Weight based Weapons

@bugaboo-bill Yes I agree, I do not use any double digging techniques or any ingame glitches, just love to play the game as it was meant to be, unfortunately, as much as I love Rare, I feel like they have no actual roadmap on PVP improvement, they just shuffle around and try different things as they go to see what fits most. During that time, many people leave and rage quit. As I have witnessed many times in the Arena.

@phuzzybond no recent changes were made to the blunderbuss, you have always been able to one shot a pirate. It just became more apparent with the current Arena settings and nature of the matches.

The blunderbuss has always been a good on ship weapon as the close quarter combat is when it's at its best.

If you get lured in with a lunge and they don't get hit, you are out played.

Holding the anchor and nobody is covering your back, your team failed you and you might have needed to fight instead. Same goes for people getting killed while holding a cannon, lack of team work and a task was not being done.

Spawn camping while killing people in black screens... now this is a problem but not related to the weapons, but the fact that people can take potshots before you get control. Trust me being hit with an EoR with any follow up has the same results.

You can also use their limited range against them in the same manner, go in when they step in to make the kill, dodge the majority of the damage by dodging.

The main reason it feels so powerful in Arena is that the main combat is done on ships, where it can reach it's full potential. Additionally it is pretty guaranteed to deal damage, with a knockback, making that fighting multiple people that it is very useful both on the defensive and offensive end. Additionally sword combat versus multiple pirates has become a nearly impossible task, while you used to be able to block, make choices and focus on timing at least which gave an alternative. Now the best answer to multiple swords is the blunderbuss without a doubt as it can make space for yourself and place pressure on them while able to move.

On top of all this there are no gunpowder barrels to worry about, so no need to hit anything at range if you don't want to.

Adding weights to weapons might be nice in any case to add depth, but for me the blunderbuss is balanced and easy enough to play around.

The addition of kegs in Arena would already have a big impact on the Meta and if they improve sword play to once again have the skill component to play versus multiple pirates by fixing the blocking mechanics might provide an alternative.

@phuzzybond Scenario three is obviously bad, but I don't see the issue in one and two. Both are traps you fall for once or twice. If you don't learn your lesson after that, then it is not a balance issue.

Outside of Arena the blunderbuss already has very limited use, your suggestion would make that even worse.

Sidenote: Blunderbuss one shot kill was never removed.

• No weapon in this game should be a one shot kill.
• Reduce the knockback from the Blunderbuss.
• Swords need to interrupt reloading animation.
• Lower the delay time of a missed slash.

Cutlass needs to be a viable weapon without being a spam win. Right now the first landed blow versus another cutlass will be the deciding factor as you are stun locked from blocking or swinging. And successfully blocking a slash gives you no upperhand. Landing a slash versus a blunderbuss does nothing because they get no penalty and can still ADS and one shot you. This is bad design.

@rakan-le-rouge said in Weight based Weapons:

@cotu42

Hi

I really agree with you when you say the blunderbuss is made for ship combats and close range.
However, It is too polyvalent :

• Strong in close range

It is strong because the below aspects. Below is just a breakdown of why it is a good close combat weapon.

• Only weapon able to one shot people
• Only weapon able to instant knock back
• Counter the other close range weapon that is the sword (heavy punisher, can land a shot between two sword hits, allow to fight multiple sword players at once)

Actually, that is false. A sword versus blunderbuss fight is based on the pirates involved. Also, a pirate has two weapons and should play accordingly with this in mind.

It can be used in multi player battles more effectively, as you can keep moving, and create space due to the knockback.

• A pretty fast reloading time
• Large spread of bullets
• Can be use without aiming and have the same result

Finaly, I don't understand your last sentence about changing the sword block.

For me the issue you have with the blunderbuss meta is better resolved by the addition of kegs in Arena and fixes to sword play. Sword combat for the majority has just become about swinging that sword and fighting multiple opponents is at such a huge disadvantage, this used to not be the case till they sped up our attack. Making the blunderbuss out shine the sword in crew on crew battles. Man I miss the old days of the dance involved in slicing a crew down.

Blocking is supposed to be a way to make space, knockback effect... but as it didn't get a similar buff to movement it just causes you to lose momentum and feels in a lot of ways as an extension of your death than a potential comeback mechanic.

About hit registration, it has always been bad since the feedback is client side and hit registration is server side. It however does not impact the damage a bullet does or how many hits actually is needed. The feedback is just not reliable, as you might hit when no marker appears and you might not when it does. This however has minimal impact on the guns used.