Commando Archive

Greetings, everyone.

Finally had a chance to test out the patches from the 23rd and 24th; been busy grinding towards master pilot on my Live character since combat toons won't be able to make jack for money after the CU (or at least, not without a group - I keep odd hours and don't like most people, anyway) and the pilot profs will be the only combat ones making any money.

Anyway, I've noticed three positive changes in these two patches andthree very negative ones.

First positive change is the proton rifle. They finally added the animation and sound to it.

Second positive change is that opponents are taking damage from the Fire DoT (visible by watching the combat queue). This, however, has a few issues. Instead of ticking on its own, it only ticks when you shoot the burning critter again (and not always then). Damage from a DoT applied by a plasma flamethrower seemed to be 280-380 (not consistent). Also, it now takes many shots to actually stick a Fire DoT, and the DoT either doesn't last very long or doesn't end. No middle ground.

Third positive thing is the radial indicators to show when an attack has finished and you can fire again.

Now for the issues I have with the patch:

You used to be able to queue up one attack, indicated by a yellow box around the attack icon; this indicator no longer works. You can still queue upa second attack, but nine times out of ten it will not actually show the indicator that it is queued up. Therefore, you cannot tell if it was successfully input or not.

Next, there used to be a range indicator by the target's name and HAM bar in the upper right-hand corner; this is no longer present. There is still a range indicator by the target itself, but this onlyappears if the target is currently in range. Hence, you cannot discern how far to go before it is in range or what the current range is so you can switch to the proper longer-ranged weapon.

My third issue has already been mentioned: the Fire DoT. It takes many more hits to actually get it to stick; on one occasion, I counted fifteen shots on one target before the flame animation appeared. On a few occasions, it would stick after two or three hits, butthe averagewas usually around eight or ten. Also, as I previously mentioned, it does not tick on its own but seems to tick erratically when you shoot the target again (sometimes it ticks when you shoot the target again, sometimes it doesn't). Again, duration is also a factor. Sometimes the flame DoT would end immediately after I applied it, other times, it wouldn't go out. To illustrate, I was shooting at a Stormtrooper and an ImperialLieutenant and finally got the DoT to stick on both (AoE). It went out almost immediately on the Stormtrooper but continued on the Lieutenant. When the Lieutenant got low on health, he ran off while I finished with the stormtrooper. I found another stormtrooper and killed him, too, then came around a corner and found the Lieutenant, still on fire (though not with less health, since the DoT only ticks when you shoot them again). This was about three minutes later.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on the new patches.

- Reb. Col. Raytheon Kednallen (ret.),
Master Commando/Master Bounty Hunter
Shadowfire

- Raythen: Master Commando/MBH/Pistoleer TC-Ep3