FOnline: Ashes of Phoenix
General section => Game Tips & Guides => Topic started by: BG Sexpert on April 19, 2016, 08:47:23 PM
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There is a tremendous amount of complaining about weapon balance/imbalance and I felt that was coming from 2 main problems:
1. The players don't have the tools at hand to see how each weapon is working. Without this understanding it becomes possible for situations to feel unfair.
2. When balance changes are made, they are made without tools that allow the developers to see how a weapon is effected as a whole, and how it compares to the rest of the weapons of its archetype. This leads to "feels" fixes in which changes are made that 'feel' like they should fix the problem. While a lot of these fixes are GOOD, this allows for accidental over nerfs.
I asked if there was any dev tool available that would allow the devs to see how each weapon functions. I was surprised when I found out no tool existed; so I decided to make one (for SG for now, I'll do other weapon types eventually).
This is that tool:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D54LLX7h5jVEDEzmaunEvchCH0CIbTmtNDCDo0rLSMU/edit?usp=sharing
I realize that the sheet can be daunting and a bit cumbersome, so I have uploaded a video explaining how to use it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5PmUtg9np4&feature=youtu.be
Cirn was courteous enough to give me the files that the game runs off to get weapon information. Lidae, Cirn, and John Porno were nice enough to provide me the exact formulas the game uses. These formulas are used in the spreadsheet. The results *SHOULD* represent the exact numbers you will see in game. I say should because there is always rounding errors that will result in very minor discrepancies.
I have validated the information on the sheet (with great effort) and have found it to be accurate. That being said, I began this project a month ago and a few weapons have changed. I would be more than happy for anyone to notify me of any inaccuracies.
Why?
I felt that it would provide a useful tool for quickly determining weapon effectiveness and allow for easy balance and design decisions.
Why should you care?
This provides you with a tremendous amount of meta knowledge if you take the time to use it. You can see in ANY scenario, which weapon will be the objective best. As well, if you make a weapon legendary, you can use this sheet to see which upgrade will result in the greatest damage increases.
Why am I sharing this?
While creating the spreadsheet I realized that it was making me privy to a tremendous amount of meta game knowledge that most players simply didn't have available. I've played other FOnlines where being an English speaker was a genuine detriment (TLA) where the devs and players went out of their way to keep game information unavailable to English speaking players. In the name of competitive spirit, I have made this information available to everyone.
*note*
- The sheet by default is using AP equivalent ammo. I'd found that the AP equivalent ammo yields more damage and more bleed in nearly EVERY situation across almost all armors.
- The damage represented is averaged for every weapon
- 250 skill is assumed. All weapon perks are represented
- I have deliberately locked the sheet. You should be able to download it yourself. If you want to unlock it the password is BenisBenisBenis
**Disclaimer**
This sheet is intended to supplement your understanding of the game. It is NOT meant to be used as a means to argue a weapon needs buffing/nerfing. You can use the sheet to try and understand why a weapon needs work, but the arguments you make should be supported with IN GAME data and not the sheet alone.
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A heroic amount of effort. I hope someone finds this useful.
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A heroic amount of effort. I hope someone finds this useful.
A player named Le Troll also makes spreadsheets like this but for Reloaded, so he'll probably jizz himself when he sees this :P
Good work BTW
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u still forgot the special factor named human
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This is awesome. Someone is going to lose a lot of business over this though:
(http://s31.postimg.org/8u07e3uu3/weaponmechanics.jpg)
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For people like me, this is great!
Thanks for the effort.
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all make spears nonexist traitors xD
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This is awesome. Someone is going to lose a lot of business over this though:
(http://s31.postimg.org/8u07e3uu3/weaponmechanics.jpg)
HtG is pretty good for most weapons. However, you'll find some magical things happen when weapons spread is reduced to around 3. ;)
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I see you really put a lot of effort into this. Good job! Looks like it would be a great complement for balancing certain weapons.
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I see you really put a lot of effort into this. Good job! Looks like it would be a great complement for balancing certain weapons.
Thanks. I can't wait to see the tier system when its all set and ready. With that it should be easy to adjust each weapon to have it fit its intended roll.
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Good job Lackey.