buggy blade wind?

[Pocus]

After having watched several casting of blade winds, against a big army, and having seen that the trajectory seems rather strange (total miss several time!), I wonder if there is not something buggy here. Are the blades supposed to be spread everywhere, except toward the intended target (or group of targets?).

I think with the new patch that Blade Wind has been more targeted to nearer the back of the units. It hits rearmost alot more often than it used to, but anything in the front 1/3 of the formation is pretty safe.

[SurvivalistMerc]

I have noticed what Zen describes also. This even seems to be the case post the 2.06 patch with archer fire.

For the most part, I like spells and archers aiming for the rear portion of a given group since that's less likely to cause friendly fire casualties.

I've not seen total miss of all blades against a big army unless we're talking a lot of shielded units. What patch Version are you using? I'm still using 2.06.

[Pocus]

2.08

[SurvivalistMerc]

Wow. I didn't notice this. It was very powerful pre-2.08, too.

I haven't experimented with 2.08 due to Utgard and the increased battle replay inconsistency in SP. This looks like perhaps a third reason not to.

I wonder if the devs would comment on this. I don't have any real answers for you. The only thing I can think of is that blade wind is distractable with small numbers of troops in a unit just as archer fire is. Does it look as if it's being aimed at a small unit off the screen that you can see?

Even in 2.06 it would occasionally target a close group of high protection shielded troops and when far juicier non-commander targets weren't that far away. Might that be what is happening?

[Kristoffer O]

The Blade Wind has not been changed. Every shot lowers presicion with one or something like that (always has). This means that the Last 50th blade will deviate a lot if the target is at some distance. IIRC the targeting engine is not altered between 2.06 and 2.08.

A possible reason is that the spell AI do not cast protective buffs as often and instead begin the battle with Blade Wind. At long distance the deviance is higher and thus you experience a drop in hits.

[rabelais]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
The Blade Wind has not been changed. Every shot lowers presicion with one or something like that (always has). This means that the Last 50th blade will deviate a lot if the target is at some distance.

I'm curious about the deviation formula.

I think it is generally agreed that combat accuracy is lower than intuitively optimal.

I know many players who concentrate exclusively on Precision 100 spells, because the current ballistic algorithm makes it nearly impossible to hit anything at long range.

Can you please describe the deviance formula in more detail?

Am I correct in assuming that deviation is heavily weighted to be *away* from the optimal target point rather than symmetrically randomized?

If so, the way to "fix" the maddening inaccuracy with combat spells (hits everywhere, except the target...) may be to have not only a trajectory spread, but allowing the deviance to potentially self correct.

That may help solve the current "never hit anything, basically ever" vs. "really ridiculously tight grouping with precision buffs, which are therefore extremely rare" dichotomy.

What do you folks think?


Rabe the Tactically Divergent

[Kristoffer O]

I don't understand what you mean.

(What does intuitively optimal mean?)

Deviance is symmetrical with an increasing deviance area depending on distance.

I'm actually rather uncertain on the mechanics.

[ March 06, 2004, 17:23: Message edited by: Kristoffer O ]

[Torvak]

(What does intuitively optimal mean?)

I guess it means something like

OMG WTF i could have won but those frigging SOB's never hit with that damn spell!!!11!!

[Ctennyson]

Yeah, the best word I can use to describe battlefield spells like Bladewind:

"Teh Suq"