Steady Aim duration reduction :(

[Bayler_x]

<DIV>The patch notes for Test Update #7 say that the ranger self-buffs Take Aim and Steady Aim are being reduced to 4 minutes with a 5 minute reuse timer.  I see that a ruining a good buff.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Steady Aim started off with a fairly short duration.  (I don't know about Take Aim yet - I'm not high enough level.)  And it wasn't very useful.  The buff did provide some nice bonuses, but not enough to balance the tedium of having to match up your buff usage with your expected up and down combat timers are in the next 10 minutes.  That's just not fun.  The buff isn't worth it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>After it got increased to 15 minutes and refreshable without a wait, I used it all the time, and I loved it.  It was on the same timer as my other always-on buffs.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>More importantly: to me, at least, Steady Aim allowed us, at times, to be full-time archers - something of a class-defining characteristic.  I've been in groups with higher level guildmates where the healers couldn't afford to have me in melee range, but I was able to still contribute to the quest with ranged attacks.  The sole reason I was able to is because of the skill boost from Steady Aim.  I'm affraid that by nerfing this buff, you'll frustrate our ability to be useful ranged attackers, by forcing us to have to constantly monitor the on-again/off-again state of our buffs.  Again, that's not fun.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm sure the devs have reasons for their plan to restrict these two skills, but frankly I can't imagine what they are.  I'd feel a lot better if they'd offer a reason, and give us a chance to discuss alternatives.</DIV>

[Platfing]

<P>They should just remove the timers completely.  It's not like rangers are overpowered or anything right now LOL.  </P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Aer]

<P>Well if it makes you feel better they are just continuing the fine tradition of nerfing the rangers and crusaders....two things SOE really likes to do.</P> <P>Other than lying about Froggies being in the game of course....that's their #1 favorate thing to do. Lying in general </P> <P>Kinda like how they are lying about "going to take the time to test these changes and not push them through to live servers". Forget about it. It's going live soon whether its well thought out or not.</P> <p>Message Edited by AeriB on <span class=date_text>04-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:49 PM</span>

[Fennir]

The funny thing is that we have one group buff.  And we get it at level 1.  And it only works out of combat. But our solo buffs are overpowered? ... It would be nice to get some sort of explanation from Moorgard about this change, like they did in the hide_illusion thread, as I just can't figure it out considering they JUST changed it to 15 minutes. Honestly, I'm totally boggled here. <div></div>

[Merkad]

I agree, I don't like guessing whther I should use a buff or not due to recast timers and durations, but I did not even use Steady Aim 'til it was increased in duration, so I guess I will live with it if I forget to have it up, honestly, since it is only four minutes, I doubt I will bother casting it except for when a tougher fight is around the corner, too much hassle. I don't use Natural Instincts due to this reason, though sincer it appears to be getting boosted, I may start. On another note, Take Aim and Focus Fire are broken, they increase bow skill, not ranged skill. Unless, ofcourse, they get changed with this duration change. Merkades, 50th Ranger. Wanna hedge bets that with the increase to Natural Instincts to 15mins that it's +ranged won't stack with the Steady Aim line +ranged <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>