I’m not sure that Comcast also having issues proves this is a Comcast issue. The trace routes seem to indicate the Comcast points are being hit successfully and that the failures begin when reaching the Level 3 points. From what I gather the problem is that requests from Comcast users in the Boston and CT areas are put on a path to those points. You can see this in the traceroutes and pandaexpress who used a VPN to change his path to arenanet.
Sorry, I meant to say that it could still be a Comcast issue, not that it IS a Comcast issue. Either way, it seems to be resolved now (at least for me).
Both Keil and Gnashblade are negotiating trade agreements aren’t they? Once a trade agreement is established (as a result of CP) it seems to me that there will be a reason for Labyrinthine Cliffs to stay and for the Zephyr Sanctum to make regular visits.
1. Grab a deck of index cards.
2. Write an engineer skill on a card, one per card, and sort them by healing, utility, and elite.
3. Shuffle one pile of cards then spread them out
4. Flip over three utility cards and slot the skills.
5. Flip over one healing card and slot the skill.
6. Flip over one elite card and slot the skill.
Actually, I hadn’t assumed that. What I had assumed: Ranger Pets, being their class mechanic, will naturally be superior to Turrets, a set of Utility Skills.
Necromancer Minions, Mesmer clones (or whatever minions they use their Utility Skills to create; I’m not familiar with their skill types), and Guardian Summons could all be compared to Engineer Turrets, however. So. How do they stack up?
Not that this adds anything to the conversation, but mesmer’s clones/phantasms are their profession mechanic in the same way pets are the ranger’s profession mechanic. (Well, not literally the same way, but they ARE the profession mechanic.) Furthermore, while clones are central to a mesmer’s profession mechanic, they do little to no damage on their own (as opposed to phantasms which do substantial damage).
@OP
I think comparing “pets” from different professions isn’t really very useful. They behave and perform in such different ways that the comparison is meaningless. By the way, I have three level 80s. A ranger, a mesmer and an engineer.
If you feel turrets are under-powered in some way, I’d recommend making an argument for why they should be improved without bringing other professions into the discussion. Personally, my engineer is a three kit kinda guy so far and the only turret he uses is healing turret (and the ones in supply crate on the rare occasion he drops it).
The open world seems populated enough for me. That’s very subjective, however. I mostly duo with my wife. We come across other players in pretty much every zone if not at every heart/DE.
Adding in a “Sniper Kit” would give more of a build reason to use Rifled Barrels and Scope, especially of it were an elite that replaced Mortar, but benefited from Elite Supplies range increase to make for the longest viable ranged weapon option bar none.
Quick design suggestion:
Sniper Rifle
Cast time: 0.5s
Duration: forty-five seconds
Cooldown: 180s
Use: Assemble a sniper rifle at your location to be used by yourself or your allies.
Gives the following skills when used:
Fire
Cast time: 0.2s
Cooldown: 0.5s
Max Range: 2000
Min Range: 600
Use: Fire a shot at your selected target. Deals medium damage.
Spot
Cast time: 0.2s
Cooldown: 8s
Max Range: 2200
Min Range: 0
Use: Spot a target for your allies, inflicting 5 stacks of Vulnerability for 4 seconds.
Boom, Headshot
Cast time: 0.6s
Cooldown: 14s
Max Range: 1800
Min Range: 800
Use: Snipe your target’s head, dealing heavy damage and having an additional 10% chance to critically hit.
This Little Piggy…
Cast time: 0.2s
Cooldown: 10s
Max range: 1800
Min range: 600
Use: Target the legs, dealing low damage but inflicting Cripple for 4 seconds as well as 3 stacks of Bleed for 6 seconds.
Ballistic Hollowpoint
Cast time: 0.5s
Cooldown: 18s
Use: Load up three rounds of ballistic hollowpoint rounds, causing your next three attacks to pierce and apply their effects to all targets in their path.
Values are subject to discussion for balance purposes, but I think you see where I’m going with this. I want to make it a stationary weapon for long-to-medium range combat in open terrain, with a couple of nice conditions added in, to replace the nigh-useless mortar.
PS. Why is “forty-five s” in number form censored? Kitten is confused.
Firstly I’d be sure to add in a way to gain stealth or stability while using the “Sniper Kit”. It’d be neat if when you fired the rifle it broke stealth for the duration of the Detected debuff and stealth buffed you again when it ended.
Secondly, maybe we’re looking at the sniper model to heavily as a ranged option to remedy the disparity. Why not something like a fully automatic machine gun on a tripod? How sick would a range 1200 mini gun pumping out a stream of rounds doing equivalent damage to a pistol auto attack but at a 100% faster firing rate be!? Now that would be an elite!
I think that from a development perspective it would be easiest to work with what we already have. I’m sticking with the RPG concept. It could be a grandmaster trait in the explosives line as a counterpoint to the grenadier GM. Grenadier increases distance and adds 50% more grenades. RPG could increase distance and projectile speed while reducing AoE radius and dropping the number of grenades by 50% (possibly with a little more damage to compensate).
They don’t even need to make a separate GM, but could rather make grenadier behave as it does now for PvE and behave as an RPG for PvP. That would fall in line with their statements to the effect that they wanted to make abilities behave differently in those areas.
So I tried that sniper rifle last night. Unless I was doing something wrong, it can’t be aimed. There is one ability that lets you shoot which auto-targeted whatever the nearest in range target was.
Sort of a disappointment. I don’t think anyone would like a kit based on that example.
@ Obscure One thanks for the commando link, I’d heard about it but never seen it before. =)
Now, a Predator Drone kit is something I could support!
72864000 range (actual range of an MQ-1 Predator, in inches, for you realism freaks)
60000 damage
Unblockable
I reject your reality and suppliment my own in which guns can accurately fire from the hip
Funfact: More commonly referred to as “point shooting”, it is and has been taught by various militaries throughout the world. It provides benefits in conditions and situations that aimed shooting would be hindered.
Well that explains ALOT! No wonder my United States Military has been kicking the crap outta these other countries for so long! They still haven’t figured out what those prong looking things on there guns are for!
“Run away! Run away! The Americans hold their weapons in some freakish alien manner allowing their bullets to hit us!”
Not to rain on your parade, but this method has been employed by the US military.
All grenade abilities are 1200, so that one is a long range specific weapon.
That sounds like a fun idea, but it seems to go completely against the general theme of mobility that the devs intended in all of the combat design. That, and I really don’t see it as something the class needs. Are you thinking in terms of PvP? I’m not a PvPer so I won’t comment on that aspect of the game at all.
Hitting anything other than stationary targets with a grenade at 1200 (1500 traited) in even a remotely viable manner is simply impractical for that long travel time of the projectile. They’re liable to see the grenade, take a sip of their drink, toggle walk, and leisurely stroll out of danger.
Now when it comes down to mobility focus in the game design I’d have to point you at every siege weapon in WvW aside from the (Siege Golem), a mirad of environmental PvE controllable turrets/cannons and even more specifically class based, the Mortar elite and both Tome elites for the Guardian. Sacrificing mobility for superior firepower is very much a combat element in Guild Wars 2.
Correct. That is an aspect of combat, but not the focus of combat mechanics. And we get mortar! How many of those environmental PvE controllable object’s ammunition travels anywhere near as fast and straight as what you’re looking for in a sniper rifle? I get that you’d like it, I just don’t see it as necessary or balanced given my experience so far.
Firstly you say we get Mortar like it’s a good thing. It’s literally the worst skill in the game even measured up against those branches that drop off of the Oak hearts. The rate of fire, slow projectiles, and less range than traited grenades, makes it unbearably unusable. I know of exactly 0 builds that effectively use it, and I can’t think of any reason at all to ever put it on my skill bar…unless I have some masochistic urge to give an enemy thief the ability to boon steal over 2 minutes of stability.
I didn’t mean to imply it was a good thing. I was comparing it to the environmental stationary projectile weapons.
All grenade abilities are 1200, so that one is a long range specific weapon.
That sounds like a fun idea, but it seems to go completely against the general theme of mobility that the devs intended in all of the combat design. That, and I really don’t see it as something the class needs. Are you thinking in terms of PvP? I’m not a PvPer so I won’t comment on that aspect of the game at all.
Hitting anything other than stationary targets with a grenade at 1200 (1500 traited) in even a remotely viable manner is simply impractical for that long travel time of the projectile. They’re liable to see the grenade, take a sip of their drink, toggle walk, and leisurely stroll out of danger.
Now when it comes down to mobility focus in the game design I’d have to point you at every siege weapon in WvW aside from the (Siege Golem), a mirad of environmental PvE controllable turrets/cannons and even more specifically class based, the Mortar elite and both Tome elites for the Guardian. Sacrificing mobility for superior firepower is very much a combat element in Guild Wars 2.
Correct. That is an aspect of combat, but not the focus of combat mechanics. And we get mortar! How many of those environmental PvE controllable object’s ammunition travels anywhere near as fast and straight as what you’re looking for in a sniper rifle? I get that you’d like it, I just don’t see it as necessary or balanced given my experience so far.
All grenade abilities are 1200, so that one is a long range specific weapon.
That sounds like a fun idea, but it seems to go completely against the general theme of mobility that the devs intended in all of the combat design. That, and I really don’t see it as something the class needs. Are you thinking in terms of PvP? I’m not a PvPer so I won’t comment on that aspect of the game at all.
No grenades when speced are 1500 range. Which is the longest range in the game. What you don’t get if you don’t pvp its thakittens very hard to hit anyone with grenades at that sort of range because they travel so slowly..you have to predict like 3 seconds ahead where they will be. Its not easy. Unless you just spamming them into a group ofcourse. They are also the best source of engineer damage along with bombs, if engineer was about mobility we wouldn’t have turrets!
If you want to do the best you can do, best get used to them.
1) 1500 range when specced. I was talking base damage, I’m not here to split hairs.
2) Don’t PvP- no comment.
3) Some professions are better at mobility than others, but all professions are meant to be mobile. It’s a core aspect of the game’s combat mechanics. Why does Throw Wrench have a 900 range? You can’t move around while your turrets stay put?
I think I’m done arguing the point. I’ve also been too tempted to cross into ad hominem territory. Rather than derail, how about refocusing on the one bit worth some discussion. Do Engi’s need a long range option? My personal feeling is no. However, my engi’s only 32 and my opinion might change as I get more experience.
That’s a fair attempt to salvage this thread.
I think, when it really comes down to it, the Engineer has no long range specific weapons. Granted the Rifled Barrels trait can work us up to a 1200 range on our Rifles and Elixir Guns, but the majority of these skills are close proximity use (Blunderbuss, Overcharged, Jump Shot, Fumigate, Acid Bomb, Super Elixir) and as such emphasize being close to your target despite improved range.
My thoughts here are more towards the removal of everyones favorite elite skill to hate, Mortar, and replace it with a “Sniper Kit”. Let it lock you in place still but give you stealth instead of stability, but have really high damage 1500 range abilities on really long cool downs. Make each skill a target zone of the body that applies a condition based on it’s selected area, like the an Disarming Shot that causes lots of weakness, a Knee Shot that causes immobilize, a Body Shot that causes bleeding and vulnerability, and a Head Shot that has a long warm up time like Kill Shot and does big damage. The fifth skill could be a party support skill that grants might or fury.
Simply put, Engineers have ranged options, but even as the exclusively ranged weapon class it is, it lacks any real stopping power at (or beyond) 900 range.
All grenade abilities are 1200, so that one is a long range specific weapon.
That sounds like a fun idea, but it seems to go completely against the general theme of mobility that the devs intended in all of the combat design. That, and I really don’t see it as something the class needs. Are you thinking in terms of PvP? I’m not a PvPer so I won’t comment on that aspect of the game at all.
I think I’m done arguing the point. I’ve also been too tempted to cross into ad hominem territory. Rather than derail, how about refocusing on the one bit worth some discussion. Do Engi’s need a long range option? My personal feeling is no. However, my engi’s only 32 and my opinion might change as I get more experience.
Edit: We have long range skills. I don’t think we need a separate “sniper rifle kit”.
Do you actually know what the long range skills are? Grenade kit. That itself is great in certain situations but you will notice drawbacks when using it. HGH made engineers with grenadier are pretty much your standard WvW build, some would argue the only real viable build.
I find it’s better not to argue with people who are fully capable of providing evidence of their incompetence without my assistance.
Or, to use one of my favorite quotes: “I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.”.
Or, “Never argue with an Idiot. They’ll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
Seriously tempted to just derail this thread with these types of quotes until it gets locked or deleted by a mod.
Clearly there’s nothing of value to be gleaned by the community from this thread, lol.
I think I’m done arguing the point. I’ve also been too tempted to cross into ad hominem territory. Rather than derail, how about refocusing on the one bit worth some discussion. Do Engi’s need a long range option? My personal feeling is no. However, my engi’s only 32 and my opinion might change as I get more experience.
Edit: We have long range skills. I don’t think we need a separate “sniper rifle kit”.
People can make the fiction argument all they want, it still remains true that the game was based off of real life methods and weaponry and until they treat it as such it will forever not be what it should be. ie the grenades and bombs and mines and how they don’t function like they should not to mention the slow pistol speeds and how only one pistol is being fired at once.
We need a rifle/sniper kit. plain and simple.
That’s a whole other thing. I’m not sure I agree, but I don’t disagree either. =)
“Furthermore, in many works of fiction a rifle refers to any weapon that has a stock and is shouldered before firing, even if the weapon is not rifled or does not fire solid projectiles (e.g. a “laser rifle”)."
— n
1. a. a firearm having a long barrel with a spirally grooved interior, which imparts to the bullet spinning motion and thus greater accuracy over a longer range
b. ( as modifier ): rifle fire
2. (formerly) a large cannon with a rifled bore
3. one of the grooves in a rifled bore
4. ( plural )
a. a unit of soldiers equipped with rifles
b. ( capital when part of a name ): the Rifle Brigade
— vb
5. to cut or mould spiral grooves inside the barrel of (a gun)
6. to throw or hit (a ball) with great speed
Where i find that? A dictionary if you can find me a single dictionary that states “lazer rifle” as the correct use of the term rifle i will be very interested.
Definition: A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, which fires a single projectile (bullet) through a barrel which contains spiral grooves in its bore. (The bore is the hole through the middle of the barrel.) Along with shotguns, these are often called “long guns.”
Fictional rifles from many games. It is a common usage of the term. Get over it.
“That quote isn’t in the link.”
Of course it is, you just failed to read it. 3rd paragraph; I’ll quote the whole thing for you.
“Typically, a bullet is propelled by the contained deflagration of an explosive compound (originally black powder, later cordite, and now nitrocellulose), although other means such as compressed air are used in air rifles, which are popular for vermin control, hunting small game, formal target shooting and casual shooting (”plinking").
In most armed forces the term “gun” is incorrect when referring to small arms; in military parlance, the word “gun” refers to an artillery piece or crew-served machine gun. Furthermore, in many works of fiction a rifle refers to any weapon that has a stock and is shouldered before firing, even if the weapon is not rifled or does not fire solid projectiles (e.g. a “laser rifle”).
Additional fun fact: There is no such thing as a Rifle. Rifling is the process of putting a grooved etching inside the barrel of a longarm, twisted or otherwise. The spiral grooves were originally designed to make the gun easier to clean. It was a fluke that it also caused bullets to spin, making them fly further and straighter.
I wish more gaming companies understood the terms they blithely toss around. Another game I play calls their Heavy Infantry from the Industrial Period “Howitzers”. WHAT?! Anyway, the more you know.
*woosh*rainbow*
Wrong, there is a such thing as a rifle.
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves (“rifling”) cut into the barrel walls.
Rifling and a rifle are not one and the same.
“Furthermore, in many works of fiction a rifle refers to any weapon that has a stock and is shouldered before firing, even if the weapon is not rifled or does not fire solid projectiles (e.g. a “laser rifle”)."
What about elixir’s? How the heck is an elixir gun supposed to work? Elixir’s are taken orally. It’s just ridiculous to think that you’re running around squirting everyone in the face with a suped up super-soaker™ hoping they swallow someting.
