Shattered Kingdoms

As a mentor skill (which generally means class-defining, or highly necessary) for mercenaries, blitzkrieg is extremely under-used. I've never seen it used IC or OOC, not once. This could be due to player error/ignorance (or I've just missed out on a lot, over the past year), but that seems unlikely. I don't have a lot of experience with mercs, but I have some thoughts on the matter.

* What kind of weapons most often have slashing damage? Swords, most obviously, but what else? Is this part of why it's never used?

* Does it deal reasonable damage? Does it have too much lag?

* Is it just too limited in its use (as in, versus front row only)? Should it be expanded or adapted to increase usefulness?

Uhhh . . .I have seen it used a many times. The damage is minimized though because there is almost never 3 on 3 or more where there is 3 people in the front row.

It has a little bit of lag. A couple of rounds. Doesn't do that much damage. Most likely if you use it you will lose. Trust me I have had experience with Sterk. If you do use it it is fun to do, Who else gets to strike three guys at the same time. Umm....as for weapons, wakizashis, swords, Katanas, a few axes, scythes, and a few other weapons.

The reason blitzkrieg is under used is because the mercenary can only use it if he is taking damage.

Not just what cyra pointed out, but also because during pvp combat a player would want to bash or trip instead.

if it were made to where you can only BLITZKRIEG every few rounds, but without lag, so that you could do other stuff in between, it would probably be a little more popular.

Heh. 3 MC mercs using a certain passive cabal skill and blitzkrieg. Kinda fun.

Blitzkrieg is a skill rarely used because it is only useful when your already in a bad situation and it doesnt make it any better. One you must be the target of your foes attacks. Meaning if your hitting more than one foe back you are probably a lot better off getting out of dodge. In a one on one fight chances are you are going to be bashed or tripped the moment you do not have your foe bashed or tripped. If Blitzkrieg was changed to what the help file says it would be more useful as a support skill, a group of mercs chances are someone might think to blitzkrieg over bash.

I believe Blitzkrieg is does not target a body part else those who use more powerful weapons would use this more often to lop off arms this might make it more useful.

I would like to see blitzkreg do one of two things.
Either have foes hit by it lagged for the same length of time similar to bash (only shorter I believe it is one round of lag)
Or have a chance to disrupt enemies formations. If you do not have a full three front ranks there is a chance to push someone into a different column. XXX's blitzkreg has forced you aside into position 13.

I have used blitzkrieg only to level weapons because you check your weapon skill each foe you hit.

Although I am interested in reports from a dwarf using great axe.

From my understanding, greataxes cannot blitz, which further lessens its usefulness.

Thus far, some potential changes (that don't alter the mechanics of the skill) I'm seeing:

* Allow blitzkrieg to be targetable (thus letting it start combat).
* Increase damage / decrease lag
* Change weapon requirements

Blitz is more usefull against NPCs and ungrouped enemies than it is against PCs in PvP. I've seen it, recently, used to land hits on six or eight NPC foes at once. The damage output seemed far too low to really turn the tide of that particular battle (we lost) but, it did damage a large number of enemies at once.

I would suggest the lone-merc tank finds more use for this than grouped mercs.

Aside from needing a bit more damage output (and just a very little bit at that), I'd say blitz is fine.

Blitz fits in perfectly between bashes. That tiny little moment when the target is still on the ground but your lag is gone, that's what blitz is for.

A