Proposed SCB Changes Are Nonsensical

[JohnLuke]

While I am a **HUGE** fan of SCB's (because, obviously I don't have the skill needed for option #1 that Loriath mentioned.) I don't think it's been properly balanced until now. I welcome the challenge of determining what size SCB I can use with a Heat Sink, what size can I use with acceptable damage without a heat sink, and weighing the benefits of SCB's with heat sinks Vs shield boosters for *my* flying style. This game is all about compromise, just ask anyone that has built a Vulture or FDL and dealt with the power management issues.

I can currently let my 635mj shields (160% with 3 Shield Boosters) on the Python get down to a sliver of one ring, and fire a 6A and 5B SCB at the same time to regenerate to nearly 100% shield strength. Do I enjoy that? Absolutely! Do I think it's fair and appropriate in the battle field that I can do that? Hell No!

FD is taking steps to correct something that has been used to create an unfair advantage during combat.

It's change... life is full of it. Adapt and overcome.

[CMDR Abil Midena]

Whatever FD ends up doing with SCB's, we'll just have to accept. The last I heard was to keep the increase in heat, reduce the shield increase from 2x to something lower. In beta, it mainly meant I had to have one heat sink slot for every 6A SCB slot. *shrug*

However, I think you'll find that the people throwing a constant tantrum about SCB's needing a nerf, are people in small ships that can't carry many/any. When they grow up and fly big ships, they'll be back throwing another tantrum that their big ships die too fast.

Consider also that no one has complained about the chaff 'invulnerability potion stacking forever you can't hit my bitty ship lol'. Try limiting chaff in any way, and those same people will throw a new tantrum over it.

[TorTorden]

That might be you, but I honestly only find chaff to be a mild annoyance.
Just Deselect the target and shoot manually.

Might not power plant them but you can sure get their shields and hull down regardless of chaff.

[Sidenti Taalo]

Maybe I just have a different understanding of space than most. In my mind, spaceship combats are supposed to be epic struggles, not two-minute one-offs tailored to the Youtube generation's lack of attention span. Then again, there's a lot about this game that just doesn't make any fuckin' sense.

We'll just add "a society that suddenly became disinterested in defending themselves" to the pile that includes "slavery as a governmental institution", "laser beams that don't work like laser beams should or ever have", and "fuck your desires to explore the galaxy peacefully; we're going to do our level best to funnel you into a killtrap for griefers".

I'd suggest not settling for crap like that simply because one liked Elite back in the 80s, or because E:D is currently the only decent space game around. (EvE is not a space game because you cannot manually pilot your own ship. EvE is a spreadsheet.) We can have a strong space sim here, or we can have something that's good but never quite measures up.

[Walter]

I've just taken a FdL (which has also been subject to changes) to a Compromised Nav Beacon and picked fights with a few sets of wings. An A3 SCB brought the temperature rapidly up from 43 to 71.

I would like to try an A6 SCB in a Python, but there's never a good war around when you need one.

[Loriath]

I've just taken a FdL (which has also been subject to changes) to a Compromised Nav Beacon and picked fights with a few sets of wings. An A3 SCB brought the temperature rapidly up from 43 to 71.

I would like to try an A6 SCB in a Python, but there's never a good war around when you need one.

You could always grind your python against the station to wear them down a little OMG that sounds dirty. rofl

[Walter]

You could always grind your python against the station to wear them down a little OMG that sounds dirty. rofl

Oooo, you are awful!

Two more rough and ready tests in a Python using A5 SCBs. In both cases I was firing lasers to bring the temperature up to 60 when I hit the SCB.

1 Continued firing and the temperature went up to 172 - not intolerable, but some minor damage to the systems. Much higher temperatures - without fatal consequences - have been recorded while fuel scooping in the Buckball Run.

2 Stopped firing and the temperature went up to 105 with the possibility of some self-inflicted damage. If it's a linear increase, banging out another at the same time wouldn't be catastrophic.

So, if you are not firing when you initiate the SCB, you stand a good chance of restoring shields with an A5 SCB with minimum harm. If you're in a head-to-head firefight you might need the additional support of heat sinks.

Or you could always change your tactics.

[JohnLuke]

Great testing info, Walter! Thanks for posting that.

I use 6A SCB's on my python, but could live with 5A's if that makes the difference for not needing to take up a slot with heat sinks.

[CMDR Abil Midena]

That might be you, but I honestly only find chaff to be a mild annoyance.
Just Deselect the target and shoot manually.

Might not power plant them but you can sure get their shields and hull down regardless of chaff.

Yeah, yeah, deselect, blah blah...problem is weapon convergence is crap on a lot of the ships, especially the bigger ones that are exactly the ones that find chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff chaff annoying.

I have found that rather than waste precious capacitor with half to most of your weaps missing due to convergence, even if you aim is good, it's more effective to wait it out and fire when chaff expires. Except in pvp, it never does. You know what I mean, I'm sure. People in wee ships won't get it though. *shrug*

[Falcon_D]

Hello,
This entire incident with SCBs keep bringing this story to my mind:
"Your roof is leaking". No problem, I'll throw a tarp over it.
"Oh. Ok. Water is still dripping into the house." No problem, I just put a few well placed buckets.
"Oh. Ok. But your furniture is still getting damp." No problem, I'll just buy some plastic furniture.
"Dude, why don't you just fix the damn roof?". Oh?

Have fun, fly safe.