Monsters weapon swapping

CaptainObvious

So thinking about the advantages of ranged versus melee got me to thinking. For solo content like Maelstrom etc. why not have enemies that are able to weapon swap like players. Could be customizable based on what weapon types the player has slotted, but basically be just in ranged/melee flavors.

Thoughts?

Ruben

This would make most monsters static, switching from bow to melee when you get close and vice versa.
Monsters are currently balanced with their weapons (=role) in mind, so i don't think this can work.

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/2200158/#Comment_2200158

Mages, skirmishers, and tanks have all been tweaked to have less dramatic variation. In general, mages will have less damage and more health, while tanks will have less health and more damage. This means the average fight length and amount of incoming damage will be more balanced, while retaining the thematic differences between monster types.
All mage monsters now have more health, and output less damage.
All tank monsters now have high spell and physical resistance.
All mages now have low physical resistance, but high spell resistance.
All skirmishers now have average physical and spell resistance.
On average, delve bosses now have more health.

daemonios

Ruben wrote: »

All mages now have low physical resistance, but high spell resistance.

That quote is PRICELESS considering ZOS' rationalisation for giving light armour the lowest values in both spell AND physical resistance

TheDracojan

Thing is, I don't know how many people noticed this, but many mobs use various skills. For example we have a 2h wielding npc, suddenly he backs up and uses a hidden blade, that's a dual wield skill. Other npcs use dragonknight skills, can charge without a shield and so on.
Even if using skills that players can't normally use with certain weapons, they make combat pretty dynamic and there's really no need for weapon swapping if they can use any skill with any weapon.

CaptainObvious

Yes, but right now you can always count on what that enemy is going to do based on appearance.