Forums » Suggestions

Cap Swarms

Jun 22, 2019 NC-Crusader link
I understand that the game is continually evolving. I don't like the recent grid power requirements for the Cap Swarms.

I suggest putting grid back as it was and lowering the damage to a mid point between what it used to be and what it is now. I don't have the exact figures for the current or past damage, but would be happy with it somewhere in between.

With this change, it could also be made where Goli could once again equip 3 Cap Swarms, since the main concern was the amount of damage it could do with 3 equipped.
Jun 22, 2019 Luxen link
And maybe the devs considered that change, and decided that what would be better off being nerfed was actually the number of swarms in play at any given time more than JUST the damage amount?
Jun 22, 2019 incarnate link
Swarms are a less-than-ideal weapon in some technical ways, right now. The amount of network-tracked objects they add to the scene is considerable, which is not the greatest for higher latency or limited bandwidth users. Their trails are also graphically slow, although that's something we'll continue to improve.
These challenges were not the major driving force behind the change, nor are they "crippling" issues, but they are a factor and worth keeping in mind.

One capship with full swarm turrets is not that big of a deal. But if we aspire to eventually have larger battles, and swarms are the predominate superior loadout, then we may be looking at 10 capships with swarms all attacking something. There's a reason why the Military Tridents only have a single swarm turret per ship.

However, aside from all of that, it'd be helpful to know a bit more about what the OP's goals are? It's interesting to hear "I would rather have it be X than Y", but.. what issue are you trying to solve, that you feel is now unreasonably reduced? The defensive capabilities of the ships? The offensive capabilities?

What are the specific use-cases that you're solving for? Options for covering a retreat from a player pirate don't have to look the same as options for attacking a bunch of NPCs.
Jun 22, 2019 IronLord link
Personally I believe that lowering their missile per shot count by one or two would go a long way, raising their grid doesn't change the fact they are still the best weapons to use. They instantly kill I think every ship but a prom in a single barrage and they aren't extremely easy to dodge without just turboing away. If you don't want them to be the power loadout from a technical stand point, make a new capital weapon that can become more useful then a capital swarm (I have no idea what it'd be tho myself. But the golden ball of death would definitely be a more used weapon I'd imagine..) or improve upon the energy based capital weapons already in play.

From a gameplay point of view, the cap swarms are the best weapon in the game. Seeing as they hit the target or force them to flee. It's my experience even veteran players have to retreat quite a bit away to keep from dying or being dropped below 40-50%. I love the damage affects jump energy required but it more or less forces pirates and what not to play a lot more cautiously around swarms because even a glancing blow will take you below 85% most of the time. I believe if you just half the capital swarms damage and add one more second to it's reload time it'll be a alot more useless then it is. Either that, or add decoys as a equipment piece. Drop it in space, missiles home on it..etc.

I don't think half of what I've said even makes sense to methe but I just like the idea of cap gauss seeing more action. It's a slow moving projectile that doesn't really have a chance to hit any one. And if it does, the damage it does is so awful that there's no point in using it because it can't instantly kill someone like a caprail or force people to back up like the capital swarm.

Summary of what I'm saying:
I'm trying to solve to solve the offensive capabilities of each against a shielded opponent. Even tho cap combat isn't supported yet. I would rather you half it's damage and make it nigh on useless as a anti fighter weapon then raise it's energy which doesn't really make it a trade off of fire power. It's still a op weapon that out does the caprail and cap gauss in reliability in a fight. If anything, I suppose keeping the grid as it is and increasing the damage of the cap gauss and it's travel speed some would be a huge advantage over capswarm. (Just my opinion)
Jun 23, 2019 DeathSpores link
" There's a reason why the Military Tridents only have a single swarm turret per ship"

You're certain of this? last time i've killed a military trident there were 4 turrets to destroy and i m pretty sure two of them shot swarms at me. One from top and one from bottom. They just never fire at the same time.
Jun 23, 2019 mrl1213 link
-1

The Swarms on my dent are primarily used in defensive situations. Occasionally I may get a queen to 00/30% and jump in with a capitol ship and blast her the rest of the way, but it is rare. I prefer fighting the *NPC, (Unrats), in Ragnarok’s, (old school style). I will use my capitol Ship’s for reloading and repairing.

I do like to know that the slow-moving ship can defend itself. I pay my subscription and would rather you leave my trident whole. I am sure everyone will go 3 swarms – 1 Gemini, but that does not make it okay.

How about you reverse this, and from here on out, you make new (and yet unreleased), player capitol ships only able to host 4 capital swarm turrets, regardless of the number of turrets fixed to the ship. Perhaps this would fix the firepower situation on future ships.

Galactica Actual
Jun 23, 2019 IronLord link
There's only 1 death spores, top where the cockpit is
Jun 23, 2019 NC-Crusader link
I am normally flying alone in my Dent and when attacked by Unrats or Pirates, I can fire the Cap Swarms without taking the time to aim like you would with Rails or Gauss. I also farm Arkans with them and it goes a lot easier if I don't have to ship over one turret because it has a different weapon in it. I was farming Arklans with the Swarms before the damage was increased, it just took a little longer for a kill.

I would go along with tkids about reducing the number of missiles per shot.

I can understand about the number of objects and the trails creating a problem in sectors. I would even be happy if the number of missiles were dropped even if half and the damage per missile increased by maybe 25%. This would still be a over all drop in damage and would be less objects in sector as long as we could equip 4 on a Dent.

I know the ideal would be Gauss or Rails with a couple gunners, but we can't find that many gunners online when needed. We had the same problem when we first made Dents and used Gems, with no shields and could not fire our own turrets. I do appreciate all the improvements made on Dents over the years and all the hard work you Devs continue to do.
Jun 23, 2019 IronLord link
A single player can easily man his own turrets with speed and precision. Regardless of skill, you can fire your own turrets
Jun 24, 2019 CrazySpence link
I find 2 swarm turrets is sufficient for thwarting any player or bot attack

I was using this + capguass against a squadron of players Saturday morning and it was quite effective

I have always used ! @ # $ as my turret switching keys, it has proven to be quite effective
Jun 24, 2019 Camzure link
against a squadron of players Saturday morning and it was quite effective

yes ok we know you killed 4chn repeatedly lmao
Jun 24, 2019 starblazzz link
Just buff trident cell to 60 grid and goli 55
Jun 27, 2019 Anewold link
Just limit the amount of swarms equipped dependant on ship and return the grid back to what it was, goli can only use basic turrets which any turreted ship can do. Swarms are just the problem limit them.
Jun 27, 2019 Pizzasgood link
That kind of change is a PITA for the devs to implement, and it also makes things more confusing for players since it adds some extra new limitation they have to keep track of that only applies to a few random weapons.
Jun 28, 2019 starblazzz link
Please don't change damage anymore I can still deshield tridents with my 3 cap swarms hehe if anything replace the with capital stingray turrets!
Jun 28, 2019 We all float link
I suggested capital stingrays last year. +1 https://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/34894