Hunters in SOD currently feel frustrating to play due to the mechanics of Sniper Training and Lock and Load. Having to constantly move to dodge mechanics results in losing all your Sniper Training stacks, forcing you to wait another 6 seconds to stack them up again before you can use Aimed Shot. This issue is likely to worsen with the addition of the Blue and Green mechanics in BWL.
Potential Changes:
Extend Grace Period: Implement a longer grace period after moving before Sniper Training stacks begin to drop, so players aren’t heavily penalized for small movements.
On-Use Ability for Sniper Training: Add an on-use feature to the Sniper Training rune that allows casting while moving for a short duration.
Rework Sniper Training Stacking: Consider reworking Sniper Training so that the buff stacks when using shot abilities, and only lose stacks after not casting a shot for a certain period.
Lock and Load is getting nerfed, which I personally think is fine, as I don’t enjoy the playstyle of throwing traps every 4.5 seconds. However, this ability can be inconsistent due to the random trap timers. Currently, there is a 400ms batching window for triggering traps, which sometimes allows faster enemies to run over the trap without activating it. Additionally, this can result in the trap not triggering on time, which can prevent Lock and Load from activating on the next cast.
Suggestions for Fixing Lock and Load and traps:
Reduce Batching Window: Reduce the batching window to 10ms, similar to other abilities.
Trigger on Trap Throw: A less optimal solution would be to make Lock and Load trigger when the trap is thrown.
Improve Trap Hitbox: Increase the trap’s hitbox, as it can be difficult to aim on larger enemies. This would also help melee hunters get close enough to the boss for the trap to trigger.
Trap Launcher Targeting: Reintroduce a @target modifier for trap placement or modify Trap Launcher to always drop traps on the target, this change would also make trap launcher more predictable in PvP.
Additionally, there are two bosses in BWL that require Tranquilizing Shots, and each requires at least two hunters for 100% uptime. Since Tranquilizing Shot has a minimum range, melee hunters need to leave melee range to tranquilize the mob. Removing this range requirement would make it easier for melee hunters who prefer that playstyle.
Gearing Concerns for Hunters:
Gearing as a hunter is currently problematic. With 3% hit from Surefooted and 3% hit from Ranged Weapon Specialization, we only need 3% hit from gear (or 2% with the feral set bonus). This forces us to mix in melee hunter gear or PvP gear, and use Quick Strike Ring instead of Accuria to avoid exceeding the hit cap.
There is also the Biznicks scope which give another 3% hit that is currently unusable and Sniper scope is used instead.
This issue will also worsen with the addition of ZG enchants and strong hit items. Hunters are unlikely to use the ZG enchants for top DPS specs, as 8 agility from Voracity is more valuable than 24 RAP, with the hit being entirely wasted.
Suggested Changes:
ZG Enchant Adjustment: Change the ZG enchant hit bonus to agility or crit instead.
Adjust Surefooted Talent: Modify Surefooted to provide crit instead of hit, or introduce new talents in the Survival tree that allow us to drop Surefooted for more damage (as there are currently no extra damage talents to pick up).
Ranged Weapon Specialization Rework: Change Ranged Weapon Specialization to provide flat crit instead of weapon skill.
Biznicks Scope Update: Modify Biznicks scope to provide 2% crit instead of hit.
Tier Gear Hit Removal: Remove hit from tier gear and replace it with more desirable stats.