What do all the above items have in common? They're all upgrade branches off the basic Cobalt-Defender-Calibur-Blaster-Blast Bomb set. Looking at this list of variants I noticed something was missing (other than the Vitasuit Deluxe and all of the above's previous upgrades). There's no branch/variant of the Blaster line. So I hereby make the suggestion for a new branch off of the Blaster line that goes up to 5* (where it begins matters not), preferably a Handgun with near-identical mechanics but firing Elemental Damage (and no ricochets!). Apologies if this suggestion has already been discussed. Thoughts?
Cold Iron Vanquisher, Heavy Deconstructor, Irontech Destroyer, Big Angry Bomb, Heater Shield, Almirian Crusader,...
The bombs are nearly worthless compared to the standard Nitronome, as far as I remember (Not a big bomb user), that's a big iffy. The last thing that we need is a useless gun, doomed to be forever shadowed by Valiance.
And I'm entirely clueless on the Almirian Crusader. Practically nobody uses it (Or it's hidden by a costume).
There are only so many things you can do with a gun, though I admit they've been very creative (Pulsar and Catalyzer, I take my hat off to you) with the gun mechanics.
@Draciusen, the almirian crusader armor is rare because it's a shadow lair prize and that it requires beating shadow vanaduke, a rather difficult task and also gives you a weakness to fire. It's not really bad persay, it's just hard to get and it's fire weakness is rather troublesome.
You are right about the nitronome though, with the heavy deconstructor not used and the fact that few people use any of these weapons and armors that windsickle is listing. I don't even think i've seen a heater shield yet.
Hey, you know what is better than that gun? A 5* VITASUIT DELUXE! (Vitasuit Deluxe Mk II) Maybe the normal vita deluxe with added piercing/elemental/shadow defense?
Much like how the zapper, stungun and frostgun all function just like the protogun, having new variants of the blaster line would be a quick and easy way to add variety. However one could argue that the pulsar and catalyzer lines fill that role already - they too have that 'it just works' triple shot simplicity.
Still, 5* Valiance work-alikes that do not push things about could be excellent additions alright.
...is that they are all rather poor gear. They need a buff.
I use the CIC because there was no Ascended Cali recipe in the Auction House D:
I'm thinking the reason Alchemers exist instead of Zapper/Frost Gun-style weapons is because statuses (if used properly) can greatly change how a fight plays out. Alchemers' shots are similar to the Blaster, but their clip is reduced to two in return for the ricochet effect. The way I see it, status-inducing Alchemers are the offspring of things like the Zapper. Alchemers are (obviously) made for harder tiers, where a higher skill level is required to perform well. A skilled Alchemer user should be able to apply status and deal damage with an Alchemer in Tier 3 as a Zapper user in Tier 1.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't really agree with adding variety to the Blaster line as you've suggested, because that variety already exists in other guns. Those guns can be used just as easily/effectively as Blasters, but only with the right amount of practice. Alchemers do a great job of applying status if used correctly, and Silversix/Argent apply a focused stream of elemental damage as long as you can keep your aim steady. Personally, I think that adding higher-level Zapper-style guns would be an easy ticket to inflicting statuses with a gun, and the last thing this game needs is to become easier.
EDIT:
Little-Cloud, you can get that recipe from the Hall of Heroes. If you got your CIC before the Mission update, you still could have gotten the recipe from Kozma anytime.
/epic fail
The calibur line recipes were always abailable at Kozma before. And now we have HoH.
Not to mention you get the Ascended Calibur as a Mission Reward now, too. Forgot about that.
If you saw how this guy behaves in the Treasure Vault forum you wouldn't be surprised.
But I guess you're too occupied with the toxic sludge of the Suggestions forums.
@Canned-Bread: I guess that's why they gave the Graviton its own line. It always did seem out of place.
Irontech Destroyer, give it shock.
Big Angry, give it fire.
Vanquisher already has +3 Undead.
Deconstructor at 5* would have to give +4 Construct to be viable as an alternative to Nitronome.
Heater is an alternative element defense shield.
Almire Crusader is, as previously pointed out, exclusively available after defeating Darkfire Vanaduke; see crafting details for items required.
Vitasuit is not its own upgrade line, a 5* is unnecessary due to the 4* having a substantial health buff; it is also outclassed by the Ancient Plate set intentionally.
Alchemers came from the the 0-1* guns with statuses and normal damage, which came from the Blaster line.
I say give Decon line split norm/elem.
/emote looks pointedly at gremlin bombs
Only Poison(and curse, but I don't Recomend it) has not got a Alchemer/Brandish line.
How about a Poison like blaster(akin to the frost Gun, Zapper, ect.)
The thing is all the branching-out weapon variants do normal(at least now, hopefully a buff in the future) and as it is said handgun would seem out of place.
Maybe a parallel to the calibur and make a sort of crappy damage bonus to monster family niche weapon.