Curse

actionjack · Dec 10, 2005, 09:32 PM // 21:32

Class name: Dragoon/Dragon Knight/ Rider

Energy: Similar to that of a Warrior, 20-25 energy range.
Armor: A cross between Warrior and Ranger, a more balance AL against physical and Magic. But less than a Warrior and bit more than Ranger.
Weapons: Spear/Lance and Polearm/Halberd type. They are different than the normal melee weapons. Spears have a more focus damage (a max might have a 24-32 attack range), with similar speed as a bow. It attacks in a thrusting motion in a straight row (so if two foe stand in front of you in a row, you can hit both of them at once). Polearm weapon have a wider damage range (18-32), and attack in a 30-degreen Fan sweeping motion (so might hit up to 5 at once, if the enemy is standing in a cone shape in front of you). However, both weapon have an interesting property, in that when attacking a target in close melee range, they suffer a 33% attack power reduction. This makes them good when attacking a range enemy, or when sporting your tank from the back, but weak when being pressed, or engaged, by an enemy fighter.

Premise:
Unlike warriors, Dragoon are more as a support attacker than a tanker. You must be more strategic conscious to better take advantage of you weapon’s special properties. A rider Dragoon has lots advantages, since you can gain much and better control from that of a pet, but also have lots cons to offset it. Dragon Mimicry offers a range of supporting skills, to not only dragoons, but any other sub/primary class as well.

Attributes:

Ridesmanship (primary)
(See special concept) Its primary to make it easier to create riding animation (just need one model for one class), as well as to better balance the weak armor that Dragoon have.

Spear Mastery - Skills in use Spear/lance weapons. Most are single target heavy damage skills, as well as condition applying skills. Skills may need both Adeline and energy.

Polearm Mastery -
Skills in use of Polearm weapons. Most are physical AoE skills that use lots energy and adralines. Also some defensives skills. Skills may need both Adeline and energy.

Dragon Mimicry –
Magic type of skill that deals elemental/physical damage at closer range. Also defensive and self-healing skills.

Special Concept:

Mount:
One of the biggest attractions for playing as a Dragoon. But note, THIS IS NOT A SPEED BOOST! (Think more as a living offensive-defensive armor) Mounts, like pets, are use more as an attacking tool than transportation purpose (but there are still speed boost skills to go with it) There are different Mount you can choose from, each have its own personality and stats. (See below) Mounting offers many advantage and disadvantage:

Pro:
- When engage in melee combat, your mounts will attack with you. Some mounts even have range attacks.
- There are percentage chance (say 33%) that the attack dealt to you will be transfer to the mount.
- Some mount will have passive speed bonuses.

Con:
- Controlling your Mount is not an easy task. You must have good number of points in the attribute, else there are chance where they will go “Out of Control”
- Some skills, like Warrior’s stand, will not be usable while in mount. (Mount will have their own line of stand type of skill). And some skills can only use with a mount.
- You move faster in straight line, but will turn slower in rotating turns.
- It will take up a skill slot (like Charm Animal)
- When one take the damage, either the rider or mount, (25%- 10%) of that damage will also be apply on the other. This makes them more weaker to AoE type of skill, since will take double damage.
- Beside the Spear and Polearm weapons, all other melee weapon will take a reduction when use on mount (maybe 20%)
- You can get dismount by several skills, including knock down. You suffer 1 more second on the ground if you do.

Out of Control
Your Mount can sometime go “Out of Control”. This may be cause by seeing an enemy, when its hp goes low, attack by an elemental attack it doesn’t like, etc. It will be depend on the personality of that mount, and what type it is. When it does go out of control, you won’t be able to control its (and yours, since you are on it) movement for few seconds, and it might go charge into the frenzy of enemy, or run away from battle when you don’t want I to. More attribute points in ridesmanship will reduce the chance of that happening, and can also carry a skill “Rein Control” to get them back in control.

Mounting and Dismount
In some case, you might want to go on foot. You can choose to dismount any time, as well as mount back up anytime, as long as you are next to your mount (like when you get knockdown). This will take 2 seconds to do. Once dismount, your mount will follow you, but stay in the back as a neutral, not attacking nor being attack. (But in PvP, player can still target them)

Type of Mount
There can be lots possibility for type of mounts (from horse, to insect, and such). But to keep the them more toward Dragoon, will suggest only Dragon Type of Mounts. They will be small (bit smaller than the Drakes and Hydras in game) land bounded Dragons that look a bit like Raptors or Bear (can be on two leg, or on all four). Each type has its own stats, characteristics, and personality. Here possible example of some:

Fire Drake
Heavy Melee Fire damage. Decent AL, but bonuses against fire attacks. Berserker type, in that they might go Out of Control when see enemy, and rush in.

Wind Drake
Weak Range Air damage. Weak AL, but have a passive +15% speed boost. Coward type, in that they might go out of control when their hp is low and sees enemy, would run away.

Earth Drake
Decent Melee Earth damage. Good AL, and bonuses to Earth and physical attacks. Steady type, where they are easier to control. But have a passive –15% speed reduction.

Crystal Drake
Poor Range Earth damage. Poor AL, but with bonuses any elemental attack. Coward type, in that they might not engage in enemy. Have a passive –15% speed reduction, but +10 energy to the Rider.

Skill Examples:

Ridesmanship

Rein Control :
5e | 1c | 10r : Regain Control of you Mount if it goes Out of Control. Also make your mount a Steady-type in the next (5-10) seconds when use .
Gallop:
10e | 0c | 45r : You move X% faster in T seconds while on Mount.

Charge:
10e | 1c | 60r : You move 33% faster in next 5 seconds, and gain +X attack boost. This skill ends after you do an attack. Must be on Mount.

Chump:
5e | 0c | 10r : Make your Mount attack with +X extra damage.

Mount Attack Up:
10e | 2c | 60r : Increase the attack power of you mount in next T seconds.

Tanker:
10e | 2c | 60r : In next T seconds, you mount will take 66% of the attack for you.

Gentle Petting:
5e | 2c | 30r : Heal your Mount for X hp.
Tight Saddle:
10e | 1c | 45r : In next T seconds, will not be Dismount.

Spear Mastery

Throw Spear:
5e 4a| 1c | 10r : Throw your spear for a Range attack. You will suffer a self-imposed “Disarm” condition for 3 seconds.

Pin Down Throw:
5e 6a| 1c | 10r : Throw your spear for a Range attack that deal only 50% of damage, but make your target cripple for T seconds. You will suffer a self-imposed “Disarm” condition for 3 seconds.

Interrupting Throw:
5e 4a| 1c | 10r : Throw your spear for a Range attack that deal 50% damage, but interrupt target’s current action. You will suffer a self-imposed “Disarm” condition for 3 seconds.

Penetrating Thrust:
5e 6a| 0c | 10r : Your next attacks have X% of armor Penetrating.
Pushing Thrust:
10e 6a | 0c | 30r : Your next attacks will Knock Back your foe.

Dismounting Thrust:
5e 8a| 0c | 30r : Your next attack will dismount a Rider.

Separating Distance:
5e 4a| 0c | 20r : Your next attack will move you back a step, to the optimal distance range of a spear.

Deep Thrust:
5e 6a | 0c | 20r : Your next attack will cause Bleeding on your foe.

Polearm Mastery

Half Moon Swipe
15e 4a| 1c | 20r : Attack all in the front.

Full Moon Swipe
20e 8a| 1c | 45r : Attack all foes around. Easily interrupt when casting.

Tail Swipe:
15e 6a| 1c | 30r : In the next T seconds, foe around you will also suffer X% of your attack each time you attack.

Power Swipe:
15e 8a| 1c | 30r : Your target foe suffers X extra damage, and enemy around you suffer Y damage.

Force Swipe:
15e 8a| 1c | 30r : Deal no damage, but Knock Back all foes in the front.

Easier Swipe:
0e 4a| 1c | 30r : Reduce the next use Polearm Swipe skill by 5 energy.

Push Block:
5e 4a| 1c | 30r : Block the next melee attack to you. If successful, will
Knock back the foe.

Polearm Defense:
10e 4a| 1c | 30r : In next T seconds, you gain X AL, but reduce your attack damage of Polearm by Y%.

Dragon Mimicry

Fire Breath
10e | 2 | 30r : X fire damage per second to all foes in front for 3 seconds. (cone shape range)

Ice Breath
10e | 2 | 30r : X Ice damage per second to all foes in front for 3 seconds. (cone shape range)

Dragon’s Claw:
15e | 2 | 45r : Deal X physical damage, and cause Bleeding OR Blind on foe.

Dragon’s Teeth:
15e | 2 | 45r : Deal X physical damage, and cause Deep Wound OR Weakness on foe

Dragon’s Wing:
15e | 2 | 30r : You “Jump” back, dodging the next attack, and attack with X extra damage.

Burn Dragon Scale:
10e | 2 | 30r : In next T seconds, reduce the damage receive from fire damage, and gain (1-5) energy when receive fire damage. Become extra weak against Ice damage.

Harden Scale:
10e | 2 | 30r : Increase your AL against physical attack by X. Reduce your movement and attack rate by 33%.

Dragon’s Blood:
5e | 0c | 30r : Sacrifice X hp, but you gain Y pip of hp regent in next T second.

Background Story: Deep in the high mountain of Canthra is the secretive Highborn Golden Dragon Clan. Their populations are few, but everyone in the clan is well trained. They worship Dragons, honoring them, and taking it as their symbol. To them, the legendary Golden Dragon is their deity. Its been foretold that one day, a human child born of the Golden Dragon, would become the one True Emperor. For this purpose, the warriors of the Clan have been training hard to one day serve and protect their emperor.

The goal is to try making Dragoon as not another Warrior Clone. Unsure if making the Ridesmanship primary a good idea or not, but seem like the easier way to go. (in term of developing). You can take different mounts to suit your playing style, it is almost like a 2nd armor. Spears have more single target attack, while Polearm is for physical AoE. When use right, they would have even a greater attack power than of a Warrior. War/Dra is still a good combo for those who want more armor, becoming a Footman. A Rang/Dra or Elm/Dra Dragon Mimicry build could become a terror. A Death Knight Dra/Necr combo sounds nice (all those minions charging with your mount), or a Dra/Mes Nobel Knight sounds good too, especially on a crystal drake.
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The class of Dragoon is of course, not very original, since there have already been many who made write up of this concept. However, I always want to revise by old version of Knight, and make them not the FF Dragoon, but one that actually can Ride on a Mount, and to present my view of how Mounts would work in GW. (as well as recent love for polearm weapons) Here are the links of “inspirations”, of other’s dragoon class that I read before. Feel free to take a look.

http://www.guild-hall.net/forum/showthread.php?t=622
-Knight- actionjack
http://www.guild-hall.net/forum/show...hlight=dragoon
-Dragoon-Ti-ben
http://www.guild-hall.net/forum/show...hlight=dragoon
-Dragoon/Cavalry- Roguefeebo
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...hlight=dragoon
-Dragoon-Kago Seirei , Lyra Song
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=76800
-Retiarii-Benmanhaha

Lineage's Dragon Rider. (something you need super hard grind to get...

)

sketch of my own...

comments welcome, flame only if you played it.

Concept Class

benmanhaha · Dec 10, 2005, 10:43 PM // 22:43

O, im glad i could be an inspiration to you jack. I like this class, but there are a few minor changes. Ridesmanship has to be renamed. I unfortunatly cannot think of a better name, but that just sounds strange.

I also think your dragon should help you whether or not you ride it. Also as in final fantasy, your dragons may either be offensive or defensive. In FF your dragon could heal you or attack depending on which one you had. I don't think the dragons should be drakes. I think we should get totally new dragons to ride, and some should fly, walk, or swim(although that would kinda restrict you from going to the crystal desert.)

In addition, I don't believe that there should be a skill to get your dragon undercontrol. It should just come with higher ridesmanship(lolz). This is something rangers don't like with just haveing one skill to hold on to their pet, we probably don't need 2 skills required to use our dragon.

Overall, I dub thee, 9.5 out of 10. Way to go!

Aenimus · Dec 10, 2005, 11:19 PM // 23:19

I was absolutely loving this idea, up until i got to the part about dragoon-only mounts. you say its the greatest part, i think it's the worst... it's just ridden with too many potential problems.

/signed without mounts

actionjack · Dec 10, 2005, 11:52 PM // 23:52

- to Benmanhaha: Feel free to think up another name for Ridesmanship... yes.. it does sound funny.. but better than Ride-them-up-er...
Not sure if dragon sure help if you don't ride them. It would turn into too much like Ranger's Pet. Isn't Drake a type of dragon? (not the current one seem in the game of couse... but similar). In high ridesmanship, the chance of your mount go out of control is reduce, so it is link to the attribute. However, if one want to be more secure, or not want to invest that many points, can take an additonal skill for it.

- To Aenimus: Feel free to stat what some potential probme might be. Its posted on the forum for that purpose too, to hammer out the possible kinks.

Guardian of the Light · Dec 11, 2005, 12:10 AM // 00:10

Mybe you have to "jump on" a drake or a mount like your charming with a ranger.

GREAT original idea /signed

Tyrent Frath · Dec 11, 2005, 12:37 AM // 00:37

with some balancing (Apply poison + AoE polearm + virulence/epidemic= GG, yes i do realize it would be a 2 man job for this to work) this could be amazing

/signed

LightningHell · Dec 11, 2005, 01:06 AM // 01:06

Wait a minute, if he would change the mounts to horses...it would be horsemanship, and that is actually a real word...

benmanhaha · Dec 11, 2005, 02:04 AM // 02:04

It could still be ridesmanship, if that were a realy word. And to Jack, if you meant drake, as in other drakes, not already in the game, then cool. But since this would have to be put in in chap. 2, you would think that the new area(cantha maybe) would be the only place you could capture of of these beasts. So I would suggest just calling them something completely different. But its not terribly important.

On a sorta off topic note: Did any one ever wonder if we just make these ideas hoping that anet will implement them, when in reality, they may not care at all? I makes me sad to think that may be the case. I think this second new class should be a user made class, such as the alchemist, druid, or dragoon. Just getting that off my chest.

actionjack · Dec 11, 2005, 07:00 AM // 07:00

benmanhaha is so pessimistic...
I am not sure about other people, but it is no surprise to me that A.net would never consider some of the posted suggestions. And beside some game-improving ideas, idea like this, the "It Would be Cool to Have them" type, A.net should not care much about. However, realize that long before, I still enjoy writing and reading them (even more so than actual playing the game) Its a creative challenge, a brainstorming game. With a interst in game developing, it is sorta like playing as a Mock Dev, with the reward being poster's reply. That would be my view.

Dragonmanship?
Feel free to point out the possible unblancing issue, or your concerns, further suggestions, or what you like or dislike about it. Maybe will do a drawing for them too...)

Mercenary662 · Dec 11, 2005, 07:08 AM // 07:08

i kinda like the idea of the weapon hitting enemies in an area of your attack, but this would cause some huge balancing issues, but it could be solves by making it something like this: your weapon will hit (lets say 2 enemies in front you) 2 enemies, your total damage is evenly split up between each enemy your weapon hits.

also, this could be used cheaply, like making an IWAY team with "dragoons" only, and they would probubly be even stronger than what an IWAY team is currently.

I love the idea of a dragoon, always wanted to play one, but i dont quite think your whole idea would work to well with GW.

Aenimus · Dec 11, 2005, 08:44 AM // 08:44

yeah, i was a bit vague about the potentialproblems, mostly because i didn't have the energy to type it all out (yes, i'm a lazy bastard, i wont deny it :P).

but what i see happening is players becoming jealous; i mean, i can see the comments now: "why should dragoons get mounts while we're stuck with nothing?" and "he looks so coooool, it's not fair, i'm petitioning on mounts for every class" it would be differentif the drake/dragon were just a pet and not mounted, but even then it would be potentially covetable... dragons are the stuff of lore, the coolest of the cool, the awesomest of the awesome... but only dragoons get them... idunno, this may seem petty, but i can see this being the most prevalent complaint.

i like how you balanced it out though, with navigation control being tied to ridesmanship (whose name i have no problem with :P), but i think that would just turn into another common complaint from players, "omg, dragoons are worthless, i cant even move around without wasting 12 skill levels in ridesmanship"

and some of the drake/dragon personalities can be used as benefits rather than drawbacks, such as the berserker type one, if the character is built offensively and meant to be in combat at all times, then we'd see a million threads about how goons need to be nerfed.

it's really not somehting i disagree with personally, i just think it would cause way too many problems within the community, albeit it's well-thought-out balancing. even with perfect balancing, i don't think players would stop bitching about it...

Aenimus · Dec 11, 2005, 08:46 AM // 08:46

also, splitting damage between player and mount is too much, imo.

Illidan · Dec 11, 2005, 09:43 AM // 09:43

/signed

Angel Phoenix · Dec 15, 2005, 12:08 AM // 00:08

like it ^^

/signed

benmanhaha · Dec 15, 2005, 02:27 AM // 02:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aenimus

also, splitting damage between player and mount is too much, imo.

I dont think it was splitting the damage. Say the dragon took 30 damage, well then the rider would take say 12 damage. The rider would recieve a percentage of the damage while the dragon would still take the original amount. That is just the way I interpreted it.

edit: Now that I went back and read the post, I can't seem to find where I came up with that idea. So, yall can just forget it.

Semper · Dec 15, 2005, 02:36 AM // 02:36

dragorider...

Xenrath · Dec 15, 2005, 11:22 AM // 11:22

"I'm using Gentle Petting!" lol maybe change the name of that one

Symeon · Dec 15, 2005, 04:33 PM // 16:33

This is a very well thought out and revised concept. Not being a picky person, I've found nothing to pick at.
Great sketch too. I love your art actionjack, especially your most recent assassin art in the the Nolani Academy.

Arcanis the Omnipotent · Dec 15, 2005, 05:03 PM // 17:03

Saddle Mastery?

actionjack · Dec 15, 2005, 05:34 PM // 17:34

well.. the name of couse can all be change.. I am not the best at coming up with nice name... and they are more for easier understanding than sounding cool...

But Rides-a-man-ship... hmm... does sound a bit funny...

And feel free to pick... there is a reason why it is posted on a forum....