Ok, so here is the concept:
Many professions utilize the Martial Arts skill for weapons who are not MAs. Many of these profs have been driven away from MA for awhile now by thinks like Dreadloch and now Xan weapons with no significant increase in MA weaponry.
What I would like to see is a set of support-focused MA weapons. I am not saying that there shouldn't be new MA profession-focused weapons ... but that isn't my focus here and has been taken up separately. So my weapon suggestions below are specifically built with some things that would make a MA -less- likely to use them (yes, shock, I'm a "DD doc" proposing less damage).
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Concept 1: IP Savings
... a 2-handed weapon (staff or whatnot) that raises the damage to something on the order of 425-525 (425) (lower than the new 2H Xan melee weapons ... higher than a Shen stick but overall significantly lower than -2- Shens and lower crit).
... 1800 MA skill to equip (significantly higher than the Pistol skill on the Dloch pistols, which can be equipped TL5/TL6 by twinkers, but lower than the Shens)
... Poison damage type (to match DoTs) plus a buff that changes the damage type of the Doc's fists to poison as well.
... Most of the buffs as on the Dreadloch pistols (-3 cost, 35 Nano delta, 5 heal efficiency ... none of which will OP a MA but a doc will appreciate)
... Adds the Blaze DoT tag (no SA nor Fast Attack on this weapon, it deserves the Blaze DoT ... as did Shens :/ ) ... NOTE: We probably need to get Blaze tag added to the fists weapon, too, though maybe a buff on this weapon could dynamically add it (to avoid having to have FC edit the many-years-old fist template directly).
... Max beneficial AR: 2400 (support classes won't self over this, not even most eng running transferrence, and MAs will realize this means it wasn't intended for them but still have the option to use it at lower levels)
... Speed would be 1.2/1.2
... Specials: Brawl (1301), Dimach (700)
... The IP savings comes from not using Multi-Melee to equip 2 ... but this weapon has other advantages via buffs and Blaze.
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Concept 2: 1-handed PvM
... Same as the 2 handed weapon above with the following exceptions:
... This weapon would be a 1 handed weapon. I'm only proposing 1 however, since Shen stick would work just fine as a 2nd weapon.
... Damage stats would be noticeably lower than Shen but still much higher than BoB: 290-440(490)
... 1900 MA skill to equip (slightly higher than the 2H weapon ... making it harder but not impossible to hotswap)
... Multi-Melee skill: 1350 (expensive to IP but not as bad as Shen and easier for a Doc to self ... 450 more than BoB, 200 less than Shen)
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Concept 3: 1-handed PvP
... Same as the 1 handed weapon above with the following exceptions:
... Damage stats would significantly lower still: 250-375(400) (see below for why)
... 2000 MA skill to equip (higher still than the non-special attack version, not impossible to hotswap but significantly harder)
... Added skills and requirements: Sneak Attack (900, same as Xan of Dusk/Dawn), Fast Attack (900, same as Xan of Dusk/Dawn) ... yep, MAs will yell about this weapon getting Fast Attack AND Sneak Attack. Fast Attack is for getting some of the damage back that we lose (which was lost to prevent an OPed Sneak Attack, notice that the Sneak on this weapon would be noticeable less than on Xan of Dusk, we get other PvP benefits like better AR and MA specials). Sneak Attack is for enabling a PVP special.
... NOTE: No Blaze DoT tag on this weapon due to the SA/FA. Which means even if you dualled this with the other 1-handed weapon I mention that you wouldn't get the Blaze DoT.
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... Concept 1 would be a big IP savings, more appropriate buffs, Blaze DoT, equippable at lower levels than Shen (though not as low as a Doc pistol), but overall lower damage and fewer procs than a dual-wield setup.
... Concept 2 would be decent damage but less than dual Shens, require more IP (MR) than the 2-handed weapon (but alot less than Concept 3, allowing PvM-only docs to not waste the PvP IP). I see this as being dualled with a Shen at 220 in PvM setups.
... Concept 3 would be around the same damage as Concept 2 (adding in Fast Attack) but cost significantly more IP. However it would give Docs a more interesting PvP weapon option if they preferred to have Sneak over Blaze. Personally I think the fact that we're stuck with melee range when using these would mean Blaze DoT is acceptable even on this weapon, but I don't need to hear the gripes.
PS. As with any weapon concepts, these will create controversy. Flame-retardant replies appreciated.
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Originally Posted by Raggy
