Where have the Sharp Shooters gone?

[masteriamamind]

Since the update the SS class has almost evaporated from servers hard and above. I am sure a lot of people are happy about that. I see the general population simply moving away from the class (maybe kf all together) , my question is this.

Has TWI reduced the sharp shooters abilities and weapons too much?

People were tired of SS body shot spamming everything and being able to handle everything effectively solo. The removal of body damage ALONE (1013) could have sorted out the low caliber Sharpshooters. As a experienced SS (I main FB and SUP though) the class offers no tactical advantage over the others. I can drop High Value targets quicker with a Support+xbow. The commando can now out gun a SS because its damage is not dependent on the headshot(that's ok). On HOE the Sharpy is even further penalized.

Let me state that I personally can hit the head. I have no problems. As any SS shouldn't with experience. I am saying with the higher difficulties (zed speed and damage increases) the SS is at a distinct disadvantage. Not one that brings it inline with other classes but below.

My proposed solution is that during zed time(only) the Sharp shooters head shot multiplier goes up +2 all weapons. You can't go beyond 100% damage , any additional damage is wasted. What this WILL do is ensure that those head shots drop what ever it is that's being shot. It will also create a better team dynamic for the SS as it will be more dependent on the extensions from other classes perks. Sharp shooters will still need swarm protection, so they won't rambo. Missing the head is still punished.
PLEASE READ ENTIRE POST BEFORE COMMENTING.

 

[Deafmute]

You sure you can drop targets better with Xbow as Support? Unperked Xbow was significantly nerfed so I have a hard time believing that.

I don't think SS was nerfed too much. Just had a great HoE game with I think two SS. Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling to see the Xbow Sharps working together to kill an FP before he raged as opposed to lazily popping his head off from halfway across the map.

 

[Evilsod]

Let me get this straight, you've made an "in depth" study on how the Sharpshooter is no longer a noob friendly perk and that these nerfs have also made it less effective than all the other perks... and you've come to the conclusion that the ultimate fix the SS requires is an utterly useless buff to Zed Time headshot multiplier?

I don't know if you've noticed but the SS on Suicidal will still instakill weak enemies with a 9mm shot and on HoE will still 1 shot decap them. Handcannon is now a worthwhile choice for an Xbow SS, especially on HoE, and on that it will 1 shot kill everything again. LAR 1 hit kills almost everything if you can aim. M14 1 hit kills most things. Xbow has its advantages over the M14/LAR because of its scope and penetration, cost is balanced quite well i found if you use it to kill Husks, Sirens, Scrakes and FPs only and not to try and spam on lower things.

The good Sharpshooters haven't gone anywhere.

 

[masteriamamind]

Let me get this straight, you've made an "in depth" study on how the Sharpshooter is no longer a noob friendly perk and that these nerfs have also made it less effective than all the other perks... and you've come to the conclusion that the ultimate fix the SS requires is an utterly useless buff to Zed Time headshot multiplier?

Deafmute managed to make his point without being a jerk.
EDIT: I re-read your post without my flame ears . You were making your point the same as I was. Sorry about being a *** towards you.

I made a suggestion to have the stopping power that a SS has had for the longest without messing up all the effort that went into bringing it in line with other perks. ANY perk with back up can do well. Each of the classes can bring its unique brand of pain without needing other classes to function. For instance you don't need 2 firebugs to do the job of 1.

 

[Undedd Jester]

I think the SS should be okay, the problem is alot of people have raged off the Sharpie since it is no longer the bone anything anytime perk. Alot of people have sadly just gone WTF and not bothered with it. But like any perk, if you take the time to learn all of its ins and outs and really buckle down to how the game works with it, he becomes a valuable asset.

The only Zed that the sharpie really struggles against regularly is the Fleshpound, but all perks struggle with a Fleshpound except maybe the demo and even with him its easy to botch. Its important to remember that although the Sharpshooter can't solo a Fleshpound, it doesn't make him BAD against the Fleshpound. Just like Support Specialists he can do a truckload of damage on his own, he jsut needs that little bit of support to tip it over the top.

So yeah I think the Sharpshooter for the time being is going to be a little unpopulated, but players who love the perk and stick with it will find themselves a very valuable member of the team.

 

[Deafmute]

I think the SS should be okay, the problem is alot of people have raged off the Sharpie since it is no longer the bone anything anytime perk. Alot of people have sadly just gone WTF and not bothered with it. But like any perk, if you take the time to learn all of its ins and outs and really buckle down to how the game works with it, he becomes a valuable asset.

The only Zed that the sharpie really struggles against regularly is the Fleshpound, but all perks struggle with a Fleshpound except maybe the demo and even with him its easy to botch. Its important to remember that although the Sharpshooter can't solo a Fleshpound, it doesn't make him BAD against the Fleshpound. Just like Support Specialists he can do a truckload of damage on his own, he jsut needs that little bit of support to tip it over the top.

So yeah I think the Sharpshooter for the time being is going to be a little unpopulated, but players who love the perk and stick with it will find themselves a very valuable member of the team.

All of this. Could two Firebugs dispatch a HoE FP with as much ease as SS? No, they'd probably both be eaten and laughed at. SS does need more support from his team now, but he is still very effective against big Zeds. Proper Sharps are immensely useful even though the perk is not the one-shot anything monster it used to be.

 

[Rainydaykid]

I actually started playing sharpshooter again because it is fun now, and not boringly overpowered. As for stopping power issues, my main weapon as a sharp on suicidal and HoE is my 9mm.




The commando can now out gun a SS because its damage is not dependent on the headshot(that's ok). On HOE the Sharpy is even further penalized.

As for that statement, if you are a commando that does not consistently shoot things in the head, you will waste a ton of ammo, I shoot for the head with every class, including support. One AK bullet to the head will kill a clot, crawler, do decaps on several others.

 

[Spicy]

The good Sharpshooters haven't gone anywhere.

Amen.

 

[driftwood]

nice to see people finally playing firebug, even though he was more powerful with the last update.

I think what we are seeing is most ppl who played sharpie trying some different classes. It should balance out over time so you get an expected number of people going that class. As for me, I usually avoided going sharpie lest I be the 6th sharpie on the team. Now, I can actually play that class and grab an m14 without feeling totally lame.

 

[masteriamamind]

I actually started playing sharpshooter again because it is fun now, and not boringly overpowered. As for stopping power issues, my main weapon as a sharp on suicidal and HoE is my 9mm.




The commando can now out gun a SS because its damage is not dependent on the headshot(that's ok). On HOE the Sharpy is even further penalized.

As for that statement, if you are a commando that does not consistently shoot things in the head, you will waste a ton of ammo, I shoot for the head with every class, including support. One AK bullet to the head will kill a clot, crawler, do decaps on several others.

Sorry i didn't elaborate. First post was turning into a text wall. When I said further penalized, I meant that head shot damage for the 9mm was further reduced. From 140% to 40%. The 9mm is a effective weapon for a SS. Its not OP just effective for trash clean up. If every perk was weakened for the HOE difficulty to make it more challenging , it would be fine. Its only the SS. A berserker not spawning with Armour, doesn't effect them the same way as lessening movement speed.

One of the things I miss about the mod (original killing floor) is that the player's weapon preference and skill determined their "perk". I hope perks and the role perks play get retooled for the sequel.

 

[Darkwave]

I use sharp to have more dosh actually :

Wave 1 , use sharp. Then i turn another perk ( Except if i start wave 1 as zerker) And sell the xbow to have more money.
( I have them all on Lvl 6 so doing this is really useful . Specially on HoE )

 

[Starsky]

I still mow zombies down with my handcannon & LAR in the early waves, and M14 & LAR when I can afford to swap out the HC. just gotta aim for the head
...it's always so painful to lose my beloved handcannon though

 

[weeman2412]

I spawn SS on the first wave.. and some times the last wave.. but generally I avoid it simply because the solo strategy for Sharp SHooters are now obsolete and no longer effective.. the most effective class to solo now is BerZerkers and Support Specialist... FIrebug and commando at a close 2nd.. medics and SS are generally avoided unless it's a non PUG group of players..

Sharpshooter is soloable btw and still is.. It just takes way more effort now..

 

[Deafmute]

I find it depressing that a perk's usefulness is somehow gauged by its ability to solo.

 

[weeman2412]

I find it depressing that a perk's usefulness is somehow gauged by its ability to solo.

Just my opinion and based on my playstyle dude .. I just like having a solo backup plan in case my entire team wipes and I just happen to be the only one left alive.. (which happens a lot of the time with level 0-3 Pugs)

 

[Eureka]

I find it depressing that a perk's usefulness is somehow gauged by its ability to solo.

I couldn't agree more.

I hope people aren't quitting KF because of the rebalancing. I know I've had a lot more fun playing since the last patch, and I haven't had a hard time getting in games, but that's hardly definitive. At any rate, yay new balance patch making other perks fun while still keeping Sharpshooters a valuable part of a team.

 

[The_Holy_Diver]

Would it be safe to assume they are < I mean by they all the body shot spammers not the real SS > crying in a dark corner?

 

[CandleJack]

The good Sharpshooters haven't gone anywhere.

I call myself a good sharpshooter; and i went somewhere.

Spoiler!

Medic lol

 

[Evilsod]

Just my opinion and based on my playstyle dude .. I just like having a solo backup plan in case my entire team wipes and I just happen to be the only one left alive.. (which happens a lot of the time with level 0-3 Pugs)

So your opinion and playstyle basically boils down to you being a selfish bastard? If you avoid SS because it can't steamroll everything without effort if your team wipes why even bother to voice that opinion? Its completely meaningless.

As for the whole "Commando gets his damage irrespective of headshots" thing... yes he does. But then, how many shots does it take to kill things when you don't hit the head? Answer, far too many. Unless you're willing to empty a clip of SCAR ammo to take down 4 Gorefasts you will be aiming for the head as priority.

 

[timur]

I think it's pretty good as-is.

Of course, it could, in theory, receive a slight damage buff combined with an equal nerf in reload speed (for xbow), but it's reached the land of the balanced perks.