Current Specialist Meta

[caleeb101]

So. I'm seeing the specialist meta shifting a lot with the updates and it's interesting. What's the order of the best weapons? I think it goes something like this (in my opinion):
1. SADAR (though it has received a nerf from T3's not being able to be knocked down now.)
2. Smartgun/Sniper (Snipers have actually got pretty good with night vision.)
3. Grenade Launcher B18 (since you can take both now.)

[Sleepy Retard]

There's only one of each spec so people take: SADAR, B18/GL, Scout, Sniper.

Because they're limited now, thus meaning one of each.

[Casany]

And if you didn't notice, the smartgunner is its own class now

[caleeb101]

There's only one of each spec so people take: SADAR, B18/GL, Scout, Sniper.

Because they're limited now, thus meaning one of each.

Maybe meta was the wrong term to use. I meant which is the best out of them.

[caleeb101]

And if you didn't notice, the smartgunner is its own class now

I know, I meant they're around the same power. Such confusion.

[Casany]

B18 GL is the worst IMO, you get a bad primary and can easily get killed. I played a round last night as B18 and one mature hunter killed me because tackleslash spam

[Imperator_Titan]

Now, with the extreme click delay after wielding a weapon, the SADAR has essentially shifted from the best to the worst. Seriously, you need to two-hand it for 5 seconds+ which either makes you a big and open target, or you miss your shot due to not being able to take it instantly/scaring away the xeno you're targetting. Add the fact that you can't stun T3s with HE anymore and you've got yourself the worst specialist weapon you can currently take. 1 SADAR and 2 AT rockets at a time essentially gives the xenos a massive buff since the only weapon used to deal with them is now near useless.

[MrJJJ]

Click delay really made being specialist super cancerous...

[kroack]

The only useful spec weapon is SADAR.

[Casany]

The only useful spec weapon is SADAR.

Not anymore. Nerfed into the ground

[Crab_Spider]

Not anymore. Nerfed into the ground

Good

[Fritigern]

"There is now a small delay between wielding a gun and firing it. This should only affect people with macros. The delay is higher for heavy and scoped weaponry."

This has essentially killed the smartgunner class and it has nothing to do with macros. Any knockdown, no matter how brief, will leave the smartgunner completely helpless. His main weapon will be disabled for roughly 5 seconds after standing up, meaning any young runner can neuter you during any skirmish. This also completely removes the ability for the smartgunner to carry his weapon in one hand to maintain speed and only wielding it when it's time to fire, giving smartgunners an effective speed nerf across the board.

This nerf is so random and disruptive that it makes me laugh knowing it got green lit. Volunteer devz r best devz.

[Challenger]

If something "only affects people with macros" why would it have a variable delay? What, macros shave more time off heavy and scoped weaponry? Can't they just say it's for balance reasons?

[Swagile]

The best spec loadouts are Snipers (anti boiler + Crusher and wounded alien clean up), and B18.

People are using the B18 wrong. Ditch the GL and keep the grenade belt. If you really need explosive stuns on T2's and lower, COOK YOUR GRENADE. Even if you get pounced on while cooking your nade, it will go off and you won't suffer that much damage due to B18 armor UNLESS you get bad RNG and the damage of the blast focuses on your legs (leg armor for B18 WHEN???).

What you REALLY want as a B18 Spec user is a FLAMER. Ask your SL for his flamer and get ALL THE TANKS. You are now the PRIME CRUSHER KILLER of the Squad.

Due to the fact that Crushers are STILL ROBUST, you will now be the front line soldier to take our crushers. You can box in a Crusher without fear because even if your shot, your B18 will soak up a LOT of damage for you before you go down and most of it will be fractures; broken bones are rare as a B18 unless you get full momentum Crusher charged. While boxing in a Crusher, keep spamming your Flamer.

Congratulations, you have most likely put a Crusher near crit, in crit, or dead by now as its also being shot by your squaddies.

[caleeb101]

Tch. I just noticed the nerf. It also makes escaping from nests EVEN HARDER if it wasn't hard enough already. By the time you've got past the delay of clicking items due to just getting up from the nest and the time it takes for you to nervously click your weapon because all this time you're under pressure, YOU NOW ALSO have to wait for the delay of weapon firing. If I see a marine escape a nest, it'll be really easy to tell that they are the robust ones or that the guard was awful. We might as well use perma nesting since you're only likely to escape if another marine is there in time and if the guard is competent, there ain't no way out.

[Monoo]

The wielding nerf is much worse than the stun nerf IMO, you're basically fucked if you were one-handing your weapon for any reason and you come across a sentinel, runner, or hunter.

[Imperator_Titan]

The wielding nerf is much worse than the stun nerf IMO, you're basically fucked if you were one-handing your weapon for any reason and you come across a sentinel, runner, or hunter.

Same here, especially with the SADAR. Ten seconds before you can fire is just too long.

[Monoo]

Same here, especially with the SADAR. Ten seconds before you can fire is just too long.

Not to mention, being a SADAR user is all about perfect timing. The opportunity to shoot would likely be wasted by the target moving away if it didn't already kill you...