Just rename msv skirmisher since it doesn’t try to do any surviving, and then make a 4th spec of survival built around traps and staying away while mobile. I want my massive frost snare trap back damnit!
2 Likes
I hear you. RSV just look so fun. It’s a pity I missed out on playing this. https://youtu.be/ZFXl0acZcwM?t=187
Great video for the nostalgia but his explanation of the 4-set priority made me cringe. Generally casting as many explosive shots as possible was preferable to maintaining Serpent Sting and you would just refresh Black Arrow to fish for further LnL procs. You certainly wouldn’t be trying to dump focus with Arcane Shot while spamming Explosive Shot.
2 Likes
There was a time when you did. I think Wrath, maybe early Cata, where ES would munch ticks if you didn’t wait like 1s between shots. Firing Arcane filled the GCD and had better rhythm than just pausing for 1s.
Yes, before MoP it was optimal to manually delay the Explosive Shot so the DoT would not be clipped. You could also fill in another instant cast between ES casts but from what I’ve read that was mostly just flatly worse unless you routinely screwed up the manual waiting.
But in the video it’s MoP Survival and he’s talking about the T16 bonus. And he just seems to have the completely wrong idea. While it is worth maintaining Black Arrow as you can go straight into another Lock and Load potentially (I have had ES chains beyond 10 this way) I’m at least 99% sure it’s worth letting Serpent Sting drop and you certainly shouldn’t be using Arcane Shot while Lock and Load is active.
Yes, just take everything about MM, throw it out, and add in everything that made SV what it was, and suddenly they are the same! Genius!
6 Likes
Dunno about this statement. It seems a little disingenuous to say changing burst damage abilities to become DoTs and you have the same spec. Well yeah, change all burst abilities into DoTs for all classes then everyone will be the same. The point is that DoT damage and burst damage form different playstyles.
For myself at least from a PvP perspective they played very differently. The DoT mechanics of RSV made LoS your friend whereas that has always been the opposite for MM.
Dotting someone up while pillar humping, poking out to fire off ES and placing traps around corners felt like the name survival really fit the theme and playstyle.
For MM LoS has always been fustrating, which is why MM needs tools for greater control and mobility, so they can get that burst damage out.
If you are talking from a PvE perspective then you could further simplify your statement to say that all classes essentially are the same. Everyone presses their buttons to go through their rotation, everyone has to play around boss mechanics, therefore everyone is the same.
Fun is subjective and RSV was fun for many people. I also have played a fair bit of MSV and I thought it was fun but for different reasons.
The style of MSV is a new experience as I have only really played hunter since BC. Seeing boss fights from a melee perspective was a little disorienting at first due to not being able to see my character in the cluster F*** but I still found it fun. From a PvP side it was also a unique experience to see the melee train from the other perspective and I also found it pretty fun.
I still prefer the playstyle of RSV compared to MSV and wish I could experience it once again, I myself do believe that making a melee spec for hunter was unnecessary, but hey if people like it then enjoy, it’s just a shame that your enjoyment came at the cost of others.
3 Likes
Dang right! 
I feel that MSV just get buried under all the other melee spec as there are so many that offer more utility to groups. MSV also offers the same benefits as BM and MM that it can not shine past them.
DPS wise it is right in the middle so I do not believe it is just a numbers issue. Making it a melee/range hybrid adds some distinction from other melee specs, but it needs more to stand out enough.