#marksmanship

kaz: javelin throw (would use his cane)

inej: gymnastics (she'd be silent & graceful and 100% mysterious)

wylan: fucking shotput (yeet that bitch)

jesper: marksmanship (obviously)

matthias: wrestling (PURE MUSCLE BOIIII)

The Hunter class fantasy, as far as the base class is concerned, has many answers. Dwarven Footmen, Elven Rangers, Hunters that hunt for sustenance, Hunters that hunt for glory and sport, and maybe some more. The specializations and Hero Talents are supposed to zone in on a more specific fantasy, but, unfortunately, we're not really getting a very cohesive fantasy at the moment for most spec/Hero combos.

Let's start with survival. The idea of survival itself, fighting in melee alongside a pet, is perfectly fine, I can even accept pulling out a shotgun at point-blank range with the Boomstick skill. But then you have...Wildfire Bombs...

BOMBS? IN MELEE RANGE?! That is the worst combination ever, and reminder that it's not just you getting hit by your bombs, but your pet as well, so even if you Disengage before every bomb, your pet is still getting exploded.

This means survival by itself isn't really giving a cohesive fantasy, but put the hero talents on top and you have more issues. Pack Leader seems off for survival, at least for me. The whole point of the spec is having a deeper and more intimate connection with your beast, fighting alongside them in melee in a storm of claw and blade. Having more beasts that just show up randomly...doesn't really work in my eyes. I guess it's fine, sure. The Melee range bombs are still problematic, but whatever, Pack leader is acceptable.

But then we have...Sentinel...oh boy...So, let's start with the simple fact that 99,99% of Sentinels use ranged weapons. Even in Warcraft 3, when they used glaives, they THREW the glaives instead of fighting in melee. The most famous Sentinel that I can think of that uses Melee was Tyrande as the Night Warrior specifically and at no other point in time. But fine, another detail that I have an issue with that we can ignore. What we cannot ignore is a Sentinel THROWING BOMBS AT THE FACE OF THEIR ENEMIES AND PETS!

They are deeply connected to nature and beasts, that doesnt mesh with explosives very much. I can't think of a single moment where a sentinel character used explosives in combat. Maybe as a trap, though they would certainly prefer non-explosive traps, or a tool, like to open a passage somewhere, but not throwing bombs at their enemies in a battle, even less in melee range.

Every possible Survival fantasy just gets muddled because of those fucking bombs. The other specs fare a little better...but not much.

Marksmanship with Sentinel is one that I think works perfectly. The Owl replaces the spotting eagle even if you decide to use pets. As of this writing, the next patch is going to reintroduce Explosive Shot to Marksmanship, which would be a similar issue as the Bombs in Survival, but while the bombs are absolutely mandatory, we should be able to just not pick explosive shot at all. Marksmanship Sentinel still works, but Explosive Shot is a concern we have to keep in mind.

Marksmanship Dark Ranger however, has issues that I find irreconcilable. The Dark Ranger fantasy is not necessarily bound by undeath, it could be just a ranger with some shadow magic, but the game mechanics have the Dark Ranger skills summoning undead minions. Having undead minions and shadow decay magic shots makes the Spotting Eagle being a living animal contradictory. No Hero talent in the Dark ranger tree replaces the eagle like the Sentinel does, and there is no glyph for the eagle to turn it undead.

And Marksmanship is not the only pleace where that contradiction presents itself. In Beast Master, the Dark Rangers tree summons Dark Hounds, undead dogs basically, but only as a percentage change on top of the normal Beast Master Dire Beast skill. This means that 90% of the time your Undead Archer is summoning ALIVE BEASTS instead of the undead ones. This simply does not compute.

In comparison, Beast Master Pack Leader works perfectly. Unlike survival's deeper bond with a single beast, Pack leader's bond with animals is stronger, having access to exotic beasts and multiple pets at once, and that justifies Pack Leader summoning extra pets sometimes.

So we managed to get 2/6 good fantasies. And one of those two has a little concern note on it. How do we fix this? Well, there are two fixes I thought of that would work.

The easist fix is mostly cosmetic: Have Marksmanship Dark Ranger replace the Eagle with an undead eagle. Have Beast Master Dark Ranger replace every Dire Beast summon with an undead beast. And modify the talent trees so that Explosive shot and Wildfire Bombs (and the Boomstick too, let's be honest) are all optional picks instead of mandatory picks. I personally would still have smaller issues with a few things after these fixes, but the egregious problems would be gone, so we can accept the smaller issues.

A more extreme fix would be switching Dark Ranger and Sentinel around between Survival and Beast Master. Beast Master Sentinel makes perfect sense, they have a deep connection to the forests and nature, and so dire beasts coming to their aid is easy to justify. Meanwhile Survival Dark Ranger works because we have more examples of dark rangers using melee than we have sentinels, and they even work better with the bombs, not caring about themselves or their pets because they're both undead, though we should still make the bombs an optional button. In this fix, Marksmanship Dark Ranger would still need to replace the Spotting Eagle, obviously, but the whole class feels more cohesive to me than just a few aesthetic changes.

The first fix sounds like something they might already be thinking and working on, but I don't expect it to happen until the Last Titan, or even later. The second fix is my "pie in the sky" dream scenario that will probably never happen.

In both fixes I still have issues with Survival Pack Leader, but unless pack leader just gets replaced with a whole different Hero tree I just gotta accept it, specially considering how well it works on Beast Master.

I would still have an issue with the explosives and bombs, at least for the Sentinel and Pack leader related fantasies, but unless we get like a tinker class that uses ranged weapons then I just gotta accept explosives as being a thing hunters use sometimes. Just...you know...don't make a bomb baseline for a melee specialization, please?!

Anyway, one last minute though that is not hunter specific: With the introduction of Devourer Demon Hunter all classes have 3 Specializations, except for druid that has 4. I wouldn't be surprised if a couple people on the dev team are thinking about eventually having all classes have 4 specializations. It would certainly be easier to balance and maintain than continue to add more classes, at least for a few years. I don't know what a fourth specialization and hero talent would look like for Hunter, but maybe this addition would be the perfect opportunity to switch Dark Ranger and/or Sentinel around like I suggested on my second fix, which means 4 specs for all is definitely a dream I will keep having.

Content warning: mentions guns / gun and shooting below the cut because otherwise this analysis would be moot.

This is coming from someone who used to only shoot air rifles for sport like how you'd see it in the Olympics with paper targets!

The buck fever from aiming at another person is something else but a 200 yard shot is very doable, cold bore or not. My comfortable max for deer w/ a full power rifle was 250 yards. My hippy dad can touch out just over 300 confidently. The shooter probably didnt even hit where they were aiming (i would bet all the money it wasnt at his neck).

If Kaina Tsutsumi, also known as Lady Nagant, had escaped from the Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC) much earlier, the trajectory of her life and the broader narrative of My Hero Academia could have shifted dramatically. Let’s explore the potential implications based on her character profile, abilities, and the context provided.

Early Escape and Initial Impact

An earlier escape from the HPSC would likely occur before her imprisonment in Tartarus, possibly after her killing of the Commission President due to her disillusionment with their corrupt practices. This event, originally a turning point that led to her arrest, could instead mark the beginning of her life as a rogue agent. With her exceptional marksmanship, enhanced eyesight, and Quirks (Rifle, Air Walk, and the unnamed Self-Destruct Quirk), Nagant would have been a formidable independent force. Free from HPSC control, she might initially target corrupt heroes and villains alike, seeking to expose the hypocrisy she witnessed, as her past actions suggest a deep-seated desire for justice, albeit warped by her experiences.

Influence on Hero Society

Without the years of confinement, Nagant’s early escape could accelerate the erosion of public trust in the HPSC. Her skills as Japan’s premier sniper, combined with her insider knowledge of the Commission’s dirty work, would allow her to conduct high-profile assassinations or leaks, potentially destabilizing the hero system years before the Paranormal Liberation War. This could lead to an earlier rise in villain activity, as the public’s faith in heroes wanes, creating a power vacuum that groups like the League of Villains or the Gollini Family might exploit.

Interaction with Key Characters

Izuku Midoriya (Deku): An earlier encounter with Deku could occur during his early hero training. Nagant’s initial hostility, as seen in her confrontation with him in the Dark Hero Arc, might persist, but her exposure to his unwavering resolve and compassion could happen sooner. This might lead to her redemption arc beginning earlier, potentially aligning her with the heroes against All For One or other threats like the Gollini Family, especially if she learns of Dark Might’s similar misuse of power.

Hawks: As her junior in the HPSC, Hawks might be tasked with tracking her down. An earlier dynamic could see him attempting to bring her back into the fold or, alternatively, joining her in exposing the Commission’s corruption, given his own struggles with their demands. This partnership could strengthen the hero resistance against emerging villains.

All For One: Without Tartarus to contain her, All For One might recruit Nagant earlier, leveraging her skills and resentment. Her Air Walk and Self-Destruct Quirks, gifts from him in the original timeline, could be offered sooner, making her a key asset in his plans to destabilize society. However, her eventual disillusionment with him, as seen when she turns against him, might still occur if she encounters Deku’s influence.

Potential Alliance with the Gollini Family

Given the speculative context of the Gollini Family’s rise and fall, an earlier escape might place Nagant in Europe during their peak dominance. Her skills could attract Dark Might’s attention, especially if he seeks to bolster his inner circle with powerful Quirks. However, her disdain for corrupt authority figures might clash with Dark Might’s egomaniacal leadership, leading to a temporary alliance that ends in betrayal. Nagant’s precision could counter the Gollinis’ lack of combat skills, but her moral compass might push her to undermine their plans, such as stopping the fortress attack on UA, aligning with heroes like Deku and Class 1-A.

Long-Term Consequences

Redemption and Retirement: If Nagant escapes early and redeems herself sooner, her pardon and retirement might occur by the time of the Final War, allowing her to mentor younger heroes or live quietly, as seen eight years post-war. Her experience could shape a more transparent hero society, reducing the need for her to remain in prison out of fear of exploitation.

Shift in Power Dynamics: An earlier active Nagant could weaken the HPSC’s grip, forcing heroes to adapt to a more decentralized system. This might accelerate the rise of independent heroes like Deku, who embody a new hope, and delay or alter All For One’s plans, given her potential to disrupt his early moves.

Personal Growth: Free from Tartarus’s confines, Nagant might retain more of her physical and mental health, avoiding the severe injuries from the Self-Destruct Quirk. This could allow her to fully reconcile her past optimism with her current cynicism, becoming a bridge between old and new hero ideals.

Speculative Outcome

If Nagant escaped much earlier—say, a decade before the main series events—she might have become a legendary rogue hero-turned-villain-turned-ally, her actions sparking a reformation of the HPSC long before All For One’s Tartarus breakout. Her alliance with Deku and Hawks could lead to a preemptive strike against the Gollini Family, preventing their fortress assault on UA. By the time of the Final War, she might be a retired figure, her scars fewer, her spirit healed by Deku’s influence, and her legacy a cautionary tale of heroism’s dark side turned to light.

OKAY SO

I know this isn't when I usually post however, I am really proud of myself for everything that I have accomplished over the past few months and it has all led up to this day and I want to share!!

For those who don't know, I'm in jrotc–junior reserve officers training core at my highschool. Basically what I tell people is that it's a class where you learn leadership while also kinda being in the "army".. emphasis on kinda

In addition, I'm in marksmanship and yes, we have real rifles and no, they don't use real bullets... we use tiny metal pellets instead

And basically why I'm happy is

Today I got a new rifle AND promoted AND 3 awards in one night so I'm really happy!! Just wanted to share that :3

For those who are curious here's a neat little look