An Update: On Upcoming Changes to Hunters

[NameAlreadyTaken]

Hmm.. not quite sure...

When as the last time we got an update? :P

(where HS and other skills got reduced damage and such).

You mean when...

-HS got a damage reduction, and also a cool down reduction (drastic reduction w/ 4R traits)
-Improved Fleetness when from awful to awesome
-Class traits got shuffled to make better builds possible
-The threat penalty on S:Strength for traiting Bowmaster went away
-The power penalty on S:Strength for traiting Bowmaster was reduced
-Several class traits were improved
-Press Onward became a 5min cool down, always usable in combat skill

I suppose if all you did was sit in camo to Burn Hot + Heartseeker Creeps it was a nerf. You could do it a lot more often thanks to lower HS and BH cool downs though, so hurray.

The only real nerf was to SotE, but that was pretty OP in its existing form.

[haouliboy]

Im still new to hunter and havent played mine past the introduction and things because i get involved with doing things with my higher lvl characters. but all these changes sound great to me.

[Faileon]

Nerf?? New fleetness and the speed with Blue Setup was the best what the devs could ever bring to hunters. If you are 3RD+ on DPS list on SINGLE target, reroll, you are doing it wrong.

[Eldrandir]

Nerf?? New fleetness and the speed with Blue Setup was the best what the devs could ever bring to hunters. If you are 3RD+ on DPS list on SINGLE target, reroll, you are doing it wrong.

Yep, though a legacy for +IF duration like the +Needful Haste duration would be very much appreciated.

[Odin_of_Freyr]

People play their hunters differently. Some PvP, some PvE. Trying to compare the two seems to confuse people and provide differing opinions on if an update is a nerf or upgrade.



As for PvE, hunters have been upgraded lately. Many of the changes have been a benefit for the PvE hunter who can stand still and just smash buttons provided they have enough ICPR to sustain it. 5 blues w fleetness slotted can tear through power and focus if you know what you're doing.



Concerning PvP, I haven't personally felt there have been any upgrades for my playstyle. In fact the S:S damage reduction of +5% was a nerf for me. I am out for fun fights and enjoy 1v1s. I just run around in S:S and rely on some big hits, and a bit of melee. Hunters just aren't the best for small groups and 1v1s. Hunters without Resolute Aim slotted are in a tough position if under attack. Playing my RK in those situations really makes me realize how much the hunter struggles. All that being said, hunters can still do just fine in PvP so long as you don't sit at 4500 morale and use a junker bow.



Everyone's playstyles are different, and saying an update is a nerf or upgrade for everyone is usually not true. I can say that I've felt that Turbine has been providing the casual player a good bit of help in PvE, and most people enjoy the changes. I'm not necessarily one of them. The worst thing I see is people who only play either PvP or PvE try to argue their opinions without knowing anything about the otherside.

[Nerglor]

Not sure what to make of Bowmaster not being tied to S:S. Unless some of the traits are being changed to benefit other stances which might be a good thing.

Huntsman could be really good. A lot of people jump the gun but Huntsman is pure speed, so maybe while slotted Huntsman our melee skills give back power or add focus when used. I could think of several ways this would be nice, especially in the Moors.

Trapper never use it, so for me it would have to have a complete overhaul.

I agree, unless the Bowmaster is going to have a trait or two to benefit another stance i would not change it, as for the melee i don't think its needed, with deadly precision trait, every critical hit give you focus and as for power you have the bow of the righteous, strength of earth, and the deep concentration trait. For me i only use swift stroke to increase my parry rating so inductions are not as easily interrupted and blindside to add focus, i don't think we need anymore melee buffs

[SerowLOTRO]

So now that we've seen some new skills at Gamescom 2011, what are your thoughts on it?

At first glance, I'd say that I don't like having 2 new 10sec cooldown skills. I would rather they incorporate the buff from Hunter's Art into a Further Improved Swift Bow and add the new AOE functionality of Split Shot into an Improved Blood Arrow. Although, I could see the case for a separate Split Shot replacing Blood Arrow in a shot rotation when calling for massive AOE, such that we have a PS+lolBA for single target, and PS+SS+RoA for AOE. But I would really prefer Hunter's Art being baked into a Further ISB.