Making Dash a Passive Skill

Yet another Gunslinger QoL feature.

Already suggested here in a bigger post, but I'd like to add a few points and make it into its own shorter post.

#2. Please save my fingers from spamming << or >>

It's an ergonomic issue that makes playing sairs sweaty for no reason but a gimmick, especially when Haste exists.

(Haste: For MP -30, +40 in speed and +20 in jump for 200 sec at max)
(Dash: +30 speed and +10 in jump at max. I had to measure this. It's not in MapleLegends' library.)

#3. It's not mentioned in the quote, but, you can actually activate Dash and hold it while climbing ladders to maintain the speed boost (so you climb faster) (thus < or > direction button PLUS ^ direction).

Furthermore, right after a Recoil Shot in smaller areas (I don't actually use Recoil + Wings macro all the time, depending on the map), you do actually have to spam >> or << immediately after to get to the next platform, escape a hoard of enemies (while waiting for the 1 second recoil shot buffer) or reach the next enemy across the map.

Suggested Implementation:

Use the original << or >> to toggle Dash boost indefinitely until << or >> is used again.

Cherry on top: Dash animation isn't shown when you're standing still, and is still active when you start moving.

 

Yes, that's right, technical terms aside.

 

It's basically the same skill, except we get a tiny bit of jump out of it. The jump is quite nice because it allows you for better Recoil Shot movement (>> Jump Recoil Shot).

Although, removing the >> or << inputs altogether is the "easy" approach.

If we're moving between maps i.e. Town to PQ or whatever, then, removing it altogether can be a good idea, because we'd want to basically always have it on.

On the other hand, having manual control is best, because: sometimes, you don't want to use it for specific maneuvering, have its animation on, and fits the "class fantasy" of being in control of your "ship".

 

I'm with you that we should keep some semblance of the ability by keeping the same trigger to activate (and hence, the animation), but...

The << and >> arrow keys for movement can't be changed, presenting a clear ergonomic issue. It's not like everyone will try to find a way to rebind the arrow keys for something else just for this class.

MapleStory is a 2D game, so WASD controls are a no-go either. But let's say we re-binded the controls anyways to something like WASD-- the games which included a "double-tap" Dash like Borderlands for instance, actually removed them altogether for this reason-- in the end, we got the "Toggle" option instead. It was an accessibility issue.

So, at some point, it definitely needs to be changed.

Speaking as a dev (general programming), changing it to a passive like Bowman's Thrust is the easiest way to implement it by removing the animation & adding a buff. That way, people's fingers can rest easy (technically wrists, because the fingers elevate the wrist when you keep tapping, and the arrow keys' position tends to be in the bottom right, leaving little room for your wrists to rest on a flat surface, i.e. laptop surface, longer wrist-pads)

Though, the best solution is to keep the animation and make the skill semi-passive (with the toggle trigger).

AFAIK, the ML team is able to do this already what with the Shadower buffs to Assasinate. But, given how random issues can pop up, i.e. random memory leaks, unexpected inputs triggering it, etc. That's a longer implementation and maybe the one they'd want to go with because it's the most 'elegant' one, or maybe because the easiest solution ends up being the weirdest one to implement (I can't see their codebase, so who knows?).

Again though, fingers. I use my Shadower to Haste myself to prevent spamming >> << in the meantime, or those Mysterious Candies from the Anniversary event FWIW. I don't believe there are any NPC-purchaseable jump potions either... (is there?)

 

Dash is maintained if you hold the buttons while jumping prior to a Recoil Shot or Wings.

If a monster comes to you from the right, you Dash towards the enemy, immediately jump (while holding Dash), and Recoil Shot. That's how it's supposed to be used; repeat ad nauseam.

It shouldn't be nerfed-- just have the motions be easier to maintain for hours you're grinding with the Skill (let's reduce the Haste muling, shall we...?)

 

Sorry, I misunderstood! What I see you're suggesting is a hybrid of the toggle and ryanlight's Archer Thrust approach (which makes sense with the Pirates/Gunslinger class anyways, as they're a hybrid between Thieves and Archers).

That could be quite nice, if the toggle approach were to be implemented. Otherwise, it wouldn't fix the issues.

I do also have a Buccaneer- this is technically a small QoL buff for them too, if we went with this approach; i-frames are not that important anymore, as Demolition is our main damage dealer.

Repositioning though, might be a bit tricky, if we accidentally toggle it with >> or <<. Then again, some guides advise against putting points into Dash because of it, so it may be something to think about. Maaaybe the entirely-passive route is better.

To solve that though, we'd need to throw away the >> << toggle idea away entirely, and just make it an active buff skill like Haste, so you could bind it to any key and use it when you want to. Then, both class issues are fixed at once.