A pulse similar to pheonix that spots people. Can be used while invisible (though subject to change depending on balance) and goes through walls.
Allows phantom to scout ahead, line up headshots quickly before turning corners, and act like a recon. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it’s useful.
Props to whoever originally came up with it.
The problem is with it, is that it adds another layer of problems with balancing the stealth aspect of Phantom.
So let’s say we go the route of buffing his cloak so he is near invisible, if he uses this ability, the enemy will get the DETECTED notification, so any attempt to be stealthy is ruined, and you’ll likely die when caught. Sure the armor protects you somewhat, but hardly enough to survive. I can’t imagine why you’d use it on a solo enemy when you could just kill em instead, you’d really only want to use it against groups to relay their location.
Personally I am more in favor of a decoy of some sort, like the heart beat sensor, but produces fake detection icon for the enemy team. Luring people in or bluffing a push from your team, it’s like using smoke in counter strike, and being aggressive at A when your bomb carrier is going to B.
I think that’s a role Phantom can fill quite nicely, along with being a great picking class if he gets his cloak buffed.
So its like scan pulse from battlefront. nice. Could definitely useful.
Like @Watsyurdeal said above it would have to give the detected notification, however, how is the enemy to know if it a sniper scouting you out or a phantom. So i think some element of stealth would be preserved.
I think that may also come in line with increasing phantoms speed. However, if his speed is increased, I think his health needs to be decreased. And then fiddle around with his visibility and the noise his armour makes.
whatever the outcome Im sure the devs will figure something out that works.
@Watsyurdeal I see what you mean, but as @succinctDeer said, there’s no way to know that a phantom has detected you. But I definitely see where you are coming from, and I think something like a reduced audio on his cloak or similar would stop him from being found out so easily, as Deer says.
and personally, I would use the ability I suggested more around corners before a push, or if I’m behind enemy lines and see a big group of people. I wouldn’t know and effective range for the pulse, but it adds a certain risk/reward to getting close (the only way to actually earn xp as phantom if your not killing a bunch)
but your suggestion would definitely take more skill to use effectively, and the idea of deception is intriguing. However, I would rather phantom have some kind of spotting ability and being more useful as a scout character, especially as the devs have pushed him more as a lone wolf play style. the pulse could be used for both the team and a single phantom, more easily then your suggestion.
but honestly, I just want phantom to be a little more viable.
I’m sure you two have played against a Vasilli or Red Eye, when detected you see a red DETECTED on your screen and hear a distinct noise.
Same thing would happen with Phantom, and it wouldn’t take too much thought to assume a Phantom is close.
@Watsyurdeal True enough, but depending on the length of the spot, a good phantom may not charge straight in. Just knowing the amount of enemies there are and where they are is good information, and if they are in combat, its less likely they are going to look for an invisible merc.
Also, I think this is why working through walls would be very important. Hiding in cover or by the wall in another room, or underneath a bridge with them above could all stop them finding you out.
And there’s always the option of not using the pulse if you think its too risky.
However, I could see a problem in playing experienced players, unless you are a very good phantom. However, that’s the problem with phantom anyway. I believe the pulse would only make phantom more viable, and be worth the risk of discovery if used right.
[quote=“blisteringOwlNest;148248”]@Watsyurdeal True enough, but depending on the length of the spot, a good phantom may not charge straight in. Just knowing the amount of enemies there are and where they are is good information, and if they are in combat, its less likely they are going to look for an invisible merc.
Also, I think this is why working through walls would be very important. Hiding in cover or by the wall in another room, or underneath a bridge with them above could all stop them finding you out.
And there’s always the option of not using the pulse if you think its too risky.
However, I could see a problem in playing experienced players, unless you are a very good phantom. However, that’s the problem with phantom anyway. I believe the pulse would only make phantom more viable, and be worth the risk of discovery if used right.[/quote]
I’m sorry but I disagree, for spotting Red Eye and Vasilli will always be better sense the motion sensor can be thrown, and Vasilli doesn’t have to be in a close range scenario. And with Red Eye, he can spot through smoke, and it’s essentially a hit scan.
Phantom needs something more unique, more distinct, an anti Recon tool would absolutely fit better with his stealthy nature.
fair enough, and hopefully when they do eventually give some love to phantom, it will be something that will have an impact on teamplay, and not be another selfish ability. Here’s hoping!
@Watsyurdeal @blisteringOwlNest
Perhaps when phantoms armor is activated is acts like Jammer from Black Ops 1? In a certain radius that is.
@succinctDeer remind me what that did? been a while since i’ve played it. I assume just an aoe EMP emitter?
it made the minimap go fuzzy when you were in its range. Perhaps this effect could block the red dots above spotted peoples heads as well.
If you add this, make him actually hard to see when walking. - please. (For more context, see my other msc. rants on Phantom.) The mix of fuzzy minimap, which very few people use outside of medics/engies, combined with the noise on phantom may actually be a bit worse for him. If your minimap goes fuzzy, then that’s already a warning: then just follow your ears to find the human-outline.
I like the pulse idea. Increasing the radius the longer you hold it before release. Once enemies are spotted it is up to the phantom player what to do with the info. Relocation is key with all mercs.
A pulse would be rather counter productive to stealth and promote finding big packs of enemies which is what annoyed people before his nerf (ballerina sessions through crowds of enemies).
I personally really like this one. Suits his nature if you ask me.
all they had to do to fix the ‘spin’ was fix his hitreg on melee: didn’t require a de-buff on his cloak or health/speed. - He’s a joke to play against if even 1 other teammate is nearby. - Even if he starts spotting people, he won’t be as effective as bushwacker.
Funny thing about the health/speed thing.
While Phantom’s health was decreased, his speed wasn’t increased accordingly and While Vasilli’s health was increased, his speed wasn’t decreased.
The spin/bey-blading was reduced by decreasing the frames of his attacks but SD also added the god awful movement speed reduction to every heavy attack, it was decreased, but still it’s pretty awful to do that to all melee attacks.
If the main problem was how effective his cloak’s damage absorption was (which I question why it was added in the first place) it makes sense it was reduced, especially how damage should bleed into his health if it exceeds the Refractive Armor’s “Health”
But not it’s visibility, audibility and charge time along with making Phantom stay cloaked while detected as it’s redundant.
Pre-nerf phantom: http://puu.sh/nc5hP/1f6892ea53.jpg
Post-nerf phantom: http://puu.sh/nc5oB/127876b496.jpg
I would have added a marching band in the second photo, but I didn’t have time in photo shop. The noise will just have to be implied: imagine the owl is standing next to a highway.
(In all seriousness, I don’t mind the noise: just make him hard-to-see again while walking.)
[quote=“Incoming;148500”]A pulse would be rather counter productive to stealth and promote finding big packs of enemies which is what annoyed people before his nerf (ballerina sessions through crowds of enemies).
I personally really like this one. Suits his nature if you ask me.
[/quote]
You could also use it to spot lone enemies, giving them away on the map and then easily take them out. I don’t see how this is counter productive to stealth. Stealth is a means to an end not and end in itself. Should that end be to take out enemies AND/or spot enemies perhaps. You would get yourself into a good position and from there scout out the enemies, maybe killing a straggler. Tell me how you would get ballerina sessions through crowds of enemies by spotting?? Those guys must really suck @$$.
The stealth needs to have a purpose. killing, spotting, objectives whatever.
Whenever you are spotted, you are given a warning: getting spotted out-of-sight of a red-eye or vassili would be more of a give away than the ringing sound of phantom’s cloak. - being spotted puts someone on-edge and thus harder to ambush.
@Naonna if you are goin to ambush someone, you wouldn’t need the pulse. If you turn a corner and see a big group of enemies, you spot them and retreat. Tactics and smart play would be very important.
