BrandX

You know, I like the idea of giving it a -Resist or +DMG boost, as a way of the stalker finding the enemies weak point, but I think the -Resist would take them out of hide.

Does this mean ST kings, like some of us (*cough*meatleast*cough*) want, including better burst as well as ST DPS?

Admittedly that's what I want in characters over an abundance of AOE, but then I'm patient and don't care if I lay waste to groups of enemies in seconds.

I realize on paper Placate+AS is the highest DPSA available, sadly, it doesn't work out in practice in my experience (and that's with a tricked out, softcapped /WP Stalker).

If it did, I may not have felt Stalkers lacking in DPS.

There's a lot of us who can't make the characters we want in CoH's game mechanics That's not limited to those who dont want to justify certain powersets.

I dont know if I agree that the changes marginalize Placate at all.

What it may do is maginalize it more for the tricked out IO build. But it still has it's helpfulness in survival, and when you want a 100% crit (even if it lowers DPS).

But one of the ways they may be able to help with that is speeding up the animation of Placate.

I think what (at least solo) going in with AS while hidden will be the better option for the start of a fight for best DPS, while the new mechanic will allow you to continue to DPS out the harder targets.

I think I'll have to disagree with this (untill tested of course), as this is their way of increasing DPS without increasing the damage mod. And I like this idea as it makes it something different.

That's all I want as well

I figured it'd be the Hidden Status that speeds it up or slows it down (for different amounts of damage and effects).

That was my point. All I wanted myself was more damage. These changes do that, while looking to keep it different than higher damage mod. Could be interresting and fun. Could be the same thing but different.

Either way I look forward to seeing these changes hopefully going through.

That mechanic is kinda what Titan Weapons is all about.

1 attack, 2 different animation times.

Well, I don't know how others or the majority or what the Stalker "pros" consider the best tactics with Stalkers.

I just know back at release of CoV with my EM/SR to my KM/WP that's how I played them. I like Stalkers for the concept of stealthy types. But that didnt mean I didn't want them to be less than fighters

All I ever wanted personally.

I did feel my KM/WP Stalker was less survivable than my DB/WP with equal slotting, which didn't bother, but the feel of lower damage? Meh. And all I wanted was equal to, not looking to surpass at all.

Of course, I freely admit, I play my Stalkers like Scrappers with a stealth power.

Oh, is that what you're getting at...

Well, if AS can get an animation time of 1.056-1.542 (arcana time) when not in hidden status...it looks like to me, it's normal damage for being used outside of Hide (as of on Live) would put it at superior level damage.

304.4 (unhidden)
802.6 (hidden)
*99.08 DMG enhancement with StJ AS*

Still an awesome opener (and used as one whenever the chance appears) but then afterwards one can switch to beat em up mode and not have to worry about going back into hide state.

And if they do make the new AT Specific IOs, Assassin Strike would be where I put that chance for Hidden status Proc. *nod*

*shrug* Going by mids right now Assassin Strike (StJ) deals roughly 323 (slotted up with lvl 33 ToD) when unhidden. In hidden status it does 835 with the same slotting.

And I'm not sure, but I think while hidden AS has a chance to do more damage than that (I THINK not sure).

Either way, that 835 is more damage than using Crushing Impact while hidden (lvl 1 and 2). Not to much more though.

Some of this will all have to wait till more details are known. But if they can give Stalkers a truely superior damage attack available at level 6, without changing the RCH or END COST, people can start making that part of their attack strings (it may be costly on the END)

And personally, that's really all I wanted out of my Stalker. DPS equal to Scrappers/Brutes without the worry about being interrupted (and with softcapped defenses, I was often interrupted when hitting placate -> AS in the middle of tough single target fights).

Well using Gloom with any non weapon set, I believe helps get other sets to Scrapper level damage.

One might think Fire Armor/TW will be awesome, and possibly will be, but that's still requiring you to click Fiery Embrace and Burn at the right times.

Also, while I say Scrapper level ST DPS, I mean low end (better than Spines and Electric Melee).

Also, I could be wrong on that, it's just what my math is leading me to believe, also I have no idea the +RCH needed to achieve that level of ST DPS, which if it's a lot can make getting OMG survival levels a bit harder to achieve.

Also, there's pairing those 1 handed weapon/no weapon sets with Shield for AAO, which I think would help pull other sets to such levels of ST DPS (especially non weapon sets that throw in Gloom).

I'm pretty sure, while in the hidden status, you get the scale 7, inflict demoralize attack.

While in the unhidden status, you get a superior damage level attack.

My guess is that it loses the demoralize effect, and is purely a OMG damage attack, since outside of demoralize, Assassin Strikes have no secondary effect.

Nope, just checked. When not hidden, AS becomes uninterruptle.

When hidden it becomes interruptle.

But there's also a difference in damage I'm sure.

Scrapper level ST DPS, with 4 AOE attacks (1 PBAOE, 3 120 Degree Cones), added with Tanker survivability. I think TW Tankers will become very popular.

Does interruptle out of Hide mean...in hidden status and using it, or no hidden status and still interruptle?

That said, if AS becomes 1.056 - 1.542 (accounting for arcanatime) animation while not hidden for a superior damage attack, it may not bother me.

My 50 Stalker is a KM/WP. In that 2.904 seconds, AS got interrupted A LOT when trying to use it. However, if I can pull off the attack in 1.056-1.542 seconds without getting interrupted a lot, it will be worth it imo.

Keeping it interruptable may be the only way to balance it as well. Not sure if they can change the effects of AS when in and out of hidden, BUT a superior damage attack that recharges that fast for that much end, and it's drawback is it being interruptable...might not be a big deal in that short of an attack.

Of course, my idea of a superior damage attack, is one that does the damage of a tier 9 (or possibly a bit more) for some OMG DPS.

Add in it's demoralize capabilities.

Also agreed, will be a nice change for DB Stalkers, and might make me like DB Stalkers (still Id rather have Typhoon's Edge over 1k Cuts >_>)