For the life of me, I just can't justify using a PA (or, god forbid, a cannon) in my Anaconda's C4 mount. They're not just bad -- they're insultingly awful for just about every situation. Am I just using them wrong or something?
Ship Builds & Load Outs Class 4 hardpoints are awful. What's the deal?
- Thread starter Soothsayer
- Start date
The C4 PA isn't too bad, I occasionally fit one on my Anaconda and it has its uses though it could be better considering the price. The C4 Cannon is beyond awful: the projectiles are far too slow. It may well do heavy damage to modules but you can do more damage with smaller weapons simply because you can hit them more often.
I'm guessing they're not all that powerful for "balancing" reasons, I guess FD didn't want Conda pilots nuking smaller ships with one shot. It doesn't make much sense though: the C4 weapons are probably bigger than an entire F63 condor so they should be very powerful.
I'm guessing they're not all that powerful for "balancing" reasons, I guess FD didn't want Conda pilots nuking smaller ships with one shot. It doesn't make much sense though: the C4 weapons are probably bigger than an entire F63 condor so they should be very powerful.
I can actually see some Problems with the big guns on Condas, Corvettes and the like.
Both the PA and the cannon need quite some good targeting, which becomes oviously hard in a ship that is as slow as a Conda or a Corvette.
On an FdL on the other hand, a Class4 PA or Cannon is a force to recon. The Ship is nimble enough to keep on any target worth firing the huge PA or Cannon at.
.
I really do hope they put some more Options into the Game for the big Slots. There are obvious balancing reasons why there are no Class4 Lasers available.
As they usually limit the powerfull weapons by making them less self targeting, for Lasers I would actually go right the other way round:
A class4 Pulse, Burst or Beam Laser each but only in Turret Version.
Having the damage output of something between the gimballed and fixed class3 counterparts.
It would fit the theme of the bigger ships (relying more on turrets to compensate their low agility) and the weapons would not be that over the top, damage whise.
.
Just my 2cents.
.
Cheers
Nuit
Both the PA and the cannon need quite some good targeting, which becomes oviously hard in a ship that is as slow as a Conda or a Corvette.
On an FdL on the other hand, a Class4 PA or Cannon is a force to recon. The Ship is nimble enough to keep on any target worth firing the huge PA or Cannon at.
.
I really do hope they put some more Options into the Game for the big Slots. There are obvious balancing reasons why there are no Class4 Lasers available.
As they usually limit the powerfull weapons by making them less self targeting, for Lasers I would actually go right the other way round:
A class4 Pulse, Burst or Beam Laser each but only in Turret Version.
Having the damage output of something between the gimballed and fixed class3 counterparts.
It would fit the theme of the bigger ships (relying more on turrets to compensate their low agility) and the weapons would not be that over the top, damage whise.
.
Just my 2cents.
.
Cheers
Nuit
I noticed my S4/F PA on my anaconda was knocking off approx 10% hull per shot against other 'condas and pythons.
Only issue, IMO, is that you have to let the capacitor charge to get a shot off. So I typically use it when the pulse lasers are cooling or the multi-cannons are reloading if I'm in close enough to the target ship. Works fairly well. Not useless, but different.
I've been flying a Vulture for combat for the last few months - it takes some time to get used to your hardpoints being on the belly vs on deck.
Only issue, IMO, is that you have to let the capacitor charge to get a shot off. So I typically use it when the pulse lasers are cooling or the multi-cannons are reloading if I'm in close enough to the target ship. Works fairly well. Not useless, but different.
I've been flying a Vulture for combat for the last few months - it takes some time to get used to your hardpoints being on the belly vs on deck.
More class 4 weapons are absolutely required in this game. The C4 PA and Cannon are fine, but they are situational, and most commanders would prefer a more flexible, but less "death ray" style weapon. I personally want to see all weapon types make it to C4, since I prefer multicannons, pulse lasers, and railguns. And who doesn't want to fire a round the size of an american sedan (and twice as ugly) at faster-than-light speeds?
FD have hinted at C3 multicannons and C4 lasers. Several of my ships will get a serious refit then. Especially my Corvette will finally be good. I'm still using it, reluctantly, as it seems there has been a stealth nerf to Anaconda heat management. I've consistently had heat issues with it in battle outfit, I don't recall having them back in 1.2.
Here's the thing. I really don't see multicannons making it to the huge hard point unless it was something that was twin linked or absolutely massive. Instead I would much rather see something along the lines of a CHAINGUN, single barrel medium fire rate solid munitions. Automatic fire physical weapon that makes sense compared to just a bigger and bigger mini gun.
I would also like to see an automatic plasma cannon similar to the SRV. Perhaps even a particle cannon.
And for gods sake give us new missiles.
I would also like to see an automatic plasma cannon similar to the SRV. Perhaps even a particle cannon.
And for gods sake give us new missiles.
I have always said that for the Class 4s, we should be able to fit two mids, of what ever type and get a bonus to the range etc.
A massive slot is there and if it were time and not something like, FD development, those slots would have many other weapons options, to put there. Some of those options may be close to insane; like a C4 beam, that sets fire to your ship, if you get too trigger happy; but time, would have offered us these options; self built, often, only for the suicidal to think of firing.
Big ships, should have big guns. Other wise; what is the point.
A massive slot is there and if it were time and not something like, FD development, those slots would have many other weapons options, to put there. Some of those options may be close to insane; like a C4 beam, that sets fire to your ship, if you get too trigger happy; but time, would have offered us these options; self built, often, only for the suicidal to think of firing.
Big ships, should have big guns. Other wise; what is the point.
I find the class 4s overrated. Here's the thing: Class 2 to 3 is a tradeoff between variety and damage against large hulls. Basically, 2 mediums are better than 1 large, damage wise, but suffer against larger hulls. There are no huge ships in the game (yet), so I'd MUCH rather see a ship have two large HP rather than one huge one. The huge one hits harder per shot, obviously, but in terms of DPS, the two large will burn through ships faster. That's why I'd prefer the weaponry on an Anaconda over that of the Federal Corvette (although I'd much prefer the Corvette's agility).
What huge hardpoints needs is some sort of unique weapon, like a mass driver.
What huge hardpoints needs is some sort of unique weapon, like a mass driver.
Well a mass driver is a fancy name for railgun. But a flippin MAC gun would be absolutely fantastic. what I would really like to see is some sort of directional energy weapon (not just a beam laser). Think the ion cannon from Homeworld 2. A sort of energy beam that takes a significant amount of time to charge up before unleashing an absolutely punishing amount of damage but drains the entire capacitor and then some. I just feel that when you hit the HUGE HARDPOINT LEVEL everything you thought about the weapon changes. Instead of just a bigger version. I'll give some examples
Huge cannon-double barrel allowing a quicker fire rate but no damage increase from a large
Huge plasma accelerator-a charge up time before unleashing a high speed shot that does slightly increased damage over vanilla PA due to charge up time.
Pulse laser-very very slow fire rate but higher damage
Burst laser-full auto variant or perhaps a much larger burst count (6 vs 3)
Beam laser-the charge up heavy charge up burst variant mentioned above.
Torpedo-an actual ammo capacity but same damage as a medium.
Missile-a large ammo count for sustained conflicts.
Rockets (dumb fire)-a sort of rocket pod type weapon capable of rapid fire
Mine launched-auto turret variant
Shock mine launcher-possible gravity well deployer.
Mining laser-a cluster of small beams that allow for mass ore extraction that has a built in tractor beam?
Frag cannon-instead of fragments it's a flak gun.
Multicannons-a series of barrels that instead of rotating it's just a bunch of machine guns strapped together and fires a blistering wall of ammo.
Never considered that. Thanks for the tip! I do very well with the C4 PA and on a more maneuverable ship would be better! Oh well...Add the Fer-De-Lance to the buy list.
The fer de lance is an absolutely menacing ship. When using fixed hard points always consider your manouverability. If you can't line up the shot don't use them. The fixed PA on any ship that can maneuver well is an absolute nightmare. Even on an anaconda it can be used effectively, as an opening shot or an execution tool.
I previously used an FDL with a Class 4 PA and just bought a Corvette. I equipped two Class 4 PA in the huge slots. They are just brutal against medium and large ships and lining up a shot seems easier than I expected. Even using the C4 PA in the middle of a fight, I found that I can still have good aim against the larger ships. Pythons, Anacondas, Dropships, FDL, Clipper, etc all fell victim to the dual C4 PA last night.
Even more surprising is how I managed to land both C4 PA shots on a Conda with a 50% damaged power plant. It was definitely a lucky shot as not only did I destroy the power plant, but also caused the ship to blow up.
I've been complaining about the lack of C4 weapons and the Corvette's jump range for a long time on the forums, but based on my experience it is hard to find fault with the C4 PA and the Corvette once it engages in combat.
The corvettes jump range is laughable and how you're supposed to deploy those in place of a Farragut is beyond me. But it serves as an excellent balance gameplay wise. Otherwise it would be the ultimate trading ship. Yes less cargo but when the blasted thing has two huge PAs and enough hull to last out the apocalypse nothing wants to mess with you. Even in my anaconda half the time Pirates just say "Sorry I thought you were someone else"
I don't see a problem with the plasma cannons, read this, went to a hazardous res in my corvette, took out 2 deadly anacondas and a dangerous python. made 700,000 credits in less than 10 minutes. plasma's are totally dependent on the pilot and timing your shots... imo
My understanding is that a Farragut is supposed to deploy Corvettes. Many many Corvettes, each of which can deploy 2 fighters of its own.
In terms of travel, it is pretty bad but not as bad as the Vulture or FDL. At least the Corvette has internals to spare and I can equip an extra fuel tank and a class 6 fuel scoop. That helps make long trips less painful.
I use a class four cannon knowing it will miss the smaller ships.
You need to have a rated sensors to make the gimb work. One round will take out a python's PP. and can do nearly he same to a Conda. Unfortunately, the Python is the only non large ship you can tag outside of a clipper.
I keep mine and equipped on the cutter to make short work of the bigs but it's worthless for any other group of ships.
You need to have a rated sensors to make the gimb work. One round will take out a python's PP. and can do nearly he same to a Conda. Unfortunately, the Python is the only non large ship you can tag outside of a clipper.
I keep mine and equipped on the cutter to make short work of the bigs but it's worthless for any other group of ships.
First you need to be with in a 1000 meters of your target for a much higher chance of Success.
Next try to line up your ships trajectory with there's or another way of saying it orient your ship with their flight path and make sure to wait until the little dot is bang in the centre of the reticule circle target and shoot !
Hope that helps, it takes a good few days of practice to perfect your technique. But is very effective once you've cracked it. I never use cannons by the way, they're just to slow for my liking hence I prefer PA's.
Flimley out.
Next try to line up your ships trajectory with there's or another way of saying it orient your ship with their flight path and make sure to wait until the little dot is bang in the centre of the reticule circle target and shoot !
Hope that helps, it takes a good few days of practice to perfect your technique. But is very effective once you've cracked it. I never use cannons by the way, they're just to slow for my liking hence I prefer PA's.
Flimley out.
This. Hear it all the time and usually gets me smiling.
OP: I understand your frustration, I think. When I first used the class 4s I was expecting great things and was quite disappointed. I have had some success with the c4 cannon on the Anaconda. I just consider it a short range weapon. It discourages the Federal ships from staying on my nose. A shot or 2 from the c4 and they decide they don't want any more of that.