Just want to know.
What is your opinion on the Pulsar, and ultimatly the Polaris?
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 20:11
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 21:06
#2
i consider it
I like it, as a person who dosen´t have many 5* items i use it almost everywhere, alot of people will say that it´s not the best gun for playing with a team as it will knock things all over the place but as long as you dont spam it to much you should be fine. damage wise it dose a considerably good amount of damage and leaves a shock effect, and lastly its slow if you are used to useing other guns you will see that the polaris is quite slow, still fun though =)
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 21:30
#3
Lick this bump!
I don't like it, but I don't hate it. I do however hate the way most people use it, which is essentially spray and pray.
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 21:42
#4
LOL I know how you feel, Oat.
LOL I know how you feel, Oat. You just hate it when you get shocked while you are trying to spam RSS, right?
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 21:46
#5
The true selling point to polaris is its ability to deal with turrets efficiently. There is always the complaint that it knocks enemies around uncontrollably, and that it hurts cooperation- if used correctly, it can save your party. I would recommend it as a side arm for areas with huge numbers of turrets- Most notably a certain danger room.
The major con of using polaris is it's low damage output- you can throw up walls with it, but only one or at most 2 of the shots will hit. The shots deal less damage than alchemer bullets at close range, so hitting 3 times is not viable either in that scenario… compared to an alchemer (namely the storm driver), which is able to hit twice reliably and 3-4 times in one clip on occasion. The charge is rather bad on polaris as well- one big bullet that hits for some knockback is not that amazing when alchemers can hit for almost a thousand damage if done correctly.
Ultimately, polaris is decent at best in the clockworks. It is however, one of the few viable weapons in lockdown, so is worth picking up if you plan to have a collection.
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 21:55
#6
I could not give an accurate opinion on using it, as I only have the 4* normal-damage one.
As having it used ON me, let me just say it is laughable if you see the bullets coming, they are SO SLOW.
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 22:57
#7
LOL I know how you feel, Oat.
LOL I know how you feel, Oat. You just hate it when you get shocked while you are trying to spam RSS, right?
Wed, 07/11/2012 - 00:54
#8
Processing Thoughts of You Always
Ah, the pro gunner has spoken huh.
Polaris is personally one of my favourite guns, but then I love all guns really.
Got Howlitzer problems? Shut 'em up with Polaris. Rocket Puppy room troubles? Yep, Polaris. Wanna give your teammate the birthday present of a Lumber to the face? Trollaris. Piss the hell out of LD players? You guessed right!
Wed, 07/11/2012 - 04:13
#9
Machinegun grenade launcher
A Polaris can:
-Kill multiple turrets without them being able to fire back
-Kill multiple undead without them being able to fight back
-Kill multiple slimes without them being able to fight back
-Kill multiple constructs without them being able to fight back
-Kill multiple Almirian crusaders without them being able to fight back
-Kill multiple phantoms without them being able to fight back
-Kill multiple gremlins (slowly) without them being able to fight back
-Kill multiple knights that don't have guns without them being able to fight back
-Shock things
-Push back those giant cat-ghost things
-Blind your teammates
-Interrupt their fights
I love the thing but it's severely overpowered.
Wed, 07/11/2012 - 05:11
#10
@Trollaris
Swap-shooting Trollaris 1-2 / Argent Piecemaker 5 and never emptying a clip works slicker then an eel in seaweed. Especially because if you need to go defensive you can use one Trollaris shot to deter an approaching threat and burn down another with the 1/5 combo and never reload. Very effective in FSC and Legion of Almire.
Because of Trollaris's slow shot you can fire 1-2 shots at something (turret/zombie) and hit them with 5 shots from the AP before/right as the expanded shots detonate.
This is extremely effective for howlitzers because you will always have a full clip left over to pop the flying head after it breaks loose and begins its frightful flightful assault!
~Luke
Wed, 07/11/2012 - 10:26
#11
Lick
@Thor, I wasn't even talking about LD. In PVE, almost every single person with a pulsar just sprays it willy nilly, sending enemies flying every which way and blinding everyone else in the party. In LD it's great for blocking of routes but in direct combat it's pretty laughable due to how slow the bullets travel.
Also, that's the weirdest double post I've ever seen.
Wed, 07/11/2012 - 16:00
#12
@Oatmonster
Then you probably
@Oatmonster
Then you probably haven't run with a gunner that knows how to use it.
Wed, 07/11/2012 - 17:45
#13
Knockback
I agree that it can be super annoying when someone is Trollaris-ing all over my screen, or if i get hit by someone else's mob via knockback. I'm sure that it's awesome in the right hands, so I guess that makes up for it.
Not to sidetrack here, but while we're on the topic of knockback guns, what is up with Valiance vs. Polaris? Is the knockback from Polaris way better, or are they about the same, but everyone just uses it for puppies and elemental dmg?
Wed, 07/11/2012 - 18:13
#14
"what is up with Valiance vs.
"what is up with Valiance vs. Polaris"
Valiance has reliable knockback at all ranges. Thus, it is a better source of kb when you are being crowded and have no other form of kb to save yourself. Valiance kb also won't knock monsters out of the bullets from the rest of the clip, provided that you aim at the monster. But polaris kb is indeed better than valiance, in the sense that its huge, its easy to aim, and hard to miss. With the huge kb comes interrupts that make polaris the best turret killing gun.
Thu, 07/12/2012 - 14:39
#15
@Virtuewis
@Virtuewis
Here are pictures I've made long time ago illustrating a difference between Valiance and Polaris:
- Only Valiance bullet does knockback
- Polaris bullet doesn't knockback, only explosion it produce does knockback. The direction of such knockback is always from the centre of explosion, not from the direction you're shooting (contrary to Valiance). Also note that Polaris bullet has to travel for some distance before it expands and is able to produce explosion.
Polaris ability to interrupt turrets is not a result of knockback, but rather a charged nature of Polaris expanded bullets. Every charged attack interrupt turret, but only Polaris can shoot a bullets that become charged without charging a gun itself.
Personally I find Polaris also extremely useful against Devilites. Thanks to slow bullets, devilites seems to dodge them too fast. It's easy to manipulate them by shooting two bullets in different directions - one straight into the devilite and the other to the left of him. He dodge first bullet by strafing left, then he spots another bullet coming and strafe back... straight into first bullet. Even if devilite manages to dodge bullet, there's high chance he will be caught in explosion.
Thu, 07/12/2012 - 14:43
#16
@Merethif
About your pulsar picture, is that a neutralyzer? Disregarding the weapon you are holding and simply looking at the diagram, I don't think the top zombie would necessarily fly in that direction. Expanded polaris bullet does take up space of its own. So while the middle zombie may be your target, the explosion will take place right under the top zombie, thus propelling him forward. But if that diagram was used for catalyzer explosions, that would make sense.
Fri, 07/13/2012 - 14:20
#17
@ Merethif, Demonicsothe
Wow, thank you both, that was above and beyond! I've always wondered about that, but the picture really helped. Also, it seems like Polaris is a little more difficult to predict, but rewards you with an almost area of effect type knockback.
For Valiance, it looks like each shot gets a little kb, no matter the range. But if I spread the clip (3 shots i think?) I would be able to have some control over multiple enemies. But what if I unload the whole clip on one guy? Is it going to keep pushing him back, or will he only really get kb from the first hit and then be invulnerable to kb for the 2nd and 3rd shot? Also if I do like I do with alchemers, can I shoot a charged Valiance shot between enemies to any effect, or is it pretty much always a single target gun?
Thanks again for sharing your SK wisdom! :D
Fri, 07/13/2012 - 15:11
#18
@Demonicsothe
Pulsars
@Demonicsothe
Pulsars explosions are somewhat similar to Catalyzer explosions. The diagrams are not 100% accurate of course, they just show basic mechanism. The top zombie won't probably fly that direction if you're playing with auto aim - because, as you said, most likely he will be the one hit by the bullet thus the centre of explosions would be at the spot he's standing. Probably in most cases even without auto-aim he will be the one to be hit.
@Virtuewis
Valiance charged shot has some minor blast radius so it may hit several monsters standing next to each other, but it doesn't ricochet so you can't hit single monster with several bullets on single hit (like you can do with Alchemers).
Fri, 07/13/2012 - 20:13
#19
In PvE its almost always used
In PvE its almost always used wrong and sends atacking enemies into people
In PvP its the most skill less weapon you can bring out. literally a moving non-charge bomb.
If you can use it right in PvE I'm find with it. If you can't leave it at home.
If you take it out in PvP...well you deserve the hammer i will be sending at your face.
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 08:24
#20
It's a good swordie sidearm,
It's a good swordie sidearm, that's why you'll see it spammed in LD. It's a gun that has some bomblike properties, making it quite useful to people who choose to specialize in nither. It also fills in the range gap for swordies, you get the ability to melee at close range, and shoot soley at medium/longish range. It's bullets don't fly as fast as a quick gun, and due to it's large size at a certain range you can't slip it into specific areas like a bomb, so it's not very precise. The lack of precision combinde with the knockback can give your allys a hard time unless used properly. You can spam it on turrets, or do things like shooting your ally to blast enemys away from them. It's a very good gun, especialy for swordies, and I'd get it either way.
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 09:38
#21
My thoughts...
Someone in a past thread (I don't remember which thread it was or who said it) put it pretty aptly when s/he said that the Polaris is best thought of as a utility weapon. Regardless of what damage it does, when a Knight considers using Polaris s/he is mostly considering its utility: its ability to keep enemies away and interrupt them. Which, don't get me wrong, is pretty darn useful.
As for my two cents on it: Not to say that Polaris users aren't skilled (on the contrary, there are plenty of talented users out there), but I personally feel that picking Polaris is, in a way, an easy way out. You don't have to worry as much about opponents "getting all up in yo' grill," as they say; but in doing so I think that a Knight misses out on valuable experience in learning about getting "down and dirty" with the various monsters found in the Clockworks. And I think being familiar with opponents and their attack patterns is one of the most important things a Knight can know, which is harder to figure out if all of your enemies are being blasted into a corner.
For those of you familiar with Team Fortress 2, consider the Pyro: It's very easy to run around flaming everyone with the good old 'W+M1', but in the hands of a truly skilled Pyro you'll have an Axtinguisher ripping through you before you know what hit you. And coming from someone whose primary class is the Pyro, I can tell you there really is a difference. (It is for these same reasons that I have an intense bias against using the Backburner and Phlogistinator. :P )
If a Knight thinks s/he can take on the challenge of learning to use the Polaris well, I say by all means go for it. But be warned that if you fall back on the easy method and spam it, not only will you be making fewer friends, but you may very well be missing out on becoming more skilled as a Knight. Personally, if I ever feel the need to make use of a sidearm, I usually roll with the Silversix / Argent Peacemaker. Its damage type, like Polaris, complements a swordsman well; I also enjoy its big clip and being able to move freely without interrupting my movements, the movements of my opponents, and not imposing on my teammates.
Hopefully there was something in my little wall of text someone found useful! I hope my input helped, and I hope to see you all in the Clockworks. :]
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 11:31
#22
Well..
Polaris sure got some pros and cons of its own (do note some of the cons can be overwhelmed by the user's skills and ultimately their life)
Pros :
1. Good knockback
2. Good dps
3. Somewhat good shock applying gun (lol)
Cons :
1. Not party-friendly
2. Not-so-good charge attack
3. Slow speed (for pvp)
But I do prefer that Storm Driver than Polaris cuz its party friendly and the ricochet is somewhat manageable to use. ALCH LINE FTW! <3
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 11:55
#23
Read #2. Disregarded the rest
Read #2. Disregarded the rest as troll post.
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 14:08
#24
My thoughts
When I played as a Hybrid class, the Polaris was pretty much my goto gun. From RPJ to the first FSC visit, it pretty much the gun I had with me (And it is currently my first fully heated 5* weapon)
Now as a fledgling pure gunner, however, I see some of the faults of the Polaris. Yes, the knockback is extremely useful, and great for chokepoints or pushing back enemies. But for large groups, the Alchemers have an edge. Even with the cryo driver, it can devastate all but the most hardy of enemies.
The polaris is great as an offhand gun (i.e. not your main method of damage), but as a main weapon, there are much better guns to consider.
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 19:34
#25
It's an "In case of emergency, shoot blindly" type weapon. Use it when you're pretty much screwed, but if you use it every other second, then you're doin' it wrong.
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 22:52
#26
PvP and PvE
PvE= Kilowatt Pulsar, Gigawatt Pulsar, Polaris
PvP= Trolowatt Troller, Trololowatt Troller, Trollaris
Way too Op w/ crazy knockback,
Nuff Said
Sun, 07/15/2012 - 03:59
#27
DERP.
The Pulsar line is the symbol of how most people are doing stuff on the wrong purpose.
That's my opinion
*runs away*
Sun, 07/15/2012 - 15:39
#28
My suggestion??
lower your
My suggestion??
lower your graphics to 'low' when in use
Sun, 07/15/2012 - 22:17
#29
Crazy Good Utility
Polaris is so good cause of its utility. Most other weapons in the game cannot compare utility wise. It has shock, AoE damage, very fast firing speed (don't be deceived by the slow bullets, the thing actually fires as fast as a valiance) knockback, and interrupt, all in one weapon. It's only downfall is the slow bullet speed, which is also in a way a saving grace. Imagine if the bullets traveled at normal speed....
Because of the slow bullets, it is not reliable for straight-up damage. other weapons will out damage it, even when it's used properly. Also, it's charge attack fails hard. You could argue that it's use is for close range encounters, but taking the time to charge a gun when someone is close to you is not the best of ideas; better switch to a more reliable weapon for close range.
As long as you keep your distance, it will faceroll anything, even if it takes longer to do so than other weapons. It is especially effective against rushing strikers in lockdown as well.
IT RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!