Darth Hater Forums

Playstyle Differences Between the Smuggler and Agent?

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  • #1 HarryTruman

    I guess this is mainly for those lucky few who have played through these classes at E3, but I'm curious as to the actual play style differences and overall "feel" between the Smuggler and Imperial Agent.  They use the same energy system, it seems, and obviously both have a reliance on cover, but there's naturally more to it than that.  I think it was in the last DH podcast, but there was mention that the IA seemed a bit more durable when outside of cover while the Smuggler seemed more vulnerable.  Were there any other marked differences?

    Alternately (for the majority of us who haven't had a hands-on), what do you think the play style differences between these two classes will pan out?  My guess is that in general the Smuggler will involve more running around from spot to spot, while the Agent will focus more on setting up a handful of shots.

  • #2 cdstephens

    I guess considering that the standard Smuggler has a pistol and the standard IA has a sniper rifle, the IA would be more focused on burst dps and being much longer range away, whereas the smuggler would be more constant dps based (also my thoughts of the difference between the trooper and the BH).

    This kinda breaks down with ACs though, cause the smuggler gets a shotgun, and we don't know what other weapons the IA can get right now.

  • #3 AgentOP

    I don't really like the fact that the Smuggler and Imperial Agent have the EXACT SAME portable cover mechanism. It looks the same and everything. I don't know if that's final or simply a placeholder, but it does break believability to a certain extent. Or maybe the portable cover is something that's used by many different types of people in the TOR universe and so you could explain it anyway like that. IDK.

  • #4 entropic

    Quote from DarkImperialAgent
    I don't really like the fact that the Smuggler and Imperial Agent have the EXACT SAME portable cover mechanism. It looks the same and everything. I don't know if that's final or simply a placeholder, but it does break believability to a certain extent. Or maybe the portable cover is something that's used by many different types of people in the TOR universe and so you could explain it anyway like that. IDK.

    This has been discussed before here: http://darthhater.com/forum/topic/132

    It's my opinion that the two portable cover abilities should be aesthetically different but functionally the same. The trouble is that, since both classes use cover, and there is only so much cover they can put in the game the ability is necessitated by the gameplay of the class. As regards the believability, they are both utilising a technology that is available at the time: patent laws don't do terribly well in war time :)

  • #5 AgentOP

    Quote from cdstephens
    I guess considering that the standard Smuggler has a pistol and the standard IA has a sniper rifle, the IA would be more focused on burst dps and being much longer range away, whereas the smuggler would be more constant dps based (also my thoughts of the difference between the trooper and the BH).

    This kinda breaks down with ACs though, cause the smuggler gets a shotgun, and we don't know what other weapons the IA can get right now.

    I could see the Imperial Agent maybe getting some sort of close combat weapon. Let's not forget, there will be times when the Agent is going to have to get up close and personal.

  • #6 entropic

    Quote from DarkImperialAgent
    Quote from cdstephens
    I guess considering that the standard Smuggler has a pistol and the standard IA has a sniper rifle, the IA would be more focused on burst dps and being much longer range away, whereas the smuggler would be more constant dps based (also my thoughts of the difference between the trooper and the BH).

    This kinda breaks down with ACs though, cause the smuggler gets a shotgun, and we don't know what other weapons the IA can get right now.

    I could see the Imperial Agent maybe getting some sort of close combat weapon. Let's not forget, there will be times when the Agent is going to have to get up close and personal.

    I believe they have an ability called "shiv" which can deal damage at close range and, iirc, stun the target.

  • #7 AgentOP

    Quote from entropic
    Quote from DarkImperialAgent
    Quote from cdstephens
    I guess considering that the standard Smuggler has a pistol and the standard IA has a sniper rifle, the IA would be more focused on burst dps and being much longer range away, whereas the smuggler would be more constant dps based (also my thoughts of the difference between the trooper and the BH).

    This kinda breaks down with ACs though, cause the smuggler gets a shotgun, and we don't know what other weapons the IA can get right now.

    I could see the Imperial Agent maybe getting some sort of close combat weapon. Let's not forget, there will be times when the Agent is going to have to get up close and personal.

    I believe they have an ability called "shiv" which can deal damage at close range and, iirc, stun the target.

    I I know about shiv. I meant some sort of vibroblade of some sort like from KOTOR. I know the shiv is a vibroweapon, but so far there's no indication that it'll be used outside of that one attack. The shiv is a type of vibro-dagger.

  • #8 entropic

    Quote from DarkImperialAgent
    Quote from entropic
    Quote from DarkImperialAgent
    Quote from cdstephens
    I guess considering that the standard Smuggler has a pistol and the standard IA has a sniper rifle, the IA would be more focused on burst dps and being much longer range away, whereas the smuggler would be more constant dps based (also my thoughts of the difference between the trooper and the BH).

    This kinda breaks down with ACs though, cause the smuggler gets a shotgun, and we don't know what other weapons the IA can get right now.

    I could see the Imperial Agent maybe getting some sort of close combat weapon. Let's not forget, there will be times when the Agent is going to have to get up close and personal.

    I believe they have an ability called "shiv" which can deal damage at close range and, iirc, stun the target.

    I I know about shiv. I meant some sort of vibroblade of some sort like from KOTOR. I know the shiv is a vibroweapon, but so far there's no indication that it'll be used outside of that one attack. The shiv is a type of vibro-dagger.

    I think the point of this ability is to be able to keep melee-ers at range (i.e. shiv and retreat), I imagine it will not be the only ability that can perform this function. I do not however foresee an IA build which revolves around melee attacks, that's not what the class does.

  • #9 cdstephens

    From what I could tell, the IA seemed to have a little more durability, but not by much. Also, I would guess that the IA is more burst DPS focused (sniper rifle) than the smuggler.

  • #10 Siros

    Classes are one thing, that there shouldn't be two exact same classes with different names is clear but after that... it's for me for example more important that u actually feel like a smuggler/ imperial agent. I hope they introduce additional stuff like gambling/slicing for the smuggler and another stuff for the agent. There should be more around than just fullfilling missions to make players feel what class they play.

  • #11 entropic

    If smuggler could slice then it seems indefensible that the IA could not; a scoundrel and a spy are similar in predominantly that respect.

  • #12 Raeth

    One thing I think that gives the IA flavour is the 'Orbital Strike' ability I've seen. I don't think the Smuggler would have access to that.

    As for the portable cover, it's very easy to see a Smuggler deciding that choice piece of gear (portable cover) being carried by the Agent is something they would find very handy, and either stealing or sourcing one from the black market for themselves.

  • #13 entropic

    Quote from Raeth
    One thing I think that gives the IA flavour is the 'Orbital Strike' ability I've seen. I don't think the Smuggler would have access to that.

    As for the portable cover, it's very easy to see a Smuggler deciding that choice piece of gear (portable cover) being carried by the Agent is something they would find very handy, and either stealing or sourcing one from the black market for themselves.


    Yes to both points (just wait until the people who think that the game should be entirely original and nothing need be explained get to you though). However, I have heard that the trooper gets an orbital strike type ability.

  • #14 Furiel

    My gut tells me that the difference is mostly going to be the agent is more of a burst DPS class whereas the smuggler will be a sustained DPS class.

    And as for the shield thing - I've been an advocate for quite awhile now for the smuggler getting an ability that works just like the shield, only when activated an environmentally appropriate piece of cover spawns for the smuggler rather than a shield, and it would degrade over time due to the fire it would be taking so that it would have the same duration as the shield.  If I get into Beta I plan to feedback the idea every day until they either impliment it or tell me to shutup.

  • #15 Raeth

    Quote from Furiel
    [...]And as for the shield thing - I've been an advocate for quite awhile now for the smuggler getting an ability that works just like the shield, only when activated an environmentally appropriate piece of cover spawns for the smuggler rather than a shield, and it would degrade over time due to the fire it would be taking so that it would have the same duration as the shield.  If I get into Beta I plan to feedback the idea every day until they either impliment it or tell me to shutup.

    Do you mean a rock or something spawns? I think the shield makes more sense immersion-wise.

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