Strategy:Reloader

Main Guide (v0.9.9.5)

General Tactics

Basic strategy posted by AlterAsc 09:13, January 15, 2012 (GMT).

Unsurprisingly, the only benefit of Reloader is that it grants faster reloading. The first level allows you to reload at 80% of normal reload time, the second at 60% and the third (only accessible via extended maximum) at 40%.

There are quite a few reasons why a player may want to build their character with this trait. First and foremost is as a part of any shotgun build: as all shotgun master traits require Shottyman, that means you automatically need Rel2. No need to think here. Ammochain also falls into this category, given that it requires the same level to gain access to it at all.

Reloader also allows for a lot safer means of corner-shooting your enemies. Corner-shooting is a technique where you stand near the corner, so your enemies can't see you meaning they can't shoot you. Take the following example:

...........X
..@#########

As shotguns don't miss and have 7 damage per 1 tile of knockback (usually is 12 per tile) they are a great weapon used to for corner-shooting. Thus you can shoot, knocking back the enemy, who then moves in your direction again, at which point you repeat the process until the enemy dies. Unfortunately, sometimes enemies are fast or tough enough to get to you before you can kill them in this manner: this is where Reloader comes in. By decreasing your reload time, you decrease the window of opportunity for particularly nasty opponents to break through your knockback method of assault.

Mostly, what is written above applies to higher difficulties, as on lower ones you can get away without corner-shooting and will usually pick up a combat shotgun before late-game enemies appear, at which point the need for Reloader is a lot less relevant. Additionally, while Finesse's attack speed bonus is a bit lower it is much more useful: if you are not going for Shottyman or Ammochain, consider taking it instead of Reloader as a generally-superior trait.

There are some weapons that require a very large amount of time to reload: running out of ammo for your BFG9000 or chain-fire weapon mid-fight can cause a very serious problem. Specifically, BFG9000 takes two seconds to reload (not to mention only two shots per clip), chain-fire weapons take two or more (up to 3.5!), so reloading them while under enemy fire is dangerous. With Reloader, the problem mostly vanishes. This kind of situation, however, is typically the result of bad gameplay in the first place. One should consider proper planning over open-space firefights, at which point Reloader isn't quite as necessary.

Reloading can also be a very significant issue when it comes to pistol builds. With proper trait-building, pistols are among the most powerful weapons in the game, but normal pistols have 6 only rounds in a clip and a 1.2s reload time. That means you are going to have reload mid-fight pretty often: Reloader will alleviate this concern with fairly acceptable reload times, allowing your enemies less of a chance to strike back. However, there are also quite a few alternative options when it comes to reloading pistols: proper usage of Gun Kata removes reloading problem entirely and with Sharpshooter you can equip ammochain in your prepared slot. In other situations it's usually easier to assemble speedloader pistol. So while taking Rel can be useful for pistol build, usually there are more important traits to take.If you think there's none you can try bulk-modding your pistols and taking Rel.

In short: unless you need Reloader as a requirement for master builds or Shottyman, there is little reason to take it.