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Bard

AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
in General Discussion
So I did some research and spoke with bard players, and it seems the class is magic-based. I'm not sure if I like the idea of being forced to use spell weapons to do damage, especially since they're not ubiquitous.

Would it be possible to give Bard the choice? Could spec into either one to bring magical or physical damage up.

Comments

  • SteelerSteeler Member, Alpha Two
    The music is magic. :shrug:
  • alexpetr2023alexpetr2023 Member, Alpha Two
    Every weapon has physical and magic damage ratings. You can use a 2h greatsword that has magic power rating which would scale your abilities etc. So it makes no difference between magic or physical because every weapon type can have either type of damage.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    alexpetr2023 wrote: »
    Every weapon has physical and magic damage ratings. You can use a 2h greatsword that has magic power rating which would scale your abilities etc. So it makes no difference between magic or physical because every weapon type can have either type of damage.

    Yeah, but if I want good damage, I'd want a spell weapon, right?
  • alexpetr2023alexpetr2023 Member, Alpha Two
    yes but it has literally 0 effect on your gameplay. the Greatsword passives are the same regardless of if its spell damage rating or physical damage rating
  • VhaeyneVhaeyne Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Andi wrote: »
    Yeah, but if I want good damage, I'd want a spell weapon, right?

    The two handed spell great sword is a "spell weapon". It basically is a state stick with a melee attack.

    Any class can use any weapon or armor. I was using a short bow on my bard last week for the MP regen in the short bow skill tree.

    There is a lot of flexibility right now.
    TVMenSP.png
    If I had more time, I would write a shorter post.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    edited November 5
    I'm not sure I quite understand this system yet.

    - I can carry ANY weapon in my (unused) melee slot, and it does.. what? What gets translated into damage when shooting my bow?
    - I want to use what kind of bow? Any shortbow? A shortbow with spelldmg?

    I should clarify, I was thinking about running mace/shield when solo and bow in a group, so both my melee and my ranged slot seed to work out for the class. Do I need spelldmg weapons to do damage? That's what I thought I'd taken away from all this, but now I'm not so sure anymore.
  • VhaeyneVhaeyne Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Andi wrote: »
    I'm not sure I quite understand this system yet.

    - I can carry ANY weapon in my (unused) melee slot, and it does.. what? What gets translated into damage when shooting my bow?

    Yes, from what I have experienced my bow damage went way up with a greatsword in my melee slots.
    Andi wrote: »
    - I want to use what kind of bow? Any shortbow? A shortbow with spelldmg?

    Its called a "Spell bow". There seems to be a "spell" version of every weapon. The difference is that it adds to magic stats instead of physical stats.

    There is both a spell shortbow and a spell longbow too.
    TVMenSP.png
    If I had more time, I would write a shorter post.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    Wouldn't I then gimp myself by carrying a 1-handed weapon and a shield while using a bow?
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Every class is magic based. It's the lore of Verra. Before you come through the portal to Verra, you were a regular Joe. When you land in Verra, magic flows through you and you gain magical abilities. From Bards to Tanks.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    nanfoodle wrote: »
    Every class is magic based. It's the lore of Verra. Before you come through the portal to Verra, you were a regular Joe. When you land in Verra, magic flows through you and you gain magical abilities. From Bards to Tanks.

    But not all archetypes do magical damage, right? Else, nobody would have a use for gear with physical damage.
  • VhaeyneVhaeyne Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Andi wrote: »
    Wouldn't I then gimp myself by carrying a 1-handed weapon and a shield while using a bow?

    You would be trading attack power for attack speed and defense in that situation as I currently understand it.
    TVMenSP.png
    If I had more time, I would write a shorter post.
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    edited November 5
    Andi wrote: »
    nanfoodle wrote: »
    Every class is magic based. It's the lore of Verra. Before you come through the portal to Verra, you were a regular Joe. When you land in Verra, magic flows through you and you gain magical abilities. From Bards to Tanks.

    But not all archetypes do magical damage, right? Else, nobody would have a use for gear with physical damage.

    https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Mana

    First point on the page I just linked.

    "All archetypes use mana to varying degrees.[1][2]"

    Steven's words here

    "Mana management I think, not just for mage players but for really every class, is a relevant resource mechanic that they have to take into consideration when they're utilizing their rotations"

    So a fighter can spin to win because of a magical skills. The weapon is physical damage.

    That being said, you could go Bard/Fighter and maybe some of your skills could be physical damage. Or Bard/Ranger and use a bow.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    Vhaeyne wrote: »
    Andi wrote: »
    Wouldn't I then gimp myself by carrying a 1-handed weapon and a shield while using a bow?

    You would be trading attack power for attack speed and defense in that situation as I currently understand it.

    Which do you find more important? My idea was to go mace/shield solo and bow in group. If a 1H mace really gives more attack speed, that might just be a good thing... since we'll get to use our finishers a lot, and we'll regen more mana (with Cleric).

    I wonder if that's actually the case. Need confirmation on this, or test in-game.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    nanfoodle wrote: »
    Andi wrote: »
    nanfoodle wrote: »
    Every class is magic based. It's the lore of Verra. Before you come through the portal to Verra, you were a regular Joe. When you land in Verra, magic flows through you and you gain magical abilities. From Bards to Tanks.

    But not all archetypes do magical damage, right? Else, nobody would have a use for gear with physical damage.

    https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Mana

    First point on the page I just linked.

    "All archetypes use mana to varying degrees.[1][2]"

    Steven's words here

    "Mana management I think, not just for mage players but for really every class, is a relevant resource mechanic that they have to take into consideration when they're utilizing their rotations"

    Ah, we might have a misunderstanding here. I wasn't talking about the resource, I was talking about the type of damage the classes do, and how it stacks and scales. Whether you'd want a 1H or 2H melee weapon while using bow, and whether your weapons should be spell damage or physical damage.
  • VhaeyneVhaeyne Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Test test test.

    I am constantly playing with combinations and optimizations. There is currently a lot of things like this to play with.

    I like the big numbers of a long bow and great sword, but a short bow and short sword or mace may be better.

    All the weapon trees are a little different too. So there is more customization there.
    TVMenSP.png
    If I had more time, I would write a shorter post.
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    edited November 6
    Andi wrote: »
    nanfoodle wrote: »
    Andi wrote: »
    nanfoodle wrote: »
    Every class is magic based. It's the lore of Verra. Before you come through the portal to Verra, you were a regular Joe. When you land in Verra, magic flows through you and you gain magical abilities. From Bards to Tanks.

    But not all archetypes do magical damage, right? Else, nobody would have a use for gear with physical damage.

    https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Mana

    First point on the page I just linked.

    "All archetypes use mana to varying degrees.[1][2]"

    Steven's words here

    "Mana management I think, not just for mage players but for really every class, is a relevant resource mechanic that they have to take into consideration when they're utilizing their rotations"

    Ah, we might have a misunderstanding here. I wasn't talking about the resource, I was talking about the type of damage the classes do, and how it stacks and scales. Whether you'd want a 1H or 2H melee weapon while using bow, and whether your weapons should be spell damage or physical damage.

    That's an option. On my Bard, I use a book and a Sheild and Cepter for my secondary weapons. I will have a set of light and heavy armor when I get what I want.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    All right, I'll grab all the weapons at the spawn point and test it out :)

    I must say, though, the system is a bit complex in very unexpected ways.
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Andi wrote: »
    All right, I'll grab all the weapons at the spawn point and test it out :)

    I must say, though, the system is a bit complex in very unexpected ways.

    The complexity is even deeper then we even know. When they add secondary Arch types will we really get what Steven plans. Enjoy your melee Bard.
  • AndiAndi Member, Alpha Two
    I don't wanna think of secondary classes yet, lol. I need to see what each of them can do first.
  • XeegXeeg Member, Alpha Two
    Steeler wrote: »
    The music is magic. :shrug:

    Sound should be physical damage. Decibels is rated in log power ratio.
  • XeegXeeg Member, Alpha Two
    alexpetr2023 wrote: »
    yes but it has literally 0 effect on your gameplay. the Greatsword passives are the same regardless of if its spell damage rating or physical damage rating

    Not sure if this is correct. If you want to play a melee aoe bard (which i was just testing) with a great spellsword, i dont think u get as much damage boost swinging the sword because it is physical damage.
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