because a skilled Rao player can be a nightmare for vehicles. you don't like him that's fine, but that's no reason to remove content from the game. if you don't like him just don't pick him
The gamer's mentality: If I don't like something then let's remove it because there is no way someone else will like it!
I've never found Rao to be any good - the hack leaves him exposed and vehicles can still just drive/fly away normally
@CantGetRightWether I or others like something is completely besides the point, this is about wanting something changed that in my opinion is out of place in this game and should have never have even existed in the first place. Especially in it’s current form, feel the same about the sentinel from Irish, or the attack dog or turret. These are either way too OP or completely useless and just an annoyance. And usually end up being changed/nerfed to the point they are still there but can basically be ignored. Which is think is currently true for the dog and turret.
That’s just bad game design.
Pretty sure Rao might be my most played character.
Probably the best anti-air character now that stealth helis exist. Before I might lean towards Angel.
While he is a great option for the anti-air role playing him does feel pretty chore-like. Hacking doesn't offer any sort of learning curve, there's is nothing to aspire to. It's 'mastered' within about 5min. I also feel like I'm just griefing other players when I hack them over and over again.
I think I'd like to see an alternate 'fire mode' for the hacking system. Perhaps an option to shoot a projectile like the BC2 tracer dart or some tradeoff in hack duration/disable duration.
@PsubondThere's an argument to be made that his kit is boring and super binary vs. the more dynamic interactions from other specialists toolkits.
Think Sundance: They've (DICE I REMEMBER THEIR PRONOUNS EVEN IF YOU DON'T : P) got huge flexibility in mobility with the wingsuit, plus either some infantry area-denial or a bit of anti-vehicle with the grenade. Each has a ton of possible uses and outcomes based on how the player uses those skills. There's lots of aggressive plays that you can make as Sundance with either the wingsuit or grenades! Lots of safe plays you can make! Lots of options!
Now think to Rao: He's got the "spot players that shoot him" mechanic which is actually generally useful even if you're getting instantly killed. It's a free spot!
But his hacking is extremely binary and doesn't really have much nuance/variety. Hold hack button for a few seconds and you're done. Vehicle has temporary protection from further hacks for a bit. There's no real vehicle counterplay to the hack, no ability to get aggressive/riskier to repeatedly hack a single vehicle at great risk to yourself.
I think OP is more getting at that Rao simply isn't fun to play, even solo. Sure he fills the niche he's design to, but it's filled in an incredibly boring way for the Rao player and a frustrating way for the vehicle player. There's not really a depth of interactions with Rao that exists with other specialists, it's a binary.
@edgecrusherO0 wrote:@PsubondThere's an argument to be made that his kit is boring and super binary vs. the more dynamic interactions from other specialists toolkits.
Think Sundance: They've (DICE I REMEMBER THEIR PRONOUNS EVEN IF YOU DON'T : P) got huge flexibility in mobility with the wingsuit, plus either some infantry area-denial or a bit of anti-vehicle with the grenade. Each has a ton of possible uses and outcomes based on how the player uses those skills. There's lots of aggressive plays that you can make as Sundance with either the wingsuit or grenades! Lots of safe plays you can make! Lots of options!
Now think to Rao: He's got the "spot players that shoot him" mechanic which is actually generally useful even if you're getting instantly killed. It's a free spot!
But his hacking is extremely binary and doesn't really have much nuance/variety. Hold hack button for a few seconds and you're done. Vehicle has temporary protection from further hacks for a bit. There's no real vehicle counterplay to the hack, no ability to get aggressive/riskier to repeatedly hack a single vehicle at great risk to yourself.
I think OP is more getting at that Rao simply isn't fun to play, even solo. Sure he fills the niche he's design to, but it's filled in an incredibly boring way for the Rao player and a frustrating way for the vehicle player. There's not really a depth of interactions with Rao that exists with other specialists, it's a binary.
None of that is a reason to remove him from game. I dont like/play sundance and i dont want her removed. Dont like him dont pick him but dont take option away from others
@edgecrusherO0 wrote:But his hacking is extremely binary and doesn't really have much nuance/variety. Hold hack button for a few seconds and you're done. Vehicle has temporary protection from further hacks for a bit. There's no real vehicle counterplay to the hack, no ability to get aggressive/riskier to repeatedly hack a single vehicle at great risk to yourself.
Definitely this, and as another said, 3s hack for 10s disable - it's OP and stupid.
Why do hacks disable all weaponry??? Think of tanks loading shells and then firing. Hacking disrupts manual physical actions???
Even electronically operated HMG's operating on a closed loop like a lightswitch - Button on, electric current connects, HMG fires. How and why the hell is that getting hacked? It feels so stupid, and not enjoyable, competitive, or balanced. There's no two way communication involved, how do you "hack" an electric current?
A Balanced Solution:
Hacking air-vehicles should forcibly autopilot them. Enable all weaponry, but unresponsive controls. That's a sitting duck for an M5, and causes crashes when timed skillfully. Jet auto-pilots should attempt to fly 5 deg upwards low-velocity, as posted above. Tank weaponry should still work, but gunner visions should be blanked out, and tank lock-on weaponry also shouldn't work.
Rao should be risk v reward: Let the hack persist as long as Rao holds it, max 15s. (8s to tanks) The hack ceases when Rao does. Auto-spot reveal Rao to enemies during hack. Since heli's are autopilot-immobile, they're at huge risk. Since their guns work and Rao is spotted, he's at huge risk. Everyone sees the Heli, but it'll take a moment looking around to find Rao, so this balances as a risk-reward way to take down heli's and remove the stupid "oh, now i magically can't do anything for 10 seconds." Tank turret limitations may prevent shooting Rao, so less duration.
The skill & fight is then still fully in the hands of both players, unlike now.
@0_Katsui wrote:
@edgecrusherO0 wrote:But his hacking is extremely binary and doesn't really have much nuance/variety. Hold hack button for a few seconds and you're done. Vehicle has temporary protection from further hacks for a bit. There's no real vehicle counterplay to the hack, no ability to get aggressive/riskier to repeatedly hack a single vehicle at great risk to yourself.
Definitely this, and as another said, 3s hack for 10s disable - it's OP and stupid.
Why do hacks disable all weaponry??? Think of tanks loading shells and then firing. Hacking disrupts manual physical actions???
Even electronically operated HMG's operating on a closed loop like a lightswitch - Button on, electric current connects, HMG fires. How and why the hell is that getting hacked? It feels so stupid, and not enjoyable, competitive, or balanced. There's no two way communication involved, how do you "hack" an electric current?
A Balanced Solution:
Hacking air-vehicles should forcibly autopilot them. Enable all weaponry, but unresponsive controls. That's a sitting duck for an M5, and causes crashes when timed skillfully. Jet auto-pilots should attempt to fly 5 deg upwards low-velocity, as posted above. Tank weaponry should still work, but gunner visions should be blanked out, and tank lock-on weaponry also shouldn't work.
Rao should be risk v reward: Let the hack persist as long as Rao holds it, max 15s. (8s to tanks) The hack ceases when Rao does. Auto-spot reveal Rao to enemies during hack. Since heli's are autopilot-immobile, they're at huge risk. Since their guns work and Rao is spotted, he's at huge risk. Everyone sees the Heli, but it'll take a moment looking around to find Rao, so this balances as a risk-reward way to take down heli's and remove the stupid "oh, now i magically can't do anything for 10 seconds." Tank turret limitations may prevent shooting Rao, so less duration.
The skill & fight is then still fully in the hands of both players, unlike now.
Maneuvering is also a manual action. You move the joystick, which moves wires/cables, which moves ailerons, rudders, etc. Would hacking suddenly jam the cables somehow? Messing with maneuverability is something that should not ever happen unless you physically damage it.
Just completely rework his ability. They pretty much stole it from Revenant's tactical from Apex Legends anyway, like almost every base specialist is. Paik is Bloodhound, Casper is Crypto, Irish is Newcastle. Angel is Loba. Mackay is Pathfinder. Time to actually come up with something new.
