A Fer-de-Lance takes on the WORLD! (Virtual Reality PvP)

[z4.MAFIA]

All you need to counter Z4's silent running build is emissive and heat seekers (not even sure you need those actually).. Once the silent running is gone, he's screwed. Although, I'd much prefer others try it if nothing else so I can crush them every time lolz..

This all said we should be fitting our ships and playing how we want.. If we have fun doing it, then thats what we should do.. So good for you Z4, enjoy your build, but don't complain when you come across someone who counters it

I decided to build my FDL without heat or thruster sniping missiles so that the determining factor in attaining victory was emphasized on my ability to outfly my opponent(s). I'm not complaining, rather pointing out an obvious need for balance in the missile department. Since 2.1 landed, both heat damage and torpedoes have seen a balance pass. Now it's time for missiles to get the same attention.

Thanks for posting a video which proves my point. Victory should not be determined by a specific module. It should be based on pilot skill and flying ability.

 

[Cosmos]

I decided to build my FDL without heat or thruster sniping missiles so that the determining factor in attaining victory was emphasized on my ability to outfly my opponent(s). I'm not complaining, rather pointing out an obvious need for balance in the missile department. Since 2.1 landed, both heat damage and torpedoes have seen a balance pass. Now it's time for missiles to get the same attention.

Thanks for posting a video which proves my point. Victory should not be determined by a specific module. It should be based on pilot skill and flying ability.

Hey bud, I like your vids.. And I can see you're a pretty decent pilot but as I said if seekers and emissive are too OP, then surely your slient build is too? Do you a deal, if you stop posting your silent build vids and claiming to be super amazing, I won't tell people how to easily beat you.. Okay? [haha]

 

[z4.MAFIA]

Hey bud, I like your vids.. And I can see you're a pretty decent pilot but as I said if seekers and emissive are too OP, then surely your slient build is too? Do you a deal, if you stop posting your silent build vids and claiming to be super amazing, I won't tell people how to easily beat you.. Okay? [haha]

Emissive is all that's needed to counter a silent build and maintain proper balance in ensuring that victory can still be dependent on piloting ability.

Throwing missiles into the mix turns a fight into victory gained not through skill, but BECAUSE missiles were used.

 

[Cosmos]

Throwing missiles into the mix turns a fight into victory gained not through skill, but BECAUSE missiles were used.

I agree with you on the missiles but they are in game.. So its something we all have to deal with I suppose. Bottom line here is we all have the stuff Frontier have created, whilst we can make judgements about gimbals or missiles, or even using FA off and turreting with fixed.. Its all subjective. At the end of the day its who wins the fight that matters, and thats it.

Conflicts or fights int he real world are rarely ever a fully balanced affair anyhows.. All is fair in love and war right?

 

[GluttonyFang]

I decided to build my FDL without heat or thruster sniping missiles so that the determining factor in attaining victory was emphasized on my ability to outfly my opponent(s). I'm not complaining, rather pointing out an obvious need for balance in the missile department. Since 2.1 landed, both heat damage and torpedoes have seen a balance pass. Now it's time for missiles to get the same attention.

Thanks for posting a video which proves my point. Victory should not be determined by a specific module. It should be based on pilot skill and flying ability.

But the problem is that your build is what makes otherwise fine missiles OP, it's a counter to your build that has a very accessible and non-repetitive counter. You can't ask for everything to be tailored to suit your build's versatility, which has been exposed for being lacking in the versatility department.

Edit:

Don't like missiles? Put on shields or make use of PD/ECM. It's a far cry from heat meta where the only solution is to dump more heat faster.

 

[z4.MAFIA]

But the problem is that your build is what makes otherwise fine missiles OP, it's a counter to your build that has a very accessible and non-repetitive counter. You can't ask for everything to be tailored to suit your build's versatility, which has been exposed for being lacking in the versatility department.

Torpedoes used to melt shields in the same way missiles currently melt a silent ships thrusters. Seeing as how the majority of players fly shielded ships now, it's obvious as to why FDev balanced torpedoes so fast.

The sheer amount of complaining was astronomical! As a silent runner, I'm in a tiny minority, which means a similar balance to missiles will probably never happen. Can you see where I'm coming from now?

Earlier, you talked about how emissive is the only counter needed for a silent runner. At some point, it should become the ONLY counter available. It's good to see I'm not the only one here that feels this way.

Don't like missiles? Put on shields or make use of PD/ECM. It's a far cry from heat meta where the only solution is to dump more heat faster.

ECM and PD are a joke. This is especially true for PD... I've put SIX PD on my FDL and they couldn't manage two missiles. If there is a mechanic that's utterly broken in this game, it's PD...

 

[GluttonyFang]

Torpedoes used to melt shields in the same way missiles currently melt a silent ships thrusters. Seeing as how the majority of players fly shielded ships now, it's obvious as to why FDev balanced torpedoes so fast.

Torpedo nerf was unjustified it's completely manageable with awareness.

The sheer amount of complaining was astronomical! As a silent runner, I'm in a tiny minority, which means a similar balance to missiles will probably never happen. Can you see where I'm coming from now?

Earlier, you talked about how emissive is the only counter needed for a silent runner. At some point, it should become the ONLY counter available. It's good to see I'm not the only one here that feels this way.

Then you should ask for torpedo to be buffed back, which I will support. Emissive is the only effective counter to silent, as to whether people use missiles or gimbal/turret weapons against silent runners after being exposed is secondary to emissive. You fitted your ship with dirty drive instead of drive strengthening, so I think it's "you reap what you sow."

Not to mention if you don't expose your drive to the missiles and make proper use of PD, it would be much relevant of an issue.

ECM and PD are a joke. This is especially true for PD... I've put SIX PD on my FDL and they couldn't manage two missiles. If there is a mechanic that's utterly broken in this game, it's PD...

I think you didn't take into account how PD operates (FDL's utility point placement makes it that if you face directly at the enemy, you likely won't make use of the PD wherever you place it) and ECM is not a 100% lock scramble.

 

[_Fissure]

Hey bud, I like your vids.. And I can see you're a pretty decent pilot but as I said if seekers and emissive are too OP, then surely your slient build is too? Do you a deal, if you stop posting your silent build vids and claiming to be super amazing, I won't tell people how to easily beat you.. Okay? [haha]

If I may, I see the breakdown as this:

Pre-2.1 meta (SR with fixed weapons): high skill floor
Post-2.1 meta (heat): low skill floor.

One involved managing heat, protecting vulnerable modules, and engaging other silent targets with fixed weapons, the other involves cooking a ship that still has its shields up by clicking the fire missiles button faster than the other guy. PD and ECM are virtually useless, and heatsinks are often the first module to malfunction.

I do believe that heat is OP and, in my opinion, it needs to be completely removed from the game. It is impossible to balance. I don't view silent running as OP. It takes skill to use and has a major trade off that makes the ship vulnerable (no shields). There is no such trade off for the heat meta. It's fire, forget, and win.

 

[Zeeman]

Great video.

Track IR (or rather in my case, wireless EDTracker) is a fantastic game-changer.

I'll be posting my review of the latter in the next few days.

Amen - I know it's CQC - but my K: D ration improved by a factor of 2 when I attached Track IR.. I'm guessing VR would could potential even add a little more.


As for silent running vs shields, ideally, both would be viable, and de down purely to pilot preference.


Z...

 

[z4.MAFIA]

Then you should ask for torpedo to be buffed back, which I will support. Emissive is the only effective counter to silent, as to whether people use missiles or gimbal/turret weapons against silent runners after being exposed is secondary to emissive. You fitted your ship with dirty drive instead of drive strengthening, so I think it's "you reap what you sow."

I only had one roll for G5 drives. I wasn't willing to risk rolling drive strengthening and end up having it suck ***. Because of this, I decided to roll a G5 dirty drive, and it came out decent.

Have you or anyone else actually tested drive strengthening in relation to missile damage? I'd be interested to see how much of a difference it actually makes.

Not to mention if you don't expose your drive to the missiles and make proper use of PD, it would be much relevant of an issue.

I think you didn't take into account how PD operates (FDL's utility point placement makes it that if you face directly at the enemy, you likely won't make use of the PD wherever you place it) and ECM is not a 100% lock scramble.

When I had PD equipped, I made sure to not face my enemy directly and not expose drives as a volley was headed my way. Unfortunately, the outcome was still based on the fact that my opponent was using missiles.

Perhaps, if I spend some more time testing PD, I'll find a way to make it work.

 

[GluttonyFang]

I only had one roll for G5 drives. I wasn't willing to risk rolling drive strengthening and end up having it suck ***. Because of this, I decided to roll a G5 dirty drive, and it came out decent.

Have you or anyone else actually tested drive strengthening in relation to missile damage? I'd be interested to see how much of a difference it actually makes.

At grade 5 it makes the drive twice as strong and then some with up to 40% of thermal load reduction.

When I had PD equipped, I made sure to not face my enemy directly and not expose drives as a volley was headed my way. Unfortunately, the outcome was still based on the fact that my opponent was using missiles.

Perhaps, if I spend some more time testing PD, I'll find a way to make it work.

I suggest practicing with base assaulting, find the ones that have missile launchers (take out the laser towers first or wreck the generators) and understand the angle where your PD is installed actually has. I practiced this way and now unless there's two ships firing missiles at me from different directions, I know exactly how to tilt my ship to make my PD kick in. It's actually easier for people who are using gimballed weapons since you don't have to worry about being on target at all times.

 

[z4.MAFIA]

Amen - I know it's CQC - but my K: D ration improved by a factor of 2 when I attached Track IR.. I'm guessing VR would could potential even add a little more.


As for silent running vs shields, ideally, both would be viable, and de down purely to pilot preference.


Z...

My piloting ability improved drastically when I got my Vive. There truly is no way I'll ever be able to go back to playing Elite on a monitor.

Playing on a monitor pails in comparison to the cockpit presence VR makes you feel.

 

[z4.MAFIA]

At grade 5 it makes the drive twice as strong and the some with up to 40% of thermal load reduction.

I may have to consider switching to drive strengthening. I wonder though, if double strength would be enough. The thermal load reduction sounds cool, but that aspect becomes largely pointless once an emissive round hits.

Module storage can't come fast enough. Depending on the combat situation, it will be nice to easily switch between dirty and strengthened drives.

I suggest practicing with base assaulting, find the ones that have missile launchers (take out the laser towers first or wreck the generators) and understand the angle where your PD is installed actually has. I practiced this way and now unless there's two ships firing missiles at me from different directions, I know exactly how to tilt my ship to make my PD kick in. It's actually easier for people who are using gimballed weapons since you don't have to worry about being on target at all times.

Other than the recent test I did, I hadn't touched PD since the beta days. I appreciate the information on optimal testing grounds.

 

[Kikimantaloo]

This is exactly why i dont pvp. Yur gud.. really gud!

 

[z4.MAFIA]

Agreed. Those fights were an absolute riot. 12-14 CMDRs duking it out in one huge, scrappy hair ball. I loved every second of it! The best PvP I've had in a long time.


Two additional questions for you Z4:

1) What are your tips, if any, for running a SR build post 2.1? Pre-2.1 I absolutely loved running a Silent FAS; ran it with 3x Imperial Hammers and a Large Frag on top. However, the changes to heat, heat sinks, and missiles post 2.1 killed the build. I adjusted the weapons load out to account for the new heat mechanics, but I found myself running into two issues: no where near enough heat sinks, and missiles absolutely obliterating my ship and its' modules. Nothing I tried seemed to mitigate these issues. I've thought about buying a second FDL to run as a silent multi-cannon build, but my experiences with the FAS post 2.1 make me hesitant.

I'm hoping that by the end of the month, my custom build for mitigating thruster sniping can be implemented. When the time comes, I'll keep you posted on how it fairs.

2) What do you use to record when you play? I've never recorded game play footage before, but yesterday's awesome engagements got me thinking that I should start.

After using a wide variety of recording software, I've found "Action!" to be the best. It enables me to flawlessly record 1080p 60FPS footage while simultaneously playing and streaming in VR.

 

[z4.MAFIA]

This is exactly why i dont pvp. Yur gud.. really gud!

You should consider practicing PvP. The more you do it, the better you'll get.

If you're not sure where and how to get started, I'd be happy to teach you everything I know.

 

[Sane]

How did you get your speed to 518? That is crazy! Combat in VR looks super fun. Do you have any issues feeling sick flying like you do?

 

[Kikimantaloo]

I bet i got good skill at something else. Getting interdicted 6 time in a row etc..

 

[darthyank]

I wish I knew how to fight like that.

Epic video.

Well played, thanks for sharing.

 

[ph1Lt0r]

z4, as always a very entertaining video; Sooooo jealous of your VR. Keep up the good fight!