, it only makes sense to use on enemies at least attacked from somebody else, and then flanking and attacking normally gives better result in my opinion

• Skewer: sounds good on first glance but it is counted as a strong attack so I cannot attack after it, it is only effective against riders and it cannot crit, which makes it less strong
• Foot-Sting: main benefit is, that my enemy cannot move; since I usually try to flank my enemies from 3 sides, it makes son sense for them to move anyway
• dirty Fighting: if I fight an enemy, he is down in 2 turns anyway, no big advantage (I have to admit, I have not much experience with this attack)
• Overwhelm: worsens my stamina to damage-ratio, that the enemy loses morale is less imortant that he loses so much health that he is down in 2 turns ...
• Dismount rider: the higher damage is leveled by the lower hit chance
• all about retaliation (flick-slash etc.) is not important (in 1.6.3), because the enemy does not retaliate
• charge is not so strong because I cannot make use of flanking; normally it is better in my opinion to walk near enemies and flank them; if I charge there are good chances, that the enemy blocks (if he has a shield); I usually can use it once (at best) in battle
• mounted charge abilities are not so effective since I have to be galloping in the enemy (usually also only once per battle) + I cannot make use of flanking; If I raid and gallop I don't get attacks of opportunity against archers, so I consider it worse than normal attack.

Did you make better experiences ? Is there a very strong ability, that I did not find (or see) ? anybody who did the legendary push-kick ?

[GS_LuciusCastus]

Hi Majo. Most abilities are not yet made for a comprehensive use with the rest of the game, meaning most builds for units are not yet finalized and do not have enough synergy with the current strategies of the game. This being said, the abilities you mentioned are indeed in need of a rework.

* Kick is supposed to be a low-damage attack that risks your attack to place a penalty on your enemy, and works really well in defensively-oriented units. Because the AI does not use abilities, it is made redundant for now. It will change in the future, though. I'll take a look at the stats and make some changes to make it more viable.

* Face Slash is a debuffer, meaning it is not meant to do damage, but rather make the enemy not as effective in dealing damage to you. Obviously, some units will be defeated quicker than if the debuff is worth it (or maybe you want to avoid that angry Suebian with a huge axe to hit you), so it is meant to be used in stronger units that are more resillient.

* Long Stab's critique you have is mostly at a specific strategy that we will address in the future.

* Skewer is meant to be used against both armored units and riders. Its a more flexible tool in the arsenal, and remember you can combo with a strong attack in the end; also, strong attacks are the most stamina-efficient attacks in the game.

* Footsting will be very, VERY useful against fleeing enemies or when their morale starts to decay, trust me on this.

* Dirty Fighting is incredibly useful with sword-wielders because they can spam quick attacks with more efficiency.

* Overwhelm's greatest asset is it ignores Reactive abilities (which the AI does not use for now, but will in the future), and it is a response against defensively-oriented strategies. Again, both of which not used so much now.

* I will address the problem with Dismount Rider for a better damage:inaccuracy ratio.

* Enemy WILL counter/retaliate in the future.

* Charges are incredibly stamina-efficient and are a bane to armored units. You can flank with one unit and charge on the side; the entire ability was designed towards it.