New Knight Hero Suggestion: Duelist | Forums

[Sunderlorn]

Yo.

So in the wake of the new Season 2 heroes, I've been thinking about possibilities for future heroes. Honestly, the range of classes, mechanics, aesthetics, and kinds of gear available to play in For Honor is one of the most exciting things about it for me, so I wanted to hypothesise and suggest one of the recurring ideas I've had.

Basically, I think the Knights have a real deficit of characters for whom range is a primary advantage. To an extent this fits their approach of being close-up and in-your-face, like the Samurai have an emphasis on counters, and the Vikings an emphasis on high-risk-high-reward commitment with aggressive uninterruptibles, etc. But all rules ought to have an exception.

I think a hero armed mainly with a rapier would fit that niche brilliantly. Good reach and range, and perhaps an emphasis on the head-game of feinting and luring out opponents into predictable or otherwise unwise moves. Perhaps, to make the class more novel, they could be armed with an off-hand cloak or net, that would be used to entangle the enemy while parrying, or better still, allow for a Hidden Stance, similar to that of the Nobushi.

The concept would fit for an assassin or hybrid class. Probably the former would be most balanced, though, as Centurion already means the Knights have two hybrids so far. Furthermore, it would fit the name, making the Duelist excel in one-on-one fighting, while having difficulty against multiple opponents, particularly when surrounded.

[MaenadBab]

Ohooooo, count me in!

[II 0LD SNAKE II]

One for all, All for one!

[Duskmare]

I was thinking the same thing about knights not really having a ranged class. I don't think you could mix and match a fencer with a net, but you could definitely have a gladiator with a trident and a net.

[Sunderlorn]

As rapier and cloak has historical precedent, in treatises etc., I feel like rapier and net might not be truly historically accurate, but nor's this game -- rather, it'd be an interesting twist.

But yeah, I'd probably go for cloak over net in any case. I like the idea of it being a decorative element and a weapon part. And the idea of it being worn when not in guard-mode and whipped off into the off-hand when guard-mode is activated is a cool one too.

[ATBallZ88]

I'm down with this idea, preferably with the cloak over the net. I was recently just talking with a friend and we had come to the same conclusion that a rapier fencer would be a nice addition to the knight faction. And if you were to equip him with an Estoc over a straight Rapier, he/she would have some versatility allowing slash attacks as well rather than being limited to thrusts.

[Sunderlorn]

Again, as a rapier fencer myself, it's a myth that rapiers were incapable of cutting. They weren't geared towards lopping off limbs, sure, but most could still cut well enough to disable the aforementioned limb, or prove fatal if you went for the neck. At least in the hands of someone competent. Of course, it depends on the rapier in question, and the 'style' used. Generally cuts and slashes were used as counters though, rather than openers, so perhaps that could be an interesting move to be able to use off the back of a parry? Maybe a slashing zone attack, too, and slashing moves as much as thrusts when attacking minions?

However, something like an estoc would give the impression of the weapon being for use in war, more than a civilian weapon, so that'd be good. Basically, a cut-and-thrust weapon with an emphasis on the thrust. But again, the whole sidesword-rapier-estoc thing is a continuum over time, and a spectrum, rather than mutually exclusive and utterly separate categories. So taking influence from all of them would be good.

Anyone got any thoughts on the aesthetics such a fighter might go for? I love the full-face helmets/masks the Knights (Tincans) have as their unifying motif. So maybe things metal masks that take influence from carnival and masquerade designs? That sort of flamboyant harlequin vibe.

[Duskmare]

I'm thinking an assassin character, Zoro style. :P
It would be awesome if one of his executions was slicing a Z into the enemy's chest, hahaha.

A cloak is definitely a far better idea than a net for a fencer. Though, it would still be cool to see a gladiator with a trident and net. I don't know if they'll do any more Roman characters though.

[Sunderlorn]

Though, it would still be cool to see a gladiator with a trident and net. I don't know if they'll do any more Roman characters though.

Agreed. I'd be into a Retiarius character too, if we had world enough and time, but if they do more Roman-style characters, at this rate they'll need a whole new faction, haha.

(To be honest this just makes me really want a FH spin-off with an emphasis on classical antiquity. Greco-Romans v.s. Punics v.s. Easterners or something.)

[Duskmare]

Agreed. I'd be into a Retiarius character too, if we had world enough and time, but if they do more Roman-style characters, at this rate they'll need a whole new faction, haha.

(To be honest this just makes me really want a FH spin-off with an emphasis on classical antiquity. Greco-Romans v.s. Punics v.s. Easterners or something.)

Haha, this thread is going from "New character" to "sequel game!" very quickly. :P