Obstructed... the most dangerous opponent for ranged builds.

I am all for using terrain for an advantage in combat but so many places in the world that appear flat produce obstructed results when firing at an opponent from range. It would be great if places particularly camps (Speldan, Dane and Rogues Quarry being the worst) were smoothed out or the algorithm that detects obstructed wasn't overly strict.

It might be impossible to fix every area on all of the maps where non-existent terrain is arbitrarily obstructing projectiles. I'm not sure about the programming involved, though I do know that this is more of an issue now than it used to be (for some reason).A potential "fix" might be tweaking all projectiles to travel slightly above their visual cue until contact, say 10~20 range, (practically nothing, most melee attacks are 100~) since the only possible obstruction in these situations is the ground.

I feel your pain, though.

~ Kovu

I'd prefer they'd add more options to block line of sights. More trees, more rocks, etc.

@geist.4126 said:I'd prefer they'd add more options to block line of sights. More trees, more rocks, etc.

Don't worry, there's hundreds of invisible blades of grass on every map already providing obstruction. Before they deliberately add more maybe they could make the existing ones neon pink or something so the people benefiting from them are aware.

Ma ma mia there is always SWC in home BL that has patches of obstructed where you'll miss your burst entirely. Needs refining/smoothing out...

Indeed, it is a real problem.There is also (less frequent and certainly linked to lag) messages "out of range" while the target is normally reachable.

necro axe 2 can hit canons on the wall, but that HUGE oil that hangs over the gate......nope....obstructed.

Despite its shortcomings, one of the nice things about Renegade's shortbow is the auto-attack can still hit through obstructed if the target's close enough.

@Clownmug.8357 said:Despite its shortcomings, one of the nice things about Renegade's shortbow is the auto-attack can still hit through obstructed if the target's close enough.

Yup. And for Herald, when Hammer 1 is obstructed, there is always Hammer 3 and 5. Sucks the most for LB rangers though.

I have issues with those all the time when playing with Rifle (Warrior, Engineer or Deadeye). But the hundreds of Rangers/Soulbeasts don't seen to have the same issue.

@"Jeknar.6184" said:I have issues with those all the time when playing with Rifle (Warrior, Engineer or Deadeye). But the hundreds of Rangers/Soulbeasts don't seen to have the same issue.

yeah...no...

@geist.4126 said:I'd prefer they'd add more options to block line of sights. More trees, more rocks, etc.Sure, let's make rotating the camera around continually so you can see what's happening even more fun. Honestly, have you ever fought someone in that group of trees below garrison next to the NE ruin? Its not fun for anyone.I can only assume that was a satirical shot at ranged builds/players.

~ Kovu

@Kovu.7560 said:

@geist.4126 said:I'd prefer they'd add more options to block line of sights. More trees, more rocks, etc.Sure, let's make rotating the camera around continually so you can see what's happening even

more

fun. Honestly, have you ever fought someone in that group of trees below garrison next to the NE ruin? Its not fun for anyone.I can only assume that was a satirical shot at ranged builds/players.

I actually like fighting there because I know how to control my camera and I know there is a high chance my enemy does not. It's like a halfway stealth for my rev ;-).

@Jeknar.6184 said:I have issues with those all the time when playing with Rifle (Warrior, Engineer or Deadeye). But the hundreds of Rangers/Soulbeasts don't seen to have the same issue.

Rangers have the same problem but their big shot is channeled allowing them to adjust and let most of their big shot land. They still get obstructed on their knockback and the like just like all the other ranged players.

@Straegen.2938 said:I am all for using terrain for an advantage in combat but so many places in the world that appear flat produce obstructed results when firing at an opponent from range. It would be great if places particularly camps (Speldan, Dane and Rogues Quarry being the worst) were smoothed out or the algorithm that detects obstructed wasn't overly strict.

Pangloss also has this issue. Have gotten killed there more than a few times on my Ranger for the same reasons as the south east camp in the Borderlands. The area that this happens isn't quite as large as the ones you've mentioned, but it's definitely there. Some where near the boxes on the Ogrewatch side.

EDIT: In fact, since I've been recording a lot of pointless crap lately, I think I'll document these bugged areas and compile them in to a video to share here at some point.

If you listen closely, you can hear the armoured crickets. What you're not seeing is them jumping up in front of projectiles. Nothing worse then firing off spoiler shots to make sure you're not obstructed before dropping the hammer.

Playing d/p thief, flipping a camp and use head shot at the supervisor at melee range - obstructed :-/

Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

@"apharma.3741" said:Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

Same experience on Ranger. That 1" lip of stone or wood apparently protects the entire NPC. But I have to wonder if they fix that, would Eles be as in demand for siege?

@apharma.3741 said:Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

@Turkeyspit.3965 said:

@apharma.3741 said:Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

If they give the rangers and necros and any ranged toon the ability to stand behind that 1” ledge and fire down, then you can have the ability to fire up...

@Strider Pj.2193 said:

@apharma.3741 said:Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

@Turkeyspit.3965 said:

@apharma.3741 said:Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

Rangers can't stand behind that ledge. You actually have to jump up onto it if you want to fire downwards. Necros I think can hit the ground with staff and maybe shades and wells, but I don't even try these days as you either get a rev hammer to the face, pulled by Mesmer, or bombed by wells, shades and marks lol.

I think I notice this most in camps. On my Mesmer I often cast, say, Confusing Images and it just...nope...OBSTRUCTED by...the air? Bizarre.

It also causes pathing issues for teleports at times. It would be nice if Anet did a bug parse for camps, towers and keeps in particular to see where this is occurring. I've taken screenshots and sent them as bug reports but I'm not really sure if that amounts to anything.

@Turkeyspit.3965 said:

@Strider Pj.2193 said:

@apharma.3741 said:Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

@Turkeyspit.3965 said:

@apharma.3741 said:Play mesmer with a greatsword, can't even attack an archer on the side of a tower :disappointed:

I know those classes can’t. I guess that was my point. If the ones below are given the ability to hit over that 1” ledge with their projectiles, then the ones on the wall should be able to use their projectiles and fire down over that 1” ledge as well.

The only reason fireball (and to a lesser degree thief shortbow bounce) works is splash dmg.

Ele would likely still be needed for seige as the MS is an effective area hit, that also keeps players off the seige.