First off, I just want to say that I am glad that Trials is back. Being a big PvP person, the lack of PVP driven content since TTK dropped has been a drought for my happiness. I had alot of fun this weekend running with CruelLEGACEY, Ottermack, Sammy, Korny, Lichtonatus, Argent, and Charlie. The highs were high and the lows were low. My biggest realization after playing, was to be bold, and don't be afraid to change things up. My thoughts are as follows.

Before playing Trials alot of people had the same thought I did, "I don't know what to use for my Trials Weapons." I had no clue what I would be the most consistent with in the Trials. I switched guns about 5 times in Trials before I settled. Before my first match I brought my Hawksaw (vendor roll) up to 310 thinking surely this will be the best for me. I was wrong. I found myself losing engagements at range. Up close it was great, but during this Trials that was rarely the case. I went to Jade Rabbit, and did OK with it, but then I was finding myself in close range engagements that I was losing. Eventually I settled on Nirwen's Mercy (Vendor roll). It is excels at range, but is better than a scout rifle up close. Third Eye was definitely a lifesaver. This gun easily became my favorite. Keep in mind this gun was a let down to me when I first got it.

As far as special weapons go, ever since TTK dropped, it has been shotgun exclusively. I started off trials with shotguns, did OK with them, but found myself getting sniped or out-shotgunned by Higher RoF shotguns than my Conspiracy Theory. While I did make it to the lighthouse with a shotgun my first ticket I found I was doing it wrong. I found myself rarely being able to use my shotgun, so I pulled out my Stillpiercer on my hunter, and went OFF. I consider myself above average sniper, but haven't touched it since before TTK. Now I can't stop.

Lastly, switching up the strategy worked out. Our first ticket we stayed together, covering sightlines, but once one of us went down it was a mad scramble to get to over and relocate to pick up the lost sightlines. During my second run we just spread out, we sent one to the far left by the special and edge of the map, one in the bases up top on balcony, and one to the upper little courtyard with the tree. THIS was the best way we found to control this map. If one player went down the other 2 were relatively safe, and chances are unspotted. Having this full map visibility allowed us to control where the enemy team went. Most times we would pick off 1 over-zealous enemy, then it was game over because we had the orb, and knew where they were. This strategy of splitting up may only work for this map, but boy does it work.

Other side notes:

Hammers still OP, defintely lost some good games to hammers, won some as well.

Light level differences didn't seem to show. I never found myself dying or killing any faster (was around 308 on all characters)

Heavy rounds are less scary, I think I got 2 heavy kills through all my tickets. I think alot of people just don't have reliable or high enough Attack Year 2 heavies to bring to the fight. This will probably change as people acquire more/better weapons.

Tether is great if you use it correctly. You are pretty much guaranteed to die if you are in it and can't get out. If it turns into capture the zone, throw it on there and its game over.

TL:DR If you are having trouble in the trials, switch it up. I found myself blaming different things for my problems before I finally said OK this isn't working and I know I am better than this. Maybe you, like myself, have become too complacent, which is why you are not doing so well. Try and keep it fresh.

How did your trials runs go?

We didn't use boons because it was just our first run and we wanted to get a taste for the map and flesh out some strategy.

Our first game we *smashed* the other team. went 5-0 and I think only one of us died once that whole time. It was brutal and I kinda felt badly for the other team at the end.

The remaining 6 games were all against teams full of tryhards with at least 1 lighthouse player each (from the current trials). I had expected an easier journey, but we were also playing after midnight when the no-lifers are basically the only ones online. Our first loss we got manhandled something like 5-2. After that each match was a toss up. Even the one we won 5-1 near the end could easily have been 5-1 in the other team's favor because of how many revives and clutch saves both teams had in every game.

We had an awesome time, but in retrospect I really wish we'd used boons since we'd have gotten that 5 win item reward. Ahh well, we're now ready to rock tonight.

We didn't use boons because it was just our first run and we wanted to get a taste for the map and flesh out some strategy.

Our first game we *smashed* the other team. went 5-0 and I think only one of us died once that whole time. It was brutal and I kinda felt badly for the other team at the end.

The remaining 6 games were all against teams full of tryhards with at least 1 lighthouse player each (from the current trials). I had expected an easier journey, but we were also playing after midnight when the no-lifers are basically the only ones online.

Our newbie trials team tried this quite late friday night. I'm pretty sure we were one of the teams that got destroyed like that. =) It was feast or famine, 1/3 of the time we were 4 to 5. The rest of the time we were mostly getting pounded. Most of the teams had former lighthouse players and a few games I was being killed by newly acquired adept weapons.

Mental note: don't play trials late friday night (opening night no less) with the hardcore. ;)

Got a 309 Warlock Bond on our second game, though, which was an upgrade from my 302 raid one. :)

Mental note: don't play trials late friday night (opening night no less) with the hardcore. ;)

Definitely the hardest time to play. Seems like Sunday and Monday night are the best times to get less skilled teams.

If I had seen your event I would have came! I have yet to play with you so it would be nice put a voice with the online presence.

If I had seen your event I would have came! I have yet to play with you so it would be nice put a voice with the online presence.

I had one scheduled but my regular crew couldn't make it.

I'm setting up an event for tonight at 1am Eastern to grab Black Spindle and finish off some Trials matches... We'll see who can make it. :)

Edit: Here's the new event.

Sleepy/hungover adults and schiving schoolkids all around

If I had seen your event I would have came! I have yet to play with you so it would be nice put a voice with the online presence.

I had one scheduled but my regular crew couldn't make it.

I'm setting up an event for tonight at 1am Eastern to grab Black Spindle and finish off some Trials matches... We'll see who can make it. :)

I'll be looking to do some Trials tonight, and I'd be happy to help with Black Spindle if you need another body in there. I won't be able to use my mic that late at night, so you guys can make fun of me as much as you like and I won't be able to defend myself :)

Mic not necessary. We know you know what's up. :)

Got to 5 wins with no losses (304 boots), then went 5-0 (1 forgiven loss), 5-1, 6-1, 7-1 (304 pulse rifle, full auto + outlaw), 7-2, 8-2, 8-3.

The hardest teams to beat were the teams at 5-0 (they were really good, but pulled out the win thanks primarily to being all 3 sunsingers and self-ressing like mad) and 8-2 (holy crap they demolished us).

I also got a 303 helmet from the "gold tier" bounty, so it was a pretty good haul all around.

My buddy got 307 boots and a 308 pulse rifle, and a cloak from the bounty.

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Random drop items we got were all 260s, which is still really dumb.