I can’t help but notice that P/P is obviously a popular weapon choice among Thieves even within my own guild. I am quite aware most Thieves who visit the forums here already know that P/P isn’t exactly an upstanding weapon set but I decided to try something out. Making a meta P/P build.
It didn’t quite work so i’ll get that out of the way right off the bat but I did realize something. My build was 0/30/0/15/25 which utilizes the Ricochet trait. I actually believe this build using nothing but the signets can actually be quite devastating even possibly on par with many other builds if one change was made.
Pistol shots have a 100% chance to bounce to an additional target on a critical hit.
I think with this one change P/P would be something viable as it unleashes AoE Vulnerability or Blinds while dealing decent damage. Of course this would make it another utility range option like the Shortbow with different utilities but I think it would put P/P in a much better state than it is right now.
I think many people want to keep P/P as the single-target ranged damage set for now.
I noticed that people keep saying P/P is not viable, but this is fine, I rather like it and so will keep using it. Spamming unload is just easy (more so with signet of malice regen) so that fits my PvE playstyle more or less.
As for how to make it viable….I think body shot needs to be improved. I noticed I never use 5 or 2 on the P/P set because….well…they don’t suit the set. (or even 4 actally, unload spam ftw) I think body shot for sure, could use something,
I can’t help but notice that P/P is obviously a popular weapon choice among Thieves even within my own guild. I am quite aware most Thieves who visit the forums here already know that P/P isn’t exactly an upstanding weapon set but I decided to try something out. Making a meta P/P build.
It didn’t quite work so i’ll get that out of the way right off the bat but I did realize something. My build was 0/30/0/15/25 which utilizes the Ricochet trait. I actually believe this build using nothing but the signets can actually be quite devastating even possibly on par with many other builds if one change was made.
Pistol shots have a 100% chance to bounce to an additional target on a critical hit.
I think with this one change P/P would be something viable as it unleashes AoE Vulnerability or Blinds while dealing decent damage. Of course this would make it another utility range option like the Shortbow with different utilities but I think it would put P/P in a much better state than it is right now.
What do you guys think?
To be honest if you changed ricochet to bounce on crit, it would be a huge blow to pistol dagger condition builds that generally run carrion/settlers/apothecary and will often have 4% crit chance. The 50% bounce rate is fine and gives our niche condition build the ability to take on more than one target at a time effectively. Pistol/Pistol is honestly one of those stylistic builds like D/D or Sword/Sword on multiple classes, that isn’t very functional because the main hand skills dont synergize well with the offhand skills, even though in our case the dual skill is very nice but expensive burst, like a pistol whip sans cleave. But you know all of this, I think a P/P rework would be great too, but changing ricochet would do far more harm than good.
Necromancer Main
Taking a break from GW2 to play various
Nintendo games..
I was thinking Body Shot is one of P/P’s better skills. Combined with with Ricochet and its a really nice ability with a lot of group synergy. I personally found it really poor for 1v1 and I kind of believe it would greatly benefit from being an AoE support weapon set. It would make it a viable choice in both WvW & PvE & presumably in SPVP.
Even Unload would benefit greatly as it very rapidly applies these AoE conditions.
I can’t help but notice that P/P is obviously a popular weapon choice among Thieves even within my own guild. I am quite aware most Thieves who visit the forums here already know that P/P isn’t exactly an upstanding weapon set but I decided to try something out. Making a meta P/P build.
It didn’t quite work so i’ll get that out of the way right off the bat but I did realize something. My build was 0/30/0/15/25 which utilizes the Ricochet trait. I actually believe this build using nothing but the signets can actually be quite devastating even possibly on par with many other builds if one change was made.
Pistol shots have a 100% chance to bounce to an additional target on a critical hit.
I think with this one change P/P would be something viable as it unleashes AoE Vulnerability or Blinds while dealing decent damage. Of course this would make it another utility range option like the Shortbow with different utilities but I think it would put P/P in a much better state than it is right now.
What do you guys think?
To be honest if you changed ricochet to bounce on crit, it would be a huge blow to pistol dagger condition builds that generally run carrion/settlers/apothecary and will often have 4% crit chance. The 50% bounce rate is fine and gives our niche condition build the ability to take on more than one target at a time effectively. Pistol/Pistol is honestly one of those stylistic builds like D/D or Sword/Sword on multiple classes, that isn’t very functional because the main hand skills dont synergize well with the offhand skills, even though in our case the dual skill is very nice but expensive burst, like a pistol whip sans cleave. But you know all of this, I think a P/P rework would be great too, but changing ricochet would do far more harm than good.
Originally I thought just a flat 100% without the crit required but felt that would make it too strong.
I keep wanting to toy with the idea of an super-evasive P/P roamer style, but I haven’t worked on it yet. Generally it’s hard to find any feedback on anything other than S/D or D/P right now. =D
Any sufficiently advanced skill is indistinguishable from luck.
I can’t help but notice that P/P is obviously a popular weapon choice among Thieves even within my own guild. I am quite aware most Thieves who visit the forums here already know that P/P isn’t exactly an upstanding weapon set but I decided to try something out. Making a meta P/P build.
It didn’t quite work so i’ll get that out of the way right off the bat but I did realize something. My build was 0/30/0/15/25 which utilizes the Ricochet trait. I actually believe this build using nothing but the signets can actually be quite devastating even possibly on par with many other builds if one change was made.
Pistol shots have a 100% chance to bounce to an additional target on a critical hit.
I think with this one change P/P would be something viable as it unleashes AoE Vulnerability or Blinds while dealing decent damage. Of course this would make it another utility range option like the Shortbow with different utilities but I think it would put P/P in a much better state than it is right now.
What do you guys think?
To be honest if you changed ricochet to bounce on crit, it would be a huge blow to pistol dagger condition builds that generally run carrion/settlers/apothecary and will often have 4% crit chance. The 50% bounce rate is fine and gives our niche condition build the ability to take on more than one target at a time effectively. Pistol/Pistol is honestly one of those stylistic builds like D/D or Sword/Sword on multiple classes, that isn’t very functional because the main hand skills dont synergize well with the offhand skills, even though in our case the dual skill is very nice but expensive burst, like a pistol whip sans cleave. But you know all of this, I think a P/P rework would be great too, but changing ricochet would do far more harm than good.
Originally I thought just a flat 100% without the crit required but felt that would make it too strong.
Yeah haha, it would make P/D builds able to take on two players in WvW a lot faster thats for sure, way too strong
Necromancer Main
Taking a break from GW2 to play various
Nintendo games..
We already have shortbow for AoE support, no point having 2 weapons to do the same thing. Focus on improving P/P for single target ranged damage.
Shortbow’s utility is spreading weakness, mobility, and blast finishers.
Pistols would be AoE Vulnerability & Blinds.
How are these the same?
Shortbow can’t really spread weakness anymore, lotus poison trait got gutted. It’s good for ranged AoE damage primarily and for mobility.
Pistols most people use for ranged single target damage. I dunno anyone who use this to spread AoE vulnerability & blinds, I think you’re alone on that one.
We already have shortbow for AoE support, no point having 2 weapons to do the same thing. Focus on improving P/P for single target ranged damage.
Shortbow’s utility is spreading weakness, mobility, and blast finishers.
Pistols would be AoE Vulnerability & Blinds.
How are these the same?
Shortbow can’t really spread weakness anymore, lotus poison trait got gutted. It’s good for ranged AoE damage primarily and for mobility.
Pistols most people use for ranged single target damage. I dunno anyone who use this to spread AoE vulnerability & blinds, I think you’re alone on that one.
You get Weakness from Poison Field + Blast Finisher, not because of the trait.
But i agree with your first comment, we already have SB to ranged AoE, pistol should keep doing the good single target DPS. Only Bodyshot needs to be fixed imo.
Edit: And maybe Headshot, because is kinda stupid you have a skill that shoots at the enemy head but do no damage.
I keep wanting to toy with the idea of an super-evasive P/P roamer style, but I haven’t worked on it yet. Generally it’s hard to find any feedback on anything other than S/D or D/P right now. =D
I’ve got you covered on the super-evasive P/P roaming stuff. Let me know if you’ve got any questions and I’ll try to help out where I can.
I was thinking Body Shot is one of P/P’s better skills. Combined with with Ricochet and its a really nice ability with a lot of group synergy.
Body Shot is mathematical garbage. If you take damage/initiative (plus augmented damage), you’re much better just spamming Unload (not to mention Unload benefits more from certain traits). Even in a group of 5, Body Shot is trash. Not worth any single initiative point you use on it.
The only arguable situation is agains mega-bosses where multiple players will benefit, but here we have 2 problems:
- In those situations the cap of 25 is there most times.
- Since the change to 10 Vuln but less duration, bosses won’t even notice you used it as it expires in a blink on them.
Don’t fool yourself, we all want to play P/P because it looks really cool, but the current set is bad (mathematical wast of initiative on Body Shot, Black Powder only effective with melee sets and most effective setups consisting on 33333333 which lacks synergy with auto-attack and isn’t even that great compared with other weapon sets and professions).
P/P thief is really good in PVE it has high survivability in the game and could solo some events if you got the right skill and trait. Downfall it doesn’t have AOE and quite heavy reliance on traps and tricks skill. My 2nd choice of weapon will be short bow for high survivability and to escape.
I guess it defends on the player how you played this build. Most people would use unload spam instead of black powder which is useless against range unit and some mini boss. Black powder is really useful especially against a range mob.
I personally like P/P and have used it since beta. I always believe that Ricochet at 33% chance is simply broken…but then Anet made it 50% and I was, “No kitteng way!” I was really happy that they allowed a broken mechanic to exist.
I’m not complaining and I’m happy with 50%, but to suggest that it’s not enough…you have to be crazy.
I believe that AoE doesn’t belong to P/P set, let shortbow have that. What I want to see is more single target focus with a lot of damage.
What needs to change is this;
Pistol Mastery: +10% damage with pistols.
+10% damage is negligible, instead, make it;
Pistol Mastery: -1 initiative weapon skill cost with pistols.
Then now we’re talking viability.
http://sirvincentiii.com ~ In the beginning…there was Tarnished Coast…
Full set of 5 unique skills for both dual-wield weapon sets: P/P and D/D – Make it happen
PvE – DD/CS/AC – If that didn’t work, roll a Reaper or Revenant.
Pistol Mastery: -1 initiative weapon skill cost with pistols.
Then now we’re talking viability.
One problem with that idea: It would make D/P vastly stronger than what it already is. Black Powder is expensive for a reason.
And it will continue to be expensive because D/P will not benefit from picking up this Pistol Mastery over Furious Retaliation or Signets of Power, for example.
http://sirvincentiii.com ~ In the beginning…there was Tarnished Coast…
Full set of 5 unique skills for both dual-wield weapon sets: P/P and D/D – Make it happen
PvE – DD/CS/AC – If that didn’t work, roll a Reaper or Revenant.
Lol Black powder is the most useful skill in Thief P/P. Seriously i rarely dodge against a range and melee mob. I just move around in my killing circle of caltrops.
I just want to use P/P I dont care what class. Problem is thief is the only class that can. Sure technically the engi uses P/P but the pistol skills are sto freaking stupid it hardly counts. A torch, a glue shot, a charged bolt, kitten come on.
If I wanted to play an archer for example I have several classes that can use a bow and still feel like im using a bow. When its comes to pistols its either Thief or circus performer.
I hope one day soon the mesmer gets main hand pistol and has elusive/deceiving skills while being power focused.
I would just like to see a trait to increase pistol range from 900 to 1200. Something like this already exists for the warriors longbow, why not pistols.
I would just like to see a trait to increase pistol range from 900 to 1200. Something like this already exists for the warriors longbow, why not pistols.
Honestly, I don’t see Pistols as a long reach combat weapon. I think we will have to wait for the Rifle to get our first 1200 range weapon.
I hope they change it up soon.