Bolt is an awful ability. I understand they want a skill based ability, but the timing on this thing is ridiculous. Maybe it varies with the weapon type, but with Scorch, I can barely achieve about 1 in 3 outside combat. Inside combat, there are other things to focus on besides an absolutely minute time window and it is maybe 1 in 50 of shots.
There is no visual feedback at all to indicate when you should release. The window appears to be around 0.1-0.2 seconds and if you are also focussing on dodging enemies, movement and landing headshots, it is incredibly difficult to hit this timing and trying to do so almost invariably means performing worse than just holding a max charge and making sure to land a headshot.
It also is directly anti synergistic with 2 perks that require this talent. Firstly and most obviously, the ability that allows you to hold a max charge without firing until you chose to do so requiring an ability that specifically requires you not to be at max charge is just achingly stupid. Secondly, the ability which increases charge speed after releasing your bolt and stacks 3 times is also ridiculous. The window is TINY as it is with no visual cue, and now the window gets even smaller and does so incrementally, meaning you have to get the muscle memory for 4 different timings? This is beyond stupid.
Look, just have it trigger at max charge. Players will actually be able to use it effectively and then associated abilities will vaguely make sense. Bolt is functionally a dead mechanic and just makes you feel bad when you don't pull it off, not rewarded when you do. It actively makes the gameplay worse.
There is no visual feedback at all to indicate when you should release. The window appears to be around 0.1-0.2 seconds and if you are also focussing on dodging enemies, movement and landing headshots, it is incredibly difficult to hit this timing and trying to do so almost invariably means performing worse than just holding a max charge and making sure to land a headshot.
It also is directly anti synergistic with 2 perks that require this talent. Firstly and most obviously, the ability that allows you to hold a max charge without firing until you chose to do so requiring an ability that specifically requires you not to be at max charge is just achingly stupid. Secondly, the ability which increases charge speed after releasing your bolt and stacks 3 times is also ridiculous. The window is TINY as it is with no visual cue, and now the window gets even smaller and does so incrementally, meaning you have to get the muscle memory for 4 different timings? This is beyond stupid.
Look, just have it trigger at max charge. Players will actually be able to use it effectively and then associated abilities will vaguely make sense. Bolt is functionally a dead mechanic and just makes you feel bad when you don't pull it off, not rewarded when you do. It actively makes the gameplay worse.
Last edited: