Commando Archive

I'd like to debunk some myths about the profession and recent changes. Many are considering a switch to commando to:

1) Do UBER dmg.

Consider this: all our uber weapons are charged weps Ppl are fawning over the rocket launcher but remember it's a charged wep (limited ammo essentially) and harder to make than a T21. Take your server's current price of a T21 and add a premium to that and you'll have your limited use RL. Also, consider that at novice Commando you have 0 speed and 0 accuracy bonuses. Novices have posted here missing 10 shots with the RL in a row. Now, consider the costs/dmg ratio and you can see where this is heading. Also, your 10 shots for a hit took 100 seconds. If you are in the range of an ATST....you're dead.

Consider this: specials in the profession incur a 15sec cool down in which you can NOT fire ANY weapon. UBER single shot dmg, but factored over time it's not too uber when you can spam body shot 2 15 times during that envelop. That cooldown is regardless of whether you hit or not.

2) do UBER PvP.

Super, duper wrong. Consider this: PvP dmg is 25% of normal dmg. Most important thing in PvP is bleeding shots and weapon speed. See above about the RL, cost, dmg and slow shot speed. See above about the 15 sec hard lock for using another special. Our DOT/bleed shot requires you to be within 14m of the target. That's melee range. See the melee boards about problems getting into melee range in PvP. You think ppl are going to let commandos get in to melee range? If you do and you fire your DOT shot you're hard locked for 15 sec and that's 15 body shots, 7 mind shots, lots of eye shots....you see my point.

None of what you learned in Master Marksman is going to help you with the exception of pistol mods using the LP, but if you are changing to commando for PvP and uber dmg, you didn't join for the launcher pistol. Heavy weps are slow, limited use, high dmg weapons. If you want uber PvP go with BH, or pistoleer/CH. You'll always (even with the changes) be owned 1 on1 vs a BH and that's how it should be.

3) solo UBER mobs.

So very wrong. Consider how rare master commandos are. They had to lvl on crazed durni and gnorts to get to where they are. Slow fire, no knockdown, and range restrictions make it very hard to solo mobs as commando. Even grouped, you aren't going to get the mondo exp. Consider using the flamethrower and DOT on uber mobs. You snuck in to the melee range of a dark jedi to do the FT special (ie you're nuts or lucky). You're now cooling off for 15 sec while everyone pours it on with specials. Who's gonna get the exp?

3) play an important role in the GCW.

Now we're on to something. Commandos are needed for taking over facilities and they are going to be important in taking down AT-STs or turrets. They will also be valuable in PvP, but in a group when you can get heals, supporting fire (while you run like a chicken during the 15sec cooldown), and distractions. You'll be very useful vs hard mobs in groups where you can get support while you cooldown. You'll have some veryexpensive but verycool weps to use. Commandos are team players as designed by the devs. Consider that. If we end up soloing stuff (can't imagine) we'll be nerfed to be great support.

:::waves hand::: This is not the profession you are looking for....

err....I've lost my fours. I, 2, 3, 3, 5. ACK....my 4 got nerfed to a 3!!

Sound reasoning and very accurate. Maybe it should be on the main discussion board too.

Great post. This is info that people need to know. Although you have to admit waiting for all these band wagoneers to find out on their own would be fun.

Good points, Krillin. Reading the other threads it's painfully obvious that few realize the true situation here. What it really comes down to is we will end up wearing heavy armor (if we can - I can't even wear a full suit of Padded) and never using specials. Which makes us one big target to the guy who wants to bring out his ATST. This is not the class for an uberkiddie - it requires a great deal of finesse to use anything above the LP, and if you do it wrong, you die, plain and simple.

Heh...I just want to blow things up.

After being a Fencer/Ranger, I just want to see the BOOM!

-gustavef

"Great post. This is info that people need to know. Although you have to admit waiting for all these band wagoneers to find out on their own would be fun."

Too funny!

Belgar "Boom Boom" Wickerman

THough hugely expensive, even with the 25% modifier, a well sliced and 9if they work) powered up RL will still have a good chance of one shot killing. On top of the base damage is a 56% modifier due to AR vs. AP.

I don't think anyone can really dabble in the Commando Class. With all it's pre-reqs, everyone that gets through to it is a trooper and deserves to do that much more damage than everyone else that dabbled into the 7 weapon specialist classes.

I think that with blast radius weapons, flame and acid cones, and the right tactics, that commandos will be integral to mass PvP. Not as structure and pet killers (though that will be nice) but as the artillery of the battlefield.

Commandos, against people, will (and should) shine at causing area damage.The grenades, heavy cannons, and rocket launcherscan act like artillery - and like artillery it's best if you fire a barrage. Don't think of 1-on-1 PvP -duelling isn't a soldier's job anyway. Think of a team of 3 or 4 commandos moving up from the rear, firing a rocket each, then moving back out of range for the cool-down. Mix in some other fighters to screen the commandosfrom counterattack and/or mop up the survivors and deliver deathblows(pistoleers but especially carbineers would shine in this role).

This will be expensive since the weapons that will do the best area damage will be consumables. That's a good thing. It will discourage "weekend warrior" commandos and especially"duellists" from choosing commando. Many people who want to be "uber leet," want to be the strongest in 1-on-1 PvP - expensive slow area damage weapons don't meet that criteria. Finally, it'll encourage some cooperation and organization in PvP oriented PAs. The wise PA leader would realize the value of well-armed commandos, and contract or recruit a weaponsmith to provide the consumables needed - just like wise leaders would similarly support combat medics and doctors with their neededresources.

no no no irea that is just absurd. i mean nice ideas but too much friggin work

Agree!

I spent most of yesterday doing missions. First half of the day I was in a group doing them. War gronda lairs were the target. I was getting 80-300 HWXP while I was using the acid rifle. With the LP I was getting 500-600. I was doing considerably less damage than everyone else (a carbine specialist with a laser carbine and a BH using a scatter pistol.) I picked up a flamethrower yesterday and that does more dps than my HAR does, but still not like the LP. With the ability to get Difficulty 22 missions what ones have I been taking? Durnis. Just plain ol' regular durnis. I can kill war grondas, but I have to run so far away that when I get back to the lair it's reset. Selonian camps...that was a 2 minute run-away-from-them-and-then-get-slain adventure. Not even going to touch grand wrix lairs. Bunnies it is for me!

But I am havinga blast =D

Hmm well. If you think it's too much work then don't do it But I think it doesn't require that much effort - anyone who's capable of becoming a high level commando should be capable of the minimal amount of discipline required for it. It's not any harder than people focusing their fire on a single enemy during a normal battle, and I'm sure anyone who's fought much has done that.

Besides, it's worth it. Think of the carnage - and the lag and confusion - you'd inflict The balance, of course, is in the prereqs, the fact that this is not a duellist profession and hopefully never will be, and the lack of heavy weapons power at novice.

So... as a Novice Commando/Novice Pistoleer... I took on 5 Rebels yesterday. I managed to bleed 2 of them down with Laser Rifle shots and 1 down with my DX2 (2 weren't wearing helmets).

After having them chase me all over Coronet and circling around behind them when they tried to First Aid one another, they finally got me (because I was using so much Mind to use StimB's and specials). That was my 4th PvP death since I started doing PvP in SWG (2 weeks ago). I've killed 20+ Rebels and have won 7-8 Duels.

Anyway, the guys that I was fighting saw my Novice Commando tag and immediatly assumed that I was weak and challenged me. After I killed them, they assumed that Commandos had some screw exploit and were saying that they wanted to be Commandos too.

The truth is that I had spent a LOT of credits buying weapons (Laser Rifle, DX2, FWG5) that had VERY high damage on them. Plus... I always have +33% Max Dam, +% Ideal Range or +% Speed powerups. I still don't use food or drugs... although I probably should now that I'm enjoying PvP.

I tried to explain to the guys that the reason I did so well is not because I'm a Commando... but because I'm a Master Marksman (Novice Pistoleer) with Good weapons and a knowledge of tactics. I tried to explain some of my tactics, but they just don't listen.

"Dood! CMs Rulez!U da Shizzitle!"

So.. I'm sure that we will see a LOT of L33t'ers moving to Commando soon. But, I doubt that they will stay long.

Right now, the servers are overrun with Pistoleers who have DISARM SHOT 1. The first time one of them uses that on a Rocket Launcher... everyone is going to be screaming for a nerf. Personally, I think that it's justified. It will stop Overt Commandos from running around with Rocket Launchers.

Also, most of the L33t'ers either run around like a chicken with their heads cut off (penalties for moving and shooting) or they expect you to stand at 30 paces while you autofire on one another. Once the movement speed penalties are introduced for carrying a heavy weapon... Commandos with a Rocket Launcher are going to be crawling around the battlefield during their cool off period. We will be TKA bait. Personally, I'm fine with this as well. Having the fear that other classes can wax us.... is what keeps the game exciting.

In short... I wouldn't worry too much about the bandwagon effect. Because those of us that have really been looking forward to the Commando class have been waiting semi-patiently because we enjoy filling a niche. The patient wait for the perfect shot... then BOOOOM!!!! Then, we withdraw and allow the others to zerg, while we cool off. I just wish that we didn't need Brawler... so that I could be a Ranger/Commando. Their new Hunting Blinds and Camps would be a welcome addition to our 'One Shot Wonders'.

Anyway, it's just my 2cr worth,

Tec Zun - Imperial Closet Commando of Tempest