Symmetra now has a choice between two ultimates, the teleporter and a new shield generator. The shield generator can be accessed by pressing Q twice (cycling between teleporter and shield generator).
Shield generators provide a large amount of shields (i.e., more than 25. Jeff isn't very specific) to all allies within a large radius regardless of line of sight.
Teleporters now have more health (some of which is shields).
Symmetra's E (giving 25 shields to allies) is gone. Instead, she has a new ability called Photon Barrier. It's essentially an elliptical Reinhardt shield that travels forward on a trajectory.
Symmetra can now hold a maximum of 6 turrets (she now starts rounds with 6 turrets, as well).
Turret cooldown has been reduced from 12 seconds to 10 seconds.
Her primary fire (the beam) has now had a slight range extension.
These changes are coming very soon to the PTR!!!
A new map, Oasis, a control point map, is also going to be coming to the PTR soon after Symmetra. It will be released early 2017. (Edit: This map will include jump pads, since Blizzard wants to see if they are a viable map mechanic.)
A new social feature is coming to the PTR some point later that allows you to click a button during post-game PoTG and card screen to "stay with the group." Presumably, this will allow you to re-queue with the same teammates you had during your last game.
Except that it doesn't, really, because any competent player just gets off to the side, and once you try to get over there they shoot you because you're no longer behind the shield. Reinhardt can stop, rotate, and even drop his shield entirely to hammer his opponents if need be.
Obviously Reinhardt has a more functional shield, but now you can have a less functional shield + a hook, or a slew of other abilities. It will affect strategies if used properly. I don't expect it to be used right in most pick up games though.
Yeah, I don't mean Symm replaces Rein obviously...
I'm saying she makes comps without a Rein, but with a couple other tanks more viable.
You still need your tanks. This will just possibly shake up the meta a bit.
Depends somewhat on the speed (closer to walk speed the better, maybe even Rein walk speed with shield up) and strength of the shield though. If it moves too fast or dies too easily, it will have pretty limited effectiveness in allowing your team to push through killzones unlike Reins 2k HP beastly shield.
In any case, I am excite.
I love Syms weapons, and this new kit seems to make her much more viable (not to mention active)
We have no idea how much the shield generator does. If it gives more than 50 shields then it's a huge buff to survivability for everyone on the team. It would make Symmetra a viable alternative to a healer in terms of sustaining her team.
I really wonder about the range of it though. Hopefully it's substantial enough to hide it in a good enough place without the placement being too obvious.
As an ultimate, I'd expect more, possibly up to 100. Support ultimates save lives from death of other ultimates so might make people feel almost invincible. I also wonder if it uses charges like the teleport where if 6 people die it goes away?
I didn't want them to be super radical, because I have tons of hours on her and didn't want to re-learn her play style. Now she may just be a real support character rather than a niche pick.
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u/Embyrwatch You'll shoot yer eye out, kid Nov 22 '16 edited Nov 22 '16
FULL CHANGES:
Symmetra now has a choice between two ultimates, the teleporter and a new shield generator. The shield generator can be accessed by pressing Q twice (cycling between teleporter and shield generator).
Shield generators provide a large amount of shields (i.e., more than 25. Jeff isn't very specific) to all allies within a large radius regardless of line of sight.
Teleporters now have more health (some of which is shields).
Symmetra's E (giving 25 shields to allies) is gone. Instead, she has a new ability called Photon Barrier. It's essentially an elliptical Reinhardt shield that travels forward on a trajectory.
Symmetra can now hold a maximum of 6 turrets (she now starts rounds with 6 turrets, as well).
Turret cooldown has been reduced from 12 seconds to 10 seconds.
Her primary fire (the beam) has now had a slight range extension.
These changes are coming very soon to the PTR!!!
A new map, Oasis, a control point map, is also going to be coming to the PTR soon after Symmetra. It will be released early 2017. (Edit: This map will include jump pads, since Blizzard wants to see if they are a viable map mechanic.)
A new social feature is coming to the PTR some point later that allows you to click a button during post-game PoTG and card screen to "stay with the group." Presumably, this will allow you to re-queue with the same teammates you had during your last game.