Curse

Lamentations · Mar 07, 2007, 04:22 AM // 04:22

Perhaps something could be done with the renaissance era mercenary infantry most notably in the late 15th centruy and the 16th century.

They were flamboyantly dressed in coloured shirts (similar to the puffy shirt off seinfield, but more puffy

) with some plate armour. They were used in units with a mix of weapons, generally many pikemen, a quarter would be armed with early musket-like rifles (called an arquebus), and others would wield halberds or large, 6-foot swords requiring two hands (called a zweihander) that were considered to be used to create an opening in the wall of enemy pikes. All soldiers also carried a smaller sword (called a katzbalger) for use if the enemy penetrated their pike wall.

This might seem an odd choice for a profession but it would definitely be original and interesting. I have not though about it in much depth but figure it would introduce a character class that uses several weapons, like a warrior, but with more variation between them - swords, pikes, arquebus', and possibly zweihanders - and they would play differently to current available weapons. I imagine they would don a similar skillset to that of a warrior mixed with a paragon or ranger skillbar, but quite different. Similar to warriors in the types of offensive skills, similar to paragon in the idea that they have been well trained in the use of tactics such as maneuvering and use of many different weapons. I imagine because they work in more of a defensive nature using pikes and rifles to keep the enemy at bay and ensure they win in the melee before they charge, they would have some weapon skills that may grant some kind of blocking ability, which is where they would draw similarities to a ranger.

Some problems I can see with this would be the vast difference in the skills between weapons, that may limit the number of useful builds with the landsknecht, also the use of a musket-like rifle seems slightly out of character for the Guild Wars game.

Anyone have input, critisism, opinion, suggestions? Thanks

EDIT Just some more thoughts came to mind. When wielding the pike, to represent the ability of a pike user to keep an opponent back and in a favourable position for you, perhaps some stances would be in order for the pike mastery skill line instead of just the usual attack skills. Things like stances that give additional armour or block ability, or even something that nullifies the opponents stance, to more advanced things like nullifying any offensive weapon mods a melee opponent may be using on your.

To make them different from a warrior and paragon hybrid, the armour level could possibly vary depending on which weapon you are choosing. The higher armour level could be given to the melee characters with the rifle-wielders and pikemen using slightly lighter armour, say, 75 with no mods for additional armour for melee units due to insignias, and 65 or 70 armour level for arquebus wielders. Also, adrenaline would play no part, as the melee characters, unlike warriors, are not so much in a berserk frenzy but a trained and precise (well, as precise as mercenaries can get) combat style so combat would be based on a set of predetermined bonuses or styles instead of the combos used by assassins or the adrenaline skill chains used by warriors.

I might expand on the weapons and skills when I have time on a weekend or something, but as far as the image goes I do like the idea of conquistadors or renaissance soldiers using skill and well designed weapons and strategies over numbers and brite force.

actionjack · Mar 07, 2007, 04:46 AM // 04:46

My guess is you like Warhammer's Empire? For Sigma!

I like the suggested look, might fit into a Native vs Conquistdor type of theme. Of couse, the key is not to make it another warrior clone. Would suggest try to do some creative thinking on that, and try to come up with something that could fit the idenity yet have some uniquness in playing-role.