I really like the way the Dousers play, as well. I think that I’m not seeing what distinguishes them like you see it, though. What about them makes you feel like they are substantially more than a tuned version of the standard daulie concept?
I think they just play like no other dualie. You could realistically get rid of Nova, Heavy Edit, Big Swig or Dread and nobody would miss them, but the Dousers have their own niche that would leave a gap if they were removed, especially with the new kit. The closest thing they really play like are Tetra and Glooga, but they're different enough to stand out. They can basically do anything, they can be a Slayer, a backliner, support, whatever you want. They have the most unique difference between their normal and turret modes. Turret mode is the real reason I love the Dousers. You can basically ignore turret mode on basically every other dualie as the sacrifice for damage isn't worth the movement disability outside of like, destroying the Rainmaker shield or destroying an object. But for the Dousers, it gives them access to a lot more unique plays, especially with them having the furthest dodge roll. My favorite strategy is just rolling off the side of a ledge for an ambush, they're really good at being able to quickly get off ledges or around corners for rushdowns. I think Douser was the last possible unique dualie, when we get new ones in S4 or somehow even in 3, it would probably just be another "base weapon that's a little sillier", maybe having like 6 tiny dodge rolls or something with less damage than Dapples.
as a dualie main i can confirm we generally don't ignore turret mode on other dualies
we don't use them all the time even on, like, tetras, but they're an important tool dualies come with especially during fights
Maybe I was harsh with "you can basically ignore it" but it's definitely not the most defining part of them, it's not like how Squeezer's two modes basically define it. It's less that you can ignore it and more that it works best in very very short bursts, you're only it for a few seconds before rolling again or swimming away, you're usually not just constantly in it or going in and out of it. Most dualies have enough DPS to not need it all the time but I specifically highlighted Douser's because it's such a dramatic boost in it's capabilities, especially with the massive boost in ink efficiency. Your ability to use Turret mode basically makes or breaks it and it feels so great to quickly go in-between the modes. Dousers only have a single roll because it's the only one they need, most dualies need to play around their range and their dodge rolls are just get out of conflict buttons, but Douser is the complete opposite. Dousers MAKES the conflict, and they realistically win most of them.as a dualie main i can confirm we generally don't ignore turret mode on other dualies
Hedit, Snipewriter, and Pain are very fun imo
I get what you are saying. The other dualie that I play most often is dapples, and I use the roll very differently there, most of the time. With dapples, I am almost always rolling when I am not swimming, and mostly as an evasion tool (ex - quickly move away from a bomb or zooka shot) or a dive into melee range. With dousers, I use it less often, and usually as a kite fake (walking away while firing in spread mode to bait a chase, then diving back toward the chaser, but off-angle from their line of fire). I also primarily use the spread mode to antagonize and harass to initiate skirmishing from max range, rather than the hard commitment that I frequently make with other dualies.
