Smuggler Archive

When The Smuggling re-vamp was first announced about a year ago I ground out a Master Smuggler on TC-Prime. After spending some time with that character on the new slicing changes I wanted to share some of the info with this group. I have been testing weapon slices as my TC-Prime character has little armor available to test.

Slicing currently takes no tools anymore, and when you slice a weapon you will get a window showing the modifications you are able to make to a weapon. Once you choose the modification you will be shown the effects. The effects are progressive, so cannot do the second modification before doing the first.

Initial Data from Slicing, TC prime June 21st

Skill level Master Smuggler

Damage Slices

3 levels of Damage slice available at master level

1. Replace stock Capacitor : +5% customization, +2% damage, total 2% damage slice


2. Overcharge Energy Core: +15% customization, +2% damage, total 4% damage slice


3. Embed experimental core booster: +30% customization, +4% damage, Total 8% Damage slice

Maximum Damage slice: +8% Damage = 50% customization

Speed Slices

4 levels of Speed slice available at master level

1. Rebuild weapon body: +5% customization, +2% speed


2. Reduce barrel Weight: +15% customization, +2% speed, total 4% Speed


3. Streamline load mechanism: +30% customization, +2% speed, total 6% Speed


4. Rebuild flash charger: +50% customization, +4% speed, total 10% Speed

Maximum Speed slice: +10% speed = 100% Customization

Increase Critical Strike Chance Slice

1. Mount improved range finder: +15% customization, +1% Crit


2. Notch and file grip: +35% customization, +1% crit, total 2% Crit


3. Install feather touch trigger pull: +50% customization, +1% Crit, total 3% Crit

Maximum Critical Slice: +3% Critical hit Chance = 100% Customization

Master smuggler can only get 100% customization total on any weapon.

“Jamming weapons”

As advertised eventually the weapon will “Jam” and you will get a system message that one of the sliced components had a Critical Fail. Currently the Average is between 7-15 shots before this happens. I am assuming this will be fixed before live as many mobs take more than 15 shots to kill.

Every time a sliced weapon has a critical Fail or “Jams” the condition of the weapon drops to 0. Even after the slices are repaired by a smuggler the weapons condition remains at 0, and must be repaired by a weaponsmith loosing max condition if it gets repaired at all.

Currently slicing is where weapons go to die. In TC-prime I /bugged the fact that weapons become disabled far too fast after a slice, and the fact that condition of the weapon itself is instantly reduced to 0. I can only hope that very least these two issues are addressed before the patch goes live. I also made a similar post to this one on the Test Center Forums.

Summery

In concept, slicing was going to give a chance of a “Jam” depending on customization, and needed to be repaired by a smuggler. That was a good idea. The total loss of a weapon instead of a jam, is far too much risk for the reward of a slice.

Condition penalties do nothing to help the smuggling profession, only to hinder it. As a smuggler I can appreciate a jam and the repeat business of ppl needing to come to me to repair slices, but I don’t want to be blamed for destroying perfectly good weapons. The bonus to weapon slices are being “nerfed” across the board, the hassle (although I like the idea of jams) of “jams” alone will scare many ppl away from getting weapons sliced at all. Risk of accelerated decay and total weapon loss on top of that, is overkill.

Suggestion

Drastically increase the numbers of attacks before the weapon “jams”. – common sense

Condition should not be effected by a slice, but performance should. If a sliced weapon “jams” automatically un-equip the weapon (to symbolize the weapons jam) then reverse the slicing bonus to a penalty. i.e. +10% speed slice becomes a –10% speed slice until fixed by a smuggler.