Spiral Knights - What's the point of having a Battle Sprite if you're not going to use its abilities.

What's the point of having a Battle Sprite if you're not going to use its abilities.

88 replies [Last post]

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:06

Fauxhownd

Throughout JK runs I'm spamming my Seraphynx's Heart Attack, trying to keep the hearts flowing, while players with Lv50+ Drakon's and Maskeraiths don't even touch their skills. No barriers, no poison needles, nothing. And when we actually get to JK, I'm the only one with Poison Vials, and when I run out I'm BEGGING the person with Maskeraith to use poison needles on JK.

"too lazy xD"

Wtf? You have your Battle Sprite for a reason. Their skills are useful, especially in situations like this where we needed poison and everyone was starved for hearts.

Your Battle Sprite is there to help you and the rest of your team. USE IT.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:19

Batabii

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/515382/royaljelly.jpg

Because perks, and some people are lazy, or are under the impression the skills are useless before they reach Ultimate.

What's worse is people who have a sprite, and equip it.....but never feed it.

Every vanguard in the game should have a sprite that's at LEAST level 90.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:22

Seiran

old players

Are they old players?

Speaking for myself, before sprites, my vials were at 1,2,3,4.

Afterwards, the default controls changed, and I had to set sprite skills to some other keys that are at a bit of a weird position. I was used to not having to move my hand off WASD except to use a vial, so it took deliberate use (ex: wanting drakon's MSI for speed runs, or attack buffs during boss fights) to really get me to watch them.

But anyway, don't expect that from normal randoms, especially veteran players lol.

Oh, it also seems like (at least) Drakon is a little bugged in that you have to be walking in order to get it to cast its skill. Maybe it's just me??

It's a bit of an annoying effort to have to be moving in order to cast a skill.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:21

Xtweeterx

If I were to still play, my Maskeraith STILL never gets a break.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:23

Fauxhownd

Exactly. My Seraphynx,

Exactly. My Seraphynx, although it's only Lv22, it NEVER gets a break. I saved all my points for Heart Attack and I'm constantly on cooldown waiting to pop it again. The randoms I play with are almost always starved for health and I have to keep popping Heart Attack to keep them from being in the danger zone all the time.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:25

Bopp

agree

As an old player with no desire to buy specialized gaming hardware, I have had trouble adjusting my control scheme to incorporate battle sprite skills. So I use my sprite for perks, appearance, and occasional skill use.

I'd like to exploit the skills more. Certainly it's nice when every enemy around you is poisoned or hexed, rather than not poisoned and not hexed.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:35

Klipik-Forum

I have enough extra buttons on my mouse to use sprite skills, but in the course of normal play you just don't need them. Sometimes I'll throw out quills to kill a giant lichen colony, or use cloak for the speedboost, or Haze on the last wave of an arena, but anywhere else you can get by just fine without them. So I do.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 13:47

Bamzalot

It depends on what Sprite I am using.

I carry my Makseraith more than my other two pets. And even though it is the only one with all of his ultimates, I don't use it unless I need to. Its skills are all very powerful, but work best at specific scenarios. Therefor, I try to save the skills for when I need them most. This usually causes other people to think I don't use it as much as I should though.

My Seraphynx is similar, but I do use it more often. I am constantly using Heart Attack on anything and everything. Even if the entire party is loaded on health. Better safe than sorry! I use the Aura a bit as well. Usually when ever my shield breaks or I desperately need a safe kill. I don't use the Ray of Light very often, but I will use it to create walls in choke points that monsters can only go through if they want to take damage.

I rarely equip my Drakon. But when I do, the only thing I can do with it is spam. Spam, spam, spam spam spam spam everywhere. Don't even care what skill I use. If I don't have it charging, I need to use it. it may not be a very smart or impressive way to use the Drakon, but I like to use it for dishing out as much damage as possible.

And yea, it really annoys me when nobody is using their Sprites.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 14:08

Mtax-Forum

I played long before Battle sprites and even missions updates. I have three 105 lvl pets and I share the same opinion. They can say "perks", but that's pretty lame. Punching good uv is totally better than making sprite to 105 lvl. IMO even lazy person can spam miasma or HAttack and fire barrier, since it needs no aiming. Pretty silly to waste it, especially Ultimated ones since Kat's lazor can lower defence, drakon's firestorm buff party and Maskeraith's haze put random statuses.
I would say I liked SK more before pets, because those flying thingies are annoying for eyes and most of people does not use it. "omg dis kat is so kuet, so i dont kaer"

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 14:33

Poomph

Anyone who doesn't use a level 100 Maskeraith often needs to rethink how they play the game.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 14:45

#10

Poopsie

...

Been playing with bad-connection people, I tried to reduce "lag" for them, by not spamming battle sprite skill. (like not spamming pulsar on their screens). However, when I am in the mood, I just spam it as much as I could. I put their skill shortcuts on z, x, and c keys.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 18:07

#11

Fauxhownd

Man, after my last random

Man, after my last random group, I have no doubt that the vast majority of players in this game are either little kids, morons, or potheads.

He doesn't use his sprite skills, doesn't pick up minerals, doesn't make food for his sprite, doesn't attack, AFK's on every button, and chats in the middle of battle with his guildies. So I call him out on all this crap and call him lazy, and he eventually dies and says he sucks and has no sparks. So I tell him I have about 35 to my name, and he starts asking why I won't revive him, and I said it's because he doesn't deserve it, because he's lazy. So I carry him through the floor, we get to JK, and he kicks me.

This is NOT a game for the lazy. If you don't do your job, if you don't pitch in, I'm gonna call you out on it.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 15:29

#12

Autofire

You are experiencing a PICNIC ERROR!

@Faux

No naming and shaming, please. Could you edit your post before a GM does it for you?

@OP

I heard MSI very high was nice...

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 15:58

#13

Mystrian

brackets=censoring your own stuff :)

'You have your Battle Sprite for a reason'

for bonuses, pretty much it

"Random run with one [Face]. He doesn't use his sprite skills, doesn't pick up minerals, doesn't make food for his sprite, doesn't attack, AFK's on every button, and chats in the middle of battle with his guildies. So I call him out on all this crap and call him lazy, and he eventually dies and says he sucks and has no sparks. So I tell him I have about 35 to my name, and he starts asking why I won't revive him, and I said it's because he doesn't deserve it, because he's lazy. So I carry him through the floor, we get to JK, and he kicks me."

Reminds me of the usual stuff you find here in Gen D.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 16:00

#14

Batabii

I moved my sprite keys to zxc because they're easily accessible and I never use the defaults.

I moved attack to Left CTRL, I only use it for the charge glitch.

Defend is only on right mouse right now, though I should really re-bind my gamepad.

I don't actually remember if C ever did anything.

I use mouse4 for shield bash. I would have mouse5 as dash, but last time I checked it still glitches and gets stuck in perma-bash. It's a known issue with SK. Mouse3 is voice chat, always.

As for my sprites, I have maxed seraphynx and maxed drakon. I mostly use drakon for tier 2 and/or solo runs, and seraphynx for harder areas or group play.

I tend to mostly use sera for heart attack, and drakon for backfire barrier, though if I have the time and a crowd, I like to abuse Frenzied Firestorm, especially with the tortofist glitch.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 16:15

#15

Sonosuke

(~O ,O)~ #Sonosuks

Good to know I'm not the only one who set the Sprite attacks to Z X C and the slot items to 1 2 3 4.

I don't like not using my Drakon. It's just this odd feeling I get whenever I go through a depth and not once use one of the attacks.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 18:36

#16

Fauxhownd

How are people at Knight rank

How are people at Knight rank running out of sparks by the time they reach JK? Are people REALLY this bad at the game?

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 19:21

#17

Sonosuke

(~O ,O)~ #Sonosuks

Wait, am I the only one who plans on using Drakon for pure offense? No status changes, just raw, unadulterated damage?

Yeah? Okay. *sits in lonely corner*

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 20:13

#18

Magnicth

I hardly ever use my sprite.

I hardly ever use my sprite. My maskeraith is only at level 49 as well. I just never really need to use it, and I run mostly solo, so it's not like I'm neglecting a party of my sprites abilities. About the only time I use one of my sprite's attacks is the gun puppy room in FSC, I'll use the cloak to sneak past the rocket puppy. Any other time? I don't use it.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 22:14

#19

Theirillusion

Deadly cloak charge only ftw. The rest just leaves you vounerable in exchange for getting back your dps lost while using it.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 23:23

#20

Bucking

I wish i can use my pet, but with my high ping its impossible to use.

Anyone with high ping know what i mean, pointing finger all the time

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 01:02

#21

Orbwanter

Anyone who doesn't use a level 100 Maskeraith often needs to rethink how they play the game.

Sorry, can't hear you over the Scorching Barrier theme song

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 01:30

#22

Fauxhownd

The random kicking has begun.

The random kicking has begun. Laziness will not be tolerated.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 01:42

#23

Batabii

@orbwanter

Sorry, can't hear you ovGOTTAGOFAST

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 03:47

#24

Krakob

Using sprite skills is not an inconvenience for me, as I'm a gamepad player with plenty of buttons to spare thanks to the wonders of the mod button. That said, I tend to be forgetful and not use my sprite much, other than in situations where I use the same skill every time. Also, key pickups. I like to launch Backfire Barrier just before I pick up a key.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 04:21

#25

Pawsmack

@OP/Fawxhownd

Pff, I spam my battle sprites skills 24/7.

@Batabii

My Seraphynx is level 69 right now and I've had it since the day battle sprites first came out. Don't hate.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 06:15

#26

Seiran

"Lag"

Those are probably people with bad computers, not connection.

Having a sprite skill on or having 8 projectiles on screen can't possibly suddenly make latency turn terrible (LOL, GG TURRETS).

I mean, sure, keep playing with consideration for your friends, but at least know why ;P

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 11:51

#27

Batabii

@pawsmack

>claims he always uses sprites
>still hasn't gotten a single ultimate after an entire year

Or are you just "durr hurr 69"?

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 11:54

#28

Fauxhownd

Well Batabii, tell us how to

Well Batabii, tell us how to gain at least 5 levels a day for our Sprites after Lv50 without having to constantly feed it 5* mats.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 12:40

#29

Carson-Slovak

Forever pointing fingers at monsters since June 30, 2013.

Yeah, a lot of people either have bad internet or are using toasters. So don't immediately hate on people not using them. :<

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 14:38

#30

Batabii

I have TWO level 100 sprites kthx.

1. Feed it 4* mats
2. If it's level 80+, it doesnt hurt to feed it a Star once in a while
3. Keep an eye on its appetite and Heat. Keep some food with you so you can level it up without rushing back to the haven.
4. Play the game more than one hour a week.

EDIT: nobody said "5 levels a day". But it's easy to get just ONE. And guess what, it's been over 365 days.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 14:26

#31

Addy

Not all of us have that sort

Not all of us have that sort of free time for #4. :(

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 14:35

#32

Fe-Tarkus

I have a level 48 Seraphynx,

I have a level 48 Seraphynx, been feeding 1-2* mats and some 3* mats. I've played on and off for a year or so.

Some people can't use sprite skills due to lag or something. Perhaps that was fixed, as I don't really see people futilely spamming sprite skills to no avail.

I can believe that some Knights run out of sparks... Today I ran with a Ash Tail Defender Elite and a Knight (another Defender Elite joined for the boss). I pretty much had to carry this RJP Elite party myself... The Defender Elite had a DA and Storm Driver, yet I was outdpsing him with my lvl 2 Avenger and lvl 10 Voltech Alchmer mk2. Ridiculously stupid. I ended up playing pretty aggresively because most of the mobs were aggro'd on me. Also, he didn't take advantage of the fact that I had most of the aggro, so he could go kill the silkwings... or do something useful like focusing down a small group of enemies... He just ran around shooting stuff with the Storm Driver as though it were a blaster. For the boss, I ended up dealing most of the damage with my Voltech Alchmer mk2... They rarely, if ever, hit the Royal Jelly and we barely won in the end when I was in a corner with the boss comboing it to death with damage invulnerability (the Knight died and the Defender Elites were low on health too). EDIT: I run with lvl 5 Heavy Plate...

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 14:45

#33

Batabii

Addy, are you serious? How can you not have any free time at all? If you're so busy, why are you on the internet?

As for running out of sols, I compare it to running out of gas. Seriously, who runs out of gas in the middle of the highway? Almost nobody. You plan ahead. You don't drive 100 miles out of your way, then complain about not having any gas left.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 15:10

#34

Pellipper

Being what one would call a veteran: things died before the sprite update and they do now, whether I use my level 100 Maskeraith's skill or not.

However, I feel this would be different if I had a seraphynx, as extra hearts or a defence drop that doesn't require aiming and supports the team would be easily spammed, and I would probably do it as you do.

The amount of times I've tried to use quills and plain missed because I'm: a) looking for the key it's bound to and so consequently b) not looking at enemies
is laughable.

It seems that bad players in general are what is annoying you most, which annoys most people also.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 15:55

#35

Addy

Batabii - Well, working a

Batabii - Well, working a full time job with some freelance art gigs on the side, I haven't really had a lot of time for gaming lately. And what bit of free time I DO have is divided amongst a lot of other activities, not just Spiral Knights.

Being an adult makes things difficult for gaming. :'D

(Checking a forum takes all of two minutes, loading up a game on my trash heap laptop takes a heck of a lot longer.)

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 16:46

#36

Carbonjinxmesa

Maskeraiths...

No matter what you guys say, I still use my Masker's Quills whenever possible. It is 5 levels past 100, but it still says 100, and has the Vengeful Quills (which I LOVE using in Firestorm Citadel). And people say that Battle Sprites are obsolete in Tier 3, which again, is another lie. I do agree with you though. Sometimes I do feel as though the only reason people have Sprites is for an extra Health Trinket from their perks or maybe some status defense that Black Kat Cowls lack. Nevertheless, those are very good uses of them, as I use my BKC in FSC and UFSC, but have the right UVs on other armours and have the Sprite perks. They are very useful in that sense, but they are here for use in battle, not for anything else.

I hope you agree, or have a very interesting argument,
~Monoxide

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 17:35

#37

Crazee-Pi-Forum

Move over, there's bubble-wrap to be popped!

@Batabii People who ran Grinchlen Assault

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 20:36

#38

Poopsie

@Seiran

Been playing with people around south east asia/australia in us server, because I am originated there. My computer is also painfully bad too but I won't complain too much compared to those.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 20:57

#39

Dibsville

"If I were to still play, my Maskeraith STILL never gets a break."

This.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 21:41

#40

Batabii

@addy
A week contains 168 hours.
Minus 40 for work
Minus 56 for sleep.

That leaves 72 hours.

How can someone who is actually interested in the game not find time for a handful of hours a week? Even if you account for other engagements (shopping, chores, meals, "gigs", etc). That still doesn't explain why you're commenting on the forum for a game you apparently can't be bothered to ever play.

@pellipper
if you're a "Veteran" how do you have so much trouble with caustic quills?

@sir-crazee-pi
I ran the grinchlin assault. It only lost me 30 sols. And I still got Humbug Hazer. You have to know when to quit.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 23:53

#41

Mbcscp

battle sprite for me

my use of a battle sprite is for the 3rd trinket since the abilities usually don't work when required

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 00:07

#42

Batabii

You must have a really bad computer then, because as long as I'm not interrupted by an enemy attack, mine always work.

but yeah it's really nice not having to waste a lot of time and resources on trinkets.

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 01:13

#43

Floerail

and again..

i think OP kinda overreacting?
some people can't just use their sprite skill due to latency (most of my friend from asia)
and some use their sprite skill with their own will~
if they can kill enemy with sword rather than let enemy still alive with sprite skill.. why not?
and why use kitty heart if they can survive without it?
why burn jelly with drakon fire if your brandish charge can wipe them all in one charge?

like you said.. they have battlesprite for a reason~ yess but not all people have same reason like you...
some have it for showoff and some have it for trinket bonus, but some have lack advantage due to sprite action use different system (you can still throw vial with red bar ping while sprite skill must hold longer to make them follow your command)

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 01:46

#44

Lsdakfjlkfdajlkads

A simple solution is to find

A simple solution is to find a party who actually uses their sprites and are competent, but I feel like sprites aren't really necessary to complete levels. I do get lazy when using my sprite since I forget I have one.

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 03:37

#45

Pellipper

@Batabii I'm certain I already explained that.

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 08:29

#46

Batabii

No you actually haven't:

"The amount of times I've tried to use quills and plain missed because I'm: a) looking for the key it's bound to and so consequently b) not looking at enemies
is laughable."

a) the key is shown onscreen at all times, and you should be used to it after a whole year
b) You should know by now that caustic quills isn't a bomb. You have to AIM.

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 10:31

#47

Fangel

Batabii pls.

Believe it or not, people play the game different from you.
Wrap your head around that for a bit.

I use my battle sprite a fair amount, but I understand why people don't. Some people merely forget, others have no need, and many just don't care or can't make them work. When you have to push the sprite attack key 20 times and it STILL doesn't use its attack, then, well, you need to smack the enemy with your sword instead. If you want to simulate this phenomenon, disconnect your internet while in the clockworks and try to use your sprite abilities. That's basically what it's like for people with bad ping. :\

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 10:49

#48

Crazee-Pi-Forum

Move over, there's bubble-wrap to be popped!

@Batabii 30 sparks is a lot for players who don't go around buying 10000 sparks.

Also, you got a Hambug Hazor from the mission? This only means one thing...

ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ﾉ RIOT ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ﾉ

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 10:53

#49

Megawatt-King

Maybe people would use the sprites more often...

...if the skills had separate cooldowns and some of them didn't last like 1 whole minute for what they do!

And of course OOO needs to fix that problem of not being able to use the skills when you have brazillian-like lag.

Sat, 08/02/2014 - 11:50

#50

Batabii

@fangel
When you have to push the sprite attack key 20 times and it STILL doesn't use its attack, then, well, you need to smack your computer. What is wrong with it?

@sir-crazee-pi
I didn't buy a single sol in my entire life. Before that mission, I had ~120 sols. Between that and the february tortodrone mission, I lost HALF of them.

@megawatt-king
60 seconds?! I have an elite iron harness and max skill points. My worst cooldown is about 45 seconds. Besides that, said skills have a duration of at least 5 seconds so it feels like even less.

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What's the point of having a Battle Sprite if you're not going to use its abilities.