Stat Weights

[Phosphono]

A question and a suggestion.

I have a Barbarian with the highest speed of all my characters. I thought I'd make him a fast, hard-hitting machine. But he simply doesn't attack often. My mage and thief and sometime my priest get off attacks more often. Do stats affect characters differently?

Also, maybe spruce up the energy stat. It's almost a waste of a point. Out in a system like the new strength mechanic that rewards you for heavy investment.

Thanks.

[Anubis]

A question and a suggestion.

I have a Barbarian with the highest speed of all my characters. I thought I'd make him a fast, hard-hitting machine. But he simply doesn't attack often. My mage and thief and sometime my priest get off attacks more often. Do stats affect characters differently?

It is likely related to the speed of your Barbarian's equipped weapon. Let's take a look at a Claymore, for example:



Notice that the Attack Speed is 11s (seconds). This is on the lower end of a 'slow' weapon, the slowest being Crossbows (14s!). Attacking with such weapons takes considerably longer to recover from.

Also, maybe spruce up the energy stat. It's almost a waste of a point. Out in a system like the new strength mechanic that rewards you for heavy investment.

Agree that Strength may have eclipsed Energy for the purpose of delivering powerful special attacks. However, Energy is still an important investment for the Mage, Cleric and Divine Summoner. Also, it is a good idea for a Melee or Hybrid class to invest in Energy, occasionally, to sustain the increasing PP costs of their special attacks.

[Kordanor]

Also very dependent on difficulty again. Energy and Constitution are not as important on casual as they are on Veteran/ Hardcore as you get only a third of the level-up gains in HP/PP there.

[Phosphono]

Anubis- my Barbarian uses a 2-handed axe. I completely missed weapon speed. Never noticed it existed. That adds a layer of strategy for me in terms of that hated 'DPS'. How do weapon speed and character speed interact to calculate total time between attacks? I simply keep pumping speed on him, but I don't want to be in the realm of diminishing gains. Are you allowed to share info on this mechanic?

[Phosphono]

And I guess this means I could go about using the fastest weapon possible on my mage to boost her number of attacks per battle when coupled with her speed?

[Anubis]

How do weapon speed and character speed interact to calculate total time between attacks?

As with most game mechanics, it is calculated in an intuitive way to benefit the player (such as when different party members increase their 'Perception' skill - it never goes to waste, and the difference should be noticeable sooner or later). The first factor to consider is Weapon Speed, and then Character Speed. Both are taken in account when performing certain certain combat actions.

The actions which take in account Weapon Speed are: 'Attack', 'Special Attack', 'Defend' and 'Move'. If I remember correctly, 'Move' receives a +50% speed bonus (counts as a 'half-action' in a real-time setting).

And I guess this means I could go about using the fastest weapon possible on my mage to boost her number of attacks per battle when coupled with her speed?

Casting a spell (unless it is an enchanted strike) does not factor in the equipped Weapon's Speed, only the Character's Speed. So unless you frequently Attack, Defend or Move on your Mage, Weapon Speed matters quite a bit less.

Also very dependent on difficulty again. Energy and Constitution are not as important on casual as they are on Veteran/ Hardcore as you get only a third of the level-up gains in HP/PP there.

Very true, and that is totally fine. We believe that players who choose the Normal (casual) setting wish to be able to succeed without worrying too much about grasping each and every mechanic, in order to enjoy certain other aspects of the game

[Kordanor]

Casting a spell (unless it is an enchanted strike) does not factor in the equipped Weapon's Speed, only the Character's Speed. So unless you frequently Attack, Defend or Move on your Mage, Weapon Speed matters quite a bit less.

Are you sure about that?
I just created a party with 2 Mages with staff (10s) and 2 Mages with Dagger(8s). Whether they did a melee attack or a cast did not change their time until the next turn (which was 10 and 9 seconds for the Staff Mages, 9 and 9 for the Dagger Mages). So I guess as of now the Weapon speed does play a role in casting time. But it would be more logical if it didn't.