Alternative combat training

[Comatose]

Hi folks, I usually never make suggestions on games or anything, much less actually use message boards. I make an exception now because I think this game has a huge potential, and even now, is extremely fun. Anyways, my suggestion is this: instead of spending resources to build training dummies that only advance your recruits' skills so far, you send your men out on patrol, beat an enemy to the ground and pick him up, carting him back to your base. Once there, a block & chain could be manufactured at the smithy (or what have you) and the enemy combatant could be attached. This way you have an actual, dynamic training "dummy" that can help train both offense and defense.

[kain_lei]

....That's horrible! The poor bandit! D:

[Deathsteel]

....That's horrible! The poor bandit! D:

Lol the bandits are always attacking my town so I do not feel for them.

As the for training on them I feel like they wouldn't fight back but instead you could have your men spar with each other. You would choose a soldier with high skills and pit him against a newbie and the newbie would gain skills not only in attack but dexterity and defense. I think this has been mentioned before though.

[Comatose]

....That's horrible! The poor bandit! D:

Lol the bandits are always attacking my town so I do not feel for them.

As the for training on them I feel like they wouldn't fight back but instead you could have your men spar with each other. You would choose a soldier with high skills and pit him against a newbie and the newbie would gain skills not only in attack but dexterity and defense. I think this has been mentioned before though.

I see what you mean here, sorry I wasn't more clear. To be exact, the "dummy" wouldn't be chained to the post like that chick being offered to the kraken in clash of the titans. I was thinking more along the lines of him being chained to a post and the chain would be like a leash. I agree with you on the sparring thing though, and the idea I read yesterday about using a non lethal weapon, a wooden sword or some such thing, was a good one.

[Deathsteel]

....That's horrible! The poor bandit! D:

Lol the bandits are always attacking my town so I do not feel for them.

As the for training on them I feel like they wouldn't fight back but instead you could have your men spar with each other. You would choose a soldier with high skills and pit him against a newbie and the newbie would gain skills not only in attack but dexterity and defense. I think this has been mentioned before though.

I see what you mean here, sorry I wasn't more clear. To be exact, the "dummy" wouldn't be chained to the post like that chick being offered to the kraken in clash of the titans. I was thinking more along the lines of him being chained to a post and the chain would be like a leash. I agree with you on the sparring thing though, and the idea I read yesterday about using a non lethal weapon, a wooden sword or some such thing, was a good one.

I understood that he could move a little and would most likely be on a leash like chain. I just feel like he wouldn't be motivated to fight your characters in order to make them stronger.

He might however fight out of anger for them and perhaps his skills would level too? Also you could not feed him if he doesn't fight starving in the desert heat will most likely be worst than sparring.

[Comatose]

I thought a bit about this, and I think I came up with an answer somewhat that would ensure balance. He'd be motivated to fight out of desperation, I suppose. I don't know if a moral system will be implemented, maybe if it reaches zero he'll just give up and let himself be killed. In the spirit of actually using a combat training slave, he would be 100% expendable. He fights on his leash until he's killed, perhaps every time he is revived his max limb/torso statistics are lowered until they reach zero and you have to remove the corpse from the chain to make room for the next one. An alternative to that, though, would be to make him just one use. Equip him with good armor and have your trainees use a low damage weapon. Oh, and before I forget, perhaps his combat skills would actually decrease relative to how long he's been chained up or how many times he's been beaten to unconsciousness?

On an unrelated note, how about using some of those bandit bodies that pile up in your town as a warning device? Nothing says "stay the hell away" like a few crucified troublemakers. That would be more of an aesthetic thing though, unless aforementioned moral system is actually implemented, and the crucified/hung/whatever bodies of bandits could have a moral damaging aura. Thoughts?

[Shaldanin]

another idea for strength training would be weights at your home base. train the new guy on the weights for a while before you start sending him out to fight. when endurance is implemented you could have your character run laps around the base to build it as well. think BMT for all the military folks. basic strength,cardio, and weapons training before you send someone out to fight.

[BentoCakes]

I think i'd like the idea of there being a location to build a training weapon rack similar to a training dumbing and that two or more people could make use of the rack to spare together in single combat or group fighting. Naturally the rate of improvement will depend on training partners as well as w.e tech level of the equipment.

[philthymcnasty]

You can do a lot of this now with the current features. I have constructed an arena inside my base, placed 4 cages in it, and when the cannibals/bandits heal, i have my newer squad people fight them one on one.

Just setting a guy to blocks only and having them defend for a bit is more then enough to level up the defense and block skills. If the bandits or cannibals get too strong, just send someone in there with a heavy edge v club....

[dotdotdot]

Yeah I do think an arena building would be a cool addition to the game. For training.. and it you want to have a gladiator system.. poor guys.

[lucidmadness]

I did this with normal prison cages. Now some of my guys 1shot bandits with their huge ass two-handed monster blades. I also let them out in an outpost and trained their defense super high.

[deadwetdog]

with the whole samurai theme id like to see a dojo type seeing where as a experienced fighter with nothing to do could train newbies much slower gain than real combat but no one gets hurt much and the gain be proportionate to teachers skill don't know how well this would code in but seems to already sort of be there u learn quicker when you get your ass kicked by a stronger opponent an arena might be cool to i think id rather see bandits sent to a dog pit than as training dummies though might even be an alternative to player owned shops be a slave customer and hold fights slave vs slave slave vs animal or occasional guest fighter for prize money so many ways this game could grow

[dEUS]

I feel that combat training could be a little frustrating at a start.
Some kind of Dojo would be nice but maybe for characters with more advanced skills. Capable characters for fighting against other members of the Dojo for no reward, just to improve advanced combat skills and maybe to learn or unlock unique fighting styles belonging to each Dojo... Sounds difficult and it could be a nice goal to master... It could be more like a guild that you can join for a fee like Shinobi thieves.

...Or a fight club that opens at night where people can meet and enjoy watching some hungry bastards punching each other until knock out and make bets and even fight yourself. (unarmed?)


Speaking about starting combat training, the only thing that I feel necessary is a way to train with comrades of your squad.
When you start, you'll need to follow or defend caravan traders or squads for some first fighting contact and also loose fights. Its great as it is now, for my opinion.
But when you have more than one character I find it neccesary to train with each other in a non-lethal way. Maybe with Bokens and training weapons. (BOKENS PLEASEEE)
Having this with a limitation on how much you can improve your skills with "inofensive" weapons would be nice.

( In Eyesocket ((South-east of the actual map)) when you enter the outpost, in the center there are some fences with training dummies inside, and when I first saw that I thought it was some kind of fight club or a place to fight as a competition. Check it out If you didn't because it's a nice outpost and I'm sure you'll feel the same as me when you see that spot. )

[Abek]

Haven't found them again yet,

But older versions of the game had shackles for slaves.

You could also put them on and it would make characters easy to knock out and limited their combat effectiveness.

Not sure if it's still there.