Explosive shot (level 30 talent tree ability) is an ability that use to be baseline on survival. It is a super cool ability that you can use to stack burst on enemies. Currently there is no reason to pick anything over careful aim as its too powerful.
But dam, Both Serpent sting and Explosive shot are super awesome abilities, these should be baseline and slightly buffed.
Explosive Shot and Black Arrow should both be baseline, and Aimed Shot should be castable while moving at reduced movement speed (it’s a compromise).
ES can stay as a talent and in it’s current form for MM.
What we should get, is a 4th spec which is a modern version of the old SV, including the proper versions of both ES and BA. Not the abominations they’ve given to MM.
(If you take ES for MM as it is, it’s okay. But if you count it as an attempt at implementing old SV into MM, it’s an abomination.)
Allow MM to have some sort of enhanced shots/ammo baseline while old SV would provide a spec which focus on improving those as well as adding in several other ones + passive effects.
This fits the supposed new Class Fantasy-approach very well.
Hunter class fantasy:
BM = Most focus on pets. With some ranged shots, instants as well as some small DoT. Empowering the pet/the hunter.
Optional focus on calling in additional wild beasts and on stacked AoE.
MM = Most focus on the ranged weapon itself. Little focus on pets. Ranged shots designed for heavy dmg and burst. Optional focus on cleave/stacked AoE, also burst-oriented.
MSV(name?) = Most focus on a melee weapon. Some focus on pets. Such as Flanking Strike baseline(not Kill Command).
Designed to allow for a choice of instant damage/burst or a more ‘‘build-up’’ approach. Optional focus on stacked AoE, burst or sustained.
RSV(name?) = Focus on ranged weapons, specifically on the ammunition/arrows. Some focus on pets. Abilities for pets are only optional, via talents, nothing baseline. Designed for consistency and build-up. Not very capable at heavy burst dmg but very capable at multi-dotting and sustained cleave. Optional focus on slightly higher burst potential or on additional AoE.