I think most people would agree that archery in this server is not performing well. Lowish attack stats/speed vs. higher than original HP and AF forces the archers into a melee orientated style with little or no archery (see also how scout is suffering the most therefore). I recently played around with long shot and its okish, but 6 points for 1 shot every 5 minutes is questionable. However, I think this would be the way to go to make archery not only a bit better, but also less boring, Therefore I propose to change some of the existing abilitys and move the timed archers RAs into the bow line. Last but not least, we can take the opportunity to fix that stupid 20% unstealth mechanic on crit shot. Rapid fire can be used to increase the none crit shot DPS of archers, numbers can be adapted but that's the idea how to
Rapid fire (changed):
Bow 20 = rapid fire 1 (90% draw time, damage reduced to 92%)
Bow 25 = rapid fire 2 (80% draw time, damage reduced to 83%)
Bow 30 = rapid fire 3 (70% draw time, damage reduced to 74%) <- thats around 5,8% damage increase which matches the loss via resist changes
Bow 35 = rapid fire 4 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 65%) <- thats around 8% damage increase
Bow 40 = rapid fire 5 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 66%)
Bow 45 = rapid fire 6 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 68%)
Bow 50 = rapid fire 7 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 70%) <- thats about 16% damage increase and a 23% difference from current 52 comp spec to 68 total bow spec but only for rapid fire shots)
Long shot (changed, moved to skill line)
Bow 21 = Long shot 1 (breaks bubble, 110% range, recast 4 minutes)
Bow 26 = Long shot 2 (breaks bubble, 120% range, recast 2 minutes)
Bow 31 = Long shot 3 (breaks bubble, 130% range, recast 1 minutes)
Bow 36 = Long shot 4 (breaks bubble, 140% range, recast 30 seconds)
Bow 41 = Long shot 5 (breaks bubble, 150% range, recast 15 seconds)
Bow 46 = Long shot 6 (breaks bubble, 150% range, recast 8 seconds)
Volley (changed and moved to skill line)
Bow 34 = Volley 1 (current volley, recast 45 seconds recast)
Bow 39 = Volley 2 (current volley, recast 30 seconds recast)
Bow 44 = Volley 3 (current volley, recast 15 seconds recast)
Crit shot (extended after 27):
Bow 27 = Crit shot 9 (current last crit shot has a 20% increased draw time, 20% chance to unstealth)
Bow 30 = Crit shot 10 (like 9 but only 10% unstealth)
Bow 33 = Crit shot 11 (same as 9 but 0% unstealth)
Bow 36 = Crit shot 12 (same as 11 but only 10% longer draw time)
Bow 39 = Crit shot 12 (like 11 but same draw time as regular shot)
Quickshot
Bow level 1 = Free shot 1 (makes the next regular shot uninterruptable, 60% draw time, only 60% damage dealt, recast 30 seconds, can't combine with long, rapid or crit shot)
*Notes on rapid shot: 60% should be the maximum, as 5,0 bows (slowest for hunters) can already cap out at 60% with high quick and Mastery of arms. The difference in draw time vs. damage reduction is a direct BUFF to the archers dps, but without increasing crit shot damage.
*Notes on long shot: the ability to break bubble and then switch into crit shot is a great tool, added the ability to shot a runner from afar adds some utility. With higher bow spec the recast gets really low as an reward for speccing deep into bow
*Notes on quickshot: its a neat way to make the archers a bit less of a victim in the interrupt game and also gives higher specced archers a way to use their bow a bit more before in melee
EDIT: adapted the Volley recast, thought its 8 seconds ATM
Rapid fire (changed):
Bow 20 = rapid fire 1 (90% draw time, damage reduced to 92%)
Bow 25 = rapid fire 2 (80% draw time, damage reduced to 83%)
Bow 30 = rapid fire 3 (70% draw time, damage reduced to 74%) <- thats around 5,8% damage increase which matches the loss via resist changes
Bow 35 = rapid fire 4 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 65%) <- thats around 8% damage increase
Bow 40 = rapid fire 5 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 66%)
Bow 45 = rapid fire 6 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 68%)
Bow 50 = rapid fire 7 (60% draw time, damage reduced to 70%) <- thats about 16% damage increase and a 23% difference from current 52 comp spec to 68 total bow spec but only for rapid fire shots)
Long shot (changed, moved to skill line)
Bow 21 = Long shot 1 (breaks bubble, 110% range, recast 4 minutes)
Bow 26 = Long shot 2 (breaks bubble, 120% range, recast 2 minutes)
Bow 31 = Long shot 3 (breaks bubble, 130% range, recast 1 minutes)
Bow 36 = Long shot 4 (breaks bubble, 140% range, recast 30 seconds)
Bow 41 = Long shot 5 (breaks bubble, 150% range, recast 15 seconds)
Bow 46 = Long shot 6 (breaks bubble, 150% range, recast 8 seconds)
Volley (changed and moved to skill line)
Bow 34 = Volley 1 (current volley, recast 45 seconds recast)
Bow 39 = Volley 2 (current volley, recast 30 seconds recast)
Bow 44 = Volley 3 (current volley, recast 15 seconds recast)
Crit shot (extended after 27):
Bow 27 = Crit shot 9 (current last crit shot has a 20% increased draw time, 20% chance to unstealth)
Bow 30 = Crit shot 10 (like 9 but only 10% unstealth)
Bow 33 = Crit shot 11 (same as 9 but 0% unstealth)
Bow 36 = Crit shot 12 (same as 11 but only 10% longer draw time)
Bow 39 = Crit shot 12 (like 11 but same draw time as regular shot)
Quickshot
Bow level 1 = Free shot 1 (makes the next regular shot uninterruptable, 60% draw time, only 60% damage dealt, recast 30 seconds, can't combine with long, rapid or crit shot)
*Notes on rapid shot: 60% should be the maximum, as 5,0 bows (slowest for hunters) can already cap out at 60% with high quick and Mastery of arms. The difference in draw time vs. damage reduction is a direct BUFF to the archers dps, but without increasing crit shot damage.
*Notes on long shot: the ability to break bubble and then switch into crit shot is a great tool, added the ability to shot a runner from afar adds some utility. With higher bow spec the recast gets really low as an reward for speccing deep into bow
*Notes on quickshot: its a neat way to make the archers a bit less of a victim in the interrupt game and also gives higher specced archers a way to use their bow a bit more before in melee
EDIT: adapted the Volley recast, thought its 8 seconds ATM