Dear Frontier,
Please would you consider increasing fixed multi-cannon projectile velocity?
Why? TLDR
Multi-cannons are a time-on-target, not burst damage weapon.
Multi-cannons require more time-on-target then any other weapon with projectile travel time.
Fixed multi-cannons underperform relative to gimballed variants (in PvE, or PvP).
No changes to their projectile velocity have been made since Launch.
In PvP, target speed has increased by +40% without any increase in projectile speed.
In detail: the past and current position
All multi-cannon variants and sizes have the same projectile speed: 1600 mps.
The only exception is the Powerplay weapon, the c1 Enforcer Cannon, which has 1800 mps.
These speeds have never changed since Launch (/introduction of Powerplay).
In contrast, other weapons such as missiles, plasma and cannons have all had shot speed increases in the interim.
Target speed increases in PvP
The typical speed of a medium PvP ship, e.g. Fer-de-Lance, has increased from around 395 mps (ED v1.5) to around 555 mps. That's an increase of +40%. It's more accessible than ever as the g5 Dirty Drives hard ceiling of +45.6% optimal multiplier, -12.5% optimal mass can be reached with pleasant ease by all players (TY!) in ED 3.0.
In short: target speed increases by +40% mps, projectile velocity not increased at all.
Fixed v Gimbals, ToT Damage v Burst Damage
This is not a 'nerf' gimbals thread.
But the fact has to be recognised that in both PvE and PvP the utility of a gimballed multi-cannon eclipses that of a fixed multi-cannon. Many times over.
I have written guides on the use of fixed weapons. I like fixed weapons. Modesty aside, I am (usually) accurate with fixed weapons. Some fixed weapons (such as rail guns) are plainly better than most gimballed competitors for their hard point place.
In the example of a plasma accelerator, the difficulty in hitting is made up for by burst damage. Because the weapon does not need to be held on target for long periods of time, but can deliver all its damage in one moment, a skilled user can leverage that successfully.
However, in the case of multi-cannons, whether fixed or gimballed, continuous time-on-target is paramount.
Because gimbals possess both (A) superhuman tracking, and (B) the ability to fire in a different direction to the direction in which the ship is facing (a colossal advantage), their 1600 mps remains currently adequate.
In the case of fixed multi-cannons, their use is really confined to a personal challenge / proof of skill / RP scenario. Even though they have somewhat better DPS and much better DPE than gimbals, it is simply more efficient to destroy NPC's, or to duel a skilled opponent 1v1, using gimbals.
(I should add that I am a member of the PvP Leaders section of the PvP Coalition Discord - a cross-group / no group body devoted to balance issues - and every representative, drawn from the most successful PvP groups in the game, has agreed that gimballed multi-cannons confer a massive advantage over fixed.)
I, personally, in three years of PvP, have so far never lost a duel, if me with gimballed multi-cannons, my opponent with fixed multi-cannons.
Furthermore, adoption of the 'shot speed solution' above would not increase damage of fixed over gimbals, and would not nerf gimbal tracking arc, so overcomes potentially objectionable sticking points.
A note on PvE
This is not a PvP-only thread. For the record, my personal preferred NPC farming weapon of choice in the many CZ BGS wars I fought on behalf of my former team was ... gimballed multi-cannons. Fixed just cannot offer the same Time-on-Target with their current shot speed.
It would benefit all players and the game if we were given a greater opportunity to get good at using this interesting ('dakka dakka!') yet currently largely neglected weapon.
A note on user stats
I have 100% confidence that Frontier's own user stats will confirm what I say in terms of the rarity of fixed multis being equipped, compared to gimballed.
Conclusion
Please increase fixed multi-cannon projectile velocity.
I personally would suggest taking them up to 2000 mps for both regular multis (+400 mps, or +25%) and Enforcer Cannons (+200 mps). Unifying the projectile speed between these weapons would be helpful for all users.
Bearing in mind as I say that target speed has increased (in PvP) by +40%, this modest +25% increase would not be overpowered. It doesn't even catch up. It just reduces the deficit.
In PvE this modest +25% increase would facilitate more engaging gameplay with this weapon for all players.
Thanks for considering!
o7
Truesilver
Please would you consider increasing fixed multi-cannon projectile velocity?
Why? TLDR
Multi-cannons are a time-on-target, not burst damage weapon.
Multi-cannons require more time-on-target then any other weapon with projectile travel time.
Fixed multi-cannons underperform relative to gimballed variants (in PvE, or PvP).
No changes to their projectile velocity have been made since Launch.
In PvP, target speed has increased by +40% without any increase in projectile speed.
In detail: the past and current position
All multi-cannon variants and sizes have the same projectile speed: 1600 mps.
The only exception is the Powerplay weapon, the c1 Enforcer Cannon, which has 1800 mps.
These speeds have never changed since Launch (/introduction of Powerplay).
In contrast, other weapons such as missiles, plasma and cannons have all had shot speed increases in the interim.
Target speed increases in PvP
The typical speed of a medium PvP ship, e.g. Fer-de-Lance, has increased from around 395 mps (ED v1.5) to around 555 mps. That's an increase of +40%. It's more accessible than ever as the g5 Dirty Drives hard ceiling of +45.6% optimal multiplier, -12.5% optimal mass can be reached with pleasant ease by all players (TY!) in ED 3.0.
In short: target speed increases by +40% mps, projectile velocity not increased at all.
Fixed v Gimbals, ToT Damage v Burst Damage
This is not a 'nerf' gimbals thread.
But the fact has to be recognised that in both PvE and PvP the utility of a gimballed multi-cannon eclipses that of a fixed multi-cannon. Many times over.
I have written guides on the use of fixed weapons. I like fixed weapons. Modesty aside, I am (usually) accurate with fixed weapons. Some fixed weapons (such as rail guns) are plainly better than most gimballed competitors for their hard point place.
In the example of a plasma accelerator, the difficulty in hitting is made up for by burst damage. Because the weapon does not need to be held on target for long periods of time, but can deliver all its damage in one moment, a skilled user can leverage that successfully.
However, in the case of multi-cannons, whether fixed or gimballed, continuous time-on-target is paramount.
Because gimbals possess both (A) superhuman tracking, and (B) the ability to fire in a different direction to the direction in which the ship is facing (a colossal advantage), their 1600 mps remains currently adequate.
In the case of fixed multi-cannons, their use is really confined to a personal challenge / proof of skill / RP scenario. Even though they have somewhat better DPS and much better DPE than gimbals, it is simply more efficient to destroy NPC's, or to duel a skilled opponent 1v1, using gimbals.
(I should add that I am a member of the PvP Leaders section of the PvP Coalition Discord - a cross-group / no group body devoted to balance issues - and every representative, drawn from the most successful PvP groups in the game, has agreed that gimballed multi-cannons confer a massive advantage over fixed.)
I, personally, in three years of PvP, have so far never lost a duel, if me with gimballed multi-cannons, my opponent with fixed multi-cannons.
Furthermore, adoption of the 'shot speed solution' above would not increase damage of fixed over gimbals, and would not nerf gimbal tracking arc, so overcomes potentially objectionable sticking points.
A note on PvE
This is not a PvP-only thread. For the record, my personal preferred NPC farming weapon of choice in the many CZ BGS wars I fought on behalf of my former team was ... gimballed multi-cannons. Fixed just cannot offer the same Time-on-Target with their current shot speed.
It would benefit all players and the game if we were given a greater opportunity to get good at using this interesting ('dakka dakka!') yet currently largely neglected weapon.
A note on user stats
I have 100% confidence that Frontier's own user stats will confirm what I say in terms of the rarity of fixed multis being equipped, compared to gimballed.
Conclusion
Please increase fixed multi-cannon projectile velocity.
I personally would suggest taking them up to 2000 mps for both regular multis (+400 mps, or +25%) and Enforcer Cannons (+200 mps). Unifying the projectile speed between these weapons would be helpful for all users.
Bearing in mind as I say that target speed has increased (in PvP) by +40%, this modest +25% increase would not be overpowered. It doesn't even catch up. It just reduces the deficit.
In PvE this modest +25% increase would facilitate more engaging gameplay with this weapon for all players.
Thanks for considering!
o7
Truesilver
.
