Engineering Operative

[wishihadaname]

This isn't my idea, I saw it posted earlier in a conglomorate thread listing various fixes/changes to the agent and I liked it alot so I thought i'de run with it a bit and see how it could work.

 

Why is lethality the shared tree?

The concept seems sound, dot based, ranged, builds up damage on a curve, vulnerable to cleanses but capable of shutting down a healer without a tech clense. The problem is that OP seems to have gotten the short end of the lethality stick. One of the key concepts of lethality is that its a ranged build, and the sheer mass of lethality snipers in pvp is testimate to how effective it is in this function. However, when the range of its 2 most crucial abilities is reduced to 10 meters and the activation of cull is tied to a tactical advantage that can only be gained at point blank, the tree falls on its face. The current melee range lethality build can be made to work but its tidious, clumsy, and ultimately neither as effective as pure melle (concealment op) or pure range (lethality sniper).

 

Why would engineering be better?

Range. Plain and simple. The reason the snipers lethality build works is because it frees them from cover without gimping their ranged dps. I propose, rather then giving the opertaive a copy of the snipers lethality tree, that engineering be slightly reworked on the OP side and made the shared tree. It would allow those of us who want to be ranged sneaks to be ranged sneaks.

 

Pros:

-Gives op's a ranged dot based build

-Does not have a frontloaded burst (no big mean scary death from stealth at 30 meters)

-Would only require a total of 4 minor changes

-Who doesn't like probes?

-Potential for great synergy with healing tree

-Fills the role of OP lethality better then lethality.

 

Cons:

-Would require some coding to switch the AC's as well as a skill point refund to all agents/smugglers

-Current build is theorycraft (would require testing)

 

 

How it would work:

In its most basic copy/paste form, engineering could be made into an OP's shared tree with 4 changes

1) Stroke of Genious: Rather then making cover pulse give an induction free snipe, have snipe give a TA

2) Interigation Probe: Requires and Consumes a TA.

3) Electrified Railgun: Effect is activated by cabine burst rather then series of shots

4) Deploy shields: Reduces cooldown of shield probe by 15 sec rather then Balistic Shield by 30.

 

It would require some balacing, but it would definatly eliminate alot of the current complaints about the OP and give them access to more roles. What do you guys think of this idea?

Edited February 27, 2012 by wishihadaname

[Aethus]

I think its a brilliant idea. Ab-so-lute-ly brilliant.

 

I'm also pretty sure it has no chance what so ever of becoming reality.

 

But if it did, you wouldn't find a happier operative than me.

[Vakyoom]

i do not agree with #3 in your bottom list.

 

synchronizing anything to ONLY carbine burst is just a bad idea... Sync it to the probe or to overload shot or something... A talent deep in engineering could make overload a 20/30yd range, anything but carbine burst... which is a measly range with a slow/delayed activation time.

Edited February 27, 2012 by Vakyoom

[MobiusZero]

Yeah, I saw the post that brought this up, and totally agree with it.

[wishihadaname]

I agree actually about the carbine burst being a bad idea, but thats not the main point here. The exact skill to bind that perk to would be up to bioware to decide if they chose to take up the idea, i'm just putting the idea out here so that its more visible and hopefully read by the devs. Do me a favor guys, if you have further ideas regarding the engineering OP or would like to see it impelemted, leave a comment, lets try to keep this afloat over the QQ that seems to dominate these forums so often.