Have Gimballed cannon (lock) been nerfed since 1.3?

[GunnerBill]

Quick question: Today has been my first big play since 1.3 and down at the local RES I got the sneaking suspicion that my Vultures gimballed class 3 cannon was nerfed for lock. No chaff involved and the Gimballed laser was fine.

Anyone else?

 

[Stigbob]

Since 1.3 NPC's evade and fight better, I've not noticed any weapon changes.

 

[I and I Redeye]

I wouldn't be surprised.
I thought same thing when 1.3. Doesn't mean they have but I did think it was different.
They changed something on fixed to improve them.
Canons have changed. You can't spam the shots anymore. Gotta wait for it to load a shot 1st.

 

[Stigbob]

I've been messing about with cannons and the shot to target time seems shorter for class 1, and longer class 2. There's barely any delay at all between firing class 1 gimballed cannons and the shot landing at close range (not point blank), my ships only got class 1 and 2 (DBS) so I can't comment on the class 3, if what I've noticed is right it could be a slower shell you are experiencing.

 

[GunnerBill]

Mmhh
The laser reticule locks and tracks targets as normal however the cannon target never seems to catch up until the target is either very close or flying directly to/away.

Doesn't matter if target is central if it's turning no cannon lock.

Odd.

As if the tracking system is slower.

 

[Tall_Toot]

It seems as if gimballed weapons now take more time to engage a lock depending on the weapons (use MC myself), range, type, etc. Its arguably more realistic - just takes bit of getting used to.

 

[Stigbob]

Mmhh
The laser reticule locks and tracks targets as normal however the cannon target never seems to catch up until the target is either very close or flying directly to/away.

Doesn't matter if target is central if it's turning no cannon lock.

Odd.

As if the tracking system is slower.

Or the shell travels more slowly meaning the trailing gunsight trails further.

 

[I and I Redeye]

I've been messing about with cannons and the shot to target time seems shorter for class 1, and longer class 2. There's barely any delay at all between firing class 1 gimballed cannons and the shot landing at close range (not point blank), my ships only got class 1 and 2 (DBS) so I can't comment on the class 3, if what I've noticed is right it could be a slower shell you are experiencing.

It could well be. I was using class 1 and class 2 cannons at the same time.
I noticed that they miss more from distance, so that could be to do with the slower shells.

Also I can't fire a volley of shells. It's like you have to wait a second to fire the next shot. So no rapid fire with the canons.
I'm pretty sure it not my LoS. I've been point blank on a target and can't get a rapid fire volley off. Got to wait a sec to fire the next shot.
If they have done something to the rate of fire with cannons then I don't think that is a bad thing. They were strong before if you went in close.

 

[GunnerBill]

Or the shell travels more slowly meaning the trailing gunsight trails further.

Yes I see what you mean now.

 

[Stigbob]

It could well be. I was using class 1 and class 2 cannons at the same time.
I noticed that they miss more from distance, so that could be to do with the slower shells.

Also I can't fire a volley of shells. It's like you have to wait a second to fire the next shot. So no rapid fire with the canons.
I'm pretty sure it not my LoS. I've been point blank on a target and can't get a rapid fire volley off. Got to wait a sec to fire the next shot.
If they have done something to the rate of fire with cannons then I don't think that is a bad thing. They were strong before if you went in close.

I've switched back to class 2 fixed burst lasers and class 1 gimballed cannons, the shots are hitting almost immediately it's really noticeable (and better IMO). You only see the smoke trail with misses and long range shots.

I reset my game so I cant test it (yet) but I think the fdl's huge cannon may be really slow now.

 

[Rasclat23]

I've noticed this too. My C2 cannons take a good second or so to fire off the first shot. Surely the cannons should load as soon as hard points are deployed, not when you put the trigger! I thought my controller was broken at first. Can understand the reload time after firing but there shouldn't be any delay on the very first shot.

 

[LeetNoob]

Is there a specific reason the larger cannons have a slower projectile speed? It makes it difficult for all cannon builds.

 

[Trafalgar Law]

I've noticed that the gimballed size 3 cannons on my Clipper miss sometimes when they shouldn't (target travelling in same direction, cannons locked on), especially with smaller ships like the Courier. It's almost like they're aiming slightly behind where they should be aiming.

- - - Updated - - -

Is there a specific reason the larger cannons have a slower projectile speed? It makes it difficult for all cannon builds.

Cannons got heavily nerfed after Beta1, where all cannon builds were heavily favoured by cmdrs. Personally I think they over did it with the nerfs, restricting the ammo and reducing damage against shields would have been fine, instead they also slowed down the projectiles and made the projectile speed different for each size.

 

[GunnerBill]

After a good RES session yesterday I have stopped using cannon at anything more than point blank/big ships.

C3 laser enough for anything else.

 

[Ryder35]

After a good RES session yesterday I have stopped using cannon at anything more than point blank/big ships.

C3 laser enough for anything else.

They may have changed it but isn't that how it should be? A cannon should be a point blank weapon, trying to hit an evading target with a slow moving projectile should to work too well at range. Bit like a sniper using a shotgun.

oh and @Trafalgar Law: I remember the good old days of vipers and 4 cannon loadouts one shotting eagles! Great fun

 

[marktay]

My 4B Gimballed Canon was very effective on big game pre 1.30. Its largely redundant now at RES as I have not managed to get an instance that spawned anything bigger than a Cobra. With fast moving small ships I find the canon useless unless you are a few hundred meters away. Going to swap it for thermal weapon.

 

[Zplintz]

A standard canon is no different from a sniper rifle (it is just generally larger). No reason why it cannot be accurate at long range *where they would normally be used.

A shotgun is completely different and should be compared with the frag cannon.

 

[GunnerBill]

Oooohhhh don't mistake my OP for a complaint just a RFI.

Largely I agree with comments re usage of cannon on bigger targets.

Ultimately I'll probably save money on ammo by only using it on proper targets.

 

[Ryder35]

A standard canon is no different from a sniper rifle (it is just generally larger). No reason why it cannot be accurate at long range *where they would normally be used.

A shotgun is completely different and should be compared with the frag cannon.

Agreed, shotgun may not have been the best comparison but ballistic speed of a cannon is a lot lower than a sniper rifle, therefore a maneuvering target at distance will be very difficult to hit

 

[GunnerBill]

Agreed, shotgun may not have been the best comparison but ballistic speed of a cannon is a lot lower than a sniper rifle, therefore a maneuvering target at distance will be very difficult to hit

I think cannon is a generic name for this weapon and does not mean its a muzzle loading brute firing round shot!

Probably more like a small field gun?

Im no expert on muzzle velocities though!

Any idea what calibre the various classes are supposed to be?