Are flechette launchers useful?

[CMDR Vectura]

At first look, and judging by what people seem to say, the answer would be no. However, according to the wiki they ignore shields entirely, dealing module and hull damage, while also applying Hull Breach. I can't seem to find any information on this debuff aside from a part of the flechette launcher's wiki page that states that it increases all damage done to internal modules. Is this debuff one that lasts a long time? If it is, surely a flechette launcher or two would make an excellent addition to the arsenal of a combat ship, alongside other useful debuffers such as corrosive weaponry.
On a side note, wow the ammo synthesis for this weapon is expensive...

 

[fsdraconis]

I have unlocked this and given it a try. It is rather difficult to use.

Hold trigger to launch, wait for beep if you aimed it correctly and then let go.

If you let go of the button right away, you will eat the damage.

Ultimately, on a big slow target this may not be bad. But on small fast ships. This is a high miss scenario if you are not used to the mechanic. I have had little practice with these so that is where I fall in.

Your own experiences may vary and possibly be better than mine.

 

[Pendergast]

This thread had some discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7t23uh/remote_release_flechette_launcher/ , then someone actually posted a video today doing a power plant takedown: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDange...er_plant_sniping_with_the_new_remote_release/

Probably not very useful generally.

 

[CMDR Vectura]

I must say, after playing with them for a bit, I do agree with you people. Though it sounds great on paper the difficult nature of it means I am largely less effective than if I just used standard cannons or multicannons. I am tempted to try the gimballed shock cannons again in the same slots on the Anaconda, but the ammo limitation on those wasn't particularly nice.

 

[Threeofseven]

https://youtu.be/hdPYdd-2HC8

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

using it vs. elite corvettes in assassination missions

you may kill the targets defenses and offenses even if it shoots down your flechette grenades with point defenses.
kinda like it.
its a skill based weapon

 

[Na'Qan]

https://youtu.be/hdPYdd-2HC8

Thanks for sharing that Threeofseven, it inspired me to build one for my Viper Mk III that lead to the recent video I posted about sniping power plants with those.... it is challenging!

[video=youtube_share;q1gXx7WOG74]https://youtu.be/q1gXx7WOG74[/video]

 

[jasonbarron]

It sounds g awesome. Where do I get one of these bad boy's?

 

[CMDR Vectura]

You have to collect a whole bunch of mats then unlock it at a human tech broker.

 

[akaliel]

Sounds neat but 4 minutes to take down a Type 9 is 3.5 minutes longer than it takes with regular weapons. Think I'll pass.

 

[Na'Qan]

Sounds neat but 4 minutes to take down a Type 9 is 3.5 minutes longer than it takes with regular weapons. Think I'll pass.

Depends what ship you're using. Can you do it faster with a Viper Mk III. That T9 is not your run in the mille T9, its a Power Play Fortification ship, packed full of boosters. but if you're not happy with that, here's one with a Federal Corvette Cmdr...
[video=youtube;NANwNTmn900]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NANwNTmn900[/video]

 

[jasonbarron]

Depends what ship you're using. Can you do it faster with a Viper Mk III. That T9 is not your run in the mille T9, its a Power Play Fortification ship, packed full of boosters. but if you're not happy with that, here's one with a Federal Corvette Cmdr...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NANwNTmn900

Wow Na'Qan, that looked like a lot of fun. I bet the Corvette pilot didn't even know what was happening to him until his shields went down. Do you just point and fire and they detonate, or are you triggering the detonation as they get to the target?

 

[Na'Qan]

You'll need to hold down the trigger until the rounds lights indicating its time to release the trigger. After a while you'll get the rhythm of timing release before it bounces off the shields.

 

[jasonbarron]

You'll need to hold down the trigger until the rounds lights indicating its time to release the trigger. After a while you'll get the rhythm of timing release before it bounces off the shields.

Why did his shields drop?

 

[Threeofseven]

Why did his shields drop?

Bad power priorities. His power plant malfunctioned and because his priorities were set incorrectly everything went offline.

 

[jasonbarron]

Bad power priorities. His power plant malfunctioned and because his priorities were set incorrectly everything went offline.

Oh, so it wasn't the flechette causing splash damage? Still, pretty funny. I bet the pilot's mouth hit the floor when those shields went down.

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

Bad power priorities. His power plant malfunctioned and because his priorities were set incorrectly everything went offline.

or the shield generator died to the flechettes.

that corvette seriously lacked point defenses (flechette and flak grenades are shot down by those)

 

[Na'Qan]

I subtargetted his power plant and damaged them enough with the flechettes that his power plant output was reduced, causing his shields to drop in the process.

 

[Drelthar]

Might these be useful for taking out thrusters?

 

[Na'Qan]

Might these be useful for taking out thrusters?

Yes, Thrusters are even more vulnerable, as they are exposed. It takes a lot of practice, not just aiming, but now timing of release. Adds another lay of challenge.