Ask Anything: Ranged Blast and Blaster Manipulation Changes

Apart from anything else, I would like to just say "thank you" for spending your afternoon answering our questions like this. I don't think very many dev teams would consider doing something like this, let alone dive into it so enthusiastically. Thanks for being awesome!

The increased range from 40' up to 80' - is that only for single-target attacks, or does that include cones like Fistful of Arrows or Tenebrous Tentacles? Also, I couldn't tell from listening to the broadcast, but do the short-range powers in dominator secondaries get the range boost, too?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arbiter Hawk -"Hit Aim, Snipe becomes instant."

As I'm absolutely certain you're aware, that's an issue for Assault Rifle, which has Sniper Rifle, but no Aim. All the more so since, as was admitted yesterday, the required +hit for insta-snipe is deliberately just barely above what almost anybody will be able to slot into Field Operative without rare IOs.

That'll limit Assault Rifle, and Assault Rifle only, combined with any secondary other than Devices, to only being able to insta-snipe every 45 seconds (assuming 3-slotted Build Up) where every other blaster primary with a snipe will be able to insta-snipe twice that often.

I realize that there's no plausible way to add Aim to Assault Rifle. But would you consider making the required +hit for its insta-snipe just barely low enough that Field Operative, 3-slotted with SOs, can reach the +hit threshold for it and it alone?

I think addressing the snipes is a good idea....not sure about the implementation however. Again, I won't know until I test it. I agree, it might not sound like a much, but then again, it may really make a big difference.

Thematically, I don't like the way this is handled....though I have no better idea at the moment.



On my character, at least, the regen is useless from the /devices buff. If I need health, I need a heal....and I usually need it during the wind-up in Rain of Arrows (see below.) Regen does nothing for me.

Recovery is never an issue with my character either. I rarely run out of endurance. I don't think the regen/recovery is the way to make blasters better.





What I feel DOES need addressed for blasters is the T9 nukes. It's been said before:

- no END crash
- rechargable faster (judgement or Rain of Arrows recharge times)
- the wind-up times need to be shortened (as most often when I die, it's in the Rain of Arrows wind-up time.) Wind-up times for RoA make it a requirement to use at the beginning of battles.....and even then sometimes, things are all dead before it goes off. I now use my Fire Blast Judgement power (forget it's name) to blast for AE damage in groups.
- All T9 blasts need to be changed to a Targetted PBAoE or "enemy targetted AE" (perhaps give an option for which you want when you chose the power, or keep the old power the way it was for those that don't want to lose options.) This allows us to stay at range without closing for use of the T9s



Also, secondary powers need addressed:

- from day one, it has been noted that a ranged blaster has secondaries that require melee range for damage. As a /devices character, this is less true. I've managed to keep myself at range with my archery/devs blaster-- however, I recently rolled a mental/mental blaster. The amount of melee range stuff is ridiculous. I've only picked out 2 good powers in the secondary set-- and this is the secondary set that is supposed to "be the best secondary for blasters."

- what needs to happen? Alternate powers you can chose instead of the old melee ones (leave the melee ones in for those that like blapping.) Things like "Time Bomb" can become "Charged Bombs".....click it, lasts about as long as "build-up" and all your single target powers get a 100% proc of AE small bombs detonating around the target hit...causing knock-up and significant damage. Effectively turning a single target blast into an AE blast-- AE blasts would have multiple AE blasts going off as well. (Just one suggestion for a change....upping the blaster's damage with a useful secondary power.)

- perhaps add in "assault-like" self buffs to up damage on blasters as a secondary power.

- add more powers into the secondaries like "World of Confusion" or "Arctic Ice" that is AE around the blaster and helps the blaster mitigate some damage in times of over-aggro issues. Things that wouldn't save a blaster that was "just too dumb and aggroed everything" but something that helps the blaster help himself in emergenices. Perhaps, like that power that encases you in ice and makes you unkillable for 30 seconds and regens/recovers you fully (this is the only regen/recovery that is useful...when you are invulnerable to boot! LOL.)



Also: Electric blast needs updated:

- again, allow the ability to choose all the old powers so people can keep their old Electricity blaster....but things like "Chain induction" and "Thunderstrike" would be awesome. Voltaic Sentinel sucks because it's not controllable at all....it blasts if you get too close....and, at least as far as I know, could fall behind when you are running.

- Perhaps add in visuals that allow the blaster to turn to electricity and jump himself through the whole patch of enemies he's firing at....an updated "Chain Induction?"




In summation: I think blasters should be the king of AE damage (versus Stalkers and Brutes and Scrappers).....I think adding a secondary power that changed single target powers into AE powers for a brief time (for bad situations) would be fun and a powerful "save your butt" power. Improved T9 blasts help as well.....as well as useful and new ranged secondaries. Then blasters would be a thing to behold. (They are fun now, yes, but need work.)

I like the range improvement, the to hit/snipe recharge improvement, but I feel like my blaster could use that something-something long-range aoe buff. Is that even possible?

Also, just more secondary powerset options in general would be lovely. Trick arrow, maybe. A future tech or lunar-inspired secondary to complement beam rifle would be wonderful.

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Very informative.

My apologies if this has been asked already:

Many builds have no native ways to buff to-hit, between them various Dominator builds and most Corruptor and Defenders using AR.

In addition, for many levels in certain builds the change will not have any impact, it will not be until heavy SOs that builds like AR/Devices will start to shine (although once the ones that do shine, they will shine big time.)

I have seen already (and share) the fear that although during times that ToHit buffs are strong, snipe will be great, it will still feel situational and it will be one power that may need to be taken and slotted but only to be used if teamed up or situationally (under Aim uptime.)

Is there any plan to further improve Snipes outside of this to-hit buff, similar the buff Assassin's Strike received while out of hide?

I would love (if it was technically possible) for the snipe to be usable as an average DPS attack (between 0.75 ds and 0.85 ds) if ToHit is under 22% and the attack is being used within 80ft of the target, leaving the old fashion snipe only for use while over 80ft.

On a Defender, Tactics six-slotted with 50+5 ToHit IOs is 21.96% ToHit, just .04% from hitting the magic 22% for InstaSnipe. So my question is:

1. Just how evil are you?*

2. Do you round?**