Understanding The Lancer.

[PAVE LOW FO'SHO YO]

"Gears was originally supposed to have the Lancer in the spotlight, but the Gnasher stole the show"

This is a relatively substantial concept that players seem to ignore when playing Gears. Whenever Joe-shmoe is downed by a Lancer he begins to complain. "Oh that's overpowered! I should be able to use my shotgun for everything between close and mid-range!". But what the poor fellow doesn't realize is that for past 3 games the Lancer was supposed to do that. Blatantly, It's an all-purpose Assault/SMG Hybrid. SMGs specialize in close combat while Assault rifles clean-up the field at mid-range. Since the Lancer is a hybrid of these two it should fair well in either situation.

Now the main complaint from the "Gnasher Party" is that they cannot close the distance due to the Lancer's huge clip. Well this is not solely the Lancer's "power". Epic has changed the maps so that there is more distance between players. This was all to extraneously buff the weapon that should of been the center of Gear's based combat for the past five years. The Lancer itself is nearly the same from gears 2 except for the chainsaw "buff" (no more lowering on any hit) and since connections are now fairly decent the Lancer's stopping power actually works.

Now I hate to say this to the shotgunners out here (I really do) , but Epic isn't a fan of Gnasher battles and Gnasher rushing. Thus the dreaded implementation of the SOS was their final solution of crushing the art which had built up over the years. This in conjunction with the larger maps, the Retro, and Smoke stun was Epic's crusade in killing-off the Gnasher's formerly all-purpose usability from TU6.

Even though i'm a nearly exclusive Lancer user, I don't like what Epic did to crutch the Gnasher by implementing two weapons that effectively replace it's purpose. If anything the Retro should of been just a Lancer that had a melee attack instead of a chainsaw, some manageable recoil (but still accurate), a little more powerful (Snub bullet damage), and a smaller clip (60% of the current Lancer's). I know these are somewhat mild changes, but for CQC Lancer users like myself it would of been a welcome addition. The SOS should of been a power weapon in my opinion.

Anyway, in summation I just wanted to say that the Lancer is doing it's job right now. It was always meant to be this kind of weapon. Its just that Epic changed core components of the game which now make the Lancer seem like it was tremendously "buffed". But I think we can all honestly can say that if the SOS was nerfed to actual MELEE range or became a power-weapon, The retro tweaked to be what I suggested earlier then the Gnasher would have it's "purpose" restored.

Thanks for reading.

[delfam1]

some of the greatest inventions in the history of the world have come by mistake: post it notes, the microwave, silly putty, and the gnasher.

GOW1 was such a great success because the gnasher, just cause it was a mistake doesn't mean you should go back to your original invention when that mistake made you millions of dollars.

[bluegreenman]

I love the lancer so much! It is amazing :) This is coming from the author of "understanding gnasher players" lol great read.

[PAVE LOW FO'SHO YO]

I love the lancer so much! It is amazing :) This is coming from the author of "understanding gnasher players" lol great read.

You were a bit of my inspiration lol. Thank you.

[bluegreenman]

I just think EPIC should embrace what their game became..

[Kazama Blood]

It doesn't matter if the game was originally meant for the Lancer. The game should be what the majority of the fans want it to be. The Gnasher is just a very fun weapon.

How often did you see the host take advantage of the Lancer in Gears of War 1 & 2? I'll answer that for you; almost never. The host can be just as effective with the Lancer as the Gnasher in both these games, but the Gnasher is just more fun to use.

[bluegreenman]

You were a bit of my inspiration lol. Thank you.
lancer and gnasher are like peanut butter and jelly :) thats what I will always roll out with on my back.

[PAVE LOW FO'SHO YO]

It doesn't matter if the game was originally meant for the Lancer. The game should be what the majority of the fans want it to be. The Gnasher is just a very fun weapon.

How often did you see the host take advantage of the Lancer in Gears of War 1 & 2? I'll answer that for you; almost never. The host can be just as effective with the Lancer as the Gnasher in both these games, but the Gnasher is just more fun to use.

I agree with you on the point that Epic should cater to the majority somewhat. But I disagree with you that the Gnasher is more fun to use and on host advantage. "Lancer tangoing" in CQC is very fun for others like myself. Also on a bad host I could continuously shoot a rusher but he would still roll up and blast me. So yes Host advantage did play a role in the Lancer's usability.

[KakashiiX2]

I am glad I am not alone.. I was hoping someone besides my Lancer CQC self would finally post in and shed some light on what IS really Gears Of Wars.

[skulltricker]

too much stopping power man, I was always a fan of using the lancer as it was always overlooked but now it is really ruining the multiplayer...

[Bacon Jihad]

I love you. Could not agree more.

[Broomhandle45]

I don't feel like there's any real problem with the stopping power, personally. A perfect active reload lancer should decimate anyway..and if you decide to rush at a guy with a lancer out and he shoots at you..how is that fair that you manage to get in close enough to take him out without taking advantage of the map and the cover (If you want to be so dumb as to continue to gnasher rush instead of use the time to switch out and move to get him into a position for a shotgun.) I don't think a shotgun should be an all purpose weapon, in closer maps, it makes sense. But in the trashball field, in the long ranges of sandbar, it should be less of a handy weapon until you move up to the concession stand or the temple.

Just my opinion, though.

[bluegreenman]

too much stopping power man, I was always a fan of using the lancer as it was always overlooked but now it is really ruining the multiplayer...
I think it adds a whole new level too it. I love the rifles :)

[llMurall]

There's really nothing wrong with the gnasher, or any of the other ARs for that matter. I'm a gnasher user, and I'm perfectly fine challenging a lancer or any other AR's range with my gnasher if need be. It's a fair challenge. The only problem with the game is the SO.

[Kazama Blood]

I don't feel like there's any real problem with the stopping power, personally. A perfect active reload lancer should decimate anyway..and if you decide to rush at a guy with a lancer out and he shoots at you..how is that fair that you manage to get in close enough to take him out without taking advantage of the map and the cover (If you want to be so dumb as to continue to gnasher rush instead of use the time to switch out and move to get him into a position for a shotgun.) I don't think a shotgun should be an all purpose weapon, in closer maps, it makes sense. But in the trashball field, in the long ranges of sandbar, it should be less of a handy weapon until you move up to the concession stand or the temple.

Just my opinion, though.

You can't even take cover when the Lancer starts shooting you from close to mid range. The stopping power is so great, that when you trying to roll sideways into cover, you're player is stuck in the air.

[s3tb4cK]

lancer and gnasher are like peanut butter and jelly :) thats what I will always roll out with on my back.

Yuuuuppp! This!

[PAVE LOW FO'SHO YO]

You can't even take cover when the Lancer starts shooting you from close to mid range. The stopping power is so great, that when you trying to roll sideways into cover, you're player is stuck in the air. The only map i've had this problem on is Overpass because the Lancer can get you from anywhere. But it's truly not that bad.

Your argument is equivalent to the "running away from the Gnasher" complaint. If i'm trying to escape a gnasher by roadie running it always seems they down me when I should be out the range. I should say "the gnasher's range is too great" correct? But then if that gets nerfed then the game begins to spiral into a worse experience.

[Broomhandle45]

If that was the case, I wouldn't be chewed up nine times out of ten by the good shots of the Gnasher at those ranges. At close range, having a lancer out is dumb unless you have an active reload, and only if it's a sawn off user and you've gotten a good four, five shots on him before he starts moving forward. Fighting a Gnasher with a lancer even with an active reload is kinda stupid. I can't say it doesn't happen, but I've never had instances where I've been hit so many times that I couldn't get into cover, at least, none taht I can think of. Which leads me to assume that in my own experience is that it's rare to happen.

[dust3030]

I hardly ever get killed by a lancer or any of the rifles.70% of my deaths are to shotguns. So I can't see how the rifles could be considered either op or overused.

[KAKARO7 187]

If that was the case, I wouldn't be chewed up nine times out of ten by the good shots of the Gnasher at those ranges. At close range, having a lancer out is dumb unless you have an active reload, and only if it's a sawn off user and you've gotten a good four, five shots on him before he starts moving forward. Fighting a Gnasher with a lancer even with an active reload is kinda stupid. I can't say it doesn't happen, but I've never had instances where I've been hit so many times that I couldn't get into cover, at least, none taht I can think of. Which leads me to assume that in my own experience is that it's rare to happen.

I beg to differ, too many times to count since this game has been out have I outstrafed a gnasher user with my lancer its almost sickening at people's lack of aim in this game.

[Medevacs wXs]

It doesn't matter if the game was originally meant for the Lancer. The game should be what the majority of the fans want it to be. The Gnasher is just a very fun weapon.

How often did you see the host take advantage of the Lancer in Gears of War 1 & 2? I'll answer that for you; almost never. The host can be just as effective with the Lancer as the Gnasher in both these games, but the Gnasher is just more fun to use.

But see heres the thing, they ARE listening to the masses. Most people didnt like the way gears 1/2 was dominated by shotgun. They wanted variety, so epic gave it to them in gears 3 and look it has sold WAY more copies then gears 1/2 ever did. So they are doing exactly what you say they should be doing.

[delfam1]

But see heres the thing, they ARE listening to the masses. Most people didnt like the way gears 1/2 was dominated by shotgun. They wanted variety, so epic gave it to them in gears 3 and look it has sold WAY more copies then gears 1/2 ever did. So they are doing exactly what you say they should be doing.
it sold more copies cause it's a sequel, it has a longer time to build up a bigger fan base. And if most people didn't like how GOW1 was played with the gnasher, why was it so popular and inside XBOX LIVE top 10 till the realease of GOW2?

[-Raven-]

Great post my man. Rifles 4 LIFE.

Though I disagree with one thing and that is that Epic crushed the Gnashers all-purpose ability. Its still quite possibly the best weapon in the game especially now thanks to the CMS boost. I certainly can still use it from across the map if I wanted to.

[Medevacs wXs]

it sold more copies cause it's a sequel, it has a longer time to build up a bigger fan base. And if most people didn't like how GOW1 was played with the gnasher, why was it so popular and inside XBOX LIVE top 10 till the realease of GOW2?

Because it was THE GAME of its time. There was no other game out there like it. Go back though and look at how long gears 1s community lasted compared to halo and CoD, and it gets smacked around like a redheaded step child. The bottom line is that gears 1/2 wasnt accessible enough for anyone to pick up. So in turn EPIC didn't get to sell as much as they wanted. So they took a step back listened and looked at what everyone was saying and what most gamers where playing. Then they figured out how to implement the same aspects from halo and cod that attract peop;e into there game. this = profit enough said.

[nocbl2]

Honestly I prefer it this way. Now you can actually play and not get utterly destroyed when trying to use a rifle :/

[Richtophen]

But see heres the thing, they ARE listening to the masses. Most people didnt like the way gears 1/2 was dominated by shotgun. They wanted variety, so epic gave it to them in gears 3 and look it has sold WAY more copies then gears 1/2 ever did. So they are doing exactly what you say they should be doing.
except most people did like the way Gears 1 was and those who didn't like gears 2 based their opinions based off of the horrible state of the game when it launched. Variety existed. Gears 3 has sold more because it is a sequel and history shows that all sequels tend to sell more than their predecessors. Why not Gears 3? After all, it came out when there was nothing else to play on the Xbox 360. Epic didn't care. They've hated their own creation for all of these years despite all the success that it has brought them. It's like George Lucas. To this day, he still keeps changing the Star Wars series in ways that many diehard fans would believe to be wrong.

Here is another example. Bungie decided to change what was a winning formula for the Halo games with reach. The BR didn't even exist in the first game, yet ever since it was included in Halo 2, the first Halo series to be able to played online, it became the "face" of that franchise. Most of the fans of the series loved it despite some newcomers disliking how focused around it instead of the AR that the game was. Skill always seemed to win and people could be damn good at the game. They also took rank VERY seriously. Bungie removed trueskill ranks and the BR while adding in elements that according to most people, subtracted from skill such as armor abilites and bloom. Reach isn't nearly as much of a success as Halo 3 and now that Bungie has left 343i has promised to correct the damages done to the series in order to restore the fans' trust.

[BlackmagicNerd]

B-B-Bu-But the hammerburst is better.........really it is.

[Broomhandle45]

Diehard fans aren't the only ones, you know. Being a 'diehard' often means being narrow minded. This game is exceptionally good, coming from someone who played a tiny bit of Gears 2 online (and rocked the heck out of it with bot matches without my internet) and played Gears 1 Campaign on insane multiple times. My perception of rifles always being useful never changed, ever. But even going back and playing those, made me realize how useless the rifle was in Gears 1, it has no weight to it. No sense of power at all. A shooter shouldn't be defined by having only one weapon be useful as the 'face' of a game, it should have a multitude of play styles that someone of EVERY skill level should be able to pick up at the start and make it something great. Be it Gnasher, Hammerburst..whatever.

[bluegreenman]

some of the greatest inventions in the history of the world have come by mistake: post it notes, the microwave, silly putty, and the gnasher.

GOW1 was such a great success because the gnasher, just cause it was a mistake doesn't mean you should go back to your original invention when that mistake made you millions of dollars.
I like your thinking :)

[RandyIcon]

I love the gnasher and the lancer. The sawed off is the problem, and if the lancer was nerfed, the sawed off problem would be even more rampant. The lancer has its place, and so does the gnasher. Even the Sawed off has its place... in CoD 10 or whatever number they're on right now.

[Dev Humanoid]

Gnasher users are just fed up that they can't bum rush people with their shotguns in hand. Mind you, I'm a Gnasher user myself. They can't take the fact that all of the gnashed stuff they've used to do is now being countered with depth and strategy.

[bluegreenman]

Because it was THE GAME of its time. There was no other game out there like it. Go back though and look at how long gears 1s community lasted compared to halo and CoD, and it gets smacked around like a redheaded step child. The bottom line is that gears 1/2 wasnt accessible enough for anyone to pick up. So in turn EPIC didn't get to sell as much as they wanted. So they took a step back listened and looked at what everyone was saying and what most gamers where playing. Then they figured out how to implement the same aspects from halo and cod that attract peop;e into there game. this = profit enough said.
I agree with you, but I think it would have been amazing without the SO. It is amazing now, but I have had matches where it is assault rifles/gnasher, and it is the most fun thing I have ever played. period.

[KakashiiX2]

I agree with you, but I think it would have been amazing without the SO. It is amazing now, but I have had matches where it is assault rifles/gnasher, and it is the most fun thing I have ever played. period.

I just had a game.. where I was dominating at the beginning with the lancer and gnasher. I could tell I was on p2p since the boltok was taking later than usual to register the bullets. It was still a decent connection, but not optimal for my liking.

So after winning around 1, getting creamed on round 2 (purely SO and hammerburst on their team), by round 3 (koth for all of this) we were staggering to win. So I said "**** it, they gonna be cheap? It's p2p.. time to pull out the SOS". What happens? We make a come back, they quit..

Did I have fun? In the first round yea.. when it was just me and against some gnasher user.. But since they couldn't beat my lancer cqc skills.. they resorted to cheap tactics -_-.

It was so blatant.. that their goal was to just bum rush me.. like even after they missed their shot to focus on Melee me and cornering me so I wouldn't be able to get out and SOS me. Which worked great towards my favor because they weren't expecting me to use the sos lol.

[s3tb4cK]

The only map i've had this problem on is Overpass because the Lancer can get you from anywhere. But it's truly not that bad.

Your argument is equivalent to the "running away from the Gnasher" complaint. If i'm trying to escape a gnasher by roadie running it always seems they down me when I should be out the range. I should say "the gnasher's range is too great" correct? But then if that gets nerfed then the game begins to spiral into a worse experience.

OverpAss is the only garbage map so far...dont know what they were thinking to b honest. Gonna have to revamp it for sure.

[PAVE LOW FO'SHO YO]

OverpAss is the only garbage map so far...dont know what they were thinking to b honest. Gonna have to revamp it for sure.

Totally agree!

[Sirius XAim]

I don't care that players use the gnasher, the sawed off or their teddy. The thing i HATE tough is when they yell at you because you didn't want to play the game by their rules. There's only one rule I follow : GOW rules.

[Salazar84]

B-B-Bu-But the hammerburst is better.........really it is.

Yeah it is... if you know how to use it. But it doesn't help the weapon has a lower mag...

I do like the lancer and in fact is going to be my main weapon after i get the onyx on hammerburst!

[Medevacs wXs]

I agree with you, but I think it would have been amazing without the SO. It is amazing now, but I have had matches where it is assault rifles/gnasher, and it is the most fun thing I have ever played. period.

Oh I completely agree with you, w/o the SO this game would be alot more fun. Also I think it would allow for better matchs as far as skill goes. I'm not saying I hate the s/o, I just think that it's a faceroll kinda weapon. The more I think about it I hope they actually do a no s/o event playlist just to see what happens. I don't mind the retro and the hammerburst is so close to being perfect. I think the only thing wrong with it is that it should take one less bullet to down someone. There is only enough bullets to down and kill 2 people in one clip. Even then you have to hit every bullet. Yes, I know the flopped reload on th HB does make is faster to get a reload. Still I don't think this is enough to get the HB in that sweet spot that the lancer and Retro are in now.

[Fro0t_Lo0ps]

Love the Lancer.

DO NOT CHANGE IT!

[xabax7]

I am one of those players who wanted the Lancer finally had his moment to shine, after 2 games remain in the shadow of the Gnasher. I love the rifles, but I am also aware that to win the CQC prevalent in the game, you have good skills with the Gnasher. Of course, nothing compares to saw an enemy.

[DenyThisFlesh]

I love the Lancer and the Gnasher. I still use my Gnasher more than anything else, but I love the fact that my Lancer is much more useful now. I learned to use the Gnasher out of necessity in the early days of Gears 1 and later grew to love it, but deep down I always wanted the other weapons to be more effective and now they are. I hate the sawed-off, but other than that I love the changes that Epic has made.

[BWO RazrStorm]

i understand its role perfectly. I still think it should have its clip reduced to 40 rounds. Also, the DBS would be a horrible power weapon. Who in their right mind would fight over a gun that would get them maybe 1 kill before they die?

just my thoughts.

[Medevacs wXs]

It doesn't matter if the game was originally meant for the Lancer. The game should be what the majority of the fans want it to be. The Gnasher is just a very fun weapon.

How often did you see the host take advantage of the Lancer in Gears of War 1 & 2? I'll answer that for you; almost never. The host can be just as effective with the Lancer as the Gnasher in both these games, but the Gnasher is just more fun to use.

You didn't play or watch alot of MLG VoD did you......... Gears 1/2 host lancer was GOD and was ALWAYS taken advantage of by the top teams of that time.

[Jonathan Harper]

some of the greatest inventions in the history of the world have come by mistake: post it notes, the microwave, silly putty, and the gnasher.

GOW1 was such a great success because the gnasher, just cause it was a mistake doesn't mean you should go back to your original invention when that mistake made you millions of dollars.

I was a huge fan of the Lancer in GOW1. I loved using it more then the Gnasher. However I think Epic is the kind of studio that would make the type of game that they want. Gears of war 2 didn't play the way they wanted it to so they changed Gears 3 so it's the game they wanted all along. Atleast I hope this is true. I would really respect Epic even more for doing it. I love the game the way it is.

[Medevacs wXs]

some of the greatest inventions in the history of the world have come by mistake: post it notes, the microwave, silly putty, and the gnasher.

GOW1 was such a great success because the gnasher, just cause it was a mistake doesn't mean you should go back to your original invention when that mistake made you millions of dollars.

If they followed your logic then gears 3 wouldnt be out selling gears 1/2 -.- Yea that sure was some BIG success gears 1/2 had...........