wait a minute... so fitting dampeners to get around without being scanned works?

unless its a proto scanner... to which the direct counter is a proto suit?


/end_sarcasm

btw.. your squad can see your targets was the impression i got.

...That's not completely correct. The proto gal scout is the only scout that can avoid it, but apparently so can the gal logi.

Thanks, Aeon. Seriously, thanks for everything.

In the short run, the Devs could hotfix us in any number of ways to keep us in the game. Doing so wouldn't be sufficient to curb our performance decline, but it'd help to staunch the bleeding while we wait for 1.6.

Hotfix Ideas:

• Drastically reduce the cost of Light/Scout Suits.
• Dial down Aim-Assist or make us more resistant to it.
• Reduce damage at range of ARs and ScRs.
• Add to Scout base statistics (Stamina, Speed, CPU, PG, HP).
• Add to Scout base Scan Radius.
• Improve Scout base Scan Profile/Precision.

These are short-term "numeric" buffs which again would help more than than fix the floundering Scout. I've put up and opinion-piece on how the Devs might go about fixing Scouts in the long run (i.e. come 1.6):

https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=107513

^ I've always respected your approach to problem-solving, so I'd very much appreciate your input here should you have time.

Thanks Again,
Shotty GoBang

Haha nice eye.

I don't agree that scouts should avoid proto scanners without a profile dampener. However, one complex profile dampener should definitely hide you from at least the proto quantum scanner.
Scouts should be able to avoid basic scanners with just the suit and maybe lvl 1 in dampening. The dampening modules should be for assault suits that want to try stealth. As soon as anyone starts sacrificing their limited slots and resources on dampeners they should get major benefits. You should not have to equip more than one. A scout with a basic profile dampener should be invisible to an advanced scanner, and so on.

Ok here is my experience.

I run the prototype basic Minmatar light suit, I dont have skills for scout suit up yet and I still cant decide if I want the super stealthy option with 4 lows or the Minmatar shielded scout version, but with less stealth.

I only have dampening at level 3, but I run with one advanced profile dampener and as of yet I have not been scanned.

I run with the proto active scanner, the duvolle 15Db one. Every time I am scanned (so far) it tells me I have prevented enemy scanning. Also with my 15Db I have yet to encounter someone that I couldn't scan.

That being said I imagine that will change now that everyone and there mum will want prototype scanners and stuff.

However scout survivability with the new aimbot feature, well its a hard life being a scout. People with militia rifles only have to look at me funny and I'm gone.

Gone are the days of jumping over peoples heads and strafing around fat heavies with the shotty.

1) Aeon is full of misrepresented fact.

Basic Scanner is 40, Advanced Scanner is 36, and Proto Scanner is 28. There is 1 scanner that goes to 15, but it is twice the cost of the others, has lowest range, and the shortest duration. And the fitting is costly. Nearly all the pub match guys, even in teh matchmaking from the 20M+ SP groups, will be running ADV for cost and fitting effectiveness.

2) Nearly irrelevant but a Gallente Scout can beat 15 with 3 complex and 1 basic dampener.

3) My "Good" suit has 1 kincat, 1 CardReg, 1 plate, and 1 Repair in the low slots. Last build, where everyone could see me magically that was what i did best in for slaying. It is still great.
However, my "Scan" suit that I had from day 1 of Uprising, which is 3 range amps and 1 profile dampener, is doing fantastic (and actually useful). I'm killing more and dying less. average is about 18-21 kills and 0-3 deaths per match.

We know Scouts are getting "Something" to balance them in 1.5 or (more likely 1.6) so for know, just run it like you used to. The Minmatar Scout just needs to sacrifice 1 lowslot to be invisible to proto scanners just like the Gallente Scouts.
Complaing that a Scout suit shouldn't have already specialized into Scanning skills, and specifically Profile Dampening, is just ridiculous. Those skills are far more effective than Armor Upgrades and Shield Upgrades for the Scouts.

Last time I checked scouts and logis where next in the barrel. 1.4 changes are precursor for the scout buff I believe.

You say that like giving them a legitimate role wouldn't be a buff.

Ideally, the Scout is meant to be a very fast flanker and... scout. They get into enemy territory quickly, scope out the situation, maybe drop some uplinks, and get out. They would theoretically have the power to eliminate unwary opponents who may see them while they are sneaking about. Scouting is all about getting into the enemy's business without them knowing and then getting out just as fast. That is what the Scout SHOULD be capable of. A very skilled player can do this. It is certainly not easy and requires a great deal of smarts and preparedness as well as the ability to make quick decisions. I think the Scout needs tweaking to make this role easier, for sure. Cloaking modules being a unique feature for them might be one possibility. Just a thought.

Aeon is precision mods to scan a low db so I don't need a scanner? How low can I scan? So if gallente is for dampeners, I could use a mini as a hunter?

Using the ADV scanners, I've yet to have a 'some margin of error' message, and I know there have been scouts I've scanned down.

+1 poster, +1 Shotty

I just want to add something that keeps nagging me when reading all the replies about scanning and scouts and "Stealth Tanking".

Every kill I get is earned by staying OUT OF THE LINE OF SIGHT of my victim. Every death I take is because I was IN THE LINE OF SIGHT of my victim and was unable to disengage.

The bottom line is ... scanners don't kill me, before or after 1.4, before or after Tac-net nerf. Some one checking their peripherals kills me before and after 1.4.

Pre 1.4 if I was spotted during an approach I could veer off, sprint away fast enough to get around a corner before the hail of bullets killed me. Post 1.4 this is impossible, if I am seen, I am killed.

I don't care how they nerf or buff scanners, because its not what gets a scout killed ... agility === survivability for a scout in Dust. Most likely who ever is scanning is not going to pick out the scout out of all the other red dots on the map, or even if they did be able to convey effective info to his squad/team to track me ... let alone catch up with me if I saw them coming.

I do see the 'coolness' that can be achieved by adding the scanning function to the game, but I really hope CCP does not consider scanner tweaks as 'buffing scouts' ... because it doesn't matter ...

Sounds balanced to me.

This is another one of my gripes about being a Scout. It is incredibly SP intensive to be able to fit well, and in its current form, even when you fit it well, its level of usefulness in competitive PC play is extremely low at best. And to counter its best assets, you need only invest a pittance of SP.

While some Scout specialists out there might be able to do very well, they are an elite few.

The Scout community and a few advocates have very well articulated the plight of the class, and continue to do so. And most of the counter arguments are posted by people who have limited to no knowledge or understanding of what it's truly like.

Suggested a 'Chance to scan' concept the other day when I was in a Scouts United squad. It will depend on the difference between Scan Precision of the active scanner VS the Profile of the ones being scanned. Got a -1 from Marauder.....

Maybe give a side bonus to people with low profile signatures: they get scanned down but the lower profile sig the faster your dot disappears on tac net.

Would be nice to have an equipment that produces false readings on a scanner. EWAR baby.


***edit:

PS. How does the 'Margin of Error' mechanic on Active Scanners work exactly anyway? Do you get false readings? Do the dot on the tacnet appear meters away from where the actual person is? What is the meaning of life?

We're talking about scouts. And they can't fit 2 advanced dampeners and anything else to be of use. So what's your point?

I'm wondering,

If/when CCP makes some form of cloaking device... what would prevent logi, assault, or heavy from using it? If other classes can also use it, doesn't that also defeat the scouts' affect?

This might be a crazy idea, but what about giving the scout a specialized slot that ONLY scouts have. One that would carry cloaking devices (and perhaps other specialized devices in the future) Sort of like how the Heavy is the only class to have a "heavy weapon" slot. Maybe take away the grenade slot, and replace it with the "stealth equipment" slot. (for lack of a better term)

Active Camo!
... just build it right in
... no "mod" nonsense
... don't have enough PG/CPU as is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHW2EEgX7FE
^ (00:15) Like this for shotgunners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrDG4sPul8w
^ (01:40) Like this for snipers

Balance!?
... don't worry about Balance :p
... we can deal with that later
... Scouts are sooo squishy

Sexual Tyrannosaurus!?
... yes, we must borrow this as well
... maybe for a new heavy suit
... commando, sentinel, sexual tyrannosaurus


- Shotty GoBang

o/ Aeon!

I wholeheartedly agree.
The original Predator was clearly a noob.
He got negative WP for all those dishonorable kills.

On a more serious note, there are dozens of ways to balance cloak.
Hoping CCP makes it a Scout exclusive.
Otherwise, Logis will still be better Scouts than Scouts.

CPM is the biggest bunch of absolute jokers ever. IWS is the only one I ever even see on the forums and he is a joker. The rest of them? What the fudge do they do? Bunch of kurwas.