Edits.
Not so much complaints at this point, but thoughts based on conversation with a PvE friend.
The Hammerburst really should have a zoom function. Every assault rifle has a secondary function. Chainsaw, bayonet charge, grenade launcher. The Hammerburst is pretty underwhelming in Horde, and might see more use in Escape based solely on availability.
There’s virtually no other reason to use it with any class except Tactician/Keegan, and even then it becomes completely obsolete when he’s able to put a few points into the explosive ammo regen perk. Using it on anything but low to middling difficulties is asking for frustration.
This gun really should have had a little bit of zoom similar to the Boltok, and a higher chance to land headshots. Heads splat a lot with the Retro Lancer, a much less precise weapon in practice, and rarely seem to do so with the Hammerburst, if ever.
Bloody Torque Bow card. Cool skill in concept, but I feel like this card belonged on the Blademaster/Lahni more than it does on the Gunner. Not only does it fit with the flavor of the character the class was originally attached too, but it jives with the bleed/melee theme of the class . This would be especially true if the Torque Bow had it’s own melee animation with a damage bonus, as I believe it did in some of the other titles in the franchise.
Speaking of the Gunner/Clayton, the above Torque Bow card added an interesting element but I haven’t seen it used much at all, and feel like focusing on a Torque Bow build would hamstring the class. It doesn’t work with the flavor of the class - at least, not as much as it does with the Blademaster. In its place, the Gunner’s ‘Practice Every Day’ card should grant its effects all the time, not just during the class special. Add a reduction to assault rifle kick and or/increased active reload bonus card to even out the class and add an additional playstyle option.
Parting Gift. I don’t know why this is a card. It might be salvageable if it also granted increasing stim to the Robotics Expert based on damage done, or if it was simply replaced with a card that added increased damage to shock grenades, and/or had shock damage grant stim to the RE.
Reaching Level 20 w/ a class. I don’t really care about the heroic skins or any bragging rights players might get out of them. They’re pretty but not much incentive unless you’re a completionist - in which case you’re probably going to grind to 20 with every class anyway. Passive boosts or interesting features to classes that hit 20 would be far more interesting.
For example, the game has a melee/stun animation with the Lancer based upon the Relic Lancer in the campaign, a feature that could be added to lvl 20 Veterans, Medics, Gunners, or whatever other class it fits with in theme or function. Maybe that’s asking for a bit much, but even a passive 10% bonus to a relevant stat would have been cool.
Drone Elites. They’re annoying as hell and if I’m playing on higher difficulties they’re what’s dropping me 8/10 times. The Claw is oppressive, and Shock Grenades on Elites make no sense thematically. I’d love to see Gears 4-style Elites back in the game with Lancers and Frags. They were terrifying but not hyper-accurate game changers. Claw Wielding Elites could still be in the game - just split their current spawn rate with the oldschool Elite mentioned above. More enemy variety, more weapon variety, and less being dropped by Claws nonstop.