So, a couple of patches ago the Heartbeat sensor range was reduced by 40% and recently the length of time a sensor remains is reduced meaning you are now required to throw them more often. Also a couple of patches ago the physics were changed meaning you no longer have the crazy throw distances that we once had. Overall this has got to be one of the biggest nerfs I have seen and yet people still have a problem with it. Obviously the issue is not really the abilities strength but more the basic concept of “legal wallhack”.
My issue here is that I believe that the wall hack is needed unless you want to make Vasseli the hardest to use Merc in the game. Sure, you can do this. However that would skill level out a large group of wannabe snipers as well as remove outward team function, XP pool and incentive to play more aggressive…
After lots of thinking about this I have come up with the following concept…
The Heartbeat Sensor Pulse Function.
Basically when the heartbeat sensor is thrown the 3D spotting remains for the Merc that threw the sensor but no information is relayed to their team on the hud. Obviously the player still has the ability to verbally communicate enemy positions but the game does nothing to do that for you. The Pulse function would be activated by repressing the Abilities button and once the Pulse is active it will display enemy positions the same way it currently does to your team mates for 3 seconds. The Pulse increases the range of the Heartbeat Sensor by 25%. During that 3 seconds I would slowly have the Hud icons fade away meaning as time goes on it becomes harder to see. The Pulse function in return destroys the current Heartbeat Sensor. If the sensor will also pulse by default when its lifetime comes to and end. If an enemy destroys the sensor then there will be no pulse.
Overall this system would be yet another nerf to the ability but at the same time it increases the potential skill curve of Vasseli (basically meaning the gap between a poor sniper and a great sniper is widened). At the same time it does not gimp the snipers themselves meaning that lower skilled players may still play it and be semi useful and most importantly still have fun. The auto Pulse after the sensor runs out of time allows players to still be useful to the team and get access to that spotting XP pool.
Pros
[ul]
[li]Higher skill curve but not requirement.
[/li][li]Changing ability lifetime can be used to balance without effecting the sniper.
[/li][li]Enemy will only be visible for 3sec out of the ## ability time.
[/li][/ul]
Cons
[ul]
[li]Communicating to the enemy who can see them.
[/li][/ul]
