Rifleman Archive

I decided that, since the devs seem to have very few ideas on where they want this profession to be in the grand scheme of things (after all, they rarely say anything beyond "You can target the mind pool!") I would take a while to look at all the skill boxes, descriptions, etc. having to do with the rifleman profession. After a lot of looking and a little bit of thinking, I think that the entire profession is supposed to revolve around the Surprise Shot skill.

Seriously... stop laughing and keep reading for a second. We get 5 major abilities: Cover, Sneak (which lets us move while covered), Flushing Shot (which cancels cover), Surprise shot (which is supposed to be like a "Critical Shot" done from cover), and Startle Shot (causes the enemy to stand up from prone). In addition, there is the Alert skill (given to Mon Calamari, and I think TKA's as well) which directly counters the Surprise Shot move. Given all of this framework, it seems clear that Surprise Shot was originally intended to be much more of a threat than it currently is... like the "backstab" or critical strike move that most roguely professions in other games have.

Once I reached that conclusion, it all made a lot more sense. We're supposed to be snipers, right? How better to implement that than with a critical strike move that requires you to be covered? But... therein lies the problem. Surprise shot in its current implementation is nothing even close to a "critical strike" move. Not only that, but in PvP at least, going prone or using cover is suicidal. So the question now is... what would we need to do to return Surprise Shot to the state that the rest of the game seems to indicate it should be?

1. Up the damage... obviously. Give Surprise shot the same damage modifier as Strafe 2, but with the chance to have critical damage of 50-100% more on top of that. Given the counters already built into the game, and the stipulations for use (must be prone and covered) this isn't an overpowering or unreasonable request.

2. Make cover itself more useful. Have it give a straight damage reduction on all ranged attacks rather than just a negative to-hit modifier. Perhaps even allow it to add more to accuracy. And have both of these modifiers increase with added Cover skill.

3. Make postures more useful. Right now they grant a bit of accuracy... but for someone who knows how to handle a gun, the difference between a good shot and a bad shot isn't a hit or a miss, it's a hit or a good hit. This should be reflected with postures. Have them give 5-10% damage bonuses (10-20% total for prone)in addition to their current accuracy mods... or maybe make that a perk of the advanced combat professions. Postures are used often enough in PvE... but in PvP you're either standing or laying on your back. I think this is a trend that needs to be changed, and changes to the game design are the only things that will make this happen.

Well, most of the people on this board would disagree with you calling us snipers...
We have 2 sniper-like titles, and 2 machine gunner like title's

Also you must not be master yet, because Strafe Shot 2 is the only attack of the master rifleman

If they really up the damage of Surprise Shot, then people may start to use it, but it would have to be at least 6x, other than that Strafe Shot 2 is far more useful since it is an Area Attack.

I dont know. They should make surprise shot a 4x single shot. Basically an upgraded conceal. It would definately have its uses.

Tilen
Scylla

We act as ranged artilery support in GROUP combat, but when solo we ARE snipers. For god sake, show any other class which can kill a mark in the middle of enemy town, deathblow it on range and walk away? You cant do it in one shot, but you can do it quite quickly. Four seconds approximatelyincluding snipershot.

i'd rather see surprise shot's damage stay the same, and require cover, but not make mobs BAF.

that would be nice, but then other classes *cough* pistoleers *cough*... would say we are too powerful...