@Naonna I can see where the concern is coming from, but after a bit of thinking I found a couple of ways to make it more difficult for noobs (or anyone) to just pick up and wreck with Turner, similar to the learning curve with Sparks or even Aimee with the PDP.
The idea behind the Backdoor ability isn’t to render a mercs ability useless, it’s more to disband or weaken enemy defenses so that you don’t just get people camping in one spot for too long, to ‘shake up’ defenses the same way Thunder or Nader does (just more effectively). It would actually help mercs like Sawbones, Sparks and Arty as their medpacks/ammo packs can’t be ‘turned’ by the Backdoor ability, making them more useful against Turner.
It also wouldn’t completely devalue deployable-using players, as they can just redeploy their depolyables somewhere else, and their ‘turned’ deployable will disappear. In addition, after they’re turned, no-one else can pick up and ‘steal’ the deployable, but since the deployable now belongs to the enemy team, it can easily be destroyed to prevent the enemy team from using it.
The team could prioritize killing Turner before the other mercs to prevent a backdoor from being deployed, and considering Turner’s low health, it wouldnt be difficult to hunt him down with an assault or another objective specialist. On top of that, the Backdoor ability could have a longer base cool down. Besides, his ability cooldown depend on how effectively the ability was used.
Finally, if the defending team also has a Turner, he could use HIS Backdoor to counter the attacking teams backdoor.
To sum it up, Backdoor can be defended against(nerfed) in many ways:
- Redeploy the deployable outside the range of the Backdoor
- Destroy the turned deployable
- Prioritize killing Turner (low health)
- Use mercs that don’t use deployables
- Use another Turner to counter
- Longer base cooldown
- Ability takes time to activate, gives chance to destroy before it activates
- Backdoor can be destroyed (because it’s a deployable)
- Backdoor has a limited duration (30-40s)
As you can see, there are actually too many different ways the Backdoor ability can be countered. Even if #1 doesn’t actually work ( I think multiple deployables can be placed, but they’re usually destroyed or have a long Cooldown), Turner’s Backdoor is not actually as overpowered and is kinda weak if not used effectively. Personally, I wouldn’t put all of the 9 countermeasures into the game. It was why I originally thought a second ability wouldn’t be a bad thought, though he is an objective specialist…
In his defense, no matter the countermeasures, it still shakes up the defense. Mercs with deployables still have to figure out of they should wait it out, or redeploy their deployables somewhere outside the range of the Backdoor, which could displace critically needed support I.e a health station. Should I destroy my deployables? What if another Turner comes by and Counters? Should I wait? Can we find the Backdoor, or kill the enemy Turner?
This’ll also encourage teamwork. Mercs like Sawbonez, Sparks, Arty and Skyhammer suddenly play an important role of supporting their team, and aren’t battling for XP against deployable users. Assault mercs will have to defend their teams whilst they hunt down the Backdoor or the enemy Turner. For the attacking team, the rewards are greater: A push now means a free ammo station, health station, heartbeat sensor and/or turret. The enemy is low on health, ammo! Perfect time for a push!
This is why Turner gets his name: Use him effectively and he can turn the tide of the battle in his favor, but its ultimately up to his team to take the opportunity.
As for the UZ, think more like a light version of Rhinos minigun but with greater recoil than the Crotzni and the spread/distance of the Remburg. And a 40-50 round magazine that runs dry in less than 10 seconds, with the reload of the Crotzni. Correct me if I’m wrong @Dysfnal
Ow. my fingers hurt. all typed on a phone. Thanks @Naonna for futhuring Turner’s development!
@Dysfnal This Merc is shaping up better than thought! If only we had some concept art.
Reflecting on the above mini-essay, I’ve thought of an improvement for the Backdoor; A very distinct sound or effect or some sort of command chatter from Turner informing the team that the Backdoor had been activated AND how many deployables it has turned, similar to how one knows when Vassili’s heartbeat sensor has spotted an enemy. Only a heads up for the team members, not for the enemy team.
