Oracle - fancy name for what use to be considered a wallhack?

[nl37tgt]

The more I play, the more I see recons running around with an SMG pinging with Oracle as often as possible. One or two isn't a big deal, but this combo is growing in popularity. I completely understand that yeah, it has limited range and use before the batteries need a break but when you have 3 or more recons using the same combo, cover is pretty pointless. I've been run up on and pumped full of lead, sometimes from more than one direction, so many times I've lost count. I haven't used the combo myself yet, maybe later tonight.

In my opinion, the combination of Oracle and fast firing, highly mobile SMG's is overpowered especially further up the ranks when weapons and armor allow for more damage, speed, stability and damage resistance. It also seems as though SMG's are more stable and accurate in full auto than other weapons, especially when shooting on the move.

Well, I'm not going to come in here and complain without some ideas on how to perhaps balance this out. I'm not asking for all of this, these could be mixed and matched till a nice balance could be found.

1. Increase the energy usage of Oracle. Maybe somewhere around 2-3 full pings before the battery runs dry. The ability is still useful to give the team some intel when needed, but is less likely to be abused.
2. Lower the shot stability of SMG's. These things generally jump all over the place on full auto, especially the smaller and shorter SMG's since they don't have the weight to counter the recoil.
3. Lower the damage per shot slightly. Still handle well and snap to target in a flash but less thump.

If anyone has any other suggestions, please post them.

[DegenesisRein]

It takes 3 mins for them to get 15 secs of oracle. Each use has an activation cost and a duration cost per sec.

All classes have a really powerful ability and a powerful situational ability. It's what makes each class balenced and unique.

Specialists have Aegis and the situational Blackout
Assaults have Heat and the situational Blitz
Recon's have Oracle and the situational Cloak

I recommend giving it some time to play around with. Being ping'd by oracle tells you there is a recon with in 40m and that he can't cloak. Despite the smg's rof and upclose killing power they are still on the bad end of an engagment if they try and take Specialists or Assaults in a 1v1 fight. You just have a lot more armor and HP that allows you to gun them down first.

Recon's are good but you'll find you will be winning a lot more games by having specialists and assaults on your team. Hang in there man. =)

[nl37tgt]

actually, i just tried it. it's very easy to roll up on a couple people sitting behind cover and just spray all of them. i was pinging Oracle quite often and had a ping or two in reserve the whole time. also, it really does seem that SMG's have a smaller cone of fire than an LMG at similar ranges and much less jumping around. it's pretty easy to stay on target while firing full auto. the LMG and assault rifles take more time to ready and seem to have a lot more jump and scatter. at least in my experience.

and to the winning games part. it seems to be more based on the intelligence and communication skills of the players involved than the guns and abilities.

[DegenesisRein]

And there you said it the skill of the players, the more skilled you get the more oracle loses some of it's power.

It's still good but not the king of all that is.