This is what it sounds like

It says something about how down-trodden the Blaster community must be after all these years that no one has yet posted a thread about this. If it was about Scrappers or Defenders, it would be all over the place in ten minutes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synapse I understood the question. My answer remains the same. We're sticking with the existing design we use for nukes for now. Dual Pistols' nuke has a short recharge time because its PBAoE and dangerous to use. Beam Rifle's nuke has a shorter recharge time because I was trying to compensate for the rest of the set's lack of AoE. So I used Overcharge as a base line and added 25 seconds. 90 seconds for a nuke doesn't sound all that scary to me honestly. It really doesn't, however that's a bridge I'd like to cross at a later time. Next issue you'll see why. One thing at a time. Synapse

(emphasis mine)

Its not just about nukes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synapse I will dispel this rumor now. THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR CHANGES BEING MADE TO NUKES IN I24! *ahem* Anyhow, carry on with your speculation. *steeples fingers* It amuses me. *sips tea* Synapse

but it is about Blasters (at least in part):

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synapse I've found myself playing my Dual Pistols/Devices character again... OH! Four things. Forgot about {Redacted by marketing}! Synapse

If I knew what was coming I couldn't say, but I can at least say its not Defiance 3.0.

We're getting the attention we asked for. Will it be the attention we deserve? I can't say. But I think both Synapse and Arbiter Hawk are genuinely interested in updating and improving the gameplay of Blasters. Whether they end up doing what I want, or what any other player wants, is a separate question. That I believe they are sincere is what's important.

Issue 24 can't get here quickly enough for me. If it follows the pattern of I22 and I23, it'll probably enter beta within a month or so, with release about a month after that. But that's extrapolating from two data points, also known as "wild guessing."

In any case, discussion about *IF* Blasters should get attention are now moot. The only question is what should they get, and what are they likely to get.

On your mark. Get set. Speculate! It amuses Synapse.


I'd like to take credit, having badgered Synapse and Arbiter Hawk about it for the past six months, right up to the restraining order, but I have a feeling they were going to do it anyway. Also, I know Arbiter Hawk took a lot of flak because of the non-perma Hybrid slot, but the guy's a munchkin. He's the only dev in eight years that when I make a suggestion with a balancing concession, he says "it'd be even better without that; pew pew pew!"

Right now, that's exactly who we need looking at Blasters. A closet berserker.

Yeah, I am quite pleased about those posts.
I was surprised not to see any threads about it and I suspect your reasoning for why this was the case may be quite true.

Either that, or us Blaster types just aren't all that into starting threads about Blasters...
There was even an earlier post by Synapse in that thread, referencing something he couldn't talk about.

Good stuff!
I was all but sure that they were already looking into and/or working on Blasters, but it was nice to see those comments paired with Issue 24.
It very well may not be anything we're imagining, but it is pretty much a certainty that something affecting ranged attacks is taking place.
I'm hopeful that a Blaster shine and polish is a part of that.

We'll see!

*closes himself within the cryogenic chamber and sets the timer for Issue 24*

Do we risk getting Synapse into any trouble (lashings from Black Pebble) by quoting these things? And speculating further?

This was the one I was referring to in my previous post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synapse While I understand where you're coming from, you're describing a completely separate issue that isn't necessarily helpful in this thread. Issues with ranged sets versus melee sets is completely outside of the scope of this conversation. We have plans for ranged powers which I am not at liberty to talk about at this point. I ask that we please keep the conversation specific to Water Blast and how it compares to other ranged power sets. Synapse

Emphasis mine.

Also, double post! As I race and race to catch up with Golden Girl... (kidding, of course).

Sounds good. Looking forward to whatever changes we get. I love blasters as they are, but improvements are always welcome.

From the hints, it looks like a more global change with Ranged Blasts, and not just Blasters alone. That would be great.

I don't much care what sort of love blasters get, as long as they get it.


I'm enjoying playing my IO'ed to the teeth fire/ice through the DA content, but often catch myself thinking how much *easier* everything would be on pretty much any of my other 'main' characters.

I'm hoping that whatever they do involves a LOT of community feedback.

Great news Arcana! The problem with just buffing snipes and nukes is that it helps corrs and defs as well. For example, an ice corr blizzard is already as good as a blaster's. If it recharges 3 times faster, that likely benefits them even more. So I hope that the changes will be geared towards blasters, not just blast sets.

Speculate eh?

I'm pretty sure I read this idea somewhere on these forums, but I would like to see ranged attacks get some type of piercing effect that ignores a portion of damage resistance/defense. The effect should be significantly higher for blasters than for other ranged ATs. This would allow blasters to have a good boost to damage against hard targets without making a swarm of minions more trivial.
Then of course give snipes the assassins strike treatment so that in battle they function as a usable high dpa attack, and outside of battle they are a proper snipe.

Synapse said that the recharge of nukes isn't being reduced, but what about the crash (after i24)?

I really just hope that the tweaks to Blasters involve their Damage in some way. I'd like to see improvements that make them stand out more in comparison to other archetypes, rather than blur the lines further.

I speculate there will be a minor change and that those who think that blasters are lagging behind will be unsatisifed with and those that think blasters are fine will be just fine with. I further speculate that this assumption on my part can pretty much be translated to any AT change and the subsequent response.

In serious though, I'm happy the AT is getting a look over, even if it may just be a (possible) buff to ranged sets in general. I mean, Blasters do more damage with said sets so a buff to them would mean more moar damage for blasters

It occurred to me last night while playing that one of the problems with Blasters might be in the perception. Yes, they level slower solo. Yes, they faceplant more often. But in a real furball of a fight when all the powers are flashing around you don't often SEE the results of a Blaster.

In a big fight you always know where the melee-types are. They're in the middle of the fight (generally), surrounded by bad guys. Corrs, Doms and Defenders have very prominent effects with their buff and control powers. MMs have pets you can see. But except for Fire, Blasters shoot, then shoot again, shoot some more and that's it.

Last night I had to leave a big battle to get the door. I announced AFK Sry, locked my AoE on the Tank and left the room. When I came back almost a minute later nobody had noticed that I was gone. In the heat of a major battle you don't really have time to notice a brief increase or decrease in DPS.

I'm hoping that the upcoming changes (whatever they are) give Blasters some more visibility. Something to SEE during the fight that makes the other players think 'Yeah...Blaster shooting over there.'

It's a small point but it hit me kinda hard last night so I thought I'd mention it.

I thought this thread would have a song by Prince in it.