Bear Traps... Are they worth it?

#1

Hey all, I generally like to gauge the communities opinion on topics like the ideal FT setup, the best Predator builds or the most efficient weapons. Today I am curious about your opinion on bear traps against an experienced FT. I compiled a short list of what I think their positives and negatives are but please feel free to add your opinion as I am pretty curious on their value.

TL;DR for your comments - do bear traps suck?

                                  **Preface**

I think you can abuse any weapon against an inexperienced team, so I really want focus on the best way to utilize, or not utilize them, in a more competitive environment.

Positives

  • Bear traps are currently the only gear-based damage option. Fireteams can have health pools as high as 190, as many as 12 medkits available as gear options to bring, and healing at nearly every objective location if the Predator did not destroy the medpacks beforehand. I believe that as a Predator you do not bring them for their damage output, but it is a small benefit.

  • Immobilization of one FT member for 2-3 seconds. Locking down one FT member for a short duration can be invaluable at the correct time.

  • You can get creative with your placements if the FT does not have the “Trap Sensing” perk. Laying the trap just outside of, or inside of, a doorway or wall will trigger through the obstacle. It might be considered an abuse of a mechanic, but it is something you can take advantage of.

  • If positioned in a place where you have overwatch, and capitalize on the trapped FT member with a ranged weapon, you can get a down and bait the full FT into a wipe as they try to revive them.

Negatives

  • In regards to the last positive listed above, laying traps and trying to maintain an overwatch position means you are sacrificing continuous pressure. Yes, you can place the trap then resume your harassment, but through the natural flow of battle (I.E dodging fire, lining up a better bow shot, getting high ground for the Plasma Caster) you will most likely lose immediate LoS over the area it is placed. This means that your 2-3 second window to punish a trapped FT member became .5 to 1 second.

  • The AI can trigger them. This is the most frustrating part for me - I feel like I cannot set up efficient baits due to the AI spawning randomly and in larger waves now. Let’s take Derailed as an example - I know I cannot place the traps around the warehouses due to the AI’s pathing. The main road to the Northern base, the fence openings from the Warehouses to the Western Village, and the path between the North and West areas seem to be the only areas I can reliably utilize them. This issue is further exasperated since experienced FT’s know to watch these areas specifically.

  • The inclusion / exclusion cost of bringing a 5 value gear item. If you equip the bear trap as a Hunter or Scout you have to make them more valuable than a medkit. I might be playing wrong, but the ability to heal anywhere, at anytime, seems to be more efficient than hoping for a trap that can give you possibilities. (Note - Yes, the Hunter can take both the Medkit and the Bear Trap, but my personal bias is that the Motion Sensor outvalues both of these items.)

Balance Ideas

I personally think the traps could use a slight buff. I would implement one of the following,

  • Bear Traps now require a seperate FT member to release the trapped Soldier.

  • Being caught in a Bear trap imposes a movement speed debuff for 1 minute.

I know it’s a long post, so for those who stuck with it I’d really appreciate your feedback. Last note - I think it’s depressing that there are only 4 gear options for the Predator while the FT has 8 or so. I’m really hoping the Glaive is a gear option.

Edited for grammar.

4 Likes
#2

I wanted to be the first comment lmao I’m gonna read it all inna sec but in general they could change who wins the game same goes for a net gun

#3

So u don’t need to be but it would help so much the trapper perk and if someone is trapped deal as much damage as possible ranged or melee 1 down will change the games winner quick And wait to see who picks em up set another trap if there not amazingly close and wait then get another down and repeat then finish the team and ussaly for the ai thing I ussaly place we’re only fire teams at cuz ai r annoying lmao

#4

Without reading all that quick answer to your question is yes yes and more yes. Like Uber worth it

#5

Bear trap with combistick throw= instant kill, unless it’s a support. They are always in my loadout. And yes one down or claim will absolutely sway the balance in your favor.

#6

Nbs

#7

This is fair, and as a Fireteam main I think this is a great idea and have no issues with it were they to implement something like it👍🏼

3 Likes
#8

I didn’t know bout the debuff to speed 👍

#9

There isn’t a debuff, he’s just proposing it

#10

Thanks for clarifying. I usually see you around here - what are your thoughts after so much community interaction?

#11

That movement speed debuff is a good idea. Not sure I’d go with a minute, maybe 30-45 seconds but still it would make traps more useful.

1 Like
#12

I generally prefer non damage options in games for this reason - it adds more more strategic thought to the game.

Do you as a FT just ditch the guy and bring him back in a revive? Do you slow down and try to cover him from the easier-to-land bow shots / Plasma casts? Do you mock him for being a Support that now moves slower than your grandma?

The only thing I’m not sure of would be the penalty percentage applied. 25% seems fair initially. I am in favor of a longer, less powerful debuff so the Pred can strategize around it for a longer time.

1 Like
#13

Oooooo lmfaooao my bad

#14

i use bear traps all the time… i stopped using them till the end of the match though cause more times than not the ai would trigger them or the ft wouldnt come near them or if they saw they would destroy them…

What i do is wait till they call the choppa… go to the extraction point… throw down traps at the ropes… this is especially fun when they smoke the area up thinking its helping them but then they cant see them and walk right into them… all i have to do is walk up and start slashing

1 Like
#15

I wish the AI wouldn’t be able to trigger them. I hate setting my traps only to have the AI waste them. Your buffs are good ideas (wouldn’t mind seeing the movement speed debuff also get applied to the Net Gun).

#16

@Drakos put me back on to it when were on FT together and explained some of it and his use.

The thing about bear traps is they cloak so its pretty good.

Onces teams at OBJs you can toss a trap and sit still.

Learning OBJs and buildings a big help. Watch high traffic areas.

Throw the combi stick is an instant down at least cept for supports (sometimes dutch without thick skin)

You can down a guy from high up and throw the bear trap near him and when help comes you nail him.

If you feel really uppy, smash in to really kill abd
the put them down or dead.

Use trapper perk too? Oh man its a night mare for the FT. Apparently it effects the netgun too? I’ve netted guys and the struggle is way more with them.

I don’t take them on Scout. Motions only.

If I could change one thing for it, its the throw mechanic. Shits awful to aim with.

I wish it used the leap system, Doesn’t need to throw further but I wish I could throw it max distance without fucking looking at the moon.

Also the FT trap spot perk? Super strong.

#17

I dont like the way they are deployed so i dont use them.

if i could throw it with a target reticle resembling that of the grenade launcher then i would use it. Having to look up real high to get a good throw and not being able to see where it lands is not practical to me.

1 Like
#18

Needing another ft to break you out sounds a bit too strong for me. But I do like the idea of a speed debuff.

#19

Tried using Bear Traps but it made me too static and overwatchy. Obviously some of you guys who are really good can use them and still be mobile and punish those who get trapped. At present I prefer the motion detector and audio decoys setup - seems to work well with quick in-and-out attacks which grind the FT down.

#20

of course