ABILITIES SYSTEM!All the equipment and training in the world can’t substitute for experience. With Combat Arms’ new Abilities system, you can put your veteran experience to work on the battlefield! Simply rank up to get all the benefits of these advanced Abilities:
A Rank = Must Have
B Rank = Decent
C Rank = Better Options AvailablePitcher:A honed throwing arm allows you to control how far you throw, letting you choose exactly how hard to toss a grenade. Unlocked at the rank of Recruit (550 EXP).
"C Rank" *I've only tested this out in a few games, but it does actually prove to be effective in medium maps. Larger maps still have that problem of not hitting right where you want them, but if you prefer nades to mines, this is still a solid choice. I just ranked it "C" because I feel there exist better options.*
Specter: You’ve become more subtle and deft, allowing you to make very little noise when you move. This Ability is not in effect while sprinting. Unlocked at the rank of Private (1,200 EXP).
"A Rank" *Everyone who used to normally sound whore now needs to run Awareness because of how extremely annoying Specter is. By running it, your a pratical
ninja. It's a must use for everyone, unless your playing a very small map where stealth isn't as important.*
Resourceful: When you kill an enemy player, there’s a chance they may leave behind Limited-Ammo, All-Ammo, or Recovery Items! You will have a short time to pick these up, after which they will be free for your team to recover. Unlocked at the rank of Private First Class (2,500 EXP).
"B Rank" "Resourceful seems to hate me. And for that reason I demote it to the average ranking of "B". Although it sounds good on paper, it only seems to drop items for me when I least need them. The drops aren't very common either (unlike I expected), so for the rare chance that something does drop, half the time you're not going to be getting something you wanted. Maybe it's just my bad luck. Use it if you prefer chance and luck to actual skill. I'm going to be replacing this slot with Awareness or Victory Lap most likely.*
Awareness: You can attune yourself to the sounds of enemy movement. Footsteps will come in loud and clear as long as you have Stamina to fuel it. When Stamina runs out, Awareness effects disappear. Unlocked at the rank of Corporal (5,000 EXP).
"C Rank" *If you know how to effectively use it, then feel free, as it DOES drain Stamina. Improper usage would make it far less effective. Also, note that it doesn't work when moving, so it's more suitable for campers and those who enjoy picking off others from afar with sniper rifles.*
Victory Lap: When you achieve a Multi-Kill or better, your normal movement speed will increase to your sprint movement speed and will not cost any Stamina. You will not be able to sprint while this effect is active. If you make a Multi, Ultra, Fantastic, or Unbelievable Kill while the effect is still active, the duration of the effect will be refreshed. This effect resets if you die. Unlocked at the rank of Sergeant (8,700).
"B Rank" *Certainly a niche ability, more for those who are strong mid-fielders and offensive rushers. Would be more effective in the hands of someone like Me or Lorii due to our tendencies to get heavy accolades in exchange for losing a life or two. And wouldn't be AS effective to say Shottymaster or Echo whom like to get scores with fewer deaths in exchange for missing out on a few kill streaks.*
Steady Hand: You have a steady hand, making it easier to aim with a Sniper Rifle, so long as you have the stamina to power it. Unlocked at the rank of Staff Sergeant (8,700).
"A Rank" *If you are a proficient sniper, Steady Hand makes your already decent ability to use a sniper, and boosts it astronomically. A know for a fact a lot of people in our clan would benefit greatly from this. Usually the only thing that would give me a hard time were either very fast moving targets, or peakers. Well, Steady Hand completely
destroys peakers. Now just gotta work on that speed issue.
*
How to Equip Abilities:After reaching the required rank, the unlocked Ability will appear in your Inbox. It can then be activated like any other item. For players that are already above the rank of Staff Sergeant, each unlocked Ability will already be in your Inbox, waiting to be activated.
Once you have activated all of your new Abilities they will then reside in your Inventory in a new "Ability" tab.
From your Inventory, you can double-click each Ability and equip a maximum of 3 at one time.
How to use Abilities In-Game:All of these Abilities, with the exception of Awareness, will be on and active as long as they are equipped in an Ability Slot. When an Ability is in-use, the Ability icon will light up.
To activate Awareness in-game:
1. Equip Awareness to an Ability Slot. As an example, equip it in Ability Slot B.
2. When in-game, simultaneously press ~ + 2. If it were in Slot A, you would press ~ + 1 and for slot 3; ~ + 3.
Get out there and test out your new found abilities! “There are no dangerous weapons, only dangerous people!”
"PERSONAL LOADOUT"What I found to work best for me is a combination of "Steady Hand", "Resourceful", and "Specter".
Steady Hand is an absolute MUST for anyone using a sniper rifle. There's 0 sway, meaning quickscoping becomes incredibly dangerous.
Maps where shoulder peakers used to be annoying are pretty much free kills. This Ability is amazing and is definately "A Rank".
Resourceful is pretty situational. Most of the time when I need a drop, it doesn't drop, and when I do desperately need one, it hands me either HP or Ammo when I already had full or plenty. I might replace it with "Awareness" to better counter players abusing the AMAZING Specter. Resourceful is certainly a "niche" Ability, therefore, in my opinion it's only "B Rank".
Specter is by far my favorite. Specter is passive, meaning as long as your not sprinting, you make ZERO sound while running, walking, or crouching. Might not sound so great, but my, my, opposing sound whores HATE you. Without "Awareness", they don't hear you coming, and you get yourself a free kill without taking any damage majority of the time.
From personal experiences, Specter catches people off guard A LOT. Especially if you play maps where stealth is key, especially where you have to be tactical and flank. (Hallow Ravine, Gray Hammer, Sector 25). This is, in my opinion, a solid "A Rank".
Probably going to be switching out Resourceful for Awareness or Victory Lap (most likely Awareness, because the chances of scoring massive accolades against skilled and prepared teams in CW as slim), but that's just MY loadout. What's yours?
PS: I really want to make more use of my map. Maybe a radar ability? Pl0x?
I'll continue to add to this thread as new abilities are released. <3
Subject: New Abilities System 
Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:50 am
