The SCB (Shield Cell Bank) Thread

[LeoKesler]

4. We've increased the amount of SYS power a collapsed shield can "suck" to reform quite a bit, especially at higher classes. The effect of this is that large shields should reform significantly quicker, around a third of the time it would take before, in the best cases.

Here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=200980

YEAH !!!!

 

[Kastor]

I can fully get behind big ships having a more supportive role. People need to start treating them more as an objective than as primary combatants. For example all of the big ships can haul a lot, even the fed corvette. "But they are for combat" well not really no, in modern military big ships are mostly used to move supplies. Blockade running would be a good example, one or two big ships loaded with cargo and the rest of the wing running defense, that's what the pvp really should look like.

The other use for big ships is heavy fire support to that end huge hard point options should be re-imagined and then fit in with real objectives. What if the huge hard points were the only ones that could do damage to capital ships and what if the payoff for damaging such a ship was and order of magnitude greater than it is now. Suddenly there is a reason to run these big ships into a combat zone, even at great risk.

These are things that would make the combat and reasons for combat more interesting and diverse. Making big ships the win all tanks again does not.

 

[Antoniius]

I can fully get behind big ships having a more supportive role. People need to start treating them more as an objective than as primary combatants. For example all of the big ships can haul a lot, even the fed corvette. "But they are for combat" well not really no, in modern military big ships are mostly used to move supplies. Blockade running would be a good example, one or two big ships loaded with cargo and the rest of the wing running defense, that's what the pvp really should look like.

The other use for big ships is heavy fire support to that end huge hard point options should be re-imagined and then fit in with real objectives. What if the huge hard points were the only ones that could do damage to capital ships and what if the payoff for damaging such a ship was and order of magnitude greater than it is now. Suddenly there is a reason to run these big ships into a combat zone, even at great risk.

These are things that would make the combat and reasons for combat more interesting and diverse. Making big ships the win all tanks again does not.

I agree with you.

The role of big ships should not be "big cannons", but much more variable. I will not be surprised if, in future, some modules are granted the ability to "buff (my apologizes for the MMORPG terminology) other friendly ships or "curse" (again, my apologizes) enemies.

 

[CMDR Kantos Kan]

I can fully get behind big ships having a more supportive role. People need to start treating them more as an objective than as primary combatants. For example all of the big ships can haul a lot, even the fed corvette. "But they are for combat" well not really no, in modern military big ships are mostly used to move supplies. Blockade running would be a good example, one or two big ships loaded with cargo and the rest of the wing running defense, that's what the pvp really should look like.

The other use for big ships is heavy fire support to that end huge hard point options should be re-imagined and then fit in with real objectives. What if the huge hard points were the only ones that could do damage to capital ships and what if the payoff for damaging such a ship was and order of magnitude greater than it is now. Suddenly there is a reason to run these big ships into a combat zone, even at great risk.

These are things that would make the combat and reasons for combat more interesting and diverse. Making big ships the win all tanks again does not.

Very good points!

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

Just to add to the "Anaconda is not the best ship to bring to a fight" are these quotes from the horses mouth:

You will need to assign more power to the SCB if you want to use more than one of them and manage the heat - I'd also question if the big non-combat ships are the best ships for large scale combat.


Michael

You're assuming that they should be. Big ships have their place, but make big targets so in a large dogfight I would expect them to be vulnerable unless well protected by smaller and more maneuverable escorts.


Michael

You can tank the large ships quite effectively with the upgraded hull reinforcement packages and with proper heat and power management you can still use your SCBs - you just can't spam them like you used to and I repeat that bringing a big, slow ship to a dog fight might not be the best move anyway and if you do, then you have to prepare accordingly.


Michael

The Anaconda is the best multi-role ship - not the best combat ship. A Vulture is much more maneuverable and should easily outfly an Anaconda. Naturally the Anaconda being the bigger ship has it's own advantages - it has more firepower, more power, better armour - but it shouldn't be a forgone conclusion.


Michael

But please don't tell Micheal I called him a horse.

 

[Jesse30]

I didn't like the new changes, we are back to square one.
Duracell Pythons all over the place especially at the CG's, now is even worse with the FDL power plant buff. So, I wont participate at the Community goals anymore, because the only thing are going to see now is a bunch of pirates with FDLs and Duracell Pythons just picking on the little guys. No wonder nobody likes to trade or explore in open anymore, we currently have a divided community.

 

[CMDR Kantos Kan]

Seems like Frontier has a little problem getting the needle just right with SCBs. They went all over board with the initial beta, now it seems they went completely on the other side with the latest. I will admit I haven't been able to try the SCBs yet, so my opinion is based only on posts I've read here and in other threads. Many people are now saying that with the smaller SCB classes, we're back to 1.4. But, surely those smaller SCBs cannot recharge the shields as quickly as the larger ones?

 

[Jesse30]

Seems like Frontier has a little problem getting the needle just right no SCBs. They went all over board with the initial beta, now it seems they went completely on the other side with the latest. I will admit I haven't been able to try the SCBs yet, so my opinion is based only on posts I've read here and in other threads. Many people are now saying that with the smaller SCB classes, we're back to 1.4. But, surely those smaller SCBs cannot recharge the shields as quickly as the larger ones?

you know man I will show them with undisputed evidence. I am going to load a python full of duracells and I am going to terrorize Jameson memorial until they shoot me down. I will bet I will last more than 20 minutes.

 

[CMDR Kantos Kan]

you know man I will show them with undisputed evidence. I am going to load a python full of duracells and I am going to terrorize Jameson memorial until they shoot me down. I will bet I will last more than 20 minutes.

Ha Ha Ha! That's the idea!

I know he's probably busy but I don't recall seeing the new analysis from GluttonyFang. Just curious to read what he'll have to say...

 

[NeilF]

I didn't like the new changes, we are back to square one.
Duracell Pythons all over the place especially at the CG's, now is even worse with the FDL power plant buff.

Oh dear!

Guess the "change of least resistance" isn't always the right one...

 

[Jesse30]

Elite Dangerous Beta 1.5.3: The Upgrade (Flight assist off)

Testing the new FDL upgrades. My opinion It is a beast and I have a total of 850mj raw shield power, not including the SCBs. In Beta 1.5.2 I used to lose my shields a lot, but that is not going happen that often now. Amazing

Loving my new shining FDL so far, I feel like I got my money worth for 50mil price tag. That being said, now I have to deal with a bunch of newbies pretending they know how to fly one. When they lose they call you SCB hoarder, lol.
To all new FDL owners across the galaxy, just because you are now running 4 rails is not going to make you invincible, you need to tame the beast first and is not going to happen in one day. Jesse out

[video=youtube;7ebmMUh7O6I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ebmMUh7O6I[/video]

 

[NeilF]

For those of you who undoubtably are far more "combat literate" than myself... If you took V1.4 and simply only allowed 3 SBC changes within (say) an 8 minute period/window, how would you feel this would affect gameplay?

Would you see this as creating the necessary ceiling to prevent single battles degenerating into SCB after SCB after SCB, while still allowing SCBs to be a useful tool within a fight?

ps: I'm not prescribing that as the "solution" but simply wondering if it's possible approach?

 

[KellyR]

Here's an idea. Why not just leave them alone? This is Elite: Dangerous, not Elite: Carebear. Not everyone has equal skills and not everyone has equal equipment. If someone wants to hoard SCB's, let them. They could be using those slots for hull reinforcement packages instead, but they chose the shield booster route. That's called personal preference. Everyone has jumped on the nerf wagon and I am SICK AND TIRED of it.

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

Here's an idea. Why not just leave them alone? This is Elite: Dangerous, not Elite: Carebear. Not everyone has equal skills and not everyone has equal equipment. If someone wants to hoard SCB's, let them. They could be using those slots for hull reinforcement packages instead, but they chose the shield booster route. That's called personal preference. Everyone has jumped on the nerf wagon and I am SICK AND TIRED of it.

Um. It's the developers doing the balancing, and I'm certain I read them saying it was because they saw things that they were not happy with, rather than it being a nerf wagon. I could be wrong.

 

[NeilF]

Um. It's the developers doing the balancing, and I'm certain I read them saying it was because they saw things that they were not happy with, rather than it being a nerf wagon. I could be wrong.

Wonder if they think they went in the wrong direction, if the FDL buff could get undone

 

[cmdr sandman]

I think it all comes back to the developers' original intentions. I simply don't think they anticipated SCB's being used in the stacked manner, so they've balanced the game to meet the original intention. I can see how it can cause massive frustration if you'd got used to them, but personally I never used them and I can fight fine in a Vulture or Python.

Same with FDL - they had to balance it to encourage more people to use it. It was my favourite NPC ship in the original, but I hadn't bothered in ED yet as it was so crippled up until now.

 

[KellyR]

Um. It's the developers doing the balancing, and I'm certain I read them saying it was because they saw things that they were not happy with, rather than it being a nerf wagon. I could be wrong.

Oh. Ok. Well then, if they ask for suggestions, that's great. But unsolicited advice is not usually heeded. That's why I seldom give advice unless it is solicited. I haven't read through the entire 1581 posts of this thread, but has FD asked for advice here? That's not rhetorical. It's a real question to gain real information. If they have, fine. If they haven't, then I don't see what discussing it is going to accomplish.

 

[NeilF]

I think it all comes back to the developers' original intentions. I simply don't think they anticipated SCB's being used in the stacked manner, so they've balanced the game to meet the original intention. I can see how it can cause massive frustration if you'd got used to them, but personally I never used them and I can fight fine in a Vulture or Python.

I think you're right...

The idea behind SCBs are fine. But when you can spam them (use them over and over and over in a single exchange) they become too powerful. And I don't think FD saw this coming. Likewise with the chaff spam issue too.

 

[cmdr sandman]

They've often said they take on board feedback posted here, so that encourages discussion.

 

[KellyR]

They've often said they take on board feedback posted here, so that encourages discussion.

Ok. Great. If they think something is too powerful, then they definitely need to address it. But just because I say something is too powerful cuts no weight. Maybe if myself and 50 other Cmdrs say it, it might. Like the old saying goes. If one person calls you an ass then that's just 1 person's opinion. If 10 people tell you you're an ass, you're fitted for a saddle. And I do see some good suggestions here, but the thread I responded to in the first place was titled "FD please hit the SCB's with the nerf bat already" or close to that. That just irked me because I've seen so many nerf this, nerf that threads.