Revelations 514
Red Star.
EoN.
148
   |
Posted - 2014.04.01 22:34:00 -
[1] - Quote
I think cloaks are in a good spot. I was worried initially, but they seem to be fairly balanced. I hadn't played since July of last year and had a blast recently. As an old-school SG Scout, I have 0 change in my battle effectiveness from July. This means that the changes that made the Scout even more difficult to play has been balanced against the changes that made it easier. At least to me.
However the primary difference I see is not in the stats I am achieving, but in the fun of the play. When I die now, it's not when I had the jump on a guy, shot him in the face twice, yet still got mowed down in 2 seconds by an AR. When I die now, it's because my opponent out-played me or I did something that ended up a bad idea in hindsight.
On the counter of this, when I kill someone, I still earn it. Only now when I use every variable in my favor it usually works out, well in my favor.
I couldn't believe all the QQ on here about cloaks after playing them for a week and thinking to myself that it was actually done pretty well. ( I was worried before implementation that they had pre-nerfed them too hard from what I had read). Anyways, that's my thoughts on it being a career SG Scout and having data from July and now to compare to.
Old Tactics from July - Sit in a corner of a niche or wall, wait for someone to run past, sneak up from behind and try to get the kill. Occasionally use RE's in a variety of ways to get the odd kill or so.
New Tactics from last week - Run to an objective, ( I typically play skirmish), cloak just before arrival. Move slowly as to not attract too much attention. Sneak up behind player and try to get the kill. Occasionally use RE's in a variety of ways to get kills.
So as you see, it's the same tactic but the difference is that I can actually play the objectives now, instead of being a wall camper that does nothing to benefit the team goal. The old style forced a playstyle that was not fun as it equated fishing. Now I can actually stay in the action. Same tactics, same danger with one misstep and your dead, only now I can use my tactic anywhere on the battleground as long as I plan ahead. I still die trying to sneak up and getting spotted, or even die from accidental damage, or the occasional missed SG shot from point blank (doh).
To be clear, I am not sure how much stock I put into the "brick tanked" Scouts most QQ on. While I don't run much in the way of armor or shield extenders it doesn't seem possible to have a Scout at EHP 600, but I have never tried. I run KinCats and Cloaks, speed/stealth, and it's now fun again instead of constant frustration. Believe me you would quit too if you do everything right and get all the variables in your favor and still get killed simply because some guy with an AR turned around and pressed fire. Shotguns have such short range you need a way to get close to even make them viable. Smart players still identify a SG user and move back, which will usually turn the tide in their favor unless I have the speed to stay in their face, (can't sprint and shoot after all). All the cloak does is protect me from getting killed a mile away by 3 AR rounds and allow me to set the surprise variable where cover isn't an option. It still requires planning and careful maneuvering. The surprise variable is needed as even my proto Scout only has 225 or so EHP and can't survive closing a gap to make the SG effective should they see me more than 10 feet away. I have always stacked two proto kincats before and after cloaking.
Btw, cloaked Scouts are still pretty easy to see if they are in front of you. Cloaking just allows you to sneak a bit more effectively in the midst of confusion, or when working a flanking path without being spotted. I have killed many a cloaked Scout who thought they could just run at me. The single biggest benefit is allowing me to remain unseen as I actually take a flanking route, instead of seeing me a mile away and being able to kill me practically instantly. Try flanking one guy in the midst of a battle and see how far you get without a cloak and 3 hits kills you. Someone will see you and fire your way and your dead before you hear the shots. The speed I boost allows me to plan and act on a flanking route quickly. I suppose you could tank your Scout but then you can't boost speed, meaning you will not be able to flank as effectively thereby limiting your cloaks usefulness as people will still see you running at them head on. Seems pretty balanced. |