Zvex you're stuck on sledge hammers replacing pick axe and fire axes.
no they dont, because they are not the harvesting tool
They do NOT work on breaking blocks.
Any arguments on that? Try first, then talk. I made plenty of arguments and you have just ignored them:
In previous versions there was a perk for breaking the blocks for sledgehammer. It was very logical but many people saw it as overkill - a special perk for 1 function, the suggestion was accepted - the perk was joined with 69. However, the huge damage to blocks by a sledgehammer remains - it was done intentionally and was commented so by developers in these forums (you should feel how wrong you are now). Devs wanted for sledgehammer to be a multipurpose tool.
However, over a year ago when the block breaking was buffed for a sledgehammer, devs decided to make it exclusively block breaking, to cut its universality - so the harvesting was turned off for that tool, because people would sometimes use it to chop trees.
I break safes with my sledgehammer. It takes around 30% more time than a pickaxe, not a big deal. You cannot harvest with hammer - as I have stated before. Especially after I found a wood and iron damage mods for it, its fast.
And... damage is about balance..
the balance is not about the damage - thats what I said. Currently the DPS of sledgehammers and machetes are currently the same. And with speed perk machetes, perhaps, do even more damage. Even if sledgehammers make a bit more DPS it is compensated by the waste of damage of overkills.
and you keep saying hammer, that's the sledge hammer. And you're still missing the point where you can HARVEST with a machete. You cannot harvest with a barbed club. It doesn't work. If you want the machete even dps, then remove the harvesting ability.
It was so for few years. Pros for sledge as a tool - breaks blocks. Pros for machete - harvest animals. The bad thing for hammer is that sledgehammer is not the best block breaking tool, the machete - is the best. The good thing is that sledgehammer stands for two tools, keeping an extra space slot.
So there is an intended (by devs, its not my ideas) balance. If the secondary abilities are not balanced enough - we should discuss it and ask some opinions. As for me, pros for sledge is enough for it to be in my belt constantly.
SLedge hammers:
Pros: Massive damage and knock back
Cons: Massive stamina use, damage vs blocks (safes,doors included) not worth the speed nor stamina. A stone axe is more effective
Machete:
Pros: Can harvest animals, gore blocks. Fast and nimble, far less stamina use. Upgrading with serated blade increases bleeding chance
Cons: Same thing with blocks on sledges, low damage. But, less stamina and faster. Little less damage than sledge
You missed the whole point. Did you read my posts? Where is bleed from perk and dismemberment? The "main features" of bladed weapons.
As for damage for blocks - do not mess different type of functionalities in one comparisson. If the sledgehammer damage for blocks is small - I think it should be increased then and we should discuss this then. It would be interesting to hear opinion of devs on this topic.
SH:
pros:
1) range (2.9 is alot),
2) bigger damage per hit lets you to stagger opponents easier, also an extremely important buff for stealth (killed with it around 1000 zeds in A17 already).
3) knock down from perks (with perks even AOE), a very good, defensive gamechanging ability
cons: 1) attack is slow, meaning it hurts to miss the hit both for timing and stamina (the usage of stamina per second is roughly the same as for machete.
M:
pros:
1) speed (see cons of SH)
2) the dismemberment from perks - a nice stuff, havent figured out its effictiveness though
3) bleed (with perks even AOE)
cons: 1) range, also with small damage I had troubles to stagger radioactive zombies - but this may be subjective though, ahvent done any measurements on that.
Everything looks balanced but the cons 3 are obviously not. The knock down is great, the bleeding - is not, decapitating chances are small also. I understand that knock down means defensive and bleeding - offensive. But even with 3 bleeding debufs it is only 3 damage per second, and during the late game it means nothing.
Moreover, during the last 221 patch they added additional damage to stunned targets for both blade and blunt weapons. When I saw that first my thoughts were "is that a joke?", because the blade weapons do not stun the target, how the hell it is opposed to get this new bonus, which is written in perk?
. Especially now with the over encumbrance mechanic.
