Double Chaff?

It doesnt increase effectiveness, but if you chain macro them then you can get almost 100% chaff uptime.
Pretty sure chaff's already fire in succession if you have dual chaffs, or at least one at a time so you should not have to macro anything. Though for the record it has been ages since I've used any of my dual chaff builds so I could be mistaken.
 
Seriously, you dont need more than one chaff in an FDL.. if your flying and your getting hit often, then your not flying the FDL correctly. Chaff is an emergency use only item. In an FDL you should always be above, below or behind your target. Chaff should only be used for those instances where you have been outmaneuvered, in which case you should slap your hand with a stick also, as there is no excuse for being outmaneuvered in an FDL :)) lol

Seriously though, I have said this many times.. ALWAYS.. ALWAYS put pips to engines in the FDL.. forget pips to shields, unless your boosting away or topping up after combat. If you do this, you will rarely ever use chaff, and yes, even in PVP..

Give it a try, and use your thrusters to maximum effect, Boost using directional thrusters for added control.. TRUST ME.. you will see a MASSIVE improvement.
 
changing 4 boosters to 4 chaffs on my Vulture increased survivability in CZ from 10 minutes to "until I run out of chaffs" (1.5-2 hours). shields never drop now.
the same goes for all other ships I tried.
also, if you use dedicated chaff button, all chaffs are queued, i.e. they fire one after another. no need to switch them off or even assign to fire groups

That's very helpful. Thanks +rep.
 
I'll have to give it a try, vindicator. Thanks for the tips!

So what you're saying is, don't downgrade to C thrusters to get an extra MW of power available to other things? ;)

Edit: I noticed your build is more for bounty hunting, I tend to prefer CZs to BHing (unless there is a BB mission to kill pirates). Outmaneuvering your target is one thing, but chaff helps when there are 3 ships who are focused on you. It's difficult to outmaneuver all of them at once and also keep your guns on target. Since I don't need a KWS or use a heat sink launcher (I use the cannon), the only useful options for util slots for me are SBs and Chaff launchers.
 
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Pretty sure chaff's already fire in succession if you have dual chaffs, or at least one at a time so you should not have to macro anything. Though for the record it has been ages since I've used any of my dual chaff builds so I could be mistaken.
Yeah, you don't need a macro. Every time you press the chaff button, the next launcher is fired (not all of them at once). If you want to maintain 100% chaff uptime, just keep an eye on the launcher that last fired. As soon as it says "reloading", hit the chaff button again and the next one will take over.
 
NPCs ignore chaff, module damage, mass-lock and overheating. They also seem to have endless supply of ammo and energy in weapon capacitors. Not to mention turning around at full speed better than any player can with FA OFF at optimal speed.

... and then some! Couldn't have said it better. Especially their manuerverability, as despite the significant drift you experience with each increasingly larger ship the NPCs turn on a dime and never glide post boost. Surgical.
 
I'll have to give it a try, vindicator. Thanks for the tips!

So what you're saying is, don't downgrade to C thrusters to get an extra MW of power available to other things? ;)

Edit: I noticed your build is more for bounty hunting, I tend to prefer CZs to BHing (unless there is a BB mission to kill pirates). Outmaneuvering your target is one thing, but chaff helps when there are 3 ships who are focused on you. It's difficult to outmaneuver all of them at once and also keep your guns on target. Since I don't need a KWS or use a heat sink launcher (I use the cannon), the only useful options for util slots for me are SBs and Chaff launchers.

On the FDL, A grade thrusters are essential.. I cant stress how important thrusters are on the FDL, probably more important than on any other ship in game. But you have to keep pips in engines, minimum 2

I do a lot of RES work and CZ work also.. RES site wings are easy to deal with, focus on the weakest target in the wing, wait till they have scanned and turned. blow up the weakest target.. easily done with a class 4pa, 1 shot and about three trigger pulls of the pulse lasers does the trick.. then quickly get onto the second target that is either firing at you, or is the next weakest in order.. In most cases they havent opened fired on you yet, as they had turned away, and the first target blew up too quickly.. If both targets are attacking, then, and only then use chaff.. but this rarely happens..

But since your talking about cz's then this boils more down to tactics, and selecting your targets.. Stay in a group of many green friendlies.. dont go chasing lone targets by yourself, as you will often get the surprise of enemy spawns that will come and get you, and being alone is where things all go wrong... By sticking in a group, even when targets start shooting at you, they will often switch to another target that is shooting them.. So being in a blob of green friendlies, often ensures that this will happen. CZ's can go either way, be really good, or turn really really bad.. lol.. Isolated targets look like a good idea, but often they are the ones that can get you into trouble.. If you have more than 2 targets constantly shooting at you.. well, your in an FDL.. BOOST.. BOOST, and MOAR BOOOOOST.. split them up and take them out one at a time before rejoining the group. Its rare that I will have to use much chaff.. only in case of emergencies, or I have screwed things up majorly.. which.. to be honest happens more frequently than I care to admit.. I get too cocky and pay the price.. lol

I really need to make this FDL combat tutorial....
 
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Seriously, you dont need more than one chaff in an FDL.. if your flying and your getting hit often, then your not flying the FDL correctly. Chaff is an emergency use only item. In an FDL you should always be above, below or behind your target. Chaff should only be used for those instances where you have been outmaneuvered, in which case you should slap your hand with a stick also, as there is no excuse for being outmaneuvered in an FDL :)) lol

Seriously though, I have said this many times.. ALWAYS.. ALWAYS put pips to engines in the FDL.. forget pips to shields, unless your boosting away or topping up after combat. If you do this, you will rarely ever use chaff, and yes, even in PVP..

Give it a try, and use your thrusters to maximum effect, Boost using directional thrusters for added control.. TRUST ME.. you will see a MASSIVE improvement.

It's essential for taking on multiple hostiles. Especially when that includes fast gimbal heavy ships like the Clipper.

Sure, in a 1v1 you can afford the luxury of actually maneuvering and flying the FdL like a giant Viper.

When you have an entire wing trying to shoot your ass its a different story.

There are often times where you need to play the sacrificial lamb and divide and conquer by baiting the fast ships away from the slowboats. In these scenarios you might have a pair of Clippers chasing you and gimbal spamming for all they are worth. Double chaff will spare your cells enabling you to re-engage when your wingman catches up and you have them isolated from the slowboats.
 
It's essential for taking on multiple hostiles. Especially when that includes fast gimbal heavy ships like the Clipper.

Sure, in a 1v1 you can afford the luxury of actually maneuvering and flying the FdL like a giant Viper.

When you have an entire wing trying to shoot your ass its a different story.

There are often times where you need to play the sacrificial lamb and divide and conquer by baiting the fast ships away from the slowboats. In these scenarios you might have a pair of Clippers chasing you and gimbal spamming for all they are worth. Double chaff will spare your cells enabling you to re-engage when your wingman catches up and you have them isolated from the slowboats.

I can see your point.. But I would still say using tactics in those situations would greatly benefit you than relying on chaff.. Seeing 2 dangerous or deadly Clippers in a wing in res zone? Let them scan you and move on.. wait until they scan another target and open fire, then you attack.. Use local security to help you out or use the environment to your advantage.. clippers have a harder time moving around asteroids than an FDL I will often fly around a larger asteriod at close range while fighting multiple targets such as pythons, clippers and drop ships.

I guess my biggest point is, dont rely on chaff, it does work, but not as good as using proper combat tactics and situational awareness.
 
I can see your point.. But I would still say using tactics in those situations would greatly benefit you than relying on chaff.. Seeing 2 dangerous or deadly Clippers in a wing in res zone? Let them scan you and move on.. wait until they scan another target and open fire, then you attack.. Use local security to help you out or use the environment to your advantage.. clippers have a harder time moving around asteroids than an FDL I will often fly around a larger asteriod at close range while fighting multiple targets such as pythons, clippers and drop ships.

I guess my biggest point is, dont rely on chaff, it does work, but not as good as using proper combat tactics and situational awareness.

For PvE you can do this because its simple to disengage at any time - NPCs dont really have a "pursuit" combat mode.

They might trundle after you but its easy enough to keep them at safe distance.

Bloodthirtsy human commanders on the other hand will gladly chase you 40km out of a conflict zone flat out with 4 pips in engines spamming lasers all the way.
 
People saying NPCs do not get affected by chaff are either too close or flying big ships, making yourself an easier target. (also I bet you guys are using a scrap load of Skill Cells and Boosters.)

If it weren't for chaff I wouldn't be able to engage the bigger ships, I need it when I'm approaching to get to their "blind spot" without being pulverized by their turrets, it definitely works.

It is also very helpful when you are being shot by multiple ships. (CZ's/Wings)
 
NPCs ignore chaff, module damage, mass-lock and overheating. They also seem to have endless supply of ammo and energy in weapon capacitors. Not to mention turning around at full speed better than any player can with FA OFF at optimal speed.


I hope you used the report button on them :mad: :D
 
I've always found chaff to ne quite effective against NPCs using gimbals, less so against cannons that seem to have a slower 'wander' rate. <shrug>
 
... and then some! Couldn't have said it better. Especially their manuerverability, as despite the significant drift you experience with each increasingly larger ship the NPCs turn on a dime and never glide post boost. Surgical.

This. So many times.

I took an assassination mission against a low-ranked Anaconda last night (he was Mostly Harmless as I recall) and he kept his nose on my DBS nearly the whole fight. It was ridiculous. I used most of my Chaff and all 4 of my SCBs before I knocked out his drives and was able to take him down. Nuts.
 
I hope you used the report button on them :mad: :D

If only I could. Seeing NPCs do things impossible to humans crudely breaks the immersion.

I'm very much surprised to see so many people say chaff works. Whenever I'm fighting Clippers of Anacondas I deploy an ocean of chaff and that makes absolutely no difference compared to the no-chaff situation. They keep firing and hitting me regardless.
 
Yeah, chaff definitely works a lot better in a small ship. Don't expect your Anaconda to get missed a lot because of chaff.

Well - makes sense - I never really tried fitting chaff on my Anaconda . It's a bit like a 500 pound guy wiggling a Muleta and expecting to evade a charging bull.

In PvP a double chaff blast will send any hostile gimballed/turreted firing solutions into full on wobblers for ages.

It's great because it makes using fixed weapons essential.

Without it PvP would be a full on gimbalfest.

Does it even do that if the chaff isn't in the line of fire? In PVE I found that to be essential.
 
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