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MACO Graviton Beam any good vs sci?

ursusmorologusursusmorologus Member Posts: 5,328 Arc User
edited April 2013 in PvP Gameplay
I am looking at a couple of buildout options, and have some MACO set pieces that I want to do something with. One option is to put a full set on a cloaked escort/BOP, and use the graviton beam as an alpha disable strike against sci ship. From the Wiki:
Set 3: Heavy Graviton Beam

Targets Foe
65' Targeting Arc
10 kilometer range
2 sec charge
0.5 sec activate
2 min recharge
to target: 3,003.2 Kinetic Damage (50% Shield Penetration)
to target: +1,015.6 Repel
to target: Auxiliary Systems Offline for 5 sec
to target: Impulse Systems Offline for 5 sec
to target: Weapons Systems Offline for 5 sec
to self: -40.2 Current Auxiliary Power
Damage and repel effect are affected by Starship Particle Generators, Starship Power Insulators, Starship Graviton Generators and Starship Subspace Decompiler

The only part of that I am looking at is "[...] Systems Offline for 5 sec" part. Is it enough of a benefit to let cloaking escort take out a sci ship?
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Comments

  • dalnar83dalnar83 Member Posts: 2,420 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    The duration is cut by resistances, so it is meh.
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  • dummynamedummyname Member Posts: 99 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    During C&H matches, when a cloaker tries to alpha i usually try to quickly target, subspace jump and subnuke my opponent. Assuming the UI isnt being TRIBBLE I usually live. :P
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  • scurry5scurry5 Member Posts: 1,554 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    It's an adequate interrupt if you don't have PSW, but still not really that hot.
  • ursusmorologusursusmorologus Member Posts: 5,328 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    dummyname wrote: »
    During C&H matches, when a cloaker tries to alpha i usually try to quickly target, subspace jump and subnuke my opponent.

    Hence the idea of using the graviton beam to turn off your aux power
  • dummynamedummyname Member Posts: 99 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    I'm not sure if the subspace jump and subnuke are affected by those... Is it like a PSW where it knocks all abilities offline for a brief period of time?
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  • ursusmorologusursusmorologus Member Posts: 5,328 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    the console is immune but subnuke is modified by aux power
    Game Description: Subnucleonic Beam stuns the target's bridge crew, removing any currently applied buffs and slowing the recharge time of their abilities and weapon systems. Increases in effectiveness based on current auxiliary power level.

    I dont know to what extent
  • dummynamedummyname Member Posts: 99 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    I imagine it affects the duration of the recharge and weapon timers, I think it still clears all current buffs applied regardless of aux power. To me, that's a win because not only have I stripped all of your alpha away but you now have to turn around and get your nose on me, cutting into the small window you have available to strike while I am vulnerable.

    EDIT: That being said, in Arena's I will not waste an SNB to save my hide, those go for our alpha strikes so the only defensive option I might have available will be the jump console.
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  • borticuscrypticborticuscryptic Member Posts: 2,478 Cryptic Developer
    edited April 2013
    Any ability which gains effectiveness from a Subsystem Power level, should be unavailable when that subsystem is offline.

    There's always the chance that a particular ability wasn't flagged properly to respect this behavior, but that's the designed intent.
    Jeremy Randall
    Cryptic - Lead Systems Designer
    "Play smart!"
  • jonathanlonehawkjonathanlonehawk Member Posts: 674 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    Any ability which gains effectiveness from a Subsystem Power level, should be unavailable when that subsystem is offline.

    There's always the chance that a particular ability wasn't flagged properly to respect this behavior, but that's the designed intent.

    Does that mean the Aux Cannons from the Vesta don't work if the Aux or Weapon Power is offline or only if Aux is offline.
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  • illcadiaillcadia Member Posts: 1,415 Bug Hunter
    edited April 2013
    The latter.
  • ulkeskulkesk Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    The aux cannons stop working if either weapon or aux is taken offline. Easy to confirm by fighting Tholians and their weapon disable spam.
  • jonathanlonehawkjonathanlonehawk Member Posts: 674 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    illcadia wrote: »
    The latter.
    ulkesk wrote: »
    The aux cannons stop working if either weapon or aux is taken offline. Easy to confirm by fighting Tholians and their weapon disable spam.

    And that's why I asked Borticus -- two different answers... ;)
    Formerly Known as Protector from June 2008 to June 20, 2012
    STOSIG.png
    Please enable us to buy a token with Zen to faction change a 25th Century FED to a TOS FED.
  • praxi5praxi5 Member Posts: 1,562 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    I wouldn't say it's too terrible effective; every time I get hit by one, I just pop my Red Matter Capacitor and shrug it off.

    PSW and VM would be deadlier, since most Scis aren't carrying EngTeam.
  • hasukurobihasukurobi Member Posts: 1,421 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    I am looking at a couple of buildout options, and have some MACO set pieces that I want to do something with. One option is to put a full set on a cloaked escort/BOP, and use the graviton beam as an alpha disable strike against sci ship. From the Wiki:



    The only part of that I am looking at is "[...] Systems Offline for 5 sec" part. Is it enough of a benefit to let cloaking escort take out a sci ship?

    Having played around with this beam it really fails to impress. It generally knocks things back a tiny bit and stuns them for less time than a Tricobalt explosion. Basically it is nearly useless. The only time it can be worthwhile is if someone is hitting you with something like the Quantum Focus Beam and you can hit them with this and disrupt the continued flow of it. Besides that there are not many attacks in the game this will save you from and due to its cooldown once blown it will not be there to help you when they come back around.
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