A new generation of (L) blades

[buckaroobanzai]

I've noticed with interest the change MA made to the next generation of L blades introduced with VU9.3 (the Genesis family). In particular I'm referring to the dam/pec figures.

Previous L blades (Kesmeks, Rutics, etc.) had a base eco similar to the other L items of equivalent level (Isis, Geotrek, etc). Unfortunately, the lack of melee amps improving economy and the fact that with melee items markup is paid on the full cost per click (differently from LWT/BLP guns) meant that in practice L melee weapons were not very competitive even when bought with very low markup such as 105-110%.

It looks like now MA is acknowledging the fact that L items are sold with markup, and they're giving the new blades a base economy which is better than other L weapons. Quickly checking the figures, it looks like they already considered (when setting the dam/pec perfomance) a markup of about 110%.

Does this mean they have dropped the plan for melee amps? That they expect to drop enough of these to maintain a 110% target in market price?
I can't believe they just forgot about markup when balancing the previous generation of L melee, there must be more going on behind the scenes.

Take care,
BBB

[thoreau]

the melee scene is EU is very interesting. at one time I tried to go 100% longblade but quickly got bored. it seems that I stopped too soon as some interesting (L) longblades are dropping. that dragon's breath looks hawt!

that being said, I wish on some level we could get mini-road maps from MA. I would be interested in knowing what the next 2 years has in store for melee. if I know more attention was being planned I would focus more time in that direction.

[Blinding Light]

Originally Posted by thoreau

that being said, I wish on some level we could get mini-road maps from MA. I would be interested in knowing what the next 2 years has in store for melee. if I know more attention was being planned I would focus more time in that direction.

They will never do that. Then they would have to follow through with at least SOME of the ideas on it.

[DanielleYourMom]

Loving the new swords !
Time to bring on the Melee amps, MA !!

[Eron²]

eco with correct stats in melee is generally a bit higher (not including markup) and i think its very wise of MA to boost it a bit more so that markup doesnt kill the value of using it. now they just need to keep them looting at a higher rate to maintain that good eco and keep users intrested in them.

[Jimmy B]

They're nice weps for sure, but some haven't been accurately tested for dmg/pec. The Sulfury one I dropped today is 4.216 dmg/pec and the Firefly is similar I believe.

So yeah, base eco is a little better, but I'd guess after markup they're still going to be pricy unless they drop quite a bit. Took me a week of heavy duty hunting to loot mine, you can maybe have it for 1000% if you want...

It'll be interesting to see how much they drop in the end - obviously if they're going to be rare drops they're going to be more collectors items and pk toys rather than regular hunting gear.

[nvcK]

I like how they spread the damage over various types. This makes most of the swords useless for PvP so the markup should not be sky high and allow swordsmen to hunt with a decent dps weapon.

[Xen]

Originally Posted by nvcK

I like how they spread the damage over various types. This makes most of the swords useless for PvP so the markup should not be sky high and allow swordsmen to hunt with a decent dps weapon.

Well, some of them do various types of damage, but most or all of which Infiltrator does not protect against.

[buckaroobanzai]

I understand these blades will unlikely got for 110% unless the drop rate increases a lot, and I'm pretty sure their price will be pushed up by pkers some.

What I'm trying to figure out though is why the base eco of Rutics and Keskmeks was around 4.10 (similar to most ranged L weapons) while all the Genesis have 4.2+. Did MA overlook the melee markup issue when they released the former, or they have changed their hidden roadmap for melee weapons hence the latter?

I also looked at the base eco of the ranged weapons released with 9.3 and there seems to be a trend on those too: the newly released ones tend to have a lower base eco than those pre-9.3, although this is less evident as some data on new ranged items is still missing from wiki. Is this a rebalancing action too?

BBB

[Xandra]

Hi,

for sure these are nice weapons - but they need quite some skill to use, too! Reaching this skill is a hard task with the very limited and very costly choice of blades available.

I think it is good that the max. TT of these is in a reasonable range again, not this crazy sums like the recently introduced ones - maybe this will help for more frequent drops. But as always, they are looted only by big mobs :(

Why isn't it possible for MA to create something like the Breer series, for melee users? Enough BP's, no expensive components needed, reasonable TT and good values? That could be sold for a reasonable price? And would come in different tiers to provide a realistic way for new melee fiends to skill up?

Instead there's - nearly nothing. Some Embras every now and then, by far not enough to provide a sufficient supply, some Rutic/ Kesmek/ whatever with insane TT's, and Katanas that are rarer then hens teeth 'cause no BP's are dropping.

So many melee fighters are forced to use mainly TT swords and Axe 2x0 for skilling, where the 2x0 has now been nearly nerfed into uselessness with the recent regen madness - try to kill an Atrox young, or small Maffo/ Feffo with it!

Which means we got rather cool new melee weapons, but there's still no way to reach the skills required to use, compared to the situation our ranged friends enjoy. It's still ways more costly and time consuming to skill melee, and it's still a sure sign of complete braindeadness to even try it.

I know from first hand, I'm melee from my beginning. And believe me, I'm really thinking in selling all those useless melee skills - MA doesn't see melee as a viable alternative to ranged, they consider it an additional toy for those that have reached their ranged 10/10 on UL.

Have fun!