As seen in a previous response, axe weapons excelled at two things: being the middle ground between a sword and mace/hammer, and splitting shields. The hybridized weight balancing allows for convenient seathing and mobility, but its shape requires the same slashes as a sword delivers; the problem is the larger blade width and blunt weight, drawing from the agile and thin width of a sword while having less blade length. However, the handle allows more grip freedom and barring. Due to its weight the axe is not necessarily as slow as a heavy sword but not as fast as the standard mechanic (Calibur, Brandish); its speed is along the lines of Fang of Vog but with a two swing combo. However, the area of effect would be between the standard and the heavy mechanics; one and a half spaces. Standard swords have a swing radius of one along its target path and a half space of about 120 degrees with the linear path in the center of the angle forming an oval relationship with the center of the character relative to the midpoint of the main attack path direction. For the animation it follows similar swing patterns as standard swords but lacks the base swing speed of it. For its charge attack it may have a shield disabling ability to be described further along. On its base damage values it will be balanced to primarily be used for its shield breaking ability, which occurs regardless of the target having an active shield. Due to the nature of the status its application will be limited to minor affliction (about three seconds) but if applied is guaranteed to inflict strong stun upon the user as recoil. If the status is not applied the recoil will not be applied to the user. The weapon will only have the chance to inflict the shield disabling status in a 1/1 (slight chance of minor) rate. While using the charge attack the user is slowed to the same speed as Graviton/Big Angry/Callahan charges with a base charge rate of ten seconds (assuming a +1 charge buff is 0.5 seconds). The base damage will be approximately 170 on the first swing, 200 on the second swing, and 250 on the charge (pure normal damage, based on D29 on a neutral target with no damage bonuses). Due to the status afflicted by this mechanic I expect significant balancing applied by the community in regards to this concept. The shield disabling status was based on alternative methods of combat for Lockdown.

A flail is similar to a mace, but instead of a blunt lump on a stick it is a blunt lump chained to a shorter stick. This offers more freedom in its use but makes use more complicated. It can still be used for crushing blows and broad swings to repel, but lacks the full sturdy handle to smash rather than whip. It has slightly longer range varying by the amount of chain used between the blunt and the handle and has utility to grapple a thinner weapon used by the opponent such as a sword or polearm. Against a thick and sturdy shield a flail can prove useless, either getting stuck in the surface or complete deflection. An axe would cut right through a solid shield with surface tension while a mace can deal enough crushing power to at least rattle the thick shield. A flail still has blunt weight but can be used for consecutive swings in fair siccuesstion to keep an opponent occupied but can be avoided more easily due to the delayed swing. The user has to wait for the blunt to follow their swing. The blunt is normally the same as a mace would have, though more often is spiked due to the proximity from the user. This weapon is always dangerous to use as it may end up nailing the user with a careless or well countered swing. Flails are often favored in their unpredictable swings changing any second with a mere swing of the wrist. Normally a flail is used as either distraction or incapacitation while another weapon is on standy or someone else is helping the user. Flails are not favored in survival combat or free for all, often the user is targetted early to get rid of the more potentially dangerous. Due to the complexity of a flail, the only way this weapon would be implemented with its proper mechanic is if the swing were essentially Troika but delayed a second after the user uses the attack command or if weapon hooking were possible. The latter is too complex to implement and the former is an unnecessarily crippled mechanic which recycles and weakens the heavy mechanic from what it already has. A mace would be better suited for our mechanics without creating a significant amount of mechanics which would overcomplicate everything until there is a button command for any possible motion; press F5 for right hand, et cetera.

I have addressed this mechanic in the past but it would befit this magnificent style to discuss it again. Broadswords have two forms of use: light cavaliers and freelance infantry. Light cavaliers need to be lightweight to ease weight off their mount to kite opposing forces or distract large groups of infantry by leading them to an ambush or bluffing a cavalry charge. The broadsword was carried for evidence of swordplay competence, showing that not only could they use a sword but they can use a more difficult one at that. Broadswords with double layered blades were thicker than the average sword, but somewhat shorter in blade length. The user must be able to balance the thicker blade and shorter blade to turn a contest of who can jab from the furthest away to who can outsmart the other into a vulnerable position. Where the broadsword lacked in regular combat more than compensated for in defensive combat tactics. The thicker blade meant more strike absorption and sturdier blocks. It also excels at parrying and overpowering to split the blade of the opponent, with the offensive blade strength of two in something shorter and sturdier than one. The countering ability puts off opposers at the risk of their only weapon, gambling the chance to avoid conflict altogether. Cavaliers normally used it as more a threat than to charge in since a pike would be more usefulagainst other cavaliers and shielded infantry. For the infantry it helps the complex swordslamn fully utilize their unused skill in swordplay to overpower and disable the opponent, dominating one on one combat. Its short and stout design makes any sword cry upon sight, aside from something as enormous as a Troika. Sometimes a lock broadsword will have a open slit in the middle of the blade for those able to lock a jab reflexively, then snap the blade to make the opponent wet themself. Broadswords are fairly difficult to master due to the complex potential, but can be countered with non-blade weapons: maces can smash into the blade to overwhelm, axes can lock depending on the design; broadsword is essentially a hybrid utility weapon. Due to its versatility, to implement the countering mechanic would mean having somewhat lower base damage and an incredibly crippled charge to activate the counter. For the alpha concept the broadsword will be pure normal damage. Art will be provided later. Cake will not be provided. Go to a bakery. Why are you asking me for cake?

The charge movement would suit the Graviton/Electron/Big Angry/Callahan speed while charging with a base charge time of six seconds. The average weapon has fire seconds base charge rate. The charge attack would only have a swing range of half a space in a 60 degree angle in an arc slice. Facing this area the user takes a parrying stance, holding the blade in a diagonal jab-slice upon release lasting one second; during this any attack which enters this area is countered with a strong diagonal crush which deals 120% damage of the third swing and knocks the target three cells away. This counter only works once per charge and only if the attack countered comes into the swing range stated previously. The charge completely avoids the attack countered so long as it activated the countering charge attack. The basic attacks for this weapon will be the same mechanic as standard but at 70% the base damage of Leviathan line. These notes concern the mechanic, not creating the weapon line; that will follow soon. However, the least I can do is crunch numbers with what ratios wee have now. With 70% the basic swing combo and 203 damage dealt by Leviathan at H1 on D29 against a neutral target with no damage buffs, the broadsword 5* variant would deal 142 under the same circumstances. The third swing for Leviathan deals 258 under the same circumstances, the 5* broadsword would deal 181 on the third swing. The broadsword charge is basd on 120% of the third swing, meaning: [181 (1.2)] = 217 in addition to the countering effect. As stated previously the counter only works if the attack countered comes in the area during the one second stance after completing a base six second charge in the angle and radius.

May 26, 2012

As seen here, guilds can be heavily expanded; however, should upgrading guilds solely cost energy? Often time veteran users find their excess heat unusable due to no outlet to dump it all into, wasting this accumulation. Everyone has seen the same old broken record of conserving this excess in a sort of heat bank, but that concept has been defeated; however, for guild upgrading should it solely rely on energy? Crafting equipment to create 4* and 5* requires the previous equipment in the alchemy line to have a certain level of heat. To put it simply, for upgrading the guild and/or adding guild hall features and/or guild items (costumes, etc.) to have a heat cost for all guild members to be able to deposit into. The user toggles whether they wish to contribute heat to the guild through the interface before entering the Clockworks through the mission or Arcade menu, under the party options in a checkbox. Upgrading the guild, adding features, and other available options for guilds to spend energy on would still cost energy, but to obtain/gain access to such upgrades and/or features would require heat and/or require a certain guild level obtained by heat contribution as equipment levels through heat.

You can probably guess where I stole this from though I assume many games have the same idea.

August 22, 2012
This probably comes as no surprise but I have a few more guild related things to make.

I am going to bring this up again; guild improvements. We were promised a guild update around the same time we were promised the shard bomb update but Three Rings seems to be playing patty cake right now. First I am going to copy-paste some stuff from here:

In Spiral Knights we have heat instead of experience. For guilds there could be something (trinket, armor) which takes heat as a regular item but gives it to your guild the same way normal equipment gets heat. Crowns could be used to purchase various guild improvements such as features for the hall, member expansion, et cetera; materials would be used to actually build the stuff.

For example, in the thread for guild improvements there is a section for guild hall furnishings. To make those furnishings the guild would pay crowns for the ability to create certain kinds of furnishings, then build those furnishings using materials. I only used Wakfu as a reference because that game has a lot of community reliance whereas Spiral Knights currently has very little supportive ability which is actually helpful. Going solo is too easy in this game and going in parties has very few incentives.

Back to material sinks, it would be at least a hundred 1*- materials for a small chair or something tiny; it would eat a lot of materials. The crown sink part would be buying recipes to craft guild improvements (this would involve a guild bank where people can deposit but only people cleared to withdraw may do so; this is another feature from Wakfu). Guild upgrade recipes would be bought only from funds within the guild bank (materials used to craft guild items would also deposited in this bank, not directly from player arsenals). Not personal banks, a bank just for the guild. Personal banks would be redundant since our arsenals have infinite storage space. Guilds get a bank because they need to know what they are allowed to use. Everyone in the guild would be able to deposit but only the leader and officers/a new second in command rank would be able to withdraw. In Wakfu guilds have a system which gives ranks actual meaning, where the leader has the right to do basically anything (except force other members to give experience, money, or activities such as depositing into the guild bank; the bank is unlocked only when the guild reaches a certain level) and regular members have no rights (they can give experience to the guild, but nothing else). Other than those two the guild leader can create other ranks and change the names of any rank (including leader and regular members) as they please. There are certain rights which can be given to other members (the leader can create a rank which has the power to do certain things but not other things) including:

• Recruit a member
• Remove a member
• Change the rank of another member
• Create/Edit/Delete a rank
• Withdraw from the guild bank

Anyone can deposit in the guild bank and choose how much of their experience they give to the guild.

Back to the stuff by Severage, guild upgrades can vary from furnishings to whole rooms to missions; the sky is the limit. In our case the Core is the limit. With current guild halls all we have is a stupid little room with a crafting machine in it, right? What if we added some flags or a guild marketplace? Those need to come from something, right? Before installing some pretty toys for the hall, you need to have the blueprint/recipe for the specific item. Obviously the better the upgrade the higher the price. What do you mean, crown sink? Recipes would be bound to the guild, not any of the players, and would be destroyed with the guild if it gets disbanded. Where does the money for the guild come from? Pay attention. The guild would have its own vault/bank which contains crowns, materials, and heat (no equipment, guilds do not wear equipment) deposited by members (no donations from non-members). How would deposits be recorded? Wait until after this part. With enough crowns in the guild bank to buy certain blueprints, the guild can gain access to build certain upgrades for the hall itself (furnishing, new rooms, new features, etc.).

And now to explain how depositing works. All members would be able to deposit, but only certain members (leaders and officers) would be able to withdraw; technically they would not actually withdraw, merely purchase new blueprints for the guild and use materials to build stuff for the guild; there will be no taking money, materials, or heat which other players stored for personal benefit. None of it. Once someone deposits into the guild it stays there unless the guild is disbanded, in which case everything is refunded to whoever deposited whatever; the leader does not automatically collect. This is to prevent what banks normally try to do. A nice banking system? Are we all imagining this? Probably. All members are listed with their own accounts in the guild bank but all items are accessible by authorized members (leader, officers) who have the exclusive right to use the items in the guild bank for guild upgrades (but not taking money/stuff from the bank and running away with it). There are three kinds of bank sections for the guild:

• Leader & Officers
• Member
• To use

The first section contains what the leader and officers have deposited, each member having their own accounts which can be filtered (either choose the whole section or choose specific members to see what they have stored). The second section is what everyone has deposited, excluding members in the first section. This section is also divided so you can either see what everyone has deposited or specific people. The third section is where money, heat, and materials may be moved into. Only items in the third section may be used for guild payments. The first and second sections are where stuff is stored but the third section is where things are chosen to be spent. Again, everything in the third section can be viewed either as a collective section or by individual people to check if someone lied about depositing certain items. What does the guild do with all this stuff? Go check.

Second thing for today, guild ranks. This is what the Wiki says about them:

• Recruits may use the membership list, guild chat, and guild hall.
• Members have the same privileges as Recruits.
• Veterans have the same privileges as Recruits.
• Officers have all of the privileges of Recruits. They may also invite knights into the guild, and promote knights to Member, Veteran, and Officer. They may demote or remove lower-ranking knights and Officers of lower seniority. Finally, Officers can use officer chat.
• Guild Masters have the same privileges as Officers, except that Guild Masters may promote knights all the way to Guild Master, and may demote or remove Guild Masters of lower seniority.

The first four ranks are basically the same. Before I want to whine about that, I am going to go through a new membership ranking system as an overview:

• Recruits may use the membership list (see the guild name list), guild chat, guild hall, and deposit in the guild bank (crowns and materials; heat depositing uses a different system).
• Members may do everything Recruits are allowed, move items from their own stored items in the guild bank into the third section (to use for guild upgrades), and recruit new members.
• Veterans may do everything Members are allowed, promote Recruits to Members, and kick out Recruits and Members (not able to remove anyone at or above their own rank).
• Officers may do everything Veterans are allowed, choose to purchase guild upgrades using items stored in the third section in the guild bank, promote Members to Veterans, and promote Recruits to Members (not able to promote anyone to Officer, which is their own rank, or remove anyone which is an Officer; is able to remove Veterans from the guild).
• Guild Master(s) may do everything Officers are allowed, promote Veterans to become Officers, promote Officers to become Guild Masters (though they would have the same power you do), and may remove other Guild Masters with a 75% majority vote of all members (75% of all members in the guild must agree, the vote would be taken on a guild notice board which would have to be built; without this upgrade there may not be more than one Guild Master).

Before we continue we need to go over how your heat gets into your guild. The first option would be a trinket which acts like a heat absorbing item, but once the item gains heat it gives it to your guild automatically upon the heat being absorbed into your equipment. The heat level would reset on every floor. Since heat is a constant value (higher tiers may give more but that does not mean T1 and T3 give different kinds of heat) heat would be measured by a bar rather than a numeric level. This measurement of heat would essentially be heat stored in the guild itself as if it were an equippable item. It would start at H1 and go to H10, in which case it would need to be upgraded to consume that heat; heat would be consumed as part of the upgrading cost process along with materials to build the upgrades. This way heat would still be helpful but not infinitely storable. At some point the guild would have to build an upgrade to keep collecting more heat, though by building something they would consume some of that heat.

I think this is enough for today.

I just had a seven hour Wakfu gameplay marathon. My brain is mostly walrusberry pudding right now.

I am going to link the stuff from you and Quote right now in the index so I remember to get to it when my pudding reassembles into a solid form.

Continuing the Deconstructor line is nowhere nearly a new topic, all I did was slap some numbers on what the 5* could have.

Technically this is a continuing thread updated when I make new stuff and/or someone else makes new stuff and I link it in the index and/or science happens. That was not a necro because the last post was only a day ago. Silly.

I have notes on the single handed gauntlet and bastard sword mechanics, I may be able to do some gun mechanics some time this week; if I can remember/find other sword mechanics to explore I will pump them out.

Stuff about normal damage being underpowered by Tsubasa-No-Me is now in the index. I am not going to continue rhyming, especially in this timing.

Everyone is familiar with how gauntlets work somewhat; metal glvoes, may have spike decoration, useful for slapping. However, gauntlets themselves were never considered a formal weapon. As previous weapon notes have referred, several weapons were useful to disarm the opponent by flinging their weapon away from them or disabling the weapon rendering it useless. Well armored individual often had gauntlets, armor gloves which cover approximately half the forearm, to help protect the user from ahving their hands cut off in battle. Certain heavier designs made complex combat more difficult and may not have been taken into battle, though for the most part they doubled as defensive and offensive utilities. Polearm style weapons can be countered with a swing by the opponent and a well coordinated grab to bring the two to equal terms in unarmed combat. Other bladed weapons such as swords and axes could hypothetically be double palmed, though this technique is rarely used due to the reflexes required to even think of attempting. In the past, gauntlet based combat actually referred to completely unarmed combat, possibly against an armored and/or armed opponent. In modern times we have boxing though participans are armed with cushioned gloves and are physically prepared to exchange punches. Gauntlet combat was a challenge of strength, intelligence, and survival. Participants were tested in their ability to overpower someone of equal or greater physical strength, navigate through obstacles (may be blindfolded), and survive over any length between a single battle to several days of grueling aggression and difficulty. Gauntlet assignments were not the same as gauntlet armor but retained the name for lack of something which sounded more intimidating. Gauntlet. Throw the gauntlet down; that actually meant to drop armor between to combatants in stalemate for a final showdown, often in a free for all where only the last two are standing or has taken too long due to the defense of armor and offense of weaponry. Gauntlets themselves remain the last resort tool in combat, the original boxing glove; but metal.

For our mechanic to work in the manner planned, the user will only have one gauntlet; on the right hand. The linked gauntlet concept in the index has offensive use and dual wielding mechanics, therefore I will not copy; instead I will partially copy something else. The gauntlet will have offensive ability to an extent, a two hit basic combo in Faust-esque speed in the standard mechanic swing rate (the third swing is omitted in this mechanic, the basic swings cover a one space swing radius in a 60 degree angle), but the charge will do something used in the spider concept: polarize, or make things magnetically charged to attract to each other. The charge upon contact in the standard radius swing range (one space, 60 degree arc area; see the swing on the Brandish charge attacks), gives a positive or negative charge to the target similar to how Catalyzer mines stick to targets. The point of contact must also be a point of vulnerability (back of Trojans). This polarizing can only assign two alterations (only two targets at a time) and may only be afflicted on a vulnerability point. "How does this work?" Magnets. Before anything has been polarized, the first charge attack would give a positive charge to the target. The user then goes to another enemy and tags them negative. Using the charge attack on something already polarized may reverse the charge, allowing users to have two positive or two negative targets if they want to work with others using the same mechanic weapon. "What does polarization do?" Magnets. They attract and stick to one target of the opposite polarity; a red plus circling a positive target signifies a positive charge while a blue minus circling a target signifies a negative charge. For those who know where I got this from, all I really did is take a skill named "Magnetic Glove" from Wakfu, which just picks up objects from a distance and throws them with no real magnetic animation (a claw-hookshot with three prongs grabs the object, then the user tosses it by using the same skill again). The mechanic to polarize targets may prove unbalance against swarming or enemies with shields to either lock them in defense or exposition, so the polrization will not disrupt turning or attacking ability except by preventing movement in terms of running around unless the target they are magnetized to wants to do the exact same movement in the same direction at the same time; teamwork. When a positively charged object and a negatively charged object share electrons, the negative charged object gives electrons to the positive charge, on a molecular scale this happens between countless atoms but for our less educated/younger users and Iops we use the entire object, which is the targets. This means eventually the oppositely charged objects will neutralize, returning to normal stasis. Upon two oppositely charged objects connecting, they have ten seconds of being stuck together until the effect wears off and the targets become neutral again following the connection. If we are using this logic than how does a neutral target suddenly become positive or negative? The gauntlet absorbs electrons from the first target, giving the user a negative charge because matter is not destroyed nor created from nothing, which in turn makes the first target positively charged; this means the user will be polarized to attract to the target which was just polarized. To prevent self magnetizing, the charge attack will knock the target three spaces away in the previously stated area (one space swing radius, 60 degree angle) with a short concussion blast from the gauntlet (it does not necessarily have to look like a glove with fingers, it can be a hand cannon of sorts) in the aimed direction relative to the target; see the Troika charge for an example of how this would work on a larger scale. This gives the user time to transfer the gained electrons to a second target before getting stuck. In order to change the charge of a target or of the user themself certain circumstances must be followed: to neutralize something from either a positive or negative charge, the target must polarize to the opposite charge for ten seconds or if the user is charged give/take electrons to a neutral target. Inflicting a positive charge to a negatively charged target by the user using the charge attack again only switches the charges and does not neutralize. Only one charged object may attach to another single charged object; no more than two per group of targets stuck together. Having two negatively charged objects and one positive will not cause all three to stick together, only whoever gets close first will stick while the other roams freely until another positive object comes along. Swings on the basic attack follow the standard mechanic for the first two swings, having only a two-swing combo, and covers equal radius and area. If this is unapplicable the attack combo may be the heavy but without the same swing radius; considering how unarmed combat may be done either may apply, though to mimic the heavy mechanic would mean having a swing radius of less than one space to make it less overpowered; half a space to three fourths of a space, if the original basic combo concept is unapplicable. For the charge animation the user holds the gauntlet with their opposite hand in close proximity to their torso and a short blast is released, which polarizes the target; hitting multiple targets with a single charge will not result in multiple polarizations in the same attack, only the closest to the user upon affliction will be charged; others will only receive the damage and knockback in the smaller area of effect. Further detail for specific weapon lines will be created, this is just to give an overall mechanic if multiple series are spawned with this mechanic.

I have it on my to do list, I should have time to grind it out this week.

As seen previously, there is more than one way to make an electrical salt based explosive device useful; it involves the theoretical application of mechanic changes based on changing what it already has. As making a new bomb mechanic demands, creativity is not optional; no excuses, no whining, no pets without a leesh. In the first batch of notes with chocolate chips I baked the idea to change it to a neutral alternative to Radiant sun though the pure normal damage and average rates of damage would be fairly bland in spite of the chips. In the second batch I ran out of dough so I used jelly instead, though they ended up buyrning; the shapes were inconsistent, the oven timer broke, it was a mess; it was not meant to be yet will stay as a monument to bakery. Why am I referring to cookies constantly? It makes more sense than throwing them at people and running away. This time I fixed the oven, I dumped the inedible aardvarks, and headbutted an elderly giraffe.

certain users use Ionized Salt for its tasing ability, though the charge often leaves little to be desired. Compared to Radiant Sun its damage is also disappointing, though the significant rate of shock is commendable; a projectile Voltaic without the giant obvious mist cloud. It has a 4/3 (good chance of moderate) rate of shock affliction over the 4/2 (good chance of minor) rate of shock on Voltaic. Salt lacks in charge rate as its counterparts, Radiant Sun and Voltaic, but has a greater shock rate and sniping ability to show for it. It has little use on the front line yet proves useful against unsuspecting targets. In the clockworks this method is often outclassed by Voltaic, as sniping is often used with a single strong projectile; Salt has low damage and a long charge time, limiting its viability to when the target does not expect the Spanish Inquisition. However, for a weapon used to "assasinate" its shock is somewhat lacking; just look at the base charge rate of seven seconds. There is little than can be done for the charge rate to deviate from sniping/kiting tactics so the charge rate is retained. The sniping/tasing tactic does not necessarily require damage but could use a slight buff on the part of the tactic which is intended, the shock. Unfortunately that would mean being unequal to Radiant Sun, outruling a damage bonus. All we have left is the rate of shock. Since the degrees and probabilities are mostly undefined (how often is "good", how long does "minor" last, etc.), but since the assasination tactic relies on that shock to cripple the target and Voltaic is only one degree lower, give it an improved stealth utility while retaining existing disadvantages.

Everytime I see "purpose" I mentally change it to "porpoise" and everything is confusing. Not that being confused is different than normal, but when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Omega Shell has the highest health of all the existing shields but for a 5* lacks in defense. Imagine running around in the 4* Vitasuit (Deluxe) compared to the 4* Plate torso (Heavy Plate Mail). Having more health to start with is nice, but for tanking that health only cushions the first damage; after that you have to get it back or that extra max health is useless for the next hit. With the Plate you may not have as high health but you have more defense, meaning you can take more hits. These are both while taking only normal damage with no status involved, just pure normal damage; otherwise both would roll over. At the same star rank Vitasuit may have more health, but in the long run Plate manages to tank better. In our case Omega is akin to Vitasuit while the Plate shields are akin to the Plate armor (derp). The difference in this case is the functionality of health for shields because health regenerates for your shield over time. Having more health on a shield means having more to draw from, whereas having more defense sticks with taking constant beatings. However, the health advantage on Omega does not necessarily counterbalance against the raw defense a Plate shield has. Other shields are not mentioned for the same reason as the Vitasuit-Plate comparison earlier. As most of us know, Omega was derived from an old enemy: Tortodrone. The 4* of it (Stone Tortoise) dropped from the robotic tortoise himself. Not that enemies dropping relevant equipment is impossible: Dread Skelly torso has dropped from Vanaduke, Wolver (2*) equipment has dropped from Snarbolax, that 3* of the Jelly set has dropped from Royal Jelly/Jelly King; enemies can and do drop equipment, which is relevant to the enemy itself. "Oh, no, this is going to be a rant on the context just like with the sword mechanics." I am not going to do that this time. Instead I am going to cut to the chase: adding knockback resistance to Omega Shell while shielding. Some people user their shield to cushion a Lumber/Trojan/other heavy attack which deals significant knockback to the knight, blasting them to a "safe" distance to prepare their own attack to counter. If you are using an Omega Shell chances are you are expecting to take few but heavy hits occasionally, meaning you want to be able to get back in the fray since you do not need to bubble every few seconds as if you were fighting a group of Kats with no means to inflict shock. Back to the subject. Tortoises. They are thick, sturdy, and too heavy to bother to throw around; if you try to pick them up they can pop their head out and bite your ears off. That ought to teach you to pick up a tortoise with violent intent. Punk. For the knockback resistance it is not supposed to be overpoweringly spectacular, but decently sturdy to make Omega a viable line. Considering the amount of knockback vomited around on a regular basis, I propose having its knockback resistance at 5* (the effect does not apply to the 4* at all to force anyone who wants this effect to upgrade) to halve knockback taken while the user has the shield activated. When the user raises their shield it is akin to a tortoise retracting into their shell, resisting brute force due to the thick shell. Having the knockback resistance at half efficacy would be decently appropriate for the purple shell which seems to be smaller than its previous variant since knockback varies from one to five spaces; one or two space deflection is not too significant most of the time yet provides ample opportunity for the user to charge back into the fray and headbutt everyone in the kneecaps.

Before continuing I would like to point this out. Evidently the community does not want a reskinned Quicksilver set so I will attempt not to do so. I shall follow this act by riding a unicycle on a tight rope while juggling flaming chainsaws over a cup of water. No, not really.

First up to bat is the Oiler set. Oilers leave oil. When burning they gain some resistance to element damage. Oilers like to slide around while attacking somewhat similar to Greavers. Oilers are part of the jelly family, dealing and being resistant to pierce. Where Quicksilvers are pinballs Oilers are, well, dripping oil; rather than bouncing everywhere they simply ooze after you. Oilers like being on fire; in fact, it heals them. Healing will not be part of this at all whatsoever.

As seen in the previous link, a triple defense may be in order; however, that would be either unreliable in T3 as a 4*+ armor or overpowered because of accumulative defense. Cutting normal defense is unjustifiable because Oilers rely on close range attacks, meaning normal damage is somewhat relevant; if this were a turret based set it would be completely different. So we have normal defense. What about pierce? These blobs deal that type of damage and are resistant to it. Sure, throw pierce on as well. Fire defense is obvious, at least 2.5 bars per part at 5*. The same applies to freeze but in weakness instead of resistance, 2.5 bars at 5*; these values will scale along with defense to be described below. What about element, since Oilers are fairly resistant while on fire? But you are not on fire, so sit back down. In the chair, not on the floor. Sit in the waiting room while I operate on a proposal. On a chair.

Alright, I think I have something for everyone today. The following is for the 5* equipment at H1. Its normal and element defense would be equal at five and a half bars each (11 bars accumulative), each part has 2.5 bars of fire defense, but instead of having an offensive bonus it has something else: while on fire the user gains 2.5 bars of element defense per part (Oiler effect bonus). This means while on fire and using both parts at once the user has a total of 16 bars of defense overall. No attack speed bonus, no movement speed bonus, no walrus speed bonus; you get some element defense while on fire. Nothing else. This means to keep that bonus you have to be on fire. The effect itself gives 2.5 bars of element defense while on fire, only for the duration of the fire and not after it has been doused or expired, and each part at 5* only gives +1 of this effect. No more. Before reaching 5* the set gives no bonus but has somewhat decent defenses in comparison to how the 5* scales against other 5* armor. Yes, just like Quicksilver line; but it has freeze weakness, fire resistance instead of shock, and equal normal-pierce defenses instead of having more pierce than normal. See below.

This is where the specific defense values are identified in case you are in the wrong operating room. Wait, this is an operating room? Does that make me a doctor? Alright. If there were to be a 2* variant of this Oiler set each part would have 2.3 bars of normal and pierce defense (both have 2.3 each), 1.1 bars of resistance to fire, and 1.1 bars of weakness to freeze. No bonus effect yet. At 3* each part would have 3.1 bars of defense against normal and pierce, keeping them the same, and 1.6 bars of fire resistance and freeze weakness. There is still no special effect yet so stay in your seat. At 4* each part has 5.1 bars of normal and pierce defense, also keeping its status affiliations at pace with 2.2 bars of resistance for fire and weakness to freeze. We are almost at the good part. For the 5* variants each part has 5.5 bars of normal and pierce defense, 2.5 bars resistance to fire, and 2.5 bars weakness to freeze; it now has the ability seen above to an effective +1 bonus per part. So if you are wearing both parts while on fire you have a total of 5.5 normal defense, 5.5 pierce defense, 5 bars against fire, 5 bars vulnerable to freeze, and 5 bars of element from the effect; no weapon or family bonuses, no speed bonus, no pants no service. You may now stand. Did you wet yourself on that chair? Clean that immediately. Not you, the janitor.

Yes, I know the effect would be exploitable by spamming the Fang of Vog charge; but the element defense is low enough to still take damage from the burn if it applies.

I am going to copy-paste the gist of the concept below. Underneath it are a few notes to add on.

Instead of clearing a predetermined amount of enemies you keep going until everyone dies. People can still revive each other or use energy to keep an energy sink nearby, though at a certain death rate for each person or if everyone is dead and a one minute timer ends then the game ends. To prevent veteran abuse of lower tiers, keep the minigame exclusively for T3 for 4*+. Since enemies are randomly spawned, meaning you have no idea what is going to come out of the ceiling, you have to be versatile with weaponry. Does this mean only those with all four weapon slots available are going to get anything done? Nurp, only one weapon at a time; not necessarily the same exact weapon for the entire minigame, they could have four to choose from in their whole arsenal and are forced to switch when they die and have the option to switch between areas in a single game, but other than that when you get into that skirmish zone no switching to another weapon. Stick to your metaphorical guns. "What about clones?" To combat "clones", no one can use the same equipment at once; this goes for armor (helmet and torso), weapons, and shields; trinkets are excluded because they do not work in here anyway. "You must have thought about this for a while." Hurr. Loadout restriction would mean first come first serve, if you want to wear it no one else can and you have to be the first in the group to put it on. Costumes are disabled for this minigame. By restricting the party to have a variety and only being able to use one weapon at once while fighting completely random enemies, how are you supposed to know what is going to come out of that crazy house with all doors locked until you die horribly? What are you going to do to combat against everything possible? Normal weapons and variety in loadout. This means the only weapon you take in there with you, if you are unable to rely on allies, had better have at least split normal damage. Your shield and armor are no exceptions. Your shield may not be as important since you are most likely using it to suit your play style, but your armor is where the majority of your bonuses will come from. Want to stick with being a Skolver clone? How about an army of gremlins and fiends to open a new data port for you?

Fight until you drop, drop when you played your last card. No crowns, equipment, or heat from the enemies in this beatdown. You get a token for every kill for every person for an independent reward system, though since there is only one tier to access this minigame you better bring your iron crotch cup and a keg to rock anything that tries to stop the sunshine of your day. If you work with other people who are using different types of equipment you can use a specialized damage type weapon, so long as someone else is using something to back you up. The less people working together, the less necessary normal weapons would be since you have no idea what you are going to fight.

The original post with this content is here in a different thread linked in the index as a reference.

Basically, imagine an arena; now imagine you get no heat, crowns, or equipment from any of the drops. You only get tokens from fighting and there are no treasure areas between battles. Some points in the copy-pasted part may refer to something not within itself because it was originally intended to be a response to a suggestion where random enemies are spawned in an arena where trinkets are disabled to prevent health trinket abuse. Trinket restraint does not necessarily have to be a part of this as it is meant to counter how substantial their effects are. As seen above my take on this idea is to remove all drops from the enemies other than Clockworks only items (vials, batteries/Vitapods), have enemies drop tokens instead of normal items (heat, crowns, sometimes equipment), no trinkets or costumes active allowed (costumes would be taken off upon entry, trinkets locked), and only one weapon equipped at once at a time. Before beginning the minigame you may choose up to four weapons to take into the minigame, which may be switched upon death and between battle areas. When you die there is still the revival menu, though all revivals are T3 values (starts at ten, continues to double every revival) because all enemies are T3 (no T2- grinding here) and a window appears allowing you to change your weapon to one of the weapons you chose to have available to switch to upon death. The major stipulation here is you may only die with a certain weapon equipped three times before it becomes locked for the rest of the minigame. When you only have one weapon left and have exceeded this limit you will keep that weapon but may not switch to another one because they are locked. Die wisely. Also seen above, no repeat equipment; this is to combat clone loadouts. Only one person in the party may take a certain item with them, such as the Skolver torso. Once someone chooses to take the Skolver torso with them into the minigame, no one else may do so. The items taken into the minigame are chosen before entry and may be switched before the minigame starts, meaning once you set an item you want to take with you before the minigame begins you may still change that to another item. You also do not have to use four weapons in the minigame but the amount of uses for each weapon as identified earlier is twelve maximum. If you only take three weapons with you each weapon has four uses. If you only take two weapons with you each weapon has six uses. If you only take one weapon then you basically have infinite uses because of the also previously identified system. A "use" is when you die while the weapon is active since you can only wield one weapon at a time. Alternatively to this system it could be based on how many weapon upgrade slots you have available, only being able to take three or four weapons with you if you have the slots available.

When the minigame begins the party of one to four (everyone has to follow the previously identified rules on equipment) is locked in a generic room, most likely an arena, with various obstacles in the area: barbed wire, spike pits, status grates, et cetera. When/If I get around to making art for visual references several example arenas will be depicted. Since enemies spawned are random the output may vary, though for the most part each enemy only drops one token for this minigame. There are a few exceptions such as Trojans which would drop two, but no bosses are involved here. Snarbolax will not appear. It could incorporate the old living statue concept towards the beginning of this thread somewhere, though not for a regular enemy.

For rewards refer to any of the equipment ideas in this thread from my own creation as potential candidates. Stuff from other people could also be fair game with their permission because stealing is impolite. Urinating in a cup and selling it as lemonade is disgusting.

Yes. Only heat, crowns, and equipment will not be given through the minigame here. Vials, batteries/Vitapods, hearts, and tokens for the minigame will drop from enemies. Just no money or heat. Or equipment. This is to push anyone who wants those to go back to the Clockworks rather than profiting off a minigame which would take away from existing content.

Layouts for the minigame may not have art immediately but I can flesh out the gist of how it works. The area would have to be large to have all the various traps available in the game, meaning at least the size of the room Vanaduke sits in. About fifty to a hundred enemies will be in each battle area, each of which will have different layouts but may have repeating traps, but not all enemies will spawn at once; perhaps ten at a time or something. Upon completion of a room is a break room where people may switch their weapons without death or depleting uses for weapons and heart pads will be accessible. No loadout station or treasure boxes are between rooms. Upon completion of a room the party may retire similar to having an elevator between rooms in arena floors of the Clockworks, though more tokens drop with every consecutive room completed due to more enemies appearing in following rooms. The farther you go, the more enemies you have to fight before the room is done. Still no money, heat, or equipment drops. Go to the Clockworks if you want those. The enemies are the same as in the Clockworks, but that does not mean they have to drop monetary items.

What do the tokens do? Get you recipes for the equipment mentioned earlier. Not the equipment already made, recipes to make it yourself. Similar to the Krogmo system if it starts with an existing 2* item (Troika to Triglav) then only recipes are in the reward list, but if it starts as a 3* (Electron) then the item itself is the reward and recipes to upgrade to 4*+ are also rewards. For example, if the Oiler set here starts its branch from the Jelly set which no one uses, the recipes would be available starting at 3* and use the 2* Jelly armor to upgrade into it. Due to how common tokens would drop the exchange system would have high numbers. I could copy the Krogmo system but make it proportionately similar based on how many games you would have to do to get something.

Materials, those also do not drop from the enemies in the minigame. No crowns, heat, materials, or equipment. This is to thank for reminding me.

Still remember that minigame I constantly refer to? This is even more stuff for that.

We have the basic concept of the game, how weapons are limited, and a general idea of what the battlefields are like; we also know that enemies within the game are completely random so no one has any idea what will drop out of that crazy house.

Back to the rules about weapons, what about armor and shields? Weapons follow a rule that only one may be taken into the minigame of a certain type (only one Divine Avenger in the party but if just the 4* Avenger is also taken that is acceptable because it is not the same weapon technically) to limit clone weapon loadouts, but what about equipment? Yes, armor and shields also follow the same rule. Shields are less of a problem somewhat, but restricting armor? Do they at least get to switch equipment around like they do with weapons when they die or between battles? Sure. Do they get four options to take with them? Nurp, only two; two helmets, two torsos, and two shields. Just like weapons you can only switch which is active when the battle ends, but you may not switch when you die. You can only switch weapons when you die. Unlike weapons, your armor and shield do not have a use/life system; you can stick with one set for the whole game if you want. You also do not have to choose more than one of each if you do not want to. The same limitation rule applies, no repeats within the party; if one person locks a Swiftstrike for one of their shields, no one else in the party can take the same thing with them. However, if someone chooses Skolver helmet but not torso then someone else can take the torso because it is not restricted already. Obviously you can only take equipment with you if it is already in your arsenal. No equipment renting anywhere. When you are able to switch your armor and shield, after battles, there is a sort of loadout station which only holds the equipment you took with you. The rest of your arsenal is locked.

Equipment taking into the minigame is chosen and locked before it begins. Only when everyone has their chosen equipment locked, at least one of each slot (helmet, torso, shield, weapon), does the minigame begin.

If they do not have variety in their arsenal it is their own fault. The whole point of equipment restriction is to completely negate clones while rewarding variety. Similar to the Clockworks, one to four people may participate at once; they do not have to join to begin with if they only have one set to use outside their old Proto. Again, this is to fight clone arsenals; if you only have one set of stuff to use, most likely something anyone would have such as Skolver, then you have to be fast to lock your equipment choice in before anyone else or start the party to lock them before anyone else gets there. If you do start a party and lock a clone loadout then any other clone who wants to do the same would be unable to do so in the same party, isolating clones rather than promoting. If your arsenal has variety and you are capable of versatility then all you have to do is choose something else to use.