PROBLEM: Tank's Deploy?

Hey everyone. I posted this topic over on the Steam forums awhile back but I haven't gotten any responses, so I thought I'd post it here too.

Anyway. While I was having a very good match as a tank last night, I was playing around with the deploy skill trying to find the right kind of uses for it.

For the most part, I never really bothered using deploy. But once I started trying to actively use it, there is something I quickly noticed and now CANNOT unnotice. While the tank starts the deploying animation, the game completely deprives you of the ability to aim until you are done deploying, about 3 seconds later. And also while undeploying as well.

Compare this to the Gunner deploy ability, Gunners can still aim in the full 180 degrees in front of them while deploying. Meanwhile, Tanks get their aim forced front and center.

I don't understand why this happens, but my guess is that it has to do with the deploy animation itself. If I remember correctly, the Gunner's deploy animation gives him the appearance of having his aim locked front and center for 3 seconds, but in reality he can still aim wherever he wants. It's only the tank that can't do anything. Even with the rail gun!

This really makes the deploy ability even more cumbersome to use. Has anyone else noticed this? What gives?

I noticed the difference with gunner a few days back. I do see where this would be a problem for railguning gunners.

Yeah. The ability to recover health and shoot in any direction. Just what the Tank needs.
:roll:

Huh? I'm talking about the 3 second loss of control while deploying. Of course you can shoot in any direction 180 degrees in front of you, after the arbitrary loss of control of deploying.

Arbitrary especially compared to the Gunner that doesn't suffer from this. I honestly tried to fathom the reason behind this (if it was a decision made on purpose by the devs), and I really can't think of a reason.

If there is a reason, then could you please explain it? Because that sarcastic statement doesn't answer my questions about it.

The reason is simple. The Gunner doesn't recover health while deployed. Not so simple the Gunner's deploy activates differently then the Tanks.

Intentional or not. I don't find it to be a problem.

I thought Gunners do regenerate health while deployed?

Still. I know it's not gamebreaking by any means, and I know it doesn't make the Tank a weak class at all. I just don't see the reason for it. Especially a balance reason.

Like I said, I was trying to find applications for deploy. I wanted to use it somewhat like I use deploy for the gunner, but once I realized how deploying basically makes it impossible to attack for 3 seconds I pretty much threw the idea out the window.

At least I'd like to hear what the devs think about this. It's not like it's a secret that deploy abilities have very limited meaningful applications. And in the Tank's case, there's really no purpose to use it in combat against pros. IF that loss of control during deploying and packing back up wasn't there, I could see it being more useful than it is now.

True.

Although the Tank's deploy is horrible in a Pro v Pro situation there are other situations where it shines. For example assaulting an enemy turret, deploying makes it so knockback effect are useless and pairing that with his Product Grenade (at least lvl 2) the Tank can really put some damage into defenses.

The Gunner, Imo, is a Pro Controller. Tank is a Bot Escort. So it makes sense their deploy skill are used in different ways.

wow TIL , so the gunner doesnt have that aim delay? that delay in aim is why i never use the tank deploy for offence. but if its true that gunners dont re-gen health during their deploy then its a fair trade.

<--20 mins gunner experiance since august

gunners regen health normally, they just don't get the massive regen boost that tanks do


the loss of aim while deploying has been around since the 360 game came out, and people pointed it out then too. I guess it's just a "feature".

the only reason i see to deploy is juice from lazer turrets or run away then deploy to regen quicker, other then that it's not really needed otherwise you will just die

I only use it to get my health back super quick on my gold regen build, and to pretty much never die in the scramble blitz.

This is pretty much the only reasonable use I see for the Tank's deploy in it's current form. If that 3 second freeze wasn't there, it could be more useful.

The Gunner's deploy animation gives him the appearance of being frozen for 3 seconds just like the tank, but you CAN shoot in any direction during the animation.

I still don't see how it's a fair trade, or intentional. :\

Has the devs ever said anything about this? Like I said, it just seems so arbitrary for the Tank to have to suffer this when the Gunner doesn't. If there is a valid balance reason, I really would like to know what it is. Seriously!

And that's very depressing. Currently, the Tank's deploy just has no meaningful applications. At least with the Gunner's deploy, I've had some modest success with it. It seems like the best use for it (and by best, I mean the reason why deploy is mostly used) is to heal. If that's the case, then the ability could be better being redesigned.

That's mostly what I'm hearing. People deploying to regen health, then packing up and leaving. In my eyes, I don't think this is how the ability was intended to be used.

i see being able to run and regen in an instant a great ability, otherwise your stuck sitting there waiting to regen for longer

But does that really justify the total loss of aiming control during deploying? Which happens at ALL levels of it's upgrades. Even if upgraded, It basically remains uniformly useless in combat for most cases, except it gains bonuses to juice generation, and health and ammo regen during upgrades, while the loss of control is ALWAYS there.

So it's combat applications are nonexistent, while it passively gains bonuses. One that further inspires someone to use it outside of combat, and the other to camp turrets.

@Vogue , Your post has driven me to rethink my stance ... its fair in a way from the health regen.. but doesnt the gunner get a face shield to protect from 1shot headshots? if so then i can see this as unfair.

as i said earlier im not experienced with the gunner but from what i recall the gunner gets a critical shot bonus in deploy right? at max level does it give ammo regen too?

The Gunner does get a headshield to protect from that dreaded OHKO. But Snipers are still likely to cut you to ribbons with bodyshots.

Yes the Gunner does get added critical shots during deploy. Which does make it even more useful in combat. The increased range, fire rate, added accuracy, and added criticals, on top of the slowdown effect means that the Gunner's deploy does have some combat potential. But it doesn't give ammo regen, so Gunner's still need to reload.

The health regen is awesome. And it's admittedly the reason why I deploy as a Tank the most. I just wish it had more of a use in combat against pros like the Gunner's does. Hell even against bots would be a start.

both will probably have more uses, when they introduce another game mode.

As for the aiming bit I am not sure Uber has ever commented on it, but I do know they said this about "certain skills"

"Some skills are more useful during Blitz then during Crossfire."

tank deploy is simply worthless. Spend the 550 on turrets

Get out!

Deploy is great if you know what to do with it. An early L2 Deploy means you can hide for 5 seconds and come back with 100% health. Do you realise how much you can grief people with Gold Armour, Silver Speed, and L2 Deploy and Passive?

Then there's L3 Deploy. That completely negates any need the Reload and Clip size perks. For $550 you can have infinite ammo forever!

Also, speedy health regen, even moar health, and extended Jetbeam range.