Time to look at ranged finally?

[final60]

I wouldn't say there was an issue with launcher ammo. The idea behind leveling with a launcher is to take advantange of the 60m range and AoE. Nuking 5 timmies and killing them all with 8-9 bullets is easy enough. They are half dead by the time they get to you. Then of course you can run with range weapons, if you work the technic you should be able to kill a large group of kipees in thesame time you could kill one and not get hit once.

Obviously if someone was to only nuke 1 timmie and stand still like a magician. That may give you the impression that there is some kind of imbalance

*Also make sure you have your 3 packers with you, keep your ammo mats in them, and only craft when you need the bullets. less bulk in the mats!

*Just for an example rifle used around 20-30 bullets to kill 1 timmie. Then it takes 8-9 Launcher bullets to kill atleast 6 (because I've been fortunate enought to do it) and potentially more timmies.

*It seems that people need to understand range more. This is my opinion , but if the devs wanted to make range more popular with the community , range needs to be dumbed down. But really it shouldn't be. I like the fact that it is regarded as a specialist skill and is a lot harder then most other skills. In my opinion it certainly isn't broken or in dier need of Dev attention

*Its easy for someone that has leveled all the way to Avatar of destruction, to then try leveling a range skill, and say "whats wrong here, why am I not leveling as fast as I did with AoD.
Range is really a slow skill and it really takes time to understand , it needs to be worked out. Its completely different and requires you to take a different approach then one you would take with another skill. Think I'm done editing now

[katriell]

Doing ranged on one of my alts. Even at low levels it's quite acceptable as-is.

[sehracii]

I would tend to agree for the most part. Ranged isn't "broken" at all. It is effective in it's current state, just needs to be approached with a completely differnt mindset.


However, I think a few minor changes could be added without dumbing it down.

1. Increase the range a little. A rifle should be able to shoot as far as a spell can be cast.

2. Increase the damage a little. Especially at higher lvls- I was discouraged to see the lvl 250 launcher damage, it doesn't seem worth the leveling. The added damage doesn't need to be free, could activate the modifier on the weapon itself so a well crafted one can boost your output. Most likely at the expense of range or speed, keeps it balanced.


An option I would love to see but is a bit more complex to implement and balance is dual pistols. There should be a benefit to doing that lonely branch.

I would also like to see a differentiation between bowrifle and rifle (As well as bowpistol and pistol) Perhaps regular has a bit farther range but bow has a bit more damage.



And one more thing!

Give us more invasions so we have a use for our seige weapons!

[philu]

Some interesting insights into ranged here, particularly from Final. I've only dabbled in the past and before reading your posts I would have voted yes, but now I think I'll vote no.

Final, you clearly have a great love of the ranged skill tree and get a lot of fun/satisfaction from it. Reading your posts has sparked my interest in learning to shoot. Sounds like a very challenging and interesting skill to learn.

* grabs a gun and goes a hunting *

[blaah]

I wouldn't say there was an issue with launcher ammo. The idea behind leveling with a launcher is to take advantange of the 60m range and AoE. Nuking 5 timmies and killing them all with 8-9 bullets is easy enough.

well... in theory, but where do you find place big enough and deserted enough to have enough room to run and not to get more adds ? (near op's is usually empty, but is there anything worth killing ?)

if you work the technic you should be able to kill a large group of kipees in thesame time you could kill one and not get hit once.

.. you should ? you mean you have not tried it yet ?

unfortunately, launcher is not solo weapon if you want to "get there" before you die for old age.
with group, it's mostly ok if you can reliably hit mobs (shoot once, then craft more ammo

i voted no (and i do like ranged, rifle at 200+, most of the time main damage dealer / tank)

[cloudy97]

I haven't tried launcher myself, but I do love the autolauncher, and especially as a soloweapon. You'll target the closest mob and it hits all mobs behind it and then you run for your life, trying to change target so it's always the closest one.

When I use it in groups I feel too much like a chasing scene in Benny Hill, plus it takes concentration to choose the perfect target and angle.

[khyle]

Thanks Final, exactly my thoughts only I'm not as eloquent

I wouldn't say there was an issue with launcher ammo. The idea behind leveling with a launcher is to take advantange of the 60m range and AoE. Nuking 5 timmies and killing them all with 8-9 bullets is easy enough. They are half dead by the time they get to you. Then of course you can run with range weapons, if you work the technic you should be able to kill a large group of kipees in thesame time you could kill one and not get hit once.

Obviously if someone was to only nuke 1 timmie and stand still like a magician. That may give you the impression that there is some kind of imbalance

*Also make sure you have your 3 packers with you, keep your ammo mats in them, and only craft when you need the bullets. less bulk in the mats!

*Just for an example rifle used around 20-30 bullets to kill 1 timmie. Then it takes 8-9 Launcher bullets to kill atleast 6 (because I've been fortunate enought to do it) and potentially more timmies.

*It seems that people need to understand range more. This is my opinion , but if the devs wanted to make range more popular with the community , range needs to be dumbed down. But really it shouldn't be. I like the fact that it is regarded as a specialist skill and is a lot harder then most other skills. In my opinion it certainly isn't broken or in dier need of Dev attention

*Its easy for someone that has leveled all the way to Avatar of destruction, to then try leveling a range skill, and say "whats wrong here, why am I not leveling as fast as I did with AoD.
Range is really a slow skill and it really takes time to understand , it needs to be worked out. Its completely different and requires you to take a different approach then one you would take with another skill. Think I'm done editing now

Range is probably the last true skill tree that people take interest in. Mostly because of the amount of effort it requires to level. Having leveled all the 2h trees to a point, I don't think they are imbalanced with other skills.

Range is just a skill that requires skill to level, if you know what I mean? ..and it takes time!
Launcher and Rifle especially are bang on to me. If you know how to use them properly when lvling, you can make the most of the bullets.

Here is a ranged site. There will soon. be leveling guides for each of the 2handed weapons soon. Time permiting.

Range is probably the most fun skill I have experienced, because it is challenging. I'm sure launcher will be the next nuke

P.S. Nice site you have there!

--
Rifle 123, Digging 134, Range craft 125, Melee ~ 60, Def ~ 50, Off ~35, need I say more?

[xeraphim]

I LOVE ranged.
But I do think it needs a couple of minor tweaks..
Aww Final!!! im gonna get the bug looking at your site mate..
But I know how busy I am..
One day I will be able to find the time to lvl ranged and stuff..
*sigh*

[final60]

Here is an example of launcher leveling. Managed to kill 7 this time. 8 bullets that killed 7 timmies at 3k exp a timmie. Don't expect to kill this many of course. But 5 is easier and consistantly do able.

*and another

[sehracii]

They NEED to turn off the camera (and character) re-centering!

If I'm running with some aggro following me, I DO NOT want to turn around and start running towards it when I hit attack!
I'm running away for a reason.



That's actually my biggest complaint with ranged, as-is