Choosing proper Abilites ?

[kimmy]

What's the best way of deliberating on what sort of abilities you want your CAW to have based on the moveset you've created ??

Cuz right now, I have no idea.....

[xwa]

I'm going with a combo of flavor/usefullnes

[gallas]

What I've QUICKLY learned is that you want abilities that are going to compliment what your caw is all about. If you're going for an Extreme High Flyer, Submission isn't going to do you any good. As such, if it's a punishing Submissionist you want, you probably don't have much use for Object. What you want to do before you even make your moveset is concept what kind of wrestler you're making. I'll use Evan Fate as my example...

Evan in 2009 is a smash mouth, CZW type Junior Heavyweight. So as such, he's got an arsenal of spectacular, fast paced moves. Not a full on Spot Monkey, but damn close. Also in his style, he'll be showing off the Hardcore range in the X-Gen, so he's also got Object (DUH, He's Riot's son...he's supposed to know his way around a Chair). So that's Outside Dives, Springboard and Object already used. Added to that is Durability, which is a useful ability, but one that really doesn't make much difference late in matches...it only prolongs your ass kicking if you're losing, and of course Kip-Up. And of course the last of his Abilities is Ladder Match, which makes him practically untouchable in that style match (Ladder Matches, TLC Matches and MITB). Now given the abilities he has, that makes ALL the difference in the moves I selected for him. He has NO submissions, not a single one...because that's not the style of wrestling he does. Also, his moves are mainly no lift up based moves, because he's 225lbs...so he shouldn't be bodyslaming someone like Finesse, who's 270+. His arsenal is quick, hard hitting Junior type moves. And as such, he excels in what he's supposed to excel.

This year more then all others, you're REALLY going to have to gameplan you're movesets. Because if you build a moveset that has nothing to do with your ability set, you're in for a LONG season. 3X already have a few 2009 caws from members, and some need a little tweaking, while others are WAY ahead of the curve. Success will come on complimenting your moveset to your abilities, not vice versa. So figure out what abilities you want to have 1st, then formulate your arsenal once you have it down. That's how I've built every caw I've made thus far, which includes quite a few 2008 XWA conversions (All those who I had a hand in making or making over, such as The Troys, Johnny Aces, Sayuri, Dante Elsworth and Jared Saint to name a few. You all can thank me later ). Stick to that formula and I'm sure you'll turn up positive results.

[punch]

Pretty much the same thing you said to me on AOL. And I followed suit. Punch is straight out Hardcore, Ina's straight out Joshi (High flying offense and Submissions, with a lil' Martial Arts) and Bull is well...Bull.

[ss]

I cloned and hacked to all hell a few copies of each of my caws, each with diff abilities to test.
Pretty much any combo works aslong as you have the moves that utilize them.
I also noticed an 85 Sireena with Durability/KipUp/Spring/Outside/Blood/Weapons
beat
an 85 Sireena with Resiliency/KipUp/Spring/Out/Blood/Weapons.

Resiliency was supposed to be this GREAT BIG HUGE DEAL, but yet... it hasn't done jack all on any sims other then provide a 2nd wind when your getting your ass kicked. So it kinda convinced me efeds can give champs resiliency, and not fear the unbeatableness of the caw, unless the caw itself is just damn dominant from the get go. Believe me, I got about 3 of those already and those were easy to make. Easy enough I fear I'll be punished or influence more new rules to be made in light of my exposing something in the game lol

[gallas]

All Resiliency does is enable said caw to kick out of pins that it shouldn't be able to, preferably late in matches when it's Orange or Red in health in one or more body parts, that's about it. But if the caw has been thrashed enough, it doesn't matter much because it's going to get beat anyway, same goes for Durability. It's only a means of prolonging damage for a potential comeback, but by the time they get used, the match is already out of reach most of the time. As far as CAW dominance, for anyone worth their salt in making decent movesets, especially seeing as there are no move limitations, it will unfortunately cause an even larger gap between good caws and elite caws. I've seen the 2009 versions of O'Dell, Jasta and Jon Payne in action, and THEY ARE MONSTERS...but they all excel in the one area they're meant to excel in. (Especially Jasta & JP. In one match I watched with Payne, he totally slowed the pace of the match down and picked the other guy apart limb from limb.)

[Thr33XWA]

I'll weigh in on things like this...about the one Ability that doesn't hold any use to sim leagues, CAW shows and anything non-user controlled is Fan Favorite. The CPU will rarely use the tactic, and since it's not either an offensive or defensive ability, just one that saps momentum which can easily be reagined by countering a finisher, Kipping Up (which I expect for EVERYONE to use, lol) or otherwise, it's the only Ability that's pretty much of no use to anyone.

That being said, what's been said is pretty accurate. Develop your abilities to the style of wrestling you want to use. Certain ones go great across the board, like Kip-Up for instance, but basically you go for a more exiciting style and use Springboard & Outside Dives, a more grounded style with Submission & Lock Pick or go Extreme with Bloodshed & Object. I've found that those combinations go well together.

Then of course you can mix it up too. Like Payne for example who's always been a hybrid of high flying, martial arts and shoot style wrestling. His Abilities are Submission, Lock Pick, Springboard, Kip Up, KO and Durability (the last two are subject to be changed). The first ones however mean that he can pretty be a grounded submissionist or a high flyer, and his moveset compliments either or.

Then as another example there's Hayley Jonas, who's always been a brawler type, so she's got Hammer Throw, Submissions and Outside Dives just for flair, but her moveset is designed to be aggressive and much more rougher.

With all the moves unlock (which you'll have if you take the starter save) you can basically create your own fighting style, as opposed to it being forced on you in 2008. The trick is to choose abilities that compliment the moves you select, and vice versa. The trick to that is knowing what you want your CAW to do and how you want them to wrestle.

[kimmy]

Haha, ya I kinda knew what I wanted Kim to be in terms of how she wrestles when I made her moveset, but I didn't think of complimenting abilities at the same time.

[ss]

I haven't seen the AI use the roll or steal a taunt abilities yet.
When I was talking about monster dominant, I was referring to a balanced caw still (spread limb damage) that somehow, despite attbs, still just dictates the match and from bell to bell, is on the offense.

Explained with example: I've made "LEGEND EDITION" caws. Basicly a version of the character at their peak, stats at their best, the best assortment of their moves. Basicly a 91-99 caw. Some are alttle more "jacked" or "enhanced" body/look wise to seperate the look from the regular look
(The diff between normal looking caws, and the comic style builds you guys use sometimes)

I had my regular version of Shayne Pain, dictate the pace of the match, and soundly thrash the "LEGEND EDITION" of Trinity, who was the first female caw I made ever, back in WM2000, thus her "legend" title. The difference in stats? Shayne was a 74 to stay balanced with the in game divas, Trinity was an 87 to be competitive with the male caws, but not quite up with the male legends. Their movesets both balanced, the only diff being that Shayne uses 2 submissions... Cobra Clutch/Dragon Sleeper. She only used the Cobra Clutch once (as a trademark) and the rest was just striking, technical wear down of Trinity with weak grapples and ground work (Elbows/knees/shining wizard). Trinity just.. jobbed. It wasn't just once or twice, but like 7 out of 10 times.

It's odd how the AI works sometimes. They use the turnbuckle moves TOO MUCH sometimes, same with Irish Whips. Then sometimes ya never see a single turnbuckle move, or irish whip grapple.

[Thr33XWA]

That's just going to happen anyway you slice it there. In this game the AI will sometimes not even use things as it should. I've seen times when the AI doesn't even use Signature Moves when it can, and other times when it hits a finisher anytime it gets, even out of the ring. That's another thing to take into account, the fact that even if the AI is leaps and bounds better than it's ever been, it's still not perfect, so whatever abilities or moves you pick are really just more like "special weapons". It all comes down to how the AI uses what you've chosen, and that is and always will be a hit or miss deal there.

[ss]

Agreed, although they did make things abit more even by taking out the numeral damage points in exchange for lopped damage instead. Just means we might see a caw with basic moves KILL a powerful caw, just because the AI chose to be stronger for the weaker caw that match.

I do like seeing finishers outside the ring though.

I have seen my fair share of trademark moves worked in (Turnbuckle/running). And PLENTY of avoided trademarks to hit the same finisher for the 4th time in a row lol.

[gallas]

Seeing Holly FINALLY use the Elaijah Express (AKA The Ong Bak Knee as she calls it) is an added treat, especially how she'll get full momentum, Irish whip the opponent to a corner, run so that she closes the distance fast enough and THEN hit the move off. I'm still waiting to see if the AI will use diving moves when set as finishers (I need to finish off my Juniors who use such finishers) but all and all when the AI isn't asleep at times, it's pretty good as far as using moves when it's supposed to. But yes, as 3X said it, there are times when one person forgets to show up for the match. And then there are times where the AI will kick start mid match after getting bulldozed and come back to win. And of course there are the very rare but enjoyable marathons. Ran a match between my #1 Heel Blake Evanstar and Ryan Fierhart that went at least 25 minutes. There had to have been at the least 9 pinfall attempts between the two of them. I hope we see more of those matches in 2009, but again, that all boils down to if said caws match up well as well as if the AI is "On Point" for both caws.

[stac]

They'll try to, my newest caw has Eddie's frog splash as a finisher and has one it and won with it. The problem is sometimes they get so concerned with hitting it they try to early in the match and if the person gets up, they just let the finisher go without storing it.

[Chris Lionheart]

Given their personalities, would you guys say I'm heading for the correct abilities with the Youngbloods? (Both would be heels by the way)

Jason Youngblood:
Always been a hardcore kinda guy since his first bout with depression back in OCW in 2005 as 'Jason Youngblood', winning their hardcore title and besting Brody Hondo 2/3 falls in the cage. This of course continued into WTF/LXW with 'Jason...', with Jason always seeming to come out on top in cage matches (Won "Pornstar's Big Balls" 6Man Elimination HIAC match in LXW; beat POV at WTF ONS in 2/3 falls HIAC.) Went full blown extreme come TNB's end with his campaigning Christian MoneyMaker for a more violent atmosphere, and for the King of Crimson championship to be brought into TNB.

1. Dirty Pin - Pin near ropes with that ability to put feet on rope.
2. Hardcore Ressurection - Make yourself bleed via chair head shot for limb damage healing, if bloodied you get full momentum.
3. KO - When opponent is red, hit finisher and they will be KOed
4. Steel Cage Specialist - Escape quicker.
5. Object Specialist - Able to use special weapon moves.
6. Ladder Match Specialist - Remove belt faster than most people.

Shawn Youngblood:
A multi-time World Tag Team and Cruiserweight champion in different feds, a one time Cruiser-Tag champ in TNB (where else would have those titles?), the guy is still a Crusier, and still pulls off his flashy moves; but is one bitter mofo this year after seeing his movie career go down the crapper. That's why he's got some "basic heel tactics" abilities thrown in alongside the high flying ones. Both brothers have the Ladder speciality because I want to try to push them as a tag team with this as their speciality (with Shawn being a Cruiserweight it speaks to his fighting style, and with Jason being a Hardcore wrestler, it speaks to his love for weaponary.)

1. Dirty Pin - Pin near ropes with that ability to put feet on rope.
2. Springboard - Springboard off ropes onto an opponent in the ring.
3. Outside Dives - Run and fly over the ropes out onto an opponent on the arena floor.
4. Referee Shield - Use ref as shield.
5. Possum Pin - Get sneaky rollup pin on unsuspecting opponent.
6. Ladder Match Specialist - Remove belt faster than most people.

[ss]

Lookin good there Karl, except the Possum Pin sometimes is SPAMMED to holy hell in matches. I got caught with it 10 times in a single 20 minute match. Luckily breaking the pin, but sometimes the AI goes "Oh no, I've been possum'd" and gives up the pin when they are BARELY even orange.

I'd switch the Possum pin for Kip Up, as I can picture Shawn snapping out of nowhere after taking a move going "That's it, I'm tired of this" getting full momentum and going for that finisher right away instead of taking more damage.