Suggestion for the Digger

[dwk]

The Digger is a great new weapon and I love using it but it is really easy to dodge and arguably not as effective as some of the other power weapons. What do you guys think about having the digger using the same or similar active reload as the hammer burst?

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5404/activereload.jpg

This would make the weapon more versatile as you would have the ability to do a quick reload, with no extra power boost, and be able to shoot the digger quicker and try to trap your target. You should still also have the ability to wait longer and get the active for more power and possibly move quicker. What do you guys think?

[Mickles Is Back]

I think a perfectly timed active reload should make the digger travel faster through the ground AND have a larger damage spread after detonation

[E.P.I.C. Lizard]

I think a perfectly timed active reload should make the digger travel faster through the ground AND have a larger damage spread after detonation

I agree, a simple speed boost would greatly increase the benefits of picking up the weapon.

[ImperialGuard39]

Yeah, the Digger is far too easy to dodge. I only get kills with it if I'm relatively close, they're paying no attention or are just idiots. I mean you hear it and see it coming a mile away.

[Supreme Beast78]

they have to do something because it's almost useless
you have to be terrible to get caught with that gun

[dwk]

What about doing both? Changing the active reload with the ability to do a quick reload and if you go for the active the digger will travel faster plus the damage boot?

[Porshapwr]

I rarely vote no and it's not a bad idea, but honestly I do VERY well with the digger as is. More power and it would be too dominant I feel.

[dwk]

I rarely vote no and it's not a bad idea, but honestly I do VERY well with the digger as is. More power and it would be too dominant I feel. I understand what you are saying but I am not sure it would make it that much more dominant but more versatile. Moving faster would make it a little bit harder to dodge and going for the slightly quicker reload you would lose the extra power of the active but gain a quicker second shot.

[npdabest]

I'd def. be a proponent of increasing the reload bar.

To the comment you are terrible to get caught by a digger is ridiculous. I always guarantee myself atleast 1 or 2 easy kills with it. Granted with boom, I guarantee myself a kill for each bullet...but I think the digger serves a different purpose.

THe weapon is supposed to be used up close or on clueless enemies. I've seen many players launch it from a distance and fail with it. It is one of the best weapons to have when rushing or to clear out campers.

[kurtfhouse]

I think it needs something, most of the time I would rather hang onto my lancer that pick it up.

Unless you're close enough to jam in down the enemies throat they usually dodge it quite easily.

[ImperialGuard39]

I think it needs something, most of the time I would rather hang onto my lancer that pick it up.

Unless you're close enough to jam in down the enemies throat they usually dodge it quite easily.

Yeah I mean it works decently in KOH when everyone is sticking around the point, but if they're far away in TDM the only way you're getting a kill is if someone else jumps in it's path, or have them be right up close.

[Squeezins]

A Slight buff wouldn't hurt.
The digger is great for clearing an area - causing a team to scatter.
The campers at the mortar/oneshot spawn on mercy for example.
And of course it is fairly effective in KotH., but is is infective in many cases.

It leaves a little wanting against a single opponent unless you are very close and/or they didn't see you fire.

I'm all for the AR giving a 25% faster firing time and shorten the reload time.

I wouldn't be opposed to a bigger magazine, say 4 shots instead of 3, as well.

Or, how about this?
Make it a 'double barrel' - 2 quick shots, with a >= 1/2 sec between them, ,than a (about like now) long reload for the next 2 shots.
Kinda like the gnasher is now but with only 2 shots not 9. in this case a AR would give a little faster travel speed.

Another option that would help is for the round to accelerate as it moves away. rather slow up close up moving really quick at long range would help.

[Porshapwr]

I'm not sure the full versatility of the digger is realized by most. It's one of my favorite weapons to use. The boomshot will get you that direct kill most of the time but the digger can do so much more.

It's obvious use is to make people get out from cover. This is more beneficial than people realize. Many times I've told my teammates "I'm coming with Digger" and they wait. I flush people out and my team gets them with rifle fire.

You can kill someone who isn't looking almost all the time - even over walls or behind cover.

It can multikill - I've gotten tons of doubles and several triples.

If someone is in a narrow space they are all but finished. Pistol room on Checkout, hallways out of church on Mercy, ramps to underneath on Trenches, sniper spawn on Gridlock, etc....

Another use is to fire and immediately pull out the snub (or other pistol). The digger hurts the player and you can down them near instantly afterwards.


Really, the weapon is a beast. I love it.

[Drakiir84]

If you don't want people to dodge your digger shot, shoot them in the chest ^_^ but I could agree with a faster travel time, doesn't need extra damage.

[drock52]

simply just give it five ammo and it will be a lot more useful! Why would a weapon as powerful as the boomshot have the same amount of ammo as the digger?

[Porshapwr]

Oh and I forgot who doesn't love a weapon that sounds like the cookie monster? NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM

[essentre]

It seems like it just way too easy to dodge. I definitely would be in support of making it move faster, or even making it basically unnoticeable if someone shot one at you. It's speed, the sound of it, and the obvious trail it leaves in the ground makes it SO easy to avoid.

[mohagan400]

The Digger Launcher is awesome in the right hands. Sadly not mine, but I have seen other people use it so well. You and I just need to get better with it - it is very powerful as it is.

[jenglish724]

I agree that it does not need to be altered.

[MEGATRON 631]

My suggestion is remove it completely.

[lagrew]

actually i think the digger has been changed since the beta. It doesn't seem as responsive to me at least i my experience.

[dwk]

If the Boomshot, Torque, and Digger were all laying on the ground and you can only have one which one would you pick? I am guessing that the Digger would be the last choice for most people but with a slight change to make it more versatile it might have more value.

[Zellzin]

Agree with all those, also adding another bullet might be cool?

[Porshapwr]

If the Boomshot, Torque, and Digger were all laying on the ground and you can only have one which one would you pick? I am guessing that the Digger would be the last choice for most people but with a slight change to make it more versatile it might have more value.

Your example proves nothing logically. Even if Digger was last and you boost it, then either torque or boom would be last. Then your example is just repeated with another weapon.

Boom is the easiest to use but only has 3 shots, is difficult to use from far away unless you have a clean shot (which makes it easy to dodge), and is very easily spotted in peoples hands too.

Torque has 6 shots and can be very powerful but takes good aiming to use and direct line of sight. It also has a light and charging sound to warn people.

Digger only has 3 shots but can get around nearly any form of cover and does not require line of sight. It has NOM NOM NOM to warm people.



They are balanced.

[IVI SMiLES IVI]

To be honest I do fine with it as it is. Its a great all around weapon. Don't get hasty with it, wait for the right time to use it. Try to look for a group of enemies that are pre-occupied with your team mates. Also, don't assume it's useless up close because I've killed a ton of ppl by blind firing it into their chest. The gun doesn't need anything. You just need more practice with it.

[Slothful Koala]

It's my favorite weapon. I have over 200 kills with it. It's fine. You can't just shoot it, you have to make it land in front of/on top of your target.

[Epic DOOM]

Why would it need this? The Digger is perfectly balanced after taking a nerf from the beta. I see no reason to change it.

[HE4DSW1LLROLLL]

You're suppose to shoot it at groups of enemys. Preferably already in exchanges. Or flanking/leading enemies. Just cause you see someone doesn't mean you should shoot it at them.

[Asrial]

You should post a screenshot of the digger's CURRENT reload for a comparison.

[DenyThisFlesh]

I rarely vote no and it's not a bad idea, but honestly I do VERY well with the digger as is. More power and it would be too dominant I feel.

That's how I feel. I have a lot more digger kills than any other power weapon. Maybe I'm just really good with it, but I think it's fine.

[Scottg1989]

What I don't understand is why they changed it from the beta version. I never heard people complain about it... until now because it's been made worse IMO.

[TheRealness]

part of what makes it easy to dodge is that its so loud. I mean even if you don't see it coming you can hear it coming and unless you have downs you will move out the way.

[TheGamingFilly]

I think the Digger is fine as it is. Just don't use it from really far away and arc it through the air instead of shooting it straight underground so it's less obvious that it's coming.

[SgtReed24]

I actually love the digger the way it is...

It's most effective when you shoot it into a group of enemies who are busy engaging your teammates. That often leads to multiple digger kills. Don't just go off shooting it every time you see an enemy, that's not very effective.

Although, yes... if they do see you shoot it, it's pretty damn easy to avoid. I'd be down for an active reload like that.

[tew evident2]

yeah it definitely isnt as dangerous as the boom.. i think it needs a ammo boost maybe 1 more round and faster moving digger from active..

[asooklall95]

The faster reloading would be nice but traveling faster isn't needed just aim it higher in the air and it usually catches them. By the way getting an active does make the explosion stronger.

[CFI DontStabYou]

Ironically I have more digger kills than any other pick up weapon.... :) EVEN AFTER Torque Bow tag

[Mr Pants17]

I think it's balanced. Think about it. If you see someone shoot it, it's easy to avoid. The same is true of hearing the torque bow charging, or someone that has just shot a boomshot at you. The sound gives it away incredibly (especially with surround sound lol), but it also goes under cover and causes tons of panic. It's almost as good as the boomshot at close range, and it's DEFINITELY better than torque bow at close range.

Most people don't seem to know how to use it. I can't tell you how many times I see people pick it up and start shooting it right away at people across the map. This will rarely work with any of the three power weapons that we're comparing here. The torque is a bit of an exception, given the increased precision required for the weapon. Be a sneaky beaver with the digger and you'll find that it nets you quite a few kills. I also believe this weapon is underrated because most people just like the other power weapons more. The digger isn't particularly as flashy as longshot or torque bow, so most people prefer those. It's kinda a wash with boom, but if you think about it, the digger is the only power weapon between itself, t-bow, longshot, and boomshot that can't get headshots. I actually would welcome the ability to hit people in the face and tear off their head, having the shot continue as normal afterwards. It would make it way more fun to use. The only other thing might be one more round in the weapon, bringing it to 4. Either way, I enjoy it.

[the_suicide_fox]

Considering you can hit people through walls and they never see it coming, I think it's fine. Boomshot is already very hard to dodge, but it can't shoot through walls.

[Dirac]

According to my own stats, the vast majority of my power weapon kills are with Digger. It's my favorite power weapon. I don't think anything's wrong with it. I sort of just trust my senses, aim, and shoot. It doesn't require the same precision as the Boomshot, yet I feel more comfortable with it in that sense. I actually have more trouble wielding the Boomshot than the Digger. It's definitely better for catching unaware players, but even then you can peg them in the chest for an instakill. Just make sure you aim upward relative to the opponent's distance. Firing it into the ground and waiting for it to dig its way to your target is not the way to wield it; you want the projectile to have to burrow-travel for as little time as possible. The only buff I would maybe give it is one more shot, but then it would possibly be OP. (For that matter, I would prefer the Boom have only two shots, as it did in Gears 2, but that's off-topic.)

[Toxicwaltz65]

It depends on who I'm playing against. Sometimes I can shoot it from across the map and get at least a kill, but other times I pretty much have to flank and arc it very close to them.

[Espeon]

I miss the Digger from the Beta, it seemed A LOT more powerful :(

[MEGATRON 631]

Another noob weapon

[I KrazyFaken I]

I freaking hate the digger. I think that every time I pick it up, there is a 50% chance of me killing myself because a team member rolls in front of me just as I shoot it.

[Evil Zero 18]

What does the diggers active do currently

[TheDarkprophet6]

Digger is fine as is. If you know how to use it, you can do work with it. I usually get 2 - 4 kills per pickup

[james288gto]

I miss the Digger from the Beta, it seemed A LOT more powerful :(

I felt that too. Maybe its the servers being down or something idk.

[IncisionX]

In TDM etc it has limited effects, however if you ever play KoTH - It's simply immense, I love seeing 3+ people die to one Digger :)

[KenOfNZ]

Diggers travel faster and is completely quiet in the air. Its awesome.

[uk7743]

when you compare it to other power weapons i think it fits in well. the digger is meant to take enemies out of cover or kill those who arnt paying attention. in the beta i think it was too strong because i will almost always get double kill.

[mags1412]

I agree, a simple speed boost would greatly increase the benefits of picking up the weapon.

Agreed. I love the Digger regardless of how good/bad it is but buffing it a little would be nice. The Digger isn't comparable to the Boomshot at all honestly. The only true perk it has is you can kill someone from 2 feet away and not die. The same can not be said while holding a Boomshot xD