Having a great time with SS

[TheHurriquake]

I'm not a huge forum-goer. On the odd times I decided to check them out I see A LOT of people saying that the Gunslinger/Sharpshooter is underpowered or weak. I have to strongly disagree with this statement and thought that I'd give my 2 cents on what I LIKE about the class. Coming from both a PvP, and PvE standpoint, along with having a few months of experience with a Sith Assassin prior to playing the Gunslinger

 

For PvP, SS can melt face. I can pop a sabotage charge and open with my instant charged bolts for around 5-6k burst damage right before my "real" opener. To everyone saying we're squishy, we aren't meant to be tossed into the fray with melee classes. If we allow a melee class to get into our face and use their hard hitting abilities, than yeah, we're screwed. Make use of your knock backs. And when you see their resolve bar reaching max, it's time to kite using your defensive cool downs. It takes a lot of practice to learn to kite effectively. Heck, pop hunker down and scrambling field and eat the damage if you think you can finish the person off.

 

I'm a HUGE PvE fan. It's what I play MMOs for. Like many people, I found the mobility to be a bit of an issue, but I have a knack for finding optimal ranges in an encounter room. Maybe it's luck? I don't know. I find the overall damage output sharpshooters do makes up for the DPS we lose when we do need to move. As an assassin, there were many times where I would have to stop DPS on a boss because I had to move to attack an add, or move out of a radial attack at the boss' feet. So there really isn't much room for complaint here. In comparison to other ranged classes, our DPS is A LOT more bursty. We get into cover, do a TON of damage in a short amount of time, than move to the next position. It takes a lot of awareness and pre-emptive movement. But that's something I really enjoy.

 

TL;DR : To each their own. Not many people enjoy the game play of a Gunslinger. But I, like a handful of many other players, enjoy the play style and am successful with it. The class mechanics are balanced by the raw damage output in both PvE and PvP. Cover can be clunky at times, but I think that's something that will be fixed eventually.

 

Let me know what you guys think. Let me finish off by saying that this post wasn't mean to "call out" people who are pointing out specific bugs or issues with the class. This is more targeted at people who are questioning the Gunslinger's viability in a PvP or PvE setting.

[Unrealzero]

If there was a like button, I would ask if a love button could replace it.

[Synavix]

Loving my SS as well. It's definitely the spec I'm going to be sticking with for the foreseeable future in PvE. I enjoy the play style and think it actually flows pretty smoothly once you get used to it. I understand most of the complaints, and the cover mechanic/ability delays do need some tweaking, but it sounds like most people just don't want to put effort into learning/adapting to something relatively new to an MMO.

 

As far as PvP, I'm a bit undecided. I'm on a relatively unpopulated server, and I think I've only ever seen one Sith IA (sniper) and maybe 3 or 4 other Repub smugglers, and only one of them was a DF slinger (this is all at level 50 only); the rest were all scoundrels, so it's a bit hard for me to really judge the class/spec knowing that I'm far from an expert on PvP. I feel like DF is definitely the more viable spec at the moment, but that's not to say that you can't make a good go of it with SS. It's about picking your battles right to stay out of focus and using your utilities rather than just expecting to go from one kill to the next like I see a lot of facroll DPSers do.

[Ravzar]

In my opinion SS is the superior PvP spec. I am not the most geared player at 360 expertise but it does give me a well rounded idea of the class and how it plays out. The simple reality is you can't kill a good team with DF spec but you can kill bad teams with any spec (except maybe 31 point sab lol). Cleanses in this game are 4.5s cd and remove 2 effects. They will remove your dots. Also if you arn't in cover you can't use sab charge and your wounding shots will just be interrupted by anyone who knows anything about gunslingers. Therefore, you're relying on either cover or people's lack of game knowledge. Now if you are relying on cover then I don't see the point in DF. The point is mobility. The issue though is you do less burst and therefore less useful damage than if you were in SS. You're subject to pulls, leaps, interrupts, and push back and it is actually, in my opinion, an inferior spec in all respects.

 

(waiting for some bad with full battlemaster to come in and screenshot a scoreboard where he was successful at DF and yell AHAAAA GOT YOU NOW!)

[MilkPudding]

SS with Risha = melting mobs away like butter on a pan.

[Sossity]

I'm Sossity and I approve the content of this message.

 

....and I like/LOVE the cover mechanic!

[TheHurriquake]

Glad to see there are some people actually enjoying themselves!

[Eldyraen]

I actually enjoy the skill and awareness level required to play a GS to it's fullest. It's not as flashy as many of the others and I feel I could probably do more damage with another ranged class (LoS and cast times being main GS drawbacks) but not sure if I would have as much fun or have as many "did I really just do that?" moments as I've had as a SS that makes it so rewarding to play.

 

I plan on looking into a new build soon though as my play style is quite mobile even as a SS and think I can tweak a few things to get a little more out of it. I enjoy the support skills we have (CC/debuffs/roots and slows) and quite often will be in the thick of it or just on the fringe supporting carriers, breaking cappers, or locking down multiple enemies keeping hem busy as a "squishy" class. Managing to pin down 3 guys with roots, flash grenades, kicks and such is insanely useful but nets you nothing (other than team time to score/take out someone else). We are the unsung heroes at times that can make the difference in pvp. I always feel I'm pulling my weight as a GS and then some even if the board doesn't want to agree (although almost always top 3-5 in dmg still--below sage/sorc most of the time).

 

In PvE--insane burst and great sustained DPS (although mobility can eat it some). Instant charged burst/trickshot/Sab charges though are enough for most mobile fights and can add little dot/speed/quick/etc and rare aimed rather easily.

 

I haven't played with DF yet although know it can get nice dmg (bleed effects>mitigation is big reason why). I just enjoy SS but want to look into something new for me to try.

[Mrtomie]

Love my 50 SS. Just hate the glitchiness of cover. Too bad we don't have a slow ability, that'll be op

[ChrisNoctis]

totally agree with this thread. my gs is only 27 atm but i could burst down an opponent from 40-50% health with sab charge, aimed shot, instant charged burst and finally quickdraw. i always couldnt believe it when i did that. was like "what the hell, did that really happen? WOOHOO!"

 

i do find pve side a wee bit lacking.. dunno if its my current lvl range but i always get down to almost 50% health after each mob pull. =/ elites however i could totally destroy them before they are able to do any heavy damage.

[TheHurriquake]

i do find pve side a wee bit lacking.. dunno if its my current lvl range but i always get down to almost 50% health after each mob pull. =/ elites however i could totally destroy them before they are able to do any heavy damage.

 

On the leveling spectrum, after Hoth you get a healing companion. I highly recommend using him and sharing your hand-me-downs with him. I used him for the last 4-5 levels and it was a breeze. I could put down my XS freighter (you get it around the mid 40s) on a pack of mobs, and focus fire the elite/strong mobs and be at almost full hp by the end. Oh, and the companion also has a bad *** stun that lasts through damage. So it's great for the harder elites.

 

Leveling can be rough at times at lower levels but gets much, MUCH easier.

[DeathhunterD]

yeah I love my Gunslinger/Sharpshooter. I feel I always pull my weight in pvp giving support, killing healers and light armored melee/ranged and as for pve I am really enjoying it in Hard Modes/OPS. I can lay the smack down on bosses. Edited February 3, 2012 by DeathhunterD

[ChrisNoctis]

On the leveling spectrum, after Hoth you get a healing companion. I highly recommend using him and sharing your hand-me-downs with him. I used him for the last 4-5 levels and it was a breeze. I could put down my XS freighter (you get it around the mid 40s) on a pack of mobs, and focus fire the elite/strong mobs and be at almost full hp by the end. Oh, and the companion also has a bad *** stun that lasts through damage. So it's great for the harder elites.

 

Leveling can be rough at times at lower levels but gets much, MUCH easier.

 

i see.. atm i am using bowdarr.. which is better after i upgraded his equipment (the ones he comes with totally sucked) am looking forward to mr fish

[Bartes]

SS with Risha = melting mobs away like butter on a pan.

 

Equip her in Champion gear and you will win any 1v1 against any class even if they have healing companion. Yesterday I popped on 2 lvl 50 imps ganking lowbies on Tatooine (both with heal companions) while I was hunting datacrons. Boy, they had to fight hard to beat me. I killed them few times more than they killed me (they were campin near our hub). Usually Risha melted their companions in a sec, then helped me with them.

 

That's why I married her

[flem]

Equip her in Champion gear and you will win any 1v1 against any class even if they have healing companion.

Do companions get full expertise benefits? No PvP tab seems to appear on the dropdowns.

[PlagaNerezza]

In my opinion SS is the superior PvP spec. I am not the most geared player at 360 expertise but it does give me a well rounded idea of the class and how it plays out. The simple reality is you can't kill a good team with DF spec but you can kill bad teams with any spec (except maybe 31 point sab lol). Cleanses in this game are 4.5s cd and remove 2 effects. They will remove your dots. Also if you arn't in cover you can't use sab charge and your wounding shots will just be interrupted by anyone who knows anything about gunslingers. Therefore, you're relying on either cover or people's lack of game knowledge. Now if you are relying on cover then I don't see the point in DF. The point is mobility. The issue though is you do less burst and therefore less useful damage than if you were in SS. You're subject to pulls, leaps, interrupts, and push back and it is actually, in my opinion, an inferior spec in all respects.

 

(waiting for some bad with full battlemaster to come in and screenshot a scoreboard where he was successful at DF and yell AHAAAA GOT YOU NOW!)

 

It's not a good pvp spec. Anyone thats pvp'd with it knows its inferior as a dps compared to other classes (merc's) and has none of the other benefits other classes have.

 

It's ok at burst dps. It's a good kill shot class. I can usually knock out a weakened fighter with well placed dps that healers cannot seem to beat Aimed, trick, finishing shot or whatever that special is named that can punish that low health guy and get him out of the fight.

 

I'd argue so can merc's (tracer missle combo) and operatives (backstab is still strong) and they are kinda still better at that then we are.

 

Gunslinger is by far the worst AC. I haven't played sentinel, but my brother seems to enjoy it and says his dots are excellent.

 

I'd play any other class. This one is very busted. I cannot believe cover made it out of beta this bad. I cannot believe how weak this AC fundamentally is at pvp. I can handle myself in warzones. I've warzoned and played enough. I can solo kill assassins which shocks the heck out of a little stabby assassin that my squishy slinger is able to dps murder them standing still. Its even more of a shock in that they typically get an opener from stealth and I still get a win.

 

However, its exceptionally weak. Cover either needs to be significantly improved to be more like a shield or it needs to be taken off our specials requirements to use them.

[flem]

It's not a good pvp spec. Anyone thats pvp'd with it knows its inferior as a dps compared to other classes (merc's) and has none of the other benefits other classes have.

You're doing it wrong. But if you want to stand still spamming grav round all day without even a proper interrupt, go for it.

Edited February 3, 2012 by flem

[TheHurriquake]

It's not a good pvp spec. Anyone thats pvp'd with it knows its inferior as a dps compared to other classes (merc's) and has none of the other benefits other classes have.

 

It's ok at burst dps. It's a good kill shot class. I can usually knock out a weakened fighter with well placed dps that healers cannot seem to beat Aimed, trick, finishing shot or whatever that special is named that can punish that low health guy and get him out of the fight.

 

I'd argue so can merc's (tracer missle combo) and operatives (backstab is still strong) and they are kinda still better at that then we are.

 

Gunslinger is by far the worst AC. I haven't played sentinel, but my brother seems to enjoy it and says his dots are excellent.

 

I'd play any other class. This one is very busted. I cannot believe cover made it out of beta this bad. I cannot believe how weak this AC fundamentally is at pvp. I can handle myself in warzones. I've warzoned and played enough. I can solo kill assassins which shocks the heck out of a little stabby assassin that my squishy slinger is able to dps murder them standing still. Its even more of a shock in that they typically get an opener from stealth and I still get a win.

 

However, its exceptionally weak. Cover either needs to be significantly improved to be more like a shield or it needs to be taken off our specials requirements to use them.

 

You're obviously having a tough time adjusting to the play style and learning the combat role of a sharpshooter in pvp. We're essentially a finishing class. Like you said, we can take weakened fighters out in 3 abilities due to our great burst DPS. But we also rip apart healers. You can flourish shot, sabotage charge, charged bolts, than follow up with an aimed shot and trick shot and even if the healer is in full BM, they're still going to be taken down to about half of their health. Using speed shot with rapid fire afterwards in conjunction with illegal mods, and you have some great pressure on them, forcing them to heal themselves and setting you up for a stationary interrupt and finisher.

 

I usually run other damage dealing classes into the ground on the scoreboard. I'm averaging 7-9 medals a game as well as breaking 400k damage on multiple occasions.

 

I'm not only going to disagree with you, I'm going to completely reverse your statement upon itself and say that SS is in fact the better of the PvP specs. While all are viable, sharpshooter is the class to pick for clutch situations and focus fire burst.

 

I sincerely hope you find a class that you enjoy playing. Sorry Gunslinger wasn't for you.

[FatedGlory]

It's not a good pvp spec. Anyone thats pvp'd with it knows its inferior as a dps compared to other classes (merc's) and has none of the other benefits other classes have.

 

It's ok at burst dps. It's a good kill shot class. I can usually knock out a weakened fighter with well placed dps that healers cannot seem to beat Aimed, trick, finishing shot or whatever that special is named that can punish that low health guy and get him out of the fight.

 

I'd argue so can merc's (tracer missle combo) and operatives (backstab is still strong) and they are kinda still better at that then we are.

 

Gunslinger is by far the worst AC. I haven't played sentinel, but my brother seems to enjoy it and says his dots are excellent.

 

I'd play any other class. This one is very busted. I cannot believe cover made it out of beta this bad. I cannot believe how weak this AC fundamentally is at pvp. I can handle myself in warzones. I've warzoned and played enough. I can solo kill assassins which shocks the heck out of a little stabby assassin that my squishy slinger is able to dps murder them standing still. Its even more of a shock in that they typically get an opener from stealth and I still get a win.

 

However, its exceptionally weak. Cover either needs to be significantly improved to be more like a shield or it needs to be taken off our specials requirements to use them.

 

I'm having a difficult time responding because so many things you said are incorrect. I'll simply stick with what has already been said - You obviously don't know what you're doing if you believe Gunslingers are bad at PVP.