2009-01-19, 21:34:42
I'd like to say that the way weapon dps is calculated isn't balanced for some types of weapons. Specifically, I think that making hero only weapons do the same dps as normal weapons for the same cost and range or making creep only weapons do 175% of the dps of normal weapons for the same cost and range is a bad idea.
Long range hero only weapons (like death magic) are overpowered, while short range hero only weapons (like god's hammer, bombs or aa gun) are underpowered. Why is this? Well if you have a long range hero only weapon (say 1300 range) and there are 20 targets in range (say 19 are creeps and 1 is a tank), the weapon allows you to concentrate fire on 1 out of 20 targets. However, with a short range hero only weapon (say 650 range), as it is half the range, the weapon would cover 1/4 the area so there would be less targets (say 5 targets in total, 1 being a hero) and you would only concentrate fire on 1 of the 5 targets. So in the case of hero only weapons, the ability to target heroes is more advantegous at large range because it allows you to target the hero out of a greater number of targets. When was the last time you saw someone use bombs or aagun in a game? On the other hand, when was the last time you didn't see everyone go death magic heavy in a game. Furthermore, at short range you can be attacked by creeps buildings, etc. (which you cant at long range), so there is much more incentive to get a regular short range weapon (like poison magic) than a hero only short range weapon to kill the creeps and buildings that attack you at short range and thus increase your survivability (at long range you can avoid creep attacks).
The converse is true for creep only weapons. I think that if creep only weapons existed at multiple ranges (right now they really only exist in the 800-850 range) that they would be underpowered at long range and more powerful at close range. This is because generally creeps have a low range, and are on the front lines, so you don't need a large range to attack them, making long range creep only weapons not that appealing. Secondly, if you have a larger range with a creep only weapon, your fire will be spread over more creeps, thus your fire wont be concentrated and it will be harder to kill creeps, making long ranged creep only weapons even less appealing. Right now, I don't think mid ranged creep only weapons like the soul stone are very appealing relative to similar costing short range weapons like the poison magic, as there isn't much difference in their dps's (due to the short range) and the short range normal weapon can also target heroes and buildings. If creep only weapons came at shorter range they would definatly be used more, but as it is, they dont and the current ones need a boost.
What I suggest is making weapons that have limited targets, such as the hero only and creep only weapons, do a different amount of damage at different ranges than they currently do. I think that hero only weapons should do 75% dps at long range (death magic range) but 125% dps at close range. Alternatively, i think that creep only weapons should be doing like 175% dps at close range and 250% dps at long range (doing about 200% dps at the 800-850 range). These changes, I think will better balance hero only and creep only weapons. As for building only weapons, never really used them, but they might need a boost as it seems that a seige pack is infinitly better.
Long range hero only weapons (like death magic) are overpowered, while short range hero only weapons (like god's hammer, bombs or aa gun) are underpowered. Why is this? Well if you have a long range hero only weapon (say 1300 range) and there are 20 targets in range (say 19 are creeps and 1 is a tank), the weapon allows you to concentrate fire on 1 out of 20 targets. However, with a short range hero only weapon (say 650 range), as it is half the range, the weapon would cover 1/4 the area so there would be less targets (say 5 targets in total, 1 being a hero) and you would only concentrate fire on 1 of the 5 targets. So in the case of hero only weapons, the ability to target heroes is more advantegous at large range because it allows you to target the hero out of a greater number of targets. When was the last time you saw someone use bombs or aagun in a game? On the other hand, when was the last time you didn't see everyone go death magic heavy in a game. Furthermore, at short range you can be attacked by creeps buildings, etc. (which you cant at long range), so there is much more incentive to get a regular short range weapon (like poison magic) than a hero only short range weapon to kill the creeps and buildings that attack you at short range and thus increase your survivability (at long range you can avoid creep attacks).
The converse is true for creep only weapons. I think that if creep only weapons existed at multiple ranges (right now they really only exist in the 800-850 range) that they would be underpowered at long range and more powerful at close range. This is because generally creeps have a low range, and are on the front lines, so you don't need a large range to attack them, making long range creep only weapons not that appealing. Secondly, if you have a larger range with a creep only weapon, your fire will be spread over more creeps, thus your fire wont be concentrated and it will be harder to kill creeps, making long ranged creep only weapons even less appealing. Right now, I don't think mid ranged creep only weapons like the soul stone are very appealing relative to similar costing short range weapons like the poison magic, as there isn't much difference in their dps's (due to the short range) and the short range normal weapon can also target heroes and buildings. If creep only weapons came at shorter range they would definatly be used more, but as it is, they dont and the current ones need a boost.
What I suggest is making weapons that have limited targets, such as the hero only and creep only weapons, do a different amount of damage at different ranges than they currently do. I think that hero only weapons should do 75% dps at long range (death magic range) but 125% dps at close range. Alternatively, i think that creep only weapons should be doing like 175% dps at close range and 250% dps at long range (doing about 200% dps at the 800-850 range). These changes, I think will better balance hero only and creep only weapons. As for building only weapons, never really used them, but they might need a boost as it seems that a seige pack is infinitly better.