Muro's Arcanum Weapon Database version 1.0.5 (2016 update!)

Adding new columns always means diluting the database and therefore lowering its clarity. After all, everyone prefers small legible tables to lengthy confluent ones - not only is it easier on the eyes, it is simpler to track the particular data the user is interested in at the moment.

Any added data would really have to be justified by its value for such a dilution to take place and I don't think that can be said about AvD/attack. As you said, it would only be useful in some specific cases, and in those it can be easily deduced by just looking at the min damage and max damage.

There is another problem with adding any new columns. At the moment, the already existing ones take pretty much the whole width of a screen (1074x768 resolution). Adding any additional columns would require scrolling back and forth to read the data and check with which weapons is it even connected = missing the point of a user friendly database.

Replacing already existing columns with new ones would be a better move transparency-wise, but - just like with dilution - that would require the new info to really be worth it.

The usability of AvD/turn would at best be about the same as that of the already present AvD/AP.

AvD/AP may not be the a perfect determinant of weapon damaging value when (AP/turn)/(AP/attack) is not an integer, but neither would be AvD/turn when we remember that there is hardly a turn when we don't do anything else (cast spells, use items, move) but attack.

No point in having two coefficients organising the weapons +/- in the same order, especially when we keep the dilution and width problems in our minds.

 

Guess I should mention this was a tremendous help in balancing many real-time weapons for the coop translation.
Without it, I probably wouldn't have bothered balancing things properly at all.

Keep up the good work!

More hidden columns with information like proto ID and item worth would have been nice though.
I'm running in 1920x1080 so horizontal viewspace was not a problem, but I should have really dug out a 2nd screen while working on balance, was a real pain alt-tabbing for everything!

 

Excellent tool. It has only two drawbacks: First, in Openoffice I cannot sort by column. Your dropdown boxes work great, not to be confused with the Sort option. It's just that the sheet continues to be sorted by weapon name in alphabetic order. If I choose "sort" from the Openoffice "Data" menu, all 3 sort tiers show only "Column B" as an option. Coincidentally, that is the weapon name column. So it seems locked into sorting by column B. Maybe I am not unlocking the sheet properly, or something along those lines? Or is this intended?

The other drawback is that, from a powergaming perspective, my character's build is pointless. Who knew the Mechanized Gun was the best Firearm in the game?

 

All suggestions are always welcome (except for retarded ones, naturally), though at the moment the Database is a project designed for players wanting to check which weapons will be most efficient damage dealing-wise for their characters and followers, and they have no use of proto ID. As for weapon worth, in a game where money is hardly ever an issue it would mostly be an useless filler anyway.

Hardly my fault OpenOffice's Calc cannot sort properly, I'd say.

The Database was created on Microsoft Excel and that program seems to be the only one which handles it flawlessly.

The point is moot. Most actually agree that the massive AvD/AP does not compensate for the pathetic AvD/AmU.

 

Quite impressive work there. A+++, would read again, etc.

It's tempting to secretly build a PHP/MySQL version of this so I can deviously steal a glimmer of your glory.

*whistles*

 

I noticed the Sword of the Derian Ka has a substantial hidden bonus to damage, making this already decent weapon a significantly better one than its description suggests. Added a "Sword of the Derian Ka" section to the README part and included the bonus in the sword's damage calculating formulas in the DATABASE part.

Updated table of contents and download link in the original post.

 

Noticed an error in the damage calculating formulas of the Fine Revolver.

The problem is now solved, the database updated and reuploaded. Download link can be found in the original post.

 

Noticed a loophole in minimum and maximum damage calculating formulas which erroneously elevated the damage of the Axe of Lost Time and Grack's Burdensome Staff for characters combining low strength and high magickal aptitude.

Seriously, how specific can an error get?

The problem is now solved, the database updated and reuploaded. Download link can be found in the original post.

 

Found a weapon I seem to have overlooked when creating the database.

The Bow of Damage has now been added to the DATABASE part.

The database is updated and reuploaded. Download link can be found in the original post.

 

Im looking at the excel file but some of the numbers seem off...the shotgun doesnt have 30-60 damage ingame....neither does the hand crafted fintlock have an awe inspiring 7-29 damage ingame....

 

The Shotgun does 1-10 damage while the Hand Crafted Flintlock deals 2-6, and those are the numbers I placed in the database. 30-60 is the damage of the Blade Launcher while 7-29 of Bronwyck's Gun.

Most odd. I have never encountered any mismatches. No matter in what way I sort my data, the database always displays the correct values for me, and I regularly sort in in a variety of ways.

Jojobobo, Question, what programs do you use to open the database?

Also, sorting the database in what way causes it to display incorrect values in your cases?

 

Just the 2010 version of excel, I don't know maybe it's something wrong with my system than the file itself. It's never bothered me just looking down the list anyway, everything else works correctly like the values adjusting for strength, etc.

 

Excel does not always sort cells the way I anticipate, especially if I highlight specific cells to be sorted. If you select-all and sort, do you still have the problem?

 

Thank you so much for this

 

Great database, are you still considering creating one for arcanum : wip or have you abandoned the idea?

 

Re:

The idea is pretty much abandoned for reasons various, indeed. Thanks for bumping the thread, though. It reminded me of the database and inspired me to experiment with a known problem it was having. That being said...

...in other news, after some trial and error I recently* figured out what was the problem behind sorting errors mentioned by a few members, what, 1,5 years ago? Time flows like crazy, I tell ya.
Fact: the database was created on Microsoft Excel 2003. Now, it turns out Microsoft Excel ≥ 2007 sorts data differently that earlier versions, to the point that something that worked in Excel 2003 may not work properly in Excel ≥ 2007, regardless of compatibility options.** I introduced some changes to the sorting method and now the database appears to work correctly on my Excel 2007, but I'll take my time to thoroughly test it before releasing it. Still, expect an update soon.

* Half an hour ago.

** Which I find baffling, to say the least. What if rather than a non-profit pet project it was an important spreadsheet that my company's money depended on? One would think he doesn't have to worry about such compatibility problems when upgrading software from a leading multinational software corporation.

 

I was expecting a third asterisk set after that last "soon" and when it wasn't there I was sad.

 

I'd hate to make you sad, Philes. I attempted to add a third asterisk set, but instead I ended up with this.

Don't ask me, ask yourself.

 

The only question I could ask myself regarding that picture probably shouldn't be posted on a public forum.

On the other side, Fronk-en-steen is just a little too happy in the picture to be preparing for murder.

 

...oops.

Better late than never, though!

Download link added to the first post, but let's have it here as well.

Version 1.0.5 changelog:
- Fixed sorting for the 2007 and later versions of Excel. (!!)
- Included additional trivia in the Harrow section of the README part.*
- Removed the mention of a potential side database supporting mods (A:WIP or otherwise) from the README part (since by this point it's pretty clear I'll never get around to that).
- Added a couple more entries in the Thanks section.**

* I think it's interesting enough that I'll go ahead and quote that added paragraph here as well:

** Thanks to Question, Jojobobo and TheDavisChanger for bringing the sorting problem to my attention and providing info that eventually helped pinpoint the source of the issue. Also, shoutouts to Sandro aka Sugar for (first accidentally and later actively) reminding me that I wanted to return to and update this project.