Flameward - Working as intended?

[Cauthey]

From the New U13 Items thread:

• Flameward - Club (look) - +4, Fire absorption 10%, Evocation focus, UMD +3 competence, Charisma +6, Improved Fire resistance. (Reaver chest)

I have seen a lot of feedback about its useful properties, and how this is definitely a good item. However, has anyone actually equipped it, and tried to fight with it?


Cauthey picked up a couple of the Epic Flamewards from the Dev event on Saturday (Thanks Kookie and 404!), and wasn't really sure what to do with them at first. I had been granted a bucketload of stuff, and had not looked over everything properly. My priority was to try out the new content, so finally now with some gear, Cauthey went into the Lords of Dust quest.

Being that this was technically Cauthey's second time through, I knew the fight with the skeletons is coming up. The +5 plain DDO Store khopeshes weren't terribly exciting for that considering that they were slashing damage, and not much else.

So, I picked through Cauthey's inventory. Ahh! Epic Flamewards! And look, I have two of them! I could dual wield them! Terrific!

A very quick scan (the skellies were already attacking) told me that they were clubs (bludgeoning - YES!), they did bludgeoning damage (bludgeoning - YES!), something-something fire (fire - undead doesn't like fire - YES!), and something with Charisma (huh? Epic'd - they do lots of things - GO!)

I clicked my mouse to attack, excitied about what might happen. Cauthey threw a right hay-maker. Followed a little later by a left hay-maker. Then, Cauthey looked as though he was inexpertly trying to step on one of the skeletons.

And then the same thing again. Unwieldy right hook. Awkward left hook. Put your right leg in, and shake it all about move.

WAT?!

Clearly, the Flameward's best properties are NOT suited for combat. Named like a shield. Described as a club. Looks like a wand. Punches like a handwrap? Is this item working as intended?

[oberon131313]

sounds like the animation for attacking with a scroll equipped?

[Sleepsalot]

I noticed this also was wondering about it..

Sleeps

[KookieKobold]

The functionality of the Flameward as a weapon is currently not WAI. It is supposed to effectively be a club.


Thanks for reporting this!

[MrkGrismer]

It thought the look was supposed to be changed to a scepter in the latest release?

NEW (Lamannia Only): Flameward now looks like a scepter.

[Yan_PL]

While it's still not properly typed, why wouldn't you consider making it 0% ASF shield?

[DragonTroy]

another point of interest with this item, as far as it being used as an actual weapon:

the base item version uses dex(or str) for to-hit and damage

and

the epic version uses Cha(or str) for to hit and damage

so, while it wouldn't be a lot, some builds could deal some damage with these things

more reason for making a twf Cha-based melee bard? im finding hard to ignore it