Feel free to specify how…
What exactly made them play too similarly to one another?
Others have already explained what RSV was about and how that was different from BM/MM. And…
…it’s not just about 1 single ability. It’s about all of them and what they all formed when combined. Abilities/passive effects. It’s about the theme of the intended fantasy as a Munitions Expert + Trapper, AND it’s also about the mechanical theme and functional design.
Having said that, Lazyguide provided a link to a concept of mine which I have posted with the intent of presenting a modern version of what RSV could be like if made for the game as it is today. Thanks @Lazyguide !
Whether you like the specifics of the concept itself, is up to you ofc. But feel free to compare it to modern day BM or MM, or current SV for that matter. It deff isn’t like either of those, neither in theme/fantasy, nor in function.
The point here is that it doesn’t matter whether anyone thinks RSV was too similar to BM/MM back in WoD. Because going forward, the intent was to double down on the design of all specs in the game. Making all specs focus even more on their individual identities.
Nothing stopped the devs from doing the same to SV as they did to all other specs at the time. But instead, they just deleted it in it’s entirety.