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Answer - Ranged damage. Now, the issue is more specifically - what does a Blaster do that a Scrapper can't already do? Or, even worse, is a Scrapper inherently "stronger" than a Blaster. We want each Archetype to have a well defined role, and part of our Scrapper testing is aimed directly at this.
Secondly, I have no intention of removing melee attacks - it's just a "perception" by some Blasters that some of the Secondary Sets aren't as useful as Devices or Energy Manipulation. This is a rather frequent refrain in PM's (and the occasional forum post). This is something that we should also explore...we want all the Secondary sets to be fun.
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These are the parts that bother me, "Blaster's Role...Ranged damage...no intention of removing melee attacks"
If a blaster's role is ranged damage, then melee attacks are not part of their role, right? How about we get a set of secondaries that help blasters deal ranged damage?
Personally, I think that Energy and Devices are popular because they help Blasters perform their ranged damage role. Here are a few things that I think should be included in Blaster secondaries:
-Ranged movement limiters for enemies. This will help keep Blasters at range so they can do their job. This could be slows, immobilization, (like most of the current 1st tier secondaries) and maybe some knockback/down powers.
-Status Protection. A held/sleeping/disoriented/immobilized Blaster can't keep the enemies away, so their ranged damage role is compromised. Many enemies have status effects that they can activate at range, some of them at very long range, and if a Blaster is to operate in that envelope, they need to have the tools to survive there.
-Detection alterations. Things that make it easier to operate at a distance like stealth effects, or reducing the enemies vision are a boon to Blasters.
-Aggro-bait pets. What's the best way to keep enemies away? Give them something else to do. They could do damage, or not, and still do their job, but having a pet out there to let the blaster stay at range would be very useful and in keeping with their role.
Statesman, I hope you reconsider removing melee attacks from the Blaster secondaries, and think about some alternatives that are more appropriate for their "ranged damage" role.
OracleTX
