When is a Shortsword long?

Discussion in 'Card Hunter General Chat' started by Task, Sep 15, 2015.

  1. Task

    Task Kobold

    Been playing for a little while now (truly excellent game BTW), and this has been bugging me: Why does a shortsword give attacks at range 2?
    Even the Crummy Short Sword does.
    I mean, it's a short weapon isn't it? Right there in the name? But this Weighted Shortsword I got recently is 4 attacks at range 2 and 2 at range 1.
    Don't get me wrong, I like me some range. Attacks at range 2 are great, I picked up 4 Heirloom Assegai for them!
    But an assegai is a spear, and spears should have range 2 attacks, makes total sense.
    Seems really weird that a 'short' weapon gives more reaching attacks than a nice spear does.
    Now the step attacks, those make perfect sense for a shortsword! Like those a lot, too. But reach? Really not seeing it.
    Any insight on this one? More curious than anything I guess.

    J
     
  2. timeracers

    timeracers Guild Leader

    I think they somewhat randomly name items.
     
  3. Task

    Task Kobold

    Agreed!
    I get the idea that there's a hat full of names and they pull one out kinda random like.

    Seems a little incongruous with the craftsmanship and attention to detail that I see in the rest of the game.
     
  4. It's a shortsword made by trolls, for trolls.
     
  5. Sir Veza

    Sir Veza Farming Deity

    It's because Cardhuntria is part of Bizarro-World. Short swords have range 2 attacks and most polearms have range one attacks. Daggers have step 2 attacks when, by all rights, the perpetrator should be impaled by a longer weapon during the first step. Irrationality is the foundation of Cardhuntria's existence. Collectible card games wallow wantonly in the slippery pit of illogic, and Cardhunter is no exception.
    A prime example is Bixarro-Bark. Vegetable bark that is impervious to being chopped with an axe or pierced by a spike, but vulnerable to being whacked with a broom handle. Note: Don't use a Thick Club, because half it's attacks are Slashing for some reason. An extremely odd thing for a simple thick piece of wood, so it must be Bizarro-Wood. Such things can not exist in nature as it has been proven to exist in the known universe, but physics and reason are not applicable to CCGs.
    So don't sweat it. We're too far along to ask the devs to step away from the crack pipe while designing. Just go with it. Have fun with the parts you like, avoid the parts you don't, and don't take any of it too seriously. It's just a game. Sillier than most, but a heck of a lot of fun.
    For God's sake, don't confuse it with reality, or it could make a seriously embarrassing obituary.
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2015
  6. Magic Elves

    Magic Elves Thaumaturge

    Here Lies Magic Elves, stood still in front of a bear hoping he'd draw better cards once the bear ran out of moves.
     
  7. Randolph

    Randolph Kobold

    I think you've actually stumbled upon the reason, and it makes perfect sense.

    A Simple Axe cannot penetrate Tough Bark. And while more exotic (not to mention expensive) energy weapons like a Nova Axe can do the job, it should be noted that nearly no conventional axes are capable of it, with a few exceptions.

    Why not? Because the trees with Tough Bark are living, sentient creatures, capable of learning and culture! They're not mere trees, they're treefolk, capable of hierarchical organization (they have a King!) and forming alliances... and with all the predation by chop-happy adventurers, they've spread the word and adapted to the axe-heavy meta.

    Also, consider this: in Cardhuntria, who chops wood most frequently, depending upon it for their livelihood? Why, woodsmen! Thus it makes perfect sense that the most widely-adopted (i.e. cheapest) commercially-available axe that can deal with Tough Bark would become associated with those worthies, i.e. a Woodsman's Axe. The trees have adapted, but technology keeps pace.
     

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