Revamp of the Week #1 - Marksman

I am starting a revamp of the week! Basically it is a further opportunity for the community to weigh in ideas of skill trees. Each week I'll put a skill tree up for community improvement. As much as I try to keep up with all the skill lists I have up as well as working on adventures it's a difficult task and I know many of you have awesome ideas.

So without further adu, lets post some ideas and Revamp this tree!




Path of the Marksman

Accuracy - 2 Ranks
Type: Passive-
Effect: Lowers an enemies dodge and block chance against your ranged attacks by 2/5%.

Piercing Shot - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: Ignore 50/100% of your opponents armor and block chance.

Headshot - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: 1/3/5% chance to perform a critical hit (double weapon damage) with a ranged weapon.

Long Shot - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: Increases range of a ranged attack by 1/2 zones. Add a bonus of +15/30 to the hit roll.

Point Blank shot- 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Melee Ranged Attack
Effect: Add +5/10/15 Bs and 2/4/6 damage. This is an exception to the rule that you cannot use ranged weapons in melee.

Mobile Fighter - 2 Ranks
Requirements: 1 Rank in Point Blank and Long Shot.
Type: Passive
Effect: You can use Long Shot at Rank 1 and Point Blank at Rank 2 an additional time each battle.

Bow Specialist - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Raises the Strength cap of any bow wielded by 5/10 points.

Throwing Weapon Specialist - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Ignore 1/2 points of armor when using throwing weapons.

Black Powder Specialist - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: The first shot you make with a blackpowder weapon has an additional range and deals an additional 2/5 damage.

Crossbow Specialist - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Reduce the S penalty for shooting and moving with a crossbow by 5/10S. In addition increase the maximum damage dealt by any crossbow or handcrossbow by 1/2.

Double Shot - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Ranged Attack
Effect: -30/20/10 Bs and -20/15/10 S at two targets in the same zone.

Volley - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: Make an additional 1/2/3 ranged attacks at any targets within range. These attacks deal 50% weapon damage.

Impale - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: This attack gains an additional 5/15/30S. If it wounds the target you may push the enemy back one zone.

As annoying as it sounds, I think that seperate trees for bows/throwing weapons/ and blackpowder weapons might be a good idea, just because there are a bunch of skills that you just won't put points into if you have a bow or a gun. Maybe do something like what you did to the engineer tree with the subclasses?

I was hoping to keep them clumped together since most of the attacks can be used with any ranged attack but maybe you are correct that splitting them up a bit would be useful. Have a few blackpowder attacks, a few bow attacks, a few crossbow attacks. I think that might help differentiate between ranged users somewhat. If you have specific ideas for each group lemme know.


Here are the skills I am currently Happy with.

Accuracy
Headshot
Bow Specialist
Throwing Weapon Specialist
Black Powder Specialist
Crossbow Specialist

Everything else I feel needs a bit of help, which is why i chose to attack this tree. Suggestions are more than welcome from anyone.

Since there are so many categories I think that 1 ability and the specialty each would be fine.

Bow only
** Current double shot would be removed **
Double Shot - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Bow Specialization 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Bow
Effect: Can make an attack at two foes in the same zone. Each attack suffers -10/5/0 to S but has an additional +0/5/10 to hit.

XBow only
Crippling Bolt - 3 Ranks
Requirements: XBow Specialization 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Crossbow
Effect: If this attack wounds the target they suffer -10/20/30 Ws and Bs and suffer an additional 1/2/3 damage from all attacks for the next 2 rounds.

Gun only
Armor Breaker - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Blackpowder Specialization 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a blackpowder weapon.
Effect: If this attack damages the target all future attacks against that foe for this encounter are treated as armor piercing. This attack has a 1/3/5% critical chance per point of armor the target has.

Throwing (Light)
Throwing Specialization - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Lowers any opponents dodge chance when you use light throwing weapons by 10/20% in addition add +10/20 to the wound roll.

Fan of Knives - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Throwing Specialization (Light) 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Light Throwing Weapon.
Effect: At rank 1 you throw your weapons forward attacking all enemies one zone in front of you. At rank 2 you also throw your weapons at all enemies behind you attacking all enemies one zone in the opposite direction. At rank 3 you also throw your weapons at all foes to the sides of you, attacking all foes in your current zone.

______	__You__	_______
1	3	2

Throwing (Heavy)
Throwing Specialization (Current version will be moved to Heavy).

Impale - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Throwing Specialization (Heavy) 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Heavy Throwing Weapon.
Effect: If this attack damages the target the target is knocked one zone backwards and cannot move on their next turn. This attack also has an additional 10/25/50% critical chance.

I like these, though the description on fan of knives is more than a little confusing at the end.

Fan of Knives description any better?

Regarding sub-trees: Unless I am mistaken, the only difference between weapon types is the one "Specialist" skill for each. You could certainly make sub-trees and have more weapon-specific skills if you wanted to, but I think it's fine like this if you don't feel like writing a shitload more skills, as long as the different Specialists are balanced. Black Powder specialist seems underpowered compared to the others atm.

In general: Needs more passives, needs some abilities that actually have prereqs. Tree is overloaded with attacks, powerful and otherwise. I would recommend passives for specializing in long range or close/point blank range combat, either replacing or in addition to Long Shot and Point Blank Shot as written.

Long Range Specialist - 3 ranks
Requirements: None (or possibly Long Shot)
Type: Passive
Effect: You get +5/10/15 to hit when you are at (or beyond, for special attacks) your weapon's maximum range.

Close/Point Blank Specialist (depending on how attached you are to "no ranged weapons in melee") - 3 ranks
Requirements: None (or possibly Point Blank Shot)
Type: Passive
Effect: You get +5/10/15 to wound when you are at short/melee range.

More later.

As for the short/long range specialties I agree, which was the premise behind point blank/long range shot. I am trying to toss in attacks to keep things a little more interesting late than the constant. I attack. I attack. I attack. I attack. As for the sub-trees I agree they need not be extensive, I like the idea but I think a specialty and one attack is fine for each. (Also note the prereqs =D ) I agree that a few more prereqs are needed, but I do like to keep the tree structure fairly shallow. The problem with the short range specialty passive is that a good half of the weapons, throwing light, throwing heavy, pistol, are maxed at shot range so its basically just giving a large bonus to these weapons. More passive ideas would be good, and I will be axing some of the current attacks as I am displeased with them.... Thanks for the input fellas.

Could there be some possibility of a 'crippling' move, like a leg shot or something that could maybe slow the enemy for a turn or two, or maybe just keep them from charging/double moving?

Leg Shot - 2 ranks - Powerful Ranged Attack
As a regular attack, but with -15/10 S. If enemy is wounded by the attack, he cannot charge or double move for 1/2 turns

Something like that? Also, I agree that passives would help...I don't think I actually took any from this tree, though mostly because so many of the attacks were tempting and available. By and large, though, as a ranged main, I'm pretty pleased with things. Granted, I haven't done any combat or anything, but still...

Thanks fellas. This is the new and improved marksman tree. If you have any last suggestions feel free to add them. (*I added a movement reducing shot Scethan just for you). Otherwise I'll be starting up the next revamp. Until then consider this the new Marksman tree.


Path of the Marksman (37)

Accuracy - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Lowers an enemies dodge and block chance against your ranged attacks by 2/5%.

Headshot - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: 1/3/5% chance to perform a critical hit (double weapon damage) with a ranged weapon.

Steady Hand - 2 Ranks
Requirements: Headshot 3
Type: Passive
Effect: Increases critical hit chance on ranged weapons by 2/5% when an enemy is not in any adjacent zone.

Quick Adjust- 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Each time you miss an opponent with a ranged weapon you gain a +5/10 bonus on your next hit roll with that weapon. This effect stacks each time you miss.

Pierce - 2 Ranks
Requirements: Headshot 3
Type: Passive
Effect: There is a 50/100% chance that any ranged attack that is a critical strike can attack another opponent in the same zone or a zone farther away within range. Make a new hit and wound roll accordingly.

Sniper - 2 Ranks
Requirements: Noe
Type: Passive
Effect: If you don't move this turn add +5/10 to your hit roll.



Attacks

Point Blank shot- 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Melee Ranged Attack
Effect: Add +5/10/15 to hit and add +10/20/30% critical strike chance. This is an exception to the rule that you cannot use ranged weapons in melee.

Volley - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: Make an attack against 1/2/3 additional targets in range. Each of these attacks is made at 50% of your Bs.

Unavoidable Shot - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: Ignore 50/100% of your opponents armor and block chance.

Crippling Shot - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: This attack has +0/15/30 to wound. If it wounds the target the target may not move the next round.

Wounding Shot - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: This attack has +10/20/30 to wound but deals no damage. If this attack wounds the target they suffer an additional 1 damage each round until the end of combat. All other attacks on the target have an additional +5/10/15 to wound. Each time the target is wounded in combat the damage each round dealt by this ability increases by 1.

Snipe - 3 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack
Effect: Increase the range of the attack by 1/2/3 zones. Each zone between you and your target increases the critical strike chance by 5%.

Take Aim- 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Powerful Ability
Effect: Add +15/30 to hit and wound roll and increase your chance by 10/20% for your next attack.


Bow Skills
Bow Specialist - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Raises the Strength cap of any bow wielded by 5/10 points.
Double Shot - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Bow Specialization 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Bow
Effect: Can make an attack at two foes in the same zone. Each attack suffers -15/10/5 to S but has an additional +0/5/10 to hit.

Crossbow Skills
Crossbow Specialist - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Reduce the S penalty for shooting and moving with a crossbow by 5/10S. Any hand crossbows you wield have an additional 5/10S. In addition increase the maximum damage dealt by any crossbow or handcrossbow by 1/2.

Crippling Bolt - 3 Ranks
Requirements: XBow Specialization 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Crossbow
Effect: If this attack wounds the target they suffer -10/20/30 Ws and Bs and suffer an additional 1/2/3 damage from all attacks for the next 2 rounds.

BlackPowder Skills (Pistols and Handguns)
Black Powder Specialist - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: The first shot you make with a blackpowder weapon has an additional range and deals an additional 2/5 damage.

Armor Breaker - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Blackpowder Specialization 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a blackpowder weapon.
Effect: If this attack damages the target all future attacks against that foe for this encounter are treated as armor piercing. This attack has a 1/3/5% critical chance per point of armor the target has.

Throwing (Light)
Throwing Specialization - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Lowers any opponents dodge chance when you use light throwing weapons by 5/10% in addition add +10/20 to the wound roll.

Fan of Knives - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Throwing Specialization (Light) 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Light Throwing Weapon.
Effect: At rank 1 you throw your weapons forward attacking all enemies one zone in front of you. At rank 2 you attack all foes in adjacent zones. At rank 3 you can make an attack at all enemies in adjacent zones as well as your current zone.


Throwing Weapon (Heavy)
Throwing Weapon Specialist (Heavy) - 2 Ranks
Requirements: None
Type: Passive
Effect: Ignore 1/2 points of armor when using throwing weapons.


Impale - 3 Ranks
Requirements: Throwing Specialization (Heavy) 2
Type: Powerful Ranged Attack - Requires a Heavy Throwing Weapon.
Effect: If this attack damages the target the target is knocked one zone backwards and cannot move on their next turn. This attack also has an additional 10/25/50% critical chance.

A couple more passives to consider.

Expose Weakness - 2 Ranks
Requirements: Headshot 3
Type: Passive
Effect: Every time you fail to wound with a ranged attack, your next ranged attack against that target has a +5/10% crit chance.

Disengage - 1 Rank
Requirements: ??
Type: Passive
Effect: Every time you successfully hit an enemy who has attacked you this round with a melee attack, you may immediately move one range away.

What would the second rank of disengage do?

Ha ha... it's almost like I copy-pasted from the first passive and forgot to change that. Good call!

The first one I like. I'll add it.

As for the second. I already have a disengage under the scout tree, as that tree is focused more around mobility. There is already enough lack of synergy between marksman and all other trees I want to leave the agile, dodgy, skirmishy type ranged fighters with a reason to take the scout tree.

Also I'm adding 2 gold to the coffers of each player who made helpful suggestions I ultimately used.
Ferret, gantz, and deadlychair your wallets have been fattened. Also don't worry there will be places to spend it soon