Rifleman Archive

While out hunting last night I tested with Cover and with just lying prone.

To my knowledge, Cover didn't do a darn thing but get me killed faster.

My findings

• No accuracy bonus - prone offered the same bonus


• I was able to stay hidden for the same number of shots if I was prone or in cover


• Can't use Peace while prone - this got me killed twice and almost killed several other times. I can Peace while prone, but not while under Cover?!?!??!


• I was primarily hunting critters, so I didn't get to test any ranged defense bonus. But the few times, I did fight a few NPC's I didn't notice any bonus to defence.

So basically it did nothing but prevent me from using Peace... and from crawling (which I get later in rifleman I believe.)

So we have another broken skill would be my opinion.

If the Devs want to make it usefull here are some suggestions:

1. Let us Peace while in Cover


2. Make detection harder (Or if under cover remove us from the Radar for a set number of shots *evilgrin*)


3. Increase in weapon speed. You are under cover, prone, with the gun steadied and supported. It would make sense for it to take less time to draw a bead on your next shot.


4. Accurracy modifier.

Jeisyn,

As I am sure you know, a white aiming bonus number appears next to the HAM bars of the target on your screen. As your aim improves, the number increases, and your aim worsens, the number decreases. It can go into the negative. I cannot recall under any circumstances havingseen this number exceed +50, so I believe the max range of this modifier is +50 to -50. If that is true, I question how someone could claim to have gotten a +200 aiming bonus, because it would never show up.

As far as testing, unless the number on the screen goes beyond +50, the only way to test it would be to go prone and shoot for a large number of shots and count the number of misses. Then go into cover and do the same thing for the same number of shots. It has to be a large number of shots due the variables of differing ranges for each target, the posture of the target, etc. It would probably be best to use Concealshot to minimize the variables. (If the creature stays pretty much in the same place, you have less to deal with than if its charging you after two or three shots).

I would try to find someone who is close to Novice rifleman. A Master Riflemanor someone who has already climbed the accuracyline will alreadyhave large accuracy bonuses. If you get a +200 accuracy bonus, I doubt even Novice rifleman would miss much.

But you would need to test in cover vs. prone. Standing and kneeling give you less accuracy than prone, so you are trying to determine if there is a difference between prone and in cover.

Schardour,

You are correct. The problem is that you cannot do Peace while immobile. Cover makes you immobile until you get the Sneak ability. (BTW, Sneak is obtained at Concealment 3, not 4.) Once you can move while in cover due to the Sneak ability, you can do a Peace while in cover.

As has been mentioned, while under cover you can only use 'peace' if you have the sneak ability. I try to also keep 'mask scent' up and that can not be reset from under cover. I'm not sure, but my cover seems to be broken more easilyin the last few weeks. Previously I've used mask scent,cover, and conceal shotto solo Kimogila, Krayts, and Peko Peko Albatross, but lately it seems much less reliable.

I thought I remembered hearing that the cover skillprovides defensive bonuses vs. area of effect attacks. I haven't done any tests myself, but it would be easy enough to do in a controlled duel situation.

I am a novice Rifleman (or close to it at 0/1/0/1) and with a T21 I did not see my accuracy increase while under cover. I was using my conceal shot macro (Aim then conceal shot) and the accuracy number shown next to the enemy's ham didn't change if I was under cover or just lying prone.

I believe de-targetting will let you 'peace' as well, even while under cover. I'll try to verify tonight.

Cover use to work at least months and months ago. I used it pretty effectivly to hunt tuskans. I could certainly notice a differance with useing cover and not.

However it has been months since I have used it. It is pretty useless in PvP since at 64m in a wild group fight mobility is extreamly important.

What ever the cover bounuses to defense were are probly insignificant intodays combat climate. What ever they were for instance was less than simply moving.