Editing AC2:Announcements - 2005/05 - Legions (section)

== Letter to the Players #5 ==
{{AC2 Article
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://ac2.turbinegames.com/index.php?page_id=337</nowiki>
 | Title = AC2: Legions Pre-order Gift - The Drudge
 |  Text = 
Long have they been in the shadow of the other races. Theirs is a dirty, cowardly, sickly, pasty, mean, brutish race. But a proud race! And a cunning one. They have learned many techniques for battles, and the wisest among them have even learned to tap into the power of their own Shrine of Transcendence. The time of the Drudge is at hand.
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By pre-ordering AC2: Legions, players will be able to create Drudge characters on Legions launch day. The Drudge is a fun new race with a lot of unique abilities. They do have some limitations, however.
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While you can choose to be a male or female Drudge, it’s hard for the other races to tell the difference between Drudge genders – they look and sound the same, aside from minor size variations.  If you encounter a Drudge in the field and are unsure, it's best to play it safe and just call him/her "my friend".  Given their prolific numbers, though, we’re sure that Drudges, at least, have no trouble telling the difference!
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Drudges make use of only two armor types: rags (which have armor levels equivalent to robes), and drudge helmets. However, Drudges have thick skin which helps make up for their lower armor level. (The skill Thick Skin bestows this extra armor.)
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Drudges can wield any sword or other common 1-handed melee weapon. They can also wield the new Board with Nail weapons, which are found randomly in treasure. They cannot wield shields – they are strictly a one-handed weapon class.
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Drudges have only one skill tree, the melee tree. But their melee tree is different from everybody else’s: this is a very large tree! It also has some missile and magic skills in it. (All the skills use melee mastery, however, so they aren’t “true” magic or missile attacks.)
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The Drudge way of life is less orthodox than the other races, partly due to their being closer to the ground than most. Drudge buffs are acquired by eating bugs found on the ground. Many drudges also choose to raise rabbits as warrior pets. These short-lived fluffy fiends sacrifice themselves in various tragic ways… but as with Drudges themselves, there’s always another rabbit around to take its place.
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Some Drudges like to hit things very hard, but others prefer to throw their weapons. The skill tree provides options for several different types of Drudge templates.

{{big|'''The Drudge Skill Tree'''}}

Let’s go over each skill.
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'''Whack'''
<br>This is a free skill given to all Drudges. This skill cannot be increased. This skill does more damage when the target is vulnerable.
<br>Skill Credits: 0
<br>Vigor Cost: 32
<br>Reset Time: 1 second
Range: 1 meter
<br><br>
'''Smash'''
<br>A melee attack. This skill does significantly more damage when the target is vulnerable.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 32
<br>Reset Time: 1 second
<br>Range: 1 meter
Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
<br><br>
'''Stab'''
<br>A potent melee attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 50
<br>Reset Time: 2 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
<br><br>
'''Thick Skin'''
<br>Increases the natural armor of the user. This is a toggle skill; it can be turned on and off at will.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: Toggle
<br>Range: Self
Armor Granted: 1 (L1) – 50 (L50)
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'''Fling Nail'''
<br>A ranged attack that causes the target to bleed.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 80
<br>Reset Time: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 20 meters
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
Bleed Damage: 2 (L1) – 8 (L50)
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'''Tasty Centipede'''
<br>A tasty way to increase the user’s natural armor!
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 300 seconds
<br>Range: Self
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
Armor Buff: 6 (L1) – 60 (L50)
<br><br>
'''Wriggling Morsel'''
<br>A self healing snack.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 100
<br>Reset Time: 7
<br>Range: Self
Heal: 25 (L1) – 250 (L50)
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'''Lucky Stab'''
<br>A melee attack that has increased bonuses to critical strikes.
Notes <br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 110
<br>Reset Time: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
Notes: 20% chance to critically strike for double damage.
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'''Headbutt'''
<br>A melee attack that stuns the target.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 80
<br>Reset Time: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
Effect: Stun for 3(L1) to 10 (L50) seconds
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'''Chakram'''
<br>A potent ranged attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 110
<br>Reset Time: 7
<br>Range: 40 meters
Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
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'''Crunchy Snack'''
<br>A vigor-healing snack.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 160
<br>Reset Time: 7
<br>Range: Self
Vigor Healed: 200 (L1) – 600 (L50)
<br><br>
'''Boils'''
<br>A bloodletting attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 140
<br>Reset Time: 7
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
Bleeding <br>Damage: 2 (L1) – 8 (L50) damage per second
<br><br>
'''Delicious Spider'''
<br>A delicious self-targeted runspeed increase.
<br>Skill Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 300 seconds
<br>Range: Self
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
Effect: Run speed increase of 8% (L1) – 40% (L50)
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'''Scratch'''
<br>Nothing like a good back scratch! A self-targeted skill that returns health over time.
<br>Skill Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 300 seconds
<br>Range: Self
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
Regeneration: 2 (L1) – 20 (L50) health per second.
<br><br>
'''Sucker Punch'''
<br>A melee attack that does additional damage, regardless of the target’s armor.
<br>Skill Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 80
<br>Reset Time: 5 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
Additional Damage: 10 (L1) – 100 (L50)
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'''Screech'''
<br>A caster-centered, area-of-effect attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 80
<br>Reset Time: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 10 meters
Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
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'''Tetanus'''
<br>A numbing attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 280
<br>Reset Time: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
Additional Effect: 10 (L1) – 40 (L50) percent runspeed reduction.
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'''Juicy Earthworm'''
<br>An extra juicy increase to the user’s melee evasion.
<br>Skill Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 300 seconds
<br>Range: Self
Effect: 10 (L1) – 100 (L50) points of melee defense.
<br><br>
'''Sneaky Assault'''
<br>A two-hit stab attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 110
<br>Reset Time: 10 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50) – 300 (L150) per swing
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'''Way of The Hunter'''
<br>When this skill is enabled, the Drudge gains the ability to toss their weapon. Their auto-attacks gain a 40 meter range. (These auto-attacks still use melee accuracy numbers.)
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 4 seconds
<br>Range: Self
<br>Duration: Toggle
Effect: increases auto-attack damage by 1 (L1) to 25 (L50)
<br><br>
'''Rabid Fiend'''
<br>Summons a Rabid Fiend to fight alongside the user. The Rabid Fiend uses melee and short-ranged attacks on enemies.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 120 seconds
<br>Range: Self
Pet Stats: Low Health, Low Armor, Medium Damage
<br><br>
'''Devious Assault'''
<br>A triple hit stab attack. Can only be performed after an attempted use of the Sneaky Assault skill.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 130
<br>Reset Time: 5 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
Damage: 7 (L1) – 75 (L50) – 300 (L150)
<br><br>
'''Chuck'''
<br>A ranged attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 130
<br>Reset Time: 7
<br>Range: 40 meter
Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
<br><br>
'''Drudge Dance'''
<br>Grants a vigor over time effect to all nearby fellows (including the Drudge himself).
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 300 seconds
<br>Range: 20 meters
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
Effect: 2 (L1) – 8 (L50) Vigor per second
<br><br>
'''Brazen Assault'''
<br>Four hit stab attack. Can only be performed after an attempted use of the Devious Assault skill.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 150
<br>Reset Time: 5 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
Damage: 7 (L1) – 80 (L50) – 350 (L150)
<br><br>
'''Feet of Fury'''
<br>Empowers the user’s Rabid Fiend with the ability to perform much more powerful attacks.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 200
<br>Reset Time: 60 seconds
<br>Duration: 10 (L1) to 20 (L50) seconds
Range: 20 meters
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'''Perfect Decoy'''
<br>Summons a … “decoy” of a Drudge. This decoy uses area-of-effect taunts to attract monsters.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 120 seconds
<br>Range: Self
Duration: 30 seconds
<br><br>
'''Pack Attack'''
<br>A powerful melee attack with a large chance to perform a critical-hit. Does extra damage if performed after another Drudge uses this same skill. (Each individual Drudge can only use this skill once per minute on any given target.)
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 300
<br>Reset Time: 10 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 12 (L1) – 260 (L50)
<br>Effect: 20% chance to critical-hit for double damage.
Additional Effect: 50 (L1) – 300 (L50 damage if performed right after Pack Attack.
<br><br>
'''Tribal Flame'''
<br>A targeted fire-based area of effect attack.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 150
<br>Reset Time: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 40 meters
<br>AoE Range: 10 meters
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
Additional Effect: 2 (L1) – 8 (L50) fire damage per second
<br><br>
'''Hare Trigger'''
<br>The user’s Rabid Fiend becomes the live bait for a trap. The trap appears wherever the rabbit was standing (up to 40m away from the caster). The next creature (aside from the caster) which steps on the trap will be rooted. If the trap is not sprung after 5 minutes, it will disappear.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Reset Time: 120 seconds
<br>Range: 40 meters
Effect: a trap that roots the victim for 2 (L1) to 15 (L50) seconds.
<br><br>
'''Plan ‘B’'''
<br>When all else fails, use fire! Sets the Perfect Decoy on fire, giving it a fiery damage shield. Any creature which attacks the Decoy will burst into flames.
<br>Skill Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 220
<br>Reset Time: 120 seconds
<br>Range: 40 meters
<br>Duration: 30 seconds
Effect: fire damage of 2 (L1) to 8 (L50) for 15 seconds
<br><br>
'''Devouring Flames'''
<br>A devastating ball of fire.
<br>Skill Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 300
<br>Reset Time: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 40 meters
<br>Damage: 12 (L1) – 260 (L50)
Effect: fire damage of 2 (L1) – 10 (L50) per second for 30 secs
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{{big|'''The Drudge Revolution Begins!'''}}
<br><br>
Hopefully reading over the various Drudge skills has given you a taste for the possibilities of Drudge characters. What these skill descriptions CAN’T do is convey the humor of the drudge, from his screeching “songs” to his loping run, or his many Easter egg effects and sounds.
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The Drudge can definitely hold their own soloing or in groups, and they have their own unique play style.
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Legions players who don’t pre-order will still be able to earn access to the Drudge. A future update will provide a quest to unlock this feature for players who don't pre-order, but to get in on the ground floor of this unique new class, you should pre-order the expansion. Let the howling cries of drudges cover Dereth!
}}