Commando Archive

Sorry for the non-descriptive title, but it seems that any title with the word "nerf" in it gets edited, so I figured I'd save the CSR's a little work here. Anyways, I've been perusing the SWG Discussion forums pretty frequently lately and I'm getting a feeling that the nerf bat may soon swing our way. I've recently seen an increase in the "NERF FLAMETHROWER" threads popping up on the aformentioned board, which is cause for alarm in my opinion since the devs seem to follow the cries for nerfs from that board more than any other.

The only reason I point this out is that I'm hoping by doing so that our correspondant will take a pro-active approach and perhaps relay our sentiments to the devs. I realize that there are several players who frequent this board that are in favor of nerfing the FT in someway or another, and I'll go ahead and state that in the interest of fairness (note, I'm not saying balance, because I think completelybalancing this game will ruin its one unique attribute) that some changes should be made to the flamethrower.

The changes I believe are necessary, and far be it for my ideas to be the best or most practical, revolve around resistances more than anything else. I think the flamethrower damage is perfect the way it is, and currently regular damage is decreased by resistances, the problem arises when we use our specials. I'll use a rancor as an example here: with 100% resistance to heat, my flamethrower barely scratches a rancor in terms or normal, run-of-the-mill damage, but I can take one with relative ease using flame single 2, since the DoT does not take into account the 100% resist to heat. Now, I'm not advocating that the damage done by the DoT take into account heat resists, but rather the chance that I would set the rancor on fire in the first place. With 100% resist to heat, it should be a rarity that I actually set the rancor on fire (I would guess that the probability should work out to a little above 99% that I will not successfully set it on fire, yes even though it has 100% resists to heat, I think there should be a slim chance that you could use the special on it successfully). If, on the off chance, the DoT does land on the rancor, it should burn as a durni would if I landed the DoT on it.

I think this provides an adequate solution from all angles. In terms of PvE, we can still hunt effectively, we may just have to modify our creature selection a little, but overall, it shouldn't be a bane to our PvE hunting. In terms of PvP, this would give players an incentive to strategize a bit more regarding what they are wearing (if they are wearing anything because of the brilliance of the decay system) and if they opt not to wear heat resistant armor, then it stands to reason that there is a good chance they will end up with black HAM bars if they get within 16m.

So, even though it pains me to admit it, I guess I am advocating a nerf in a way. But, I feel justified in that, unlike many of the PvPers who advocate a broad-based nerf where the flamethrower will (/sarcasm on)do 1 point of damage with a 30 minute delayand the DoT effect does 2 points of damage every 10 minutes for 20 minutes total, with no wounding (/sarcasm off), I've tried to consider all of the angles here. Besides, judging from past experience, the PvPers often get their way (*cough*CH*cough*BH), and if history is to repeat itself and we are destined for nerf-dom, I would hope that perhaps we could mitigate the effects of a potential nerf by proposing solutions that are as equitable for us as they are for others. Nothing would be more disappointing to me than to see the devs drastically decrease the damage on our one working weapon in the interest of balancing DoT effects. Besides, if they truely wanted to balance DoT effects, they would let us use our DoT from 64m, like a bleed. But, I think that would be a terrible change and I think it's perfectly fair that we have a powerful DoT, since the 16m range is a severe limitation to us and can be easily overcome in PvP by someone with sense enough to kite us.