Nerfed a bit too much? Shield Banks *delay*?

[Coccolino]

Just reporting my recent experience.
Assassination missions. Two of them, both unsuccessful (I was used to succeed before).
FULL kitted Cobra (mirrored/4A shields/4A distributor, etc.).
2 medium beam lasers, 2 small dumbfires.
2x 4A Shield cell banks. Their max ammo is 3.

First of all, let me say: WHAT? Now Shield cell banks have a DELAY? They engage *seconds* after being triggered!
Not a lot of problems with overheating, happened a couple of times, but not dramatic.
Chaffs... I died probably before having fired them all, but the enemy was still pretty OK, so I needed more.

It's become a hard work to deal with those Anacondas now. They have a lot of firepower against a small ship.
Shield Cell Banks were probably the only way to deal with them, because to escape those beams you need really good pilot skills. You need to be *always* behind his thrusters. I think the main problem is the delay in firing the SCB. You need to preview a lot if you are going to need them or not. A couple of times I fired them while I had ONE blue shield ring and they triggered after shields where cut off. This is insane.

Am I that bad?

 

[Alexios Komnenos]

This is just as intended. Learn to fire things pre-emptively, and anaconda assassination missions should be even harder than they are now. You're flying some 10 million credit ship and fighting a 500 million credit ship, you should need at least one wingmate to take it on. Of course, the conda can't kill you either as you can just boost away, so it's pretty balanced if those missions are impossible for one cobra unless you're a god at flying spaceships. That being said, the reward for killing a proper Anaconda (one that flies as well as an average anaconda player) should pay out around 1 million credits or so, just to make it worth doing.

 

[Quineloe]

The delay is the best part about the nerf, by a long shot.

 

[flynnmichael81]

WHAT? (see what I did there)... its difficult to take down the strongest ship in the game, piloted by someone who has reached Elite status? Well can't be having that can we!!!

Seriously: It should be difficult... nay, it should be super difficult to take down an Elite Anaconda in a skanky Cobra! The price difference alone should make it so. However, I'm sure (unfortunately) that its still possible. Adjust your playing style a bit and I'm sure you'll be taking them down again in no time!

 

[Coccolino]

This is just as intended. Learn to fire things pre-emptively, and anaconda assassination missions should be even harder than they are now. You're flying some 10 million credit ship and fighting a 500 million credit ship, you should need at least one wingmate to take it on. Of course, the conda can't kill you either as you can just boost away, so it's pretty balance if those missions are impossible for one cobra unless you're a god at flying spaceships. That being said, the reward for killing a proper Anaconda (one that flies as well as an average anaconda player) should pay out around 1 million credits or so, just to make it worth doing.

So was it too easy before? Now any assassination mission is very prohibitive even for A-grade small ships.

 

[Halo Moon]

Yep..

Those missions are for the big boys

 

[Andi]

They should just have buffed shield capacity and recharge and removed shield cells completely.
It's not a fun mechanic to "chuck a pot". It's okay in Diablo, but it's not fun in Elite.

 

[Yank31]

I'm very bad at combat but may be the wings update will come in handy for this kind of stuff?

Tbh I find it VERY GOOD that big ships are indeed challenging, if not undefeatable by small ships (10M vs 500M). Only my opinion here, but I strongly feel that way.

 

[Arkku]

They should just have buffed shield capacity and recharge and removed shield cells completely.

Agreed, I don't really see anything good resulting from having shield cells in the game.

 

[Halo Moon]

+1 Yank31

Salute/

 

[Evangelis]

I'm very bad at combat but may be the wings update will come in handy for this kind of stuff?

Tbh I find it VERY GOOD that big ships are indeed challenging, if not undefeatable by small ships (10M vs 500M). Only my opinion here, but I strongly feel that way.

I agree, can't wait for wings to turn up and then take a run at these kind of missions with a bunch of friends. Wolves taking down the bear

 

[Mellom]

(one that flies as well as an average anaconda player) should pay out around 1 million credits or so, just to make it worth doing.

1 mil is nowhere near enough for that.

a) you'd need a buddy or two atleast, if youre all flying Cobras/Vipers (which means split bounty (I know its not in the game) )
b) a lone, A-fitted ASP would have a really, really hard time doing it (poor shields, poor maneuverability, mediocre firepower). Probably means atleast one death if pursuing the kill, if not, impossible.
c) Python nerfed
d) which leaves us with basically another Annie up for the job, if flying alone. And that too is risky business now that shield cells and lasers got nerfed. Too much of a risk for a meager 1 million.

I'd say 3-5 million atleast.

 

[Coccolino]

Probably in terms of general balance it is correct that a small ship shouldn't represent a threat to a big one. But I don't like the delay, at all. You need to use the SCB when you are in trouble, not when you can avoid the worst with good skilling.
Ok having just 3 instead of the double (ouch!), ok the power drawing (poor Viper), but let me fire them when I really need them.

 

[korsobar]

If they had combat missions other than just the anaconda ones, this really wouldn't be an issue. You could just do one that is appropriate to your ship. This is what happens when you get all involved in 'balancing' before developing a wide range of pve content to even 'balance' around.

 

[Coccolino]

1 mil is nowhere near enough for that.

a) you'd need a buddy or two atleast, if youre all flying Cobras/Vipers (which means split bounty (I know its not in the game) )
b) a lone, A-fitted ASP would have a really, really hard time doing it (poor shields, poor maneuverability, mediocre firepower). Probably means atleast one death if pursuing the kill, if not, impossible.
c) Python nerfed
d) which leaves us with basically another Annie up for the job, if flying alone. And that too is risky business now that shield cells and lasers got nerfed. Too much of a risk for a meager 1 million.

I'd say 3-5 million atleast.

I still think a Cobra can do that, but it's veeery hard. One of the two times the Conda remained with 50-60% hull.
Oh... I forgot: did they nerf the dumbfire rate of fire too?

 

[Don_Von_Hulio]

Balance pass on modules and weapons which make the mission noticeably harder and higher risk as well as more expensive....

No change to award amount.


Im still DLing the game but with the buff to warzones i dont think ill be doing the Assassin missions anymore anyways.

 

[BishopC]

That being said, the reward for killing a proper Anaconda (one that flies as well as an average anaconda player) should pay out around 1 million credits or so, just to make it worth doing.

(Warning, boast incoming) Still need ~45 seconds to down them in my Python. 1 Million? That mill would be for the USS hunting, not the kill. They are still pushovers. (boast end)
Think I have to try it in my Viper to find out if it is a challenge now. These missions were waaaaaay too easy until now.

 

[Don_Von_Hulio]

I still think a Cobra can do that, but it's veeery hard. One of the two times the Conda remained with 50-60% hull.
Oh... I forgot: did they nerf the dumbfire rate of fire too?

Yes, pretty much everything but the damage to Hull was nerfd.

 

[Mellom]

I still think a Cobra can do that, but it's veeery hard.

Nope. Read the part I bolded in the quote. An NPC elite Conda flying as well as a mediocre human player would absolutely starch everything up to and including an ASP, probably a Python too now that it got nerfhammered.

 

[Roraima]

I just shot up an Anaconda in a sidewinder - no shield cells involved. Just sayin' ;-)