Bold Hunter Rework Idea! (don't hate me!)

I have seen a lot of complaints on this class. The main complaint is the Beastcraft spell-line, regarding the instant cast, wolf pet, paired with low-range, fast bows.

I have always loved the idea of the hunter being a Me-and-my-pet class. I have had a greater desire for this class to be much more pet dependent. Here comes the Bold suggestion I have. Remove stealth, but keep the detection, and buff the pet aspect and make the class more group friendly. Now to further my ideas to balance this out and still keep the class fun and fit the role!

So removing stealth is huge for an archery class, but, in my opinion, the hunter is the archer who needs it least having a pet to confront ranged attacks. This is why I think it would be great to keep the stealth detection and even add an ability for the hunters pet to "sniff out" a nearby stealther. Including this change, a pet effectiveness buff, identical to enchanters level 40 & 50 in design should be added. Increase the pet's level on top of this change. Also pet diversity, much like enchanter, SM, Cabalist, but less options of course. I would like a bear, wolf, badger, and cat pet or some similar options, with them all having a unique single ability that makes one different than the other. Possibly removing the ability to charm, as the only reason anyone wants to charm is for healing bug pet. If keeping charm, I also like the idea of adding minstel/mentalist type charm as midgard is the only realm without this style of charm, but for animals/bugs only OFC.

Having increased reliable pet damage and interrupts for group pvp will make the hunter more desired in groups. While these changes would also promote the feel that I think all hunters actually desire when playing this class. I would recommend others adding ideas to this suggestion as well. This is an overall mind-shift idea on the hunter and just something I hope others can expand upon!

Mon 24 Dec 2018 4:11 AM by phixion

God no.

Just buff the pet to actually proc like it does on live.

Hunters are fine apart from the pet being absolutely gimped at the moment.

Mon 24 Dec 2018 2:42 PM by Zansobar

I don't think any archery class is "fine" on this server...maybe if they don't spec into bow they are better than if they do but that there is one of the main problems with the archery classes.

Mon 24 Dec 2018 2:59 PM by phixion

Zansobar wrote: ↑
Mon 24 Dec 2018 2:42 PM
I don't think any archery class is "fine" on this server...maybe if they don't spec into bow they are better than if they do but that there is one of the main problems with the archery classes.

I agree, all archers need help.

But we're talking about Hunters here, and if their pet was half decent, the class would be in line with the other archers.

Mon 24 Dec 2018 5:30 PM by Cadebrennus

phixion wrote: ↑
Mon 24 Dec 2018 2:59 PM
Zansobar wrote: ↑
Mon 24 Dec 2018 2:42 PM
I don't think any archery class is "fine" on this server...maybe if they don't spec into bow they are better than if they do but that there is one of the main problems with the archery classes.

I agree, all archers need help.

But we're talking about Hunters here, and if their pet was half decent, the class would be in line with the other archers.

They are already in line with other Archers. Bow damage (with equal speed bows) is the same. I tested this and melee damage. Hunter 2H is equal damage or better than Ranger CD with an equal amount of spec points. Dog is just bonus damage. Run speed sucks on dog but that's about it that needs improvement.

Just for the record Scout MH damage is equal to Ranger MH damage at the same amount of spec points. They trade off extra damage for much higher defense.

Mon 24 Dec 2018 6:06 PM by phixion

I think the problem is the pet here is literally nothing but an interruption tool. It cannot catch anyone and it doesn’t proc anything.

If the movement speed was live-like and the procs were added I’m sure hunters would be looked at differently.

Tue 25 Dec 2018 4:22 AM by inoeth

Please do not take stealth away, it would make the hunter a completly different class and tbh the suggestion reminds me (from hearing) of the wow hunter class though i never played that game.
Also im strictly against customizing classes in a way that had never existed in any way on live servers. Though it maybe nice to experience a "new" class it would also not be in line with the daoc classic feeling which this server wants to offer.

Tue 25 Dec 2018 9:36 AM by Siouxsie

I completely disagree with this suggestion. Just buff the pet, and allow it to proc snare or disease and allow it to run fast enough to catch a sprinting player.
That will make the class actually more viable and competitive.

Tue 25 Dec 2018 11:01 AM by relvinian

Nothing wrong with archers here. They will level fast. They will gank xpers. Think they are weak? Get a buddy. Still too weak? Get 2 buddies.

Tue 25 Dec 2018 1:45 PM by Bradekes

I am glad to hear everyone's responses! I am not offended or anything that no one wants this change actually. I think it is a cool idea, but the only reason I do is that there is too much similarities in all the classes. Hunter to me feels like it is missing something. Balance wise it doesn't need a disease or snare pet actually. If all you want to discuss is balance, then just make the pet faster. You have to remember that hunter also gets dex/qui and AF buff, which scout get neither, but no one likes to point that out. Hunter aren't really gimped any other way. All archers are on the same damage table for archery and hunter is supposed to actually be on a slightly higher damage table for melee. Having a 2h weap and a pet goes above the dmg of a dualwield. I think it is just a boring class that could use some new ideas, lol.

Tue 25 Dec 2018 3:46 PM by inoeth

Bradekes wrote: ↑
Tue 25 Dec 2018 1:45 PM
I am glad to hear everyone's responses! I am not offended or anything that no one wants this change actually. I think it is a cool idea, but the only reason I do is that there is too much similarities in all the classes. Hunter to me feels like it is missing something. Balance wise it doesn't need a disease or snare pet actually. If all you want to discuss is balance, then just make the pet faster. You have to remember that hunter also gets dex/qui and AF buff, which scout get neither, but no one likes to point that out. Hunter aren't really gimped any other way. All archers are on the same damage table for archery and hunter is supposed to actually be on a slightly higher damage table for melee. Having a 2h weap and a pet goes above the dmg of a dualwield. I think it is just a boring class that could use some new ideas, lol.

Scout has slam! Also the hunter/ranger selfbuffs are much weaker than charged buffs, therefore you can not count it as something that makes the class strong. Actually because of that all the archers are at the same level, buff-wise. I agree hunters are not really gimped but it simply does not make real sense to spec the class specific line (beast craft) for a pet that does no dmg and brings more downsides (evades/procs) than benefits. If the buffs in that line would actually be worth specing it i would not complain.

Tue 25 Dec 2018 3:56 PM by Bradekes

inoeth wrote: ↑
Tue 25 Dec 2018 3:46 PM
Scout has slam! Also the hunter/ranger selfbuffs are much weaker than charged buffs, therefore you can not count it as something that makes the class strong.

Why is that such a big deal exactly? You act like there is something huge they can do with this... If your pet is attacking them they can't exactly get any benefit from the stun. You can have purge... like everyone should.. they can't purge your pet... I understand that the self buffs may not be on par with a clerics buffs, nor do I think they should, but they are a bonus not something that makes the class strong but makes it balanced. You have backstun which isn't that hard to pull off.. I am not understanding the problem... Faster pet would destroy scout... as soon as stun wore off your pet (which would take the scout a minimum of extra 3 seconds off your stun duration to even slam your pet) he would be on the scouts butt chewing on him while you shoot him again.

Tue 25 Dec 2018 10:13 PM by inoeth

Bradekes wrote: ↑
Tue 25 Dec 2018 3:56 PM
inoeth wrote: ↑
Tue 25 Dec 2018 3:46 PM
Scout has slam! Also the hunter/ranger selfbuffs are much weaker than charged buffs, therefore you can not count it as something that makes the class strong.

Why is that such a big deal exactly? You act like there is something huge they can do with this... If your pet is attacking them they can't exactly get any benefit from the stun. You can have purge... like everyone should.. they can't purge your pet... I understand that the self buffs may not be on par with a clerics buffs, nor do I think they should, but they are a bonus not something that makes the class strong but makes it balanced. You have backstun which isn't that hard to pull off.. I am not understanding the problem... Faster pet would destroy scout... as soon as stun wore off your pet (which would take the scout a minimum of extra 3 seconds off your stun duration to even slam your pet) he would be on the scouts butt chewing on him while you shoot him again.

Try hit a shield user with 2h.
Btw did you ever play a scout? Yes scout vs hunter is not easymode but doable. Depends on your spec, but since most ppl skill something like 50 bow on scout, no wonder they lose lol.

What i was talking about is that as a hunter you put skill points into BC which on paper gives you a pet and buffs but in reality the pet sucks and so do the buffs where scouts actually benefit greatly from their shield skill.
Im not saying selfbuffs should be stronger than buff class buffs but at least stroner than charged buff which is not the case, further even the red self buffs are significantly weaker than charged buffs so tell me why would anyone spec self buffs?
The thing is all archers basicly have to charge buffs but the scout actually benefits from the shield skill where hunters and rangers do not.
What i am saying is that there should be a reason to put points into the class specific skill lines. Is that hard to understand?