A frank discussion about weapons

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:58 am

Guns, lasers, they're all good, right? Well...

I have been doing some testing and have come to some unexpected conclusions.

1. Lasers are not worth it. The problem with lasers is that they seem to drain my energy faster than they drain the enemy shields.

2. Guns: bigger is better, right? Not necessarily. I still remember the days when I spent hours trying to get enough money together and find a place that sells the Banshee. I figured: this is a level 15 cannon. Nothing beats that.

On the contrary, I found that when I went back to an Icespear cannon (level 2) I was making kills just as quickly. It has a yield of 25 and a cyclic of 120, whereas the Banshee has a yield of 250 and a cyclic of 90. One would think that, my modicum of math being applied, that it should take 7.5 times as long to kill the same enemy with the Icespear as with the Banshee, but no, it does not.

Furthermore, the Icespear does not take nearly as much juice to operate, so, dumping lasers and opting for a smaller cannon might actually be a good combat decision.

Anyone else have some thoughts on this?

Accountant · Post by **Accountant** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:13 am

I think a lot of it depends on the frame you are attacking. If you try attacking something like an Evoch or a Predator with an icespear, you won't scratch the paint. I tried using a gun with a higher cyclic rate, but found in PvP that the Banshee was more effective because each round was so much more powerful.

Lasers...yeah, I don't use them. And honestly, I really don't miss them. The Banshee packs enough punch that lasers seem to be more of a hindrance than a help.

-Accountant

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:33 am

I just use the Banshee cannon and only for the last fast kill do I switch to All weapons.

DennyMala · Post by **DennyMala** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:48 am

I have top class cannon and laser but I always set only particle to shot as the laser won't do almost anything to hard targets and light ones are wiped out before the shield can be took into account.

I use the laser only when doing fast strafing pass on capital ship where the pass last only too few to deplete completely my energy.

I think lighter cannons would achieve good damage id the frame have a low level shield setup. If you have a X5 booster and a 10 class shield they'll recharge so fast you can't overcome them probably.

That's why hard puches are the best.

ryuu · Post by **ryuu** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:04 am

well i find i use lasers a lot, once you get the sheilds down, just launch a missile sraight into the taget's face... usually a ohk, and if not, just switch to particle to finish them off. of corse that does kinda rely on having the manoueverability to keep yoursel shooting @ the same sheild (usually side or rear) long enough to take it down and launch a missile before they manage to equalise lol

Dengar · Post by **Dengar** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:53 am

Working as a team with your wingman/wingperson/wingthing, with one on Beam and one on Cannons works wonders!!!

Sinbad · Post by **Sinbad** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:56 pm

I haven't played much against other players, but against Vonari I find that max spec guns/laser on "ALL" setting is the quickest way to knock 'em down. With the stronger B fighters I pop 'em first with a missile then close in to finish them off with guns/laser. To prevent battery drain, I have a weapons cycle enhancer installed, boost power to weapons, and fire in short bursts of 3 or 4 shots. If your pretty close up you can fire with high accuracy and it takes only 3 or 4 said bursts to vapourise 'em.

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:29 pm

Originally posted by MCCON

I have a weapons cycle enhancer installed....

What's that?

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:33 pm

Originally posted by Eclipse
Originally posted by Marvin
Originally posted by MCCON

I have a weapons cycle enhancer installed....
What's that?
Most of us call it a Cannon Relay System, but you are welcome to call it what you like.

I call it a necessity.

Sinbad · Post by **Sinbad** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:49 pm

Originally posted by Eclipse
Originally posted by Marvin
Originally posted by MCCON

I have a weapons cycle enhancer installed....
What's that?
Most of us call it a Cannon Relay System, but you are welcome to call it what you like.

That's what I meant to say but I forgot what it was called! Sounds good though.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:32 am

I call it Weapons Powew Boostew. LOL

:P:P:P:P

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:43 am

Interesting. My information came from SP only. I haven't tried the different weapons in MP, so it might be that different weapons are better in different environments.

How about pewpew embiggener?

Sinbad · Post by **Sinbad** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:10 am

Originally posted by Nigel_Strange

How about pewpew embiggener?

HAHAHA:P:P:P:P I like it!

ryuu · Post by **ryuu** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:07 pm

i need a pewpew enbiggener! i havn't come across one and i dunno what i'm gona drop for it... everything seems so nessicary... probably my sheild boost, because if i need it i'm dead allready

TGS · Post by **TGS** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:57 pm

I'd like to see a few more weapon types tbh. Perhaps some long range missiles/guns. It kind of annoys me at times that Excalibur's are the weapon with the longest range. And there aren't really any alternatives for long range fighting.

Something else that would be cool is flak cannons. Though usually those are for capital ships but still. Flak cannons are awesome in games.

ryuu · Post by **ryuu** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:42 pm

i think mines would be awsome, take up say a either a missile slot or cargo bay (encorage people in civie ships to fly with a cargo bay for minging), then you could press a button to drop them and wait for your opponent to fly into it and... BOOM... they could also degrade ofer time before self destructing after say a minuite so that areas can't get too full of mines...then you could get mines with larger areas and yeilds, imagine mining an asteroid feild XD

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:44 pm

Originally posted by ryuu
i think mines would be awsome,

erm we have mines in legends already....................

ryuu · Post by **ryuu** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:45 pm

i havn't come across any, where can i get them?

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:48 pm

try Al's quay, they usually have some in stick, MM gets a regular supply, but I think he uses the combustible components in some of his drink

ryuu · Post by **ryuu** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:54 pm

some in stick? is this some kind of new trading method that i am unfamiliar with? does it involve any food?
lol, i'll be sure to check at some point, thanks for the tip off...

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:27 am

So...while we're on the subject, has anyone any good field experience with mines? My own experiences were disappointing to say the least. The mines either damaged my own ship or failed to detonate when enemies were around it. Either alternative is an appalling prospect.

Post by **Marvin** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:37 am

Cylons. They were a big headache for pilots operating in the Sierra WZ awhile back ... kept dropping those mines near refueling stations. Talk to a Cylon if you want a few tips on how to effectively deploy them without fragging yourself.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:02 pm

Now that you mention it, the Cylons have not been around for some time. I know they really gave Sky King a hard time, lol!

ryuu · Post by **ryuu** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:26 pm

hm,, i'll have to experiment with them, if i can get it right... muahahahahaha

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:08 pm

Oh yes, those Cylon bastards. LOL

:P:P:P:P:P:P