All blaster primaries except ice and sonic have a snipe attack in them, and they are more or less equivalent in this sense.
Snipe from the shadows type of blaster would propably like to have devices as a secondary because you get cloaking device. Also you get targeting drone for extra accuracy and perception. Add stealth from power pool and hover+fly for travel power, possibly tactics from leadership pool for more +perception and you get the standard 'stalker hunter'. What other attacks do you get is up to you.
Personally Id rather take energy as a secondary for boost range, unfortunately that power is not available in sirens call level range.
Do Cloaking Device and Stealth stack? I thought they didnt..
Cloaking Device and Stealth do not stack, SS does however. But I don't believe this +stealth happens in PvP.
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Cloaking Device and Stealth do not stack, SS does however. But I don't believe this +stealth happens in PvP.
[/ QUOTE ]Correct, SS has no +stealth in PvP.
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Cloaking Device and Stealth do not stack, SS does however. But I don't believe this +stealth happens in PvP.
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Oh right. I thought they did. Well in that case.. Do it with just cloaking device. Personally I think its stealth is quite poor though, but at least you wont need anohter power pool.
You won't be nearly effective as any other blaster with a well rounded pick of powers, although what the others abive say is about all I could say positively :/
Niche toons often suffer massively in general combat
Plight
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Hello, I'm looking to make a blaster that pretty much just snipes from the shadows for PVP use, however I've never massively PVP'd and this would be my first blaster so am after some advice.
Cheers.
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I'd go with Energy secondary, because you get the range boost from that and can pretty much out-range anything with it.
Flight (hover 3-slotted with flight speeds), speed (hasten, superspeed), fitness (swift, slotted with flightspeeds, hurdle and stamina) and concealment (stealth) for pools.
Munitions for epic to get the second snipe power.
No comment on the primary - Would probably go with Energy myself to get a few other damaging attacks.
[b][color=blue]Coldest War /[color=red]/ Omega Patient[/b]
[url="http://www.the-cow.net/"][color=red]The CoW Network (Blog) /[/url][url="http://www.collegeofwar.com/"][color=blue]/ College of War[/url]
stealth in cloaking device is pretty good, especially combined with fly as there are more dimensions to hide in.
Fire snipe is the best in the game as it has the upfront damage of 7.667 BI but also the additional ticks of DOT, nothing better than to hit someone with fire snipe and watch them jump away and the dot to kill them while escaping 
**Acceptable "support" responses**
Its your fault
Its your computers fault
Its your ISPs fault
Ah, also one more reason for not taking devices as a secondary for a sniper - Build Up > Targetting Drone when relying so much on a single attack for damage.
Yeah, Fire would probably be the top choise for primary as Stalko said.
[b][color=blue]Coldest War /[color=red]/ Omega Patient[/b]
[url="http://www.the-cow.net/"][color=red]The CoW Network (Blog) /[/url][url="http://www.collegeofwar.com/"][color=blue]/ College of War[/url]
ye fire snipe best + defiance and the DoT = dead...
but if u want bk up power etc
energy/dev, pve + pvp ftw :P
For Pvp Sniping i can recommend Archery - The major advantage of archery is that its non-snipe 'Big Hit', Blazing Arrow, has a base 80ft range, as compared to the 20ft range of the likes of Power Burst and Blaze.
The Ranged Shot/Blazing Arrow combo is the most powerful long-ranged Combo going.
Add 2 range SOs to Blazing and, combined with Ranged Shot, you pretty much have a double snipe that two-shots Corruptors, Dominators and Masterminds who aren't using Bodyguard, depending on the state of the zone buffs/debuffs it'll also just about two-shot stalkers (pop a red to make sure or 2 slot Aimed Shot for range as well for a quick follow up).
You also get Stunning shot which can be range-boosted nicely to turn squishies into sitting ducks (or make em waste their Break-Frees at least).
The down-side of Archery is the animation times - it can get frustrating when your target manages to get a heal off in between your two-hit combo. The quiet nature and lack of tracer on arrows does mean that if your opponent is busy they may not notice the damage until it's too late
If archery isn't for you then as already stated Fire has the nice DoT on it and has the most damage. Whatever you choose i do recommend slotting two ranges in your tier 2 attack so you've got a nice follow-on shot that almost matches the range of your snipe - Remember you can't one-shot people anymore (i think the DoT on Blazing Bolt will only take down MMs from full health with Aim and BU, everyone else will survive on a sliver, sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong 
). So unless you're only going to pick off already wounded people (which WILL get you accused of kill-stealing no matter how careful you are) You need to be able to follow up with something.
For secondaries you really want a set with Build-Up IMO, Devices is nice but you can slot Aim/BU with to-Hit boosters or take tactics for a poor-man's targetting drone, you can get stealth in the power pools too. Devices does however have utility if you want a Stalker-Buster build - The double perception from targetting drones/tactics will let you see a lot of them, but not from sniper type distances. Devices does also have some security devices in the form of caltrops and trip mines that can make hanging around in one place waiting for a target a little safer from the predations of the invisible pests.
As already started, /energy has the perfect sniper's tool in the form of Boost Range, plus the added advantage of getting Build-Up at level 4.
Sadly Boost Range isn't available until Warburg levels, and if you try and snipe one of the horde of SuperSpeeding Regen scrappers that seem to live there you're in for a world of disappointment and sudden death unfortunately...
PvP isn't too friendly to pure-sniper builds - you can get nice kills, but you're never going to mix it up like a fully rounded Blaster. But it's a great feeling when you peg someone out of the sky and can almost hear the "[censored]?".
Also remember your snipe is only one power, you can take it, 6 slot it and still have more than enough room to be whatever other kind of Blaster you want. Building a whole build around that one power doesn't really net you a huge gain in its effectiveness (but it still can be lots of Fun! )
Union 50s:
Crimson Cannon: NRG/NRG/Force
Tara Thorn: Archery/NRG/Elec
Damatria: BS/SD/Body
Defend the Earth from Aliens in my MA Arc: ID:57186
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stealth in cloaking device is pretty good, especially combined with fly as there are more dimensions to hide in.
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I think its good pretty much only with fly though. I helped my mate test his devices blaster in arena and I could see thru cloaking device at couple dozen yards with no +perception whatsoever.. I think my stalker can spot flying devices blasters quite easily in sirens with danger sense, at normal blasting range (not sniping range).
I like to echo plight in this, a sniper-specialist is not very good all-around character. Boost range from energy secondary is not available in sirens call, which is a shame. Another snipe from weapon mastery epic is available only in recluses victory..
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I like to echo plight in this, a sniper-specialist is not very good all-around character. Boost range from energy secondary is not available in sirens call, which is a shame. Another snipe from weapon mastery epic is available only in recluses victory..
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Feel I should add my own PoV to this, as a general rule (though by no means an absolute one I am sure) "One trick ponies" dont work in PvP. IMO if you want to be successful in PvP by far your best plan is to build a well rounded character and then to play a lot and get help and advice from those around you. While I would never totaly disregard an idea I personally feel emphasing snipes and hoping to take out enemies from the shadows is unlikely to work. However I am no expert and its all just my opinion but I wouldn't want anyone to find out too late the flaws in an idea. A Blaster with a strong Snipe Alpha Strike opening might be viable though I have never been a snipe fan. Anyway just my 2 inf and I wish you luck.
Cheers,
White 
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I think its good pretty much only with fly though. I helped my mate test his devices blaster in arena and I could see thru cloaking device at couple dozen yards with no +perception whatsoever..
[/ QUOTE ]That's because while it's strong, it's not as good as invis or hide.
Still, for a char without perspection buffs, a cloaked blaster is much harder to spot.
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I think its good pretty much only with fly though. I helped my mate test his devices blaster in arena and I could see thru cloaking device at couple dozen yards with no +perception whatsoever..
[/ QUOTE ]That's because while it's strong, it's not as good as invis or hide.
Still, for a char without perspection buffs, a cloaked blaster is much harder to spot.
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It is strong compared to... what?
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I like to echo plight in this, a sniper-specialist is not very good all-around character.
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Thats surely implied by the use of "specialist"
**Acceptable "support" responses**
Its your fault
Its your computers fault
Its your ISPs fault
you can just kill steal with your sniper power.
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I think its good pretty much only with fly though. I helped my mate test his devices blaster in arena and I could see thru cloaking device at couple dozen yards with no +perception whatsoever..
[/ QUOTE ]That's because while it's strong, it's not as good as invis or hide.
Still, for a char without perspection buffs, a cloaked blaster is much harder to spot.
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It is strong compared to... what?
[/ QUOTE ]Stealth.
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I like to echo plight in this, a sniper-specialist is not very good all-around character. Boost range from energy secondary is not available in sirens call, which is a shame. Another snipe from weapon mastery epic is available only in recluses victory..
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Feel I should add my own PoV to this, as a general rule (though by no means an absolute one I am sure) "One trick ponies" dont work in PvP. IMO if you want to be successful in PvP by far your best plan is to build a well rounded character and then to play a lot and get help and advice from those around you. While I would never totaly disregard an idea I personally feel emphasing snipes and hoping to take out enemies from the shadows is unlikely to work. However I am no expert and its all just my opinion but I wouldn't want anyone to find out too late the flaws in an idea. A Blaster with a strong Snipe Alpha Strike opening might be viable though I have never been a snipe fan. Anyway just my 2 inf and I wish you luck.
Cheers,
White
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TG and I seem to do well tho magsy
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I like to echo plight in this, a sniper-specialist is not very good all-around character. Boost range from energy secondary is not available in sirens call, which is a shame. Another snipe from weapon mastery epic is available only in recluses victory..
[/ QUOTE ]
Feel I should add my own PoV to this, as a general rule (though by no means an absolute one I am sure) "One trick ponies" dont work in PvP. IMO if you want to be successful in PvP by far your best plan is to build a well rounded character and then to play a lot and get help and advice from those around you. While I would never totaly disregard an idea I personally feel emphasing snipes and hoping to take out enemies from the shadows is unlikely to work. However I am no expert and its all just my opinion but I wouldn't want anyone to find out too late the flaws in an idea. A Blaster with a strong Snipe Alpha Strike opening might be viable though I have never been a snipe fan. Anyway just my 2 inf and I wish you luck.
Cheers,
White
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TG and I seem to do well tho magsy
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h4x! I say h4x!!! 
Its a valid comment and as ever my opinion is based on my own experience. Great advantage of these boards lots of good folks about with varied opinions I am sure Tyl can add lots of ideas to many a build... also only person I know who actively mines the Atlas statue, quite what that says I am not sure ...
Cheers,
White
[edit] Grrr for Tyl read Tetron.... bah, bah, bah! *mutters about global name changes [/edit]
muahhahhaa
snipe ftw, 2acc/2dmg/2range = pvp + pve snipey-goodness
tahts energy primary based, AR however can do with something like 2 acc/3dmg/1range cuz of the range bonus it seems to have
if u wanna go full on sniper tho (thats with defiance imo) you'll want the following:-
**/device build (not ice as no snipe)
target drone (3tohit/3endrdx)
cloaking device (3endrdx)
assault (doesnt ahve to be used but is handy if without defiance)
tactics (3tohits/3endrdx)
web grenade (3acc)
caltrops (2recharge)
snipe(energy/elec/fire: 2acc/2dmg/2range, AR: 2acc/3dmg/1range)
fly (3fly/3endrdx)
highest range dmg power from primary (should try to be 2acc minimum, 3 dmg + 1 range/acc or recharge)
attack chain : target drone ON, Tactics ON, Cloak ON, get max defiance, fly to target, snipe, follow-up, repeat/flee (target amount dependant + AT)
hope that helps
If you're going to snipe most of the time, then /Dev is really the way to go, for Siren's at least. Yes, it doesn't have Build Up, but since you're sniping, you should use Defiance to its maximum, which will take you closer, if not to, the damage cap of a blaster.
@Tyl - The AR Snipe has a range shorter than most other snipes, by about 20yrds or so, IIRC, but Slug (I think) has a base range of about 95yards, and with 2 ranges in it, it can get to the 150yrd range that the AR Snipe has for its base.
Imo fire might be the best primary for the task because of snipes DoT.
hmmmmmz was under impression that AR had higher base range than all others + acc
oh well add 2 SO's and ure fine
Hello, I'm looking to make a blaster that pretty much just snipes from the shadows for PVP use, however I've never massively PVP'd and this would be my first blaster so am after some advice.
Cheers.