test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
Options
Reduce Orbital Cannon delay
pantagruel01
Posts: 7,091 Arc User
Currently, you have 4.5s after the ground tell appears before orbital cannon hits. That's an eternity to dodge. Reducing it to 2s would still be plenty of time for aware players to dodge (similar to destroyer's death beams) and would vastly cut down on "by the time the cannon hits, all targets are already dead" in PvE.
0
Comments
But seriously l agree - Orbital Cannon is a lackluster & it needs a buff.
Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained
Member of Paragon Dawn: Because some people like friendly helpful communities.
Yeah some things are broken... no I don't use/abuse them.. where would be the fun in that?
PVP is starving without rewards
1. Please give us Daily PVP missions that reward Questionite.
2. Please give us an exchange rate between Acclaim and Recognition so that PVP has access to all "On Alert" PVE rewards.
I think a buff in the damage to justify the delay is more feasible. Even if it's cut down to 2 sec, it'd cut into that ground marker animation too quickly IMO. If it's going to be instant then do away with the marker altogether; something I highly expect to not happen.
The only trick would be that the reticle would have to follow the target during the charge.
In any case, the ultimate purpose of the power is to deal damage, not have elaborate effects.
Given the choice between "no one is the the beam by the time it finally goes off" and "I don't get to see the targeting marker anymore", I think pretty much everyone that uses, or wants to use, this power would choose the latter.
While facing Mechassassin in an alert earlier today he hit no one with his orbital cannon. That includes the time he hit my character with a hold and then activated the cannon right after that.
I was able to break free and walk out of the AoE marker with time to spare. When there was no hold? Not even close.
The AI do not have the benefit of recognizing the reticle, but it's really only good for leading off or if a tank has a group occupied.
Even then, though, in that latter case there may be faster and more effective ways of dealing with that crowd.
Since Orbital Cannon has a certain concept behind it visual-wise with a dramatic build-up involving a "OH !#*$" marker with a huge energy beam as the pay-off, I say retain that visual concept. Not everything has to be designed with FOTM min-max mentality with outputting DPS in the quickest time possible. It also has to do with what looks satisfying visually and thematically for the player. Unfortunately it's an AI restriction that can't be helped, unless enemies using Orbital Cannon are given the ability to move the marker before the beam hits. Then anyone who feels that they have better AoE options dealing with the crowd would be better off picking those options for the build. Anyone who has a priority focus on their build outputting the best DPS possible wouldn't have gone with Orbital Cannon in the first place.
No, I am not making an argument to get rid of all of the FX on orbital cannon or anything else. A little effort on your part to understand context would be nice.
Get rid of the reticle and have the cannon blast down immediately = small price to pay for making the power worthwhile.
If you insist on having the power as it is no win terms of FX then you may be insisting on having it is now in all regards.
And are other things better than the orbital cannon right now for dealing with enemies that he tank has corralled? Of course, but isn't that why people are looking for ways to make it more effective?
Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained
And yes I insist on having the power as it is, and have mentioned that I have no problems with it getting a damage boost or having the reticle being able to be moved about by the player before the beam hits. Min-max builders would then get a more "worthwhile" power damage wise and it would still appeal to thematic players no less. Well freeform already gives all the tools to make the power as effective as the build allows. And like I said, there are people out there who for thematic reasons choose to pick the power for the "cool" FX moreso than damage. Not everything has to conform to DPS and certainly not by gutting the power visually.
The only way it's "objectively inferior" is because it's not dealing damage as quickly as your personal DPS-maxed build playstyle demands it to be.
I'm all for giving the power a damage boost. I'm not in favor of altering the power's animation just because the effect isn't as instantenous as other powers that don't require that kind of build-up in their animation.
Formerly @Seschat pre PWEmerger. @Seschat on the Titan boards.
Supporter of the Titan Project.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
My characters
Anvil of Dawn is still out there.
Even if they can not reasonably make it where the reticle tracks the target, they could just reduce the activation and delay. You would still get the reticle on the ground, just not for as long.