Bounty Hunter Archive
Thread: Post-Publish 24 NPC Bounties
High-lited for emphais
Arrain wrote:
Please review this screenshot in the context of the thread.
Subsequent to my previous posts in this thread, I've been doing NPC bounties all day, encountering several gold elite marks and managing to defeat them without too much bother (10 minute fights, certainly fairly difficult but also beatable with persistence). Most of these elite marks have had health varying between 17,000 and 32,000. It seems that the more health they have, the more difficult they are, not least because it appears that higher health translates to higher regeneration rate too.
I then ran across this mark with over 34,000 health. From the current experiences, I knew that this would be a tough fight so I loaded up my food, weapon pups stimpacks and so on. Once again, this was an elite mark with an extremely high regeneration rate.
A short reminder of mytemplateand equipment from earlier in the thread:
My equipment: - Armour: 6500 energy / 6500 kinetic resist RIS Armour - full armour break slice plus damage absorb slice (1%), health bonus +350. - Weapon: Elite Carbine - Speed 2.3 (1.48 modified), 439-1036 damage, 73 sac, 320 base dps (466 modified) - sac pupped & Proton Carbine, sac pupped. - Foods: Mandalorian Wine (incl. +503 health), Aircakes, Synthsteak (as needed), Crispic, Booster Blue spice. - Pharmaceuticals: 1211 power Stimpack Ds, 1277 power Deutrium Toss Enhancer, 1240 Bacta Toss Enhancer (augmented by Healing Eff BE clothes & AAs).
Character template: - Master Bounty Hunter / Master Combat Medic / 0400 Carbineer
After a 25 minute battle with this mark, I was on the verge of beating him. I had, in that time just before my death, completely used up a new, fresh powerup on my Proton Carbine. His health was on about 5%, and I had sufficient mind left to last another few minutes, long enough to take out that 5%. I was then knocked down with around half health remaining and quickly killed.
The point I am trying to make in this post is that I have, overall, some very good equipment - be it top end RIS armour ADK'd, good quality weapons with powerups applied, the best food I can find, utilising enhancers such as the bacta toss enhancer, armour augmented with stacks of AAs and CAs, astute use of special attacks including supporting items such as using synthsteak when knocked down along with high end stims..
.. all of this is extremely expensive. Is the fight fun..? Sort of - it is in that it feels rewarding to win a tough fight, but its extremely expensive to do so, and the regeneration rate of your target draws out the fight excessively (its frustrating to look at your targets health and think "I could swear he was on 50% health ten minutes ago, and he still is now.."). Is it cost-effective to run these bounties? Definately NOT. Were it not for the fact that my armour is ADK'd I wouldn't even consider doing another of these marks, and even now I'm reluctant to do so when I know the chances are I'll get a jar of forraged bugs and a sheet of reactive microplating for my efforts.
Asa bounty hunter, I want tough fights - currently however, the bounty difficulty is excessive in comparison for the reward. I'm not suggesting loot should be buffed, as bounty hunters already get a good deal on the loot tables (in my opinion), however at present its simply not worth the hassle of killing these marks due to the decay you will take on your equipment even if you win, combined with extremely lacklustre loot in comparison to the cost of repairs on your armour / weapons, food costs, pharmaceuticals and so on.
Please see my screenshot for a short section of the combat log at the end of the fight, with descriptive commentary to highlight key events.
I wish, (wish) I had adk on everything and tons of money to buff up for these sorts of fights.
I'm a casual player, too much rl for otherwise.
I think the biggest problem is that these marks need to be toned down. Especiaclly the regen rates of health and action.
If you were to take some faction misions of the same level you wou;ld see that the factional nps suffer action costs and thier regen is no where near these Uber Bosses that have instant action reg and special that don't stop. I could see leaving the health at the level it is , if they want us to work for it. but wih the action regen etc going on, it's not productive $$ wise to hunt them.
I personally like the idea of keeping these marks as is, making them identifiable on the terms, and giving them a suitable payment to cover the huge armour costs.
I dont see as asking for higher loot on these marksis all that greedy, most of these guys are as tough as Necrosis or a krayt dragon, both of which were virtually guaranteed valuable loot and easily findable when you want the challenge, certainly far higher chance than BH missions. I say either way is balanced either stick it on the mission payout or enhance the loot on them either way just make it economically viable to fight these guys.
I LIKE a real challenge. Ive died twice to these marks so far, its been months since I last found something that would kill me like that. Not one of these marks has been allowed to live.
DTQ wrote:
I personally like the idea of keeping these marks as is, making them identifiable on the terms, and giving them a suitable payment to cover the huge armour costs.
I dont see as asking for higher loot on these marksis all that greedy, most of these guys are as tough as Necrosis or a krayt dragon, both of which were virtually guaranteed valuable loot and easily findable when you want the challenge, certainly far higher chance than BH missions. I say either way is balanced either stick it on the mission payout or enhance the loot on them either way just make it economically viable to fight these guys.
I LIKE a real challenge. Ive died twice to these marks so far, its been months since I last found something that would kill me like that. Not one of these marks has been allowed to live.
But, I can solo a krayt dragon. I can't solo these guys.
Perfect example of the out of balance issues with the bosses.
Today, I fought a double gold 30k Level 81. It took me nearly 15 minutes to beat him, with outside healing. This is with great armor that is ADK'd and sliced, capped weapon, food, buffs, etc. I counted approximatly 20-24 specials used on me during that time (Roots, Snares, KD's (about 6 of these), Intims).
Message Edited by damanone on 10-24-2005 09:36 AM
Message Edited by damanone on 10-24-2005 10:03 AM
SamousNemo wrote:
As a quick heads-up, what would you guys say about leaving the bosses as is, but increase their payouts significantly (to cover decay of equipment) and have the terminals denote which is a boss and which is an elite?
I would be very careful making this suggestion. It seems that a logical conclusion would then be to nerf the loot on the elites, since they will have been designated on the terms as not as difficult. I would not risk going down that path.
I think at least the regen rate should be adjusted for the uber bosses. I have heard from very few people who like it as it is, and if they are looking for a tougher combat challenge there are other places to get that in the game. Even with the regen dropped some, the bosses will still be tougher than they were before.
The point of the new AI was supposedly to make the creatures use specials more appropriate to them, like the example of the Nightsisters using force powers. I don't see how making the uber bosses regen health like crazy has anything to do with that stated goal.
Also, I don't see a variety of specials from the marks, it seems like almost every one I've faced since pub 24 is using the same basic ones:
1) KD
2) Armor break
3) Root/snare
It seems like getting your armor sliced for armor break it now going to be a requirement for being an MBH, even if you're not hunting Jedi. That's obviously a significant expense.
Kyushu
damanone wrote:
Get a med droid and your mind will hardly move.
Until the droid gets incapped
Kyushu
I met my first post 24 30k + last night
him 34.5K Level 81
me MBH/MCM/Pistoleer 0003, 7100 nrg padded armor -2200psg, damge capped Scatter and FWGs wth Damage power ups (1200+Damage)
First skirish ran low on mind and broke off - retooled and came back - Health Crystal, Mando wine, Booster Blue, Pie, blob, bofa. and some steaks and ruby ready -pulled out the probot with 110 med rating too.
Kept the mark under fire, poison, and disease, as well as slowing attacks and sticking him with a bleed while attacking. Each tick of the fire etc was doing about 330. Was able to stick most roots, but not able to stick any knockdowns - where the mark never missed. He was hitting for 400-900 if I remember correctly - loved AB and melee. Electrolyte drain (the snare one) applied and he was still able to keep up with me with his melee for a long time.
After about 10-15mins I was out of mind from healing he was maybe at 17k - his regen was just insane. My he was healing about 600 between shots i think.
I think that the regens gotta be bugged - I don't mind a tough fight - but I feel that I did everything right and still got him to 50% health.
Suggest that the regens be reviewed - otherwise no complaints with their damge - specials I don't recall much about - except lots of AB
i don't want to get a med droid i don't want to get cm 4xxx. i just want to have fun without to much stress cuase i can't solo something unless i get fotm temp.
i hate fotm and do not want to be one to just win in pve
my build mbh mp mm 3xxxrifleman
Samous,
Yes, I'd be fine with increased payouts for bosses, and if the terminals show the difference between targets.
Sometimes you want the ultimate challenge. Sometimes you want to shoot rabbits.