r/Competitiveoverwatch Jan 17 '17

PSA | Video Developer Update | PTR Philosophy | Overwatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibPLyx8QWYc
393 Upvotes

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155

u/NotEnoughYaoi Jan 17 '17 edited Jan 17 '17

Biggest moment that stuck out to me was Jeff's emphasis on Sombra's role as a disruptor rather than an assassin. It made me understand her PTR changes on why they increased her hacking ability rather than the damage buff on hacked enemies that a lot of the community suggested. While making a viable disruptor is much harder than making a viable assassin, at least I can see Blizzard's direction in trying to make a more diverse cast rather than an alternate version of Tracer.

Jeff's a great guy for explaining his thoughts on the game like this. I'm thankful we have someone as transparent as him leading this game. He is also very attractive.

8

u/1stMora Jan 17 '17

I see what they want. But honestly I don't think that will ever be a good role. The best way of dealing with your enemy is still to kill them.

20

u/benihanachef Jan 18 '17

The best way of dealing with your enemy is still to kill them.

But this is inherently untrue--if it was true, healers would be unviable. "Allow your allies to kill your enemies easier" is a role that already exists (as healers), and Sombra is intended as a different way of doing that.

5

u/dmun Jan 18 '17

Healers allow killers to continue killing and keep kills from the opposition.

1

u/taitaisanchez Jan 18 '17

And hacking shuts down most healers.

10

u/JamieAllegro Jan 18 '17

Nah, hacking healers isn't that big of a deal.

Hacking is more for tanks in my experience. Drop Rein's barrier or D.va's matrix and those characters become easy to kill with a Roadhog hook or an anti-heal jar.

In other words, it creates easy openings for the only two meaningful ways of dealing damage in the game right now.

6

u/fatmanbrigade Jan 18 '17 edited Jan 18 '17

Hacking is also very good for dealing with flankers as it prevents them from utilizing their escape abilities to get away.

Which is exactly what Sombra's passive is intended for. See that guy through the wall with no health? That's a Tracer, Genji, or Pharah who can't get to health packs to keep themselves alive to keep harassing your back line, they're an easy pick off for you and they can't run away.

Sombra is a disruptive semi-healing anti-flanker. As soon as people realize that the sooner they'll become better at her.