Third Shot

[tank_sniper]

[Shinon is up to her usual level grinding! But this time she's armed with a new weapon. To fully test it out within the restraints of The World, she can be found in a couple of different situations.]

[Field]

[Maybe you just spotted that group of monsters and were about to go in for the kill. Or maybe you were just enjoying the scenery - it is a lovely day out in this area, after all.

Either way, that group of monsters? The biggest of them just got a large hole blown into its head, even though there doesn't seem to be anybody nearby to make the attack. Before long, the remaining two follow suit.

Those who are observant may be able to trace the shots to a small figure on a different island, armed with a sniper rifle nearly as long as she is tall. Want to go investigate?]

[Dungeon]

[While she's still carrying that same weapon along with her, she seems to have paused in an empty area for the moment. It's hard to say whether she's just resting, thinking, or both. Now would be a great time to catch her for the curious or talkative, though!]

Comments

[tank_sniper]

...? You mean like an ambush?

I definitely haven't heard anything about a "push" before.

[greatcleavage]

No... It's not a term we normally used. Anyway, the idea was that you shoot them to draw their attention, deal as much damage as possible before they reach us, and then I'll engage them before they can close to melee with you.

[He's thinking 'pull', by the way.]

[tank_sniper]

I can do that.

[She may have never heard the word before, but makes sense as a strategy. Moving so she's just in range of the monsters, she takes careful aim and begins shooting, using skills every so often to take off chunks of health to further ensure Roy will have no problem taking them down.]

[greatcleavage]

POWER ATTACK! [Roy steps forward as the first one approaches, his massive greatsword swinging in an arc that neatly drops its already-depleted health down.]

GREAT CLEAVE! [Almost instantly, he spins to hew through a second one, as if the two attacks are one seamless motion.]

[tank_sniper]

Thunder Spark!

[Not missing a beat, she's fired enough shots to get the last two monsters heading on over. Hope you're ready for them, Roy!]

[greatcleavage]

[Roy wades right into the fray, receiving blows he doesn't seem to notice as he drops the injured monsters, then delivers a few stinging scratches to the approaching ones.]

[tank_sniper]

[Shinon will continue doing her thing, aiming to kill now that the monsters are sufficiently distracted from her. It would be nice if she could get the final hit on at least one of these creatures.]

[greatcleavage]

[Greedy, she already weakened them -- but Roy, accustomed to working with her, has slowly maneuvered around one of the monsters so that it presents a fine target he no longer obstructs for her.]

[tank_sniper]

[Half the fun is going for the last hit bonus, right? She'll take that opportunity to take the last chunk of its HP with a single, well aimed Thunder Spark.]

[greatcleavage]

[There's a last hit bonus?! Killstealin' 'em all! ...no, not really. Roy is either too Lawful or too much of a team player to even consider that. As the last foe falls, however, some thought has him looking distinctly unsatisfied.]

[tank_sniper]

Something wrong?

[greatcleavage]

Just comparing the efficiency between your personal weapon and the one you're using now. There's quite a difference in damage and kill speed... to put it mildly.

[tank_sniper]

[She gives a small sigh. Naturally, it's something she's noticed as well.]

I don't think it can be helped. The Hécate is a rare and powerful gun. I was really lucky to get it as an item drop when I did. Compared to a common weapon like this... it's no surprise there's a large cap in capabilities.

[greatcleavage]

It seems much more suitable for your current level. It's odd that a natural impediment to using it exists. Maybe there's supposed to be an associated quest or whatnot.

That was supposed to be *gap not cap...

[tank_sniper]

Maybe it's because it's been transferred from a different system? The World doesn't seem to consider ammunition for its own weapons, but it was an important factor in Gun Gale Online.

[greatcleavage]

Inherent bias towards its own weapon system. Well, that's short-sighted design. Especially considering that my weapon translated just fine.

[tank_sniper]

...I just said it's from a different one. And guns are a bit different from swords.

[greatcleavage]

I know, I mean this system as a whole is inherently biased. Which is a shame, in my opinion, but... not surprising.

Out of curiosity, could you use different weapons before? I seem to have lost a lot of skill with weapons that aren't of the usual 'large sword' class since coming here, myself.

[tank_sniper]

[She shakes her head.]

All of the weapons I've used up 'till now have been guns. Mostly sniper rifles like the Hécate, but I had another side weapon for emergencies. Swords were available too, but... I only know of one person who ever used that.

[greatcleavage]

...Only one other person?

I knew the trend towards exotic weapons grew every time a supplement pumped out another overpowered list, but it's really that bad?

[tank_sniper]

It's a game made for guns. Of course people are going to use guns instead. Most people regarded the sword option as a joke... At least, until he came along.

[greatcleavage]

[Calling the sword option a 'joke' is enough to make Roy shudder in horror and clutch his own sword a little closer to his body protectively.]

But a melee weapon adds so much versatility and capability! Trips, overruns, bull rushes, sunders, disarms, power attacks...

[tank_sniper]

The problem is, when everyone else has ranged weapons, they're all expecting to battle from a distance from the start. Any swordsman would have to have high vitality or speed just to survive the initial shower of bullets if others spotted them first. It's just too risky.

That, and... To be honest, a lot of the players are fans of guns, so of course they would use those weapons instead.

[greatcleavage]

But wouldn't that require a massive bias for long-range encounters? Dungeons would be downright infeasible, since any creature or melee-weapon user would shred a ranged fighter if they were easily able to close the gap.

[tank_sniper]

It all depends on what kind of equipment you have. There was one guy I encountered who had a lot of armor and a special weapon that could shoot enough to riddle a person with bullets all in an instant. There are ways to fight with a gun even in close combat.

[She tilts her head, remembering something else.]

There are also users who can use knives as well. Actually... the winner of the very first game-wide tournament won with just a knife and a handgun.