"Direct Attacks"?

[Sigurd]

What is the constant reference to "direct attk" vs weapon attacks, I can make out through common sense that DAs do not take into account weapon for dmg, ie a 500pt Nuke or a 50pt Bash is the same regardless of weapon but the reference to "remain direct attacks...intended to be lower in damage...have alternate uses..."

- Some attacks remain direct attacks. These are intended to be lower in damage, but have alternate uses and should be less expensive overall. These debuff, buff and are not intended to be used to be a main source of damage.

It will probably be clearer to me with some real examples of skills they refer to.

Anyone?

[Naiya]

I wonder if this was meant to include abilities/spells as well.

For example: the Bardic Ability "Sever the Tie" does a mere 6 damage, however it debuffs your opponent by leaving them Vulnerable and dazed. Whereas the Bardic ability "Striking the Mountain" is more damage driven

I would imagine the same would be true of weapons. For example: A "Maul of the Aegis" (made up name - but I think it's cool) that gives the wielder a bonus to daze an opponent. The daze would do minimal damage, but would effectively render the opponent unable to attack for a few seconds

[SwordMage]

I am not sure about Sever the Tie as that does 6 more than standard melee damage.

However, there are skills such as (warrior):


Savage Cut I Cost: 28 Endurance
Range: 5
Target: Offensive
Type: Melee Attack
Cast: Instant
Recast:
Duration: A brutal slicing attack that causes your target to bleed, taking 49 to 55 damage over 12 seconds.

Or for paladins:


Champion's Might I Cost: 15 Endurance
Range: 5
Target: Offensive
Type: Buff
Cast: Instant
Recast:
Duration: Deals 11 to 15 damage to your target, but increases your strength for 40 seconds.

whose damage is not expressed as a percentage of or bonus to melee damage.

[Sigurd]

I got it now.

"Direct Attack" is a vague term, but probably way better than trying to use a clunky thing like "non-weapon/non-spell-damage-based damage abilities" or something