A new class - Earl

Disturving

Attempt #1 at providing an image:

Attempt #2 at providing an image:



Attempt #3 at providing an image:
http://googledrive.com/host/0B9wHf224G0p1YmF6X3hlcmFWYlU

Attempt #4 at providing an image:
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Axe and Pavise (Also known as a shield or target)

With a large axe head, this axe deals heavy damage when it hits at speed, but it is extraordinarily slow to wield and has short range. Although the concept art makes the shield look like an ordinary pavise, it is to be covered in iron.
Special: The Earl slings his shield onto his back and grips his axe with both hands so that he can wield it with more agility. It is still very short and slow and he cannot block for toffee, but it gains some manoeuvrability and power.


Pitchfork

The pitchfork is like a quarterstaff but it's sharp on one end, giving it a potentially lethal thrust.
Special: The Earl lifts the enemy up like a hay bale, providing nearby allies the opportunity to hit him easily.


Bagpipes

Holding primary attack starts playing the bagpipes. Enemies listening to the bagpipes cease to be able to hear voices including their announcer guy, or see the magic markers of territories and magic trinkets, and do not see the indicators on their screen that tell them that an enemy is close behind them, and cannot see the chat box. They can avoid this effect by covering their ears, but then are unable to fight, and run more slowly.

Links121995

As it is currently described, that axe and its associated special are a bit of a mess. It has heavy damage, a short range, and it's slow to swing/recover/charge, but it's paired with a shield which can bash to nullify the downsides and keep the earl safe? Unless that shield acts as a mere buffer to damage that slows movement speed without getting in the way of attacking that is either always on or activated with the block button, it's a mere combination of heavy damage and heavy defense with the one downside of being short ranged nullified by the range of the shield-bash.

The special, however, is a complete waste of time. It boosts the speed of the weapon, but it's still incredibly slow? It increases the weapon's power, even though it was already powerful? It removes the shield? What's the point?

I take it that the pitchfork would be relatively weak with the exception of the thrust, but at least average in terms of swing speed with the possible exception of the thrust. An acceptable side-arm.
As for the special, hoisting people up for teammates to take out? Why not just kill the guy and get on with one's life?

Bagpipes that merely irritate enemies while leaving the Earl defenseless? Even if it were used as a counter-tune to enemy war-horns and concertinas, it seems that in it's current state it wouldn't take away any boosted stats from affected enemies. This would only ever see use outside of combat as a way to relieve boredom while the losing teams squabble over a single chest.

Assuming average stats (because you failed to specify any) this class seems to be a more combat-oriented version of the Lord, to his detriment, as his unique utility is watered down and his unique weakness a moot point given that the strength that brings out the weakness is no longer worth the effort.

MrMoho

Yeah, gotta agree with Links, this description is rather lacking and hardly gives an idea on how to play the class or how well it will perform. Also, while I don't want to ruin your idea of a whole new class, I'm pretty sure the team already has decided all classes this game is going to have, in terms of name and vaguely their role at the very least.

I'd say that you should check out the wiki, look at the classes that haven't been released yet and make a thread on what you want them to use as weapons, have as a special, how much hp and armor they should have, usw.

For example, I'm all for giving the Jarl a Axe and Shield instead of another stupid sword. Also, that Pitchfork is to much fun of an idea to not have it, perhaps a weapon for the Cleric?

AGSMA

Heck yes, Earl Hickey!

Disturving

On reading Links121995's criticisms, a part of the top post has been crossed out. I think the pitchfork and bagpipes are fine myself. I noticed that the picture, which is the main feature, was not showing. It should be visible now up there. The questions about statistics and performance should not be so pressing after seeing the concept art. The text was just meant to accompany the picture.

Links121995

The image showed up fine for me. It could stand to be darkened, probably with a contrast adjustment, but it's relatively well drawn. The bagpipes are flat and the left hand's major knuckles appear, to me, to be in slightly the wrong place. The cloth thing (a cape, I think?) could be a tasteful blue and, while I think it is a little too tall for a hat, so could the fabric of the crown. I feel that the chain mail (I think that's chain mail...) shirt could stand to be longer. The textures could use more definition, and shading wouldn't hurt. A fine sketch, though.

I never said the pitchfork wasn't fine, I said its special could just kill the target instead of merely inconvenience them.

The bagpipes... You say that players could avoid its effects by sacrificing their ability to run and attack. Tell me. Is reading the chat and listening to announcers so important that anybody would ever choose to block out the bagpipes (and thus, everything that the bagpipes were already blocking out) instead of simply instead of run the (defenseless) Earl through?

Flapjack eater

I quite like this idea. The pitchfork sounds like a lot of fun, with how you can pick up your enemies. I'd love to use it to drop people off the ledge of Frostbite.

The bagpipes sound like a very creative 'weapon'. Although I'm afraid it might get a bit annoying missing what people say, and I'd hate to miss some of the sounds people play on some servers.

A pitchfork doesn't seem like a weapon an earl would use, though. Just saying.