This makes me glad they didn't mess with my sniper, I feel a little improved actually. Until yesterday I didn't know there was a medal for dealing 5k in single blow. I usually hit 2-3k per ability (channelled and burst). The first AoE snipers get is useless apart from interrupting PvP, but Orbital Strike has a HUGE radius, and deals about 1.1k every hit (used to deal 8-900). It hits 3 times, but two items in a set of PvP gear bumps it up to 4. Moral of this story? Roll a Sniper, the story is fantastic too ^.^