And then you run newbs/rpers/anyone who isn't an internet spaceship winner like you out of the game.
They need to add a new layer of harder stfs with rewards worth enough for people who are able to go for it, not buffing existing content out of reach of the casual player.
"I'm one of the players Geko is always talking about." Tutorial Mode Casual <--- formerly Normal Difficulty Normal <--- formerly Advanced Difficulty Advanced <---formerly Elite Difficulty Elite Nightmare No Win Scenario
Rewards would still match the level. You'd have to do current Elite not formerly Elite to get Elite rewards.
Nightmare and No Win Scenario levels of difficulty would have increased rewards. Casual, Tutorial Mode, and those that grok Geko would have decreased rewards.
*edit: Okay, in all seriousness - no, beams do not need to be buffed (now). The content does. Beams and cannons are fine - but the content is off, so beams come off far more powerful than they actually are. If NPCs were buffed to be anywhere near where we are with powercreep - beams would be lol and folks would be asking for buffs for them.
If beams and cannons are both fine, why are beams doing far more dps than cannons? Since they're both fine and all.
It is fairly easy to get 30k overall ise parse with beams, with dhcs you have work a lot harder.
The known record for ise beams is 53.7k, the known record for ise cannons is ~35k.
Almost 20k more. Sounds like some balancing problems to me.
If beams and cannons are both fine, why are beams doing far more dps than cannons? Since they're both fine and all.
It is fairly easy to get 30k overall ise parse with beams, with dhcs you have work a lot harder.
The known record for ise beams is 53.7k, the known record for ise cannons is ~35k.
Almost 20k more. Sounds like some balancing problems to me.
I find this discussion highly amusing in a way. No, seriously. Only a year or so ago, it was all 'Escorts Online,' and peeps were lamenting how totally OP DHCs were. So, finally Cryptic caved, and gave many cruisers (and Vesta and the like) the ability to slot DHCs too. And now? Now Escorts are running beams! And it's all 'BFAW, ftw!'
And then you run newbs/rpers/anyone who isn't an internet spaceship winner like you out of the game.
They need to add a new layer of harder stfs with rewards worth enough for people who are able to go for it, not buffing existing content out of reach of the casual player.
Though I think that upping the sheer strength of the NPCs won't solve the entire problem. Another part of it is that we just know the routines. If Cryptic finds a way to make unpredictable STFs, but avoid just plain Nintendo Hard instances, I think that'll make for some pretty challenging and ultimately more fun STFs.
If beams and cannons are both fine, why are beams doing far more dps than cannons? Since they're both fine and all.
It is fairly easy to get 30k overall ise parse with beams, with dhcs you have work a lot harder.
The known record for ise beams is 53.7k, the known record for ise cannons is ~35k.
Almost 20k more. Sounds like some balancing problems to me.
Because beams are DPS weapons and can hit targets in much wider arcs. DHCs are spike weapons and are a bit harder to get multiple targets in your CSV arc. They also suffer a lot more from drop off damage, just ask or fly with Dennis and see him whizzing around like crazy getting to 3-2kms of targets.
I need to get a parse with him on so I can check out his DPS graph, it should have higher peaks and troughs.
As for VD, the problem isn't really the adding of a new difficulty level as such, it's that there are a lot of people that have all the "best gear" and then complain they can't do it.
I think I may just test out my defiant next time you're on Kira, I got a hunch.
Though I think that upping the sheer strength of the NPCs won't solve the entire problem. Another part of it is that we just know the routines. If Cryptic finds a way to make unpredictable STFs, but avoid just plain Nintendo Hard instances, I think that'll make for some pretty challenging and ultimately more fun STFs.
They should take some of the randomization technology they're applying to missions and apply it to group queues (have seen it mentioned a few times here and there, but I can't remember for the life of me the folks that mentioned it to give them credit - it's not my idea).
Basically, depending on what the group is doing - it's possible that different things will happen. For your casual, run of the mill, average group - it will just run like the usual. For other groups, random dookie will start to happen to challenge them...might be tougher ships, might be more ships, might be different ships...just random possible things that would get triggered because of how hard that group was rocking. Meanwhile, the casual PUG - wouldn't know the difference - they'd just go through it like they just go through it.
As for VD, the problem isn't really the adding of a new difficulty level as such, it's that there are a lot of people that have all the "best gear" and then complain they can't do it.
Well, that gets into those suggestions on gating and unlocking content levels...and yes, it being per toon. If it's been done on one toon, it shouldn't be that difficult to do it on another - perhaps even have some sort of sponsorship thing to reduce what it takes, etc, etc, etc.
But yeah, I've always joked that somebody could give me a JHAS with all the best gear...and...it would be a complete waste. It's not my style of play...I'd do better DPS in a crappier ship with crappier gear because it's something that I've actually flown - it's in my comfort zone, sort of thing.
So yeah, there are a lot of folks out there that go all out - grab some cookie cutter build, break out the wallet, buy all the best...and then complain. They don't get it's not the ship nor the gear nor anything else...nothing else...but them.
It's why it's all but impossible for me to do any build recommendations. Oh, I'll discuss mechanics and components of the builds - if I don't know, I'll try to track down answers or direct folks to folks I think know - or Hell, I'll even just ask the questions not being asked to try to get the answers...my ego doesn't care.
But to recommend a build to somebody? I don't know how they fly. I don't know if they're a clicker, binder, or a mix of the two. I don't know if they're WSAD, mouse turning, or something else. Don't know if they've turned the music off and wear headphones because they're listening as much as they're looking at what's going on...don't know a damn thing about them...so I can't recommend a damn thing for them.
Sure, could say...if you can do XYZ then build ABC should rock for you - but can they XYZ? I sure as Hell don't know, and it's entirely possible that ABC could be the worst thing for them to try because of that...
How many of them actually know the extent of the loss of damage because of dropoff though? It's not exactly well-publicized by Cryptic...
:
The very old blog "The Engines cannea take it" put the drop off at 4% per km past the 2km point.
I believe the blog is still out there and showed that cannons dropped off almost double of beams.
The very old blog "The Engines cannea take it" put the drop off at 4% per km past the 2km point.
I believe the blog is still out there and showed that cannons dropped off almost double of beams.
Wasn't sure if the info there was still good or not. It's dated on some other mechanics where things have changed in the interim. I know that somebody's got some spreadsheets out there - but for the life of me, I can't remember who did it to try to hunt it down again. Pretty sure it was a Google Doc sort of thing...meh.
Wasn't sure if the info there was still good or not. It's dated on some other mechanics where things have changed in the interim. I know that somebody's got some spreadsheets out there - but for the life of me, I can't remember who did it to try to hunt it down again. Pretty sure it was a Google Doc sort of thing...meh.
Its old, true. If I remember corectly though the original testing was done with white equipment without buffs so while the skills have changed in how they effect weapons the base date should still be close to accurate.
I would love to see a modern and new retesting though.
I didn't have much luck trying a quick search for that other stuff (did I imagine it?) - could have sworn somebody had taken a look at it somewhere in 2012 or maybe even 2013. That blog above is 2010...
And up comes the "Make a harder difficulty level for better players!" argument. Let's see what would happen if that was made to be:
-Devs make harder mode (for the sake of this, call it nightmare mode) and give epic rewards for beating things in that mode.
-Players play nightmare mode. Players get demolished. Hardcore serious players figure out how to win, and start getting epic rewards. Casual everyday normal gamers get slaughtered.
-Hardcore serious players start using epic rewards. Casual everyday normal gamers see rewards and want them. They ask hardcore players how to get them. Hardcore players explain how to get them. Casual everyday normal gamers try again and get slaughtered.
-Casual everyday normal players cry to the devs about how the new mode is too hard, and they can't get the rewards. Hardcore serious players again explain how to beat it. Casual everyday normal gamers start to make excuses as to why they can't do it.
-Hardcore serious players continue to enjoy new difficulty mode, and continue to get rewards. Casual everyday normal players start to nerd-rage on the forums about how it's not fair that they can't get the rewards.
-Hardcore serious players AGAIN patiently explain that they need to do X, Y, and Z to beat it. Casual everyday normal players say they don't have the time to put in the effort required for it, they have real lives, blah blah blah more excuses.
-Devs get sick of Q.Qing and nerf nightmare difficulty. Everybody gets rewards. Hardcore serious players get bored and ask for another buff to difficulty.
-Devs create "hell" mode. Players get slaughtered by "hell" mode. Hardcore seriou...
You get the idea. This has happened a few times over the course of my time on STO. The original one was the old STFs and Terradome. They were hell. They were epic. They were fun. Normal players Q.Qd and they got nerfed. Then Hive Onslaught Elite came out. It was hell. It was hard. It was fun. Normal players Q.Qd and it got nerfed.
You really want to bring this argument up... again?
It is said the best weapon is one that is never fired. I disagree. The best weapon is one you only have to fire... once.
I don't see why casual people who don't take the game seriously enough to learn the nuances are even being considered here.
If you're struggling in elite stfs, then you weren't paying attention for the last 50 levels. Why is that anyone else's fault?
Maybe if the NPCs were buffed and people couldn't sleep through the whole single player campaign, but instead had to think, find advantages, and learn the game, then they wouldn't suddenly find themselves pugging an ISE and blowing an optional.
I don't see why casual people who don't take the game seriously enough to learn the nuances are even being considered here.
Not by us, per se, but by Cryptic. No (large amounts of mainstream) players -> no income -> no game. It's really that simple. Peeps who get obliterated at every turn won't buy fancy Lobi consoles: they'll just storm off in a huff.
Cryptic will always keep things relatively simple. Simple enough so casual players can still get a sense of accomplisment, but not so simple they'll be bored out of their skull. Unfortunately, the latter will always be the case for peeps truly apt at this game: unfortunate, as Cryptic -- the odd handout notwithstanding -- doesn't cater to said group.
I don't see why casual people who don't take the game seriously enough to learn the nuances are even being considered here.
I wish cryptic would take this mindset. Seriously. So many things are nerfed to oblivion simply because casual players cannot be bothered to even attempt to understand xyz mechanic and it's counter.
Dev's, if you are reading this - stop listening to whiny children with no understanding of what balance even is screaming for nerfs so they can be 'OP' themselves.
The money is in the adults seeking some entertainment. I have no idea why you continue to pander to this mindset of a child with no income.
What about changing stfs from finish in 15 minutes to rewards are reduced for every minute that goes by? The casual players aren't crying since the content is no harder but there'll be a reason to have more than 3k dps.
To be fair the NPCs are mostly super resistant to the science stuff, the damage stuff....lol, yeah right. In fact slapping another million HP on the gate might be funny to see just how quickly it burns off lol. By my reckoning it'll take the ones that are half decent at this game maybe another 20s, assuming everyone is doing just over 10k dps.
I sometimes say I'd love to meet some of the people behind the ships I see, though thinking about how many WTF moments I have already with some of them maybe it's not a good idea.
To be fair the NPCs are mostly super resistant to the science stuff, the damage stuff....lol, yeah right. In fact slapping another million HP on the gate might be funny to see just how quickly it burns off lol. By my reckoning it'll take the ones that are half decent at this game maybe another 20s, assuming everyone is doing just over 10k dps.
I sometimes say I'd love to meet some of the people behind the ships I see, though thinking about how many WTF moments I have already with some of them maybe it's not a good idea.
By the way I like the sig VD
I agree. More health is not the answer. That is why borg have as much hp as it is. If you compare that 1.3 mil hp tac cube with an "equivalent" level tac cube from Orellius redalert it is about 4 times weaker. Both level 52.
What they need to do to make npc's harder is to give them a couple of buffs to cycle through the same way players do. Let's see them with 2 tac teams and reverse shield polarity. Lets see an aux2bat cube. Then suddenly having a balanced team will mean something. Science would become viable in PvE.
I do not believe that npc's are so much resistant to science but since all they are are weapons and health there isn't much left for science to do. They already feel like they are debuffed. since they have no heals it is just a question of how long til dead.
I do not believe that npc's are so much resistant to science but since all they are are weapons and health there isn't much left for science to do. They already feel like they are debuffed. since they have no heals it is just a question of how long til dead.
Try using VM or scramble sensors on any of the Borg, barely lasts a second half the time or the mobs are too weak to justify using it. Donatra obeys her own special laws of the universe, most dreadnought have the same sort of resistance and they seem to have 125 all power levels as you need a good 4 drains to get their shields to blink off for a few seconds and then it's back up in a flash.
Some of the other sciencey stuff they're not resistant to, it's just it's so pathetic it's not even worth using.
Long and short of it is Devs don't want to make science an iWin button (which I agree with) however the problem is damage has now become the iWin button as it has scaled completely above any challenge.
While I'd say your summary there's 99.93% correct - it's still far more entertaining to watch it all play out on the forums.
Hell, the Elachi were nerfed. The Borg have been nerfed. The Voth were nerfed.
Harder's not going to happen - they're going to keep adding more powercreep while nerfing the mobs.
They're retooling the Undine - how much do you want to bet (I'm poor, so 2 EC?) that during the beta for the Undine stuff that they get nerfed too...?
Well considering what I've seen of the Undine in the new featured episode... if that's just a taste of what is to come, it's almost a 100% guarantee there will be nerfs on the horizon for them.
I don't see why casual people who don't take the game seriously enough to learn the nuances are even being considered here.
If you're struggling in elite stfs, then you weren't paying attention for the last 50 levels. Why is that anyone else's fault?
Maybe if the NPCs were buffed and people couldn't sleep through the whole single player campaign, but instead had to think, find advantages, and learn the game, then they wouldn't suddenly find themselves pugging an ISE and blowing an optional.
But... that would require effort. And the casual everyday gamer would actually need to think! And they would then say that they don't have the time to learn the game properly!
Long story short, as VD said, my post more or less sums up what happens when NPCs in this game get buffed. Examples include, but not limited to: Hell Week (IE wonderful NPCs that killed EVERYTHING in ESTFs and all PvE content on elite right before the end of S6), the Elachi (who were actually quite nasty, but are a joke now... except on the ground, they're still rather nasty there), the Undine, ESTF Borg (they got a +30% resistance debuff after S6 started, and got around 20% of it back later, then were nerfed... then buffed... then nerfed... you get the idea), the Voth (yes, they have been nerfed), and ALL NPCs one week after S7 was released.
Welcome to the MMO model, where your casual everyday gamer cries foul and things get derped.
It is said the best weapon is one that is never fired. I disagree. The best weapon is one you only have to fire... once.
Dual heavy cannons/ and.......................... nothing
we need a heavy Beam bank only usable on cruisers to get more dps on criusers
Beam overload is a PvP only skill useless in Pve its damage is way too low
Beam fire at will
We do not have a beam rapid fire and need it to equal cannons crit chance
beam users need more than 1 special atttack
Jellico....Engineer ground.....Da'val Romulan space Sci
Saphire.. Science ground......Ko'el Romulan space Tac
Leva........Tactical ground.....Koj Romulan space Eng
JJ-Verse will never be Canon or considered Lore...It will always be JJ-Verse
Jellico....Engineer ground.....Da'val Romulan space Sci
Saphire.. Science ground......Ko'el Romulan space Tac
Leva........Tactical ground.....Koj Romulan space Eng
JJ-Verse will never be Canon or considered Lore...It will always be JJ-Verse
As an escort, beamboat, scimitar, scienceship, torpboat, DPS, PvP, and PvE builder I can tell you three things that are absolute in this regard.
1. A beamboat, scimitar or not, has the highest sustained DPS in the game. Unless the match is about 30 seconds long, the beamboat will win over time.
2. Scimitars are the best beamboats because of their battlecloak, five tac consoles, and boff layout
3. An escort only wins in ONE category - single target short burst damage. Killshots or quick downs, but that lasts all of 4-6 volleys and then they are spent, whereas a beamer just keeps on trucking.
My most powerful DPS ships in order.
1. My 28k DPS scimitar (beams)
2. My 22k DPS avenger (beams)
3 My 18k DPS FAE (cannons)
4. My 17k DPS Dhelan (cannons)
I been doing this minmax stuff for a long time now, and thats about as high as I can even see myself getting at the current level of power creep. Sure there are those that can do better than that, but Id say thats a good benchmark/proof of the disparity between beamers and cannons (from the same player with the access/wealth for the top gear in the game)
Fleet Admiral Rylana - Fed Tac - U.S.S Wild Card - Tactical Miracle Worker Cruiser
Lifetime Subscriber since 2012 == 17,200 Accolades = RIP PvP and Vice Squad
Chief of Starfleet Intelligence Service == Praise Cheesus
Comments
"I'm one of the players Geko is always talking about."
Tutorial Mode
Casual <--- formerly Normal Difficulty
Normal <--- formerly Advanced Difficulty
Advanced <---formerly Elite Difficulty
Elite
Nightmare
No Win Scenario
Rewards would still match the level. You'd have to do current Elite not formerly Elite to get Elite rewards.
Nightmare and No Win Scenario levels of difficulty would have increased rewards. Casual, Tutorial Mode, and those that grok Geko would have decreased rewards.
If beams and cannons are both fine, why are beams doing far more dps than cannons? Since they're both fine and all.
It is fairly easy to get 30k overall ise parse with beams, with dhcs you have work a lot harder.
The known record for ise beams is 53.7k, the known record for ise cannons is ~35k.
Almost 20k more. Sounds like some balancing problems to me.
A good start on Cryptic's part to address your concerns there would be...
Make the Trans not targetable until the Gens are gone.
Make the Gate not targetable until the Trans are gone.
edit: But let the Gate continue to attack, eh?
I find this discussion highly amusing in a way.
Irony, my favorite vice!
-Easy(current Normal)
-Normal(current Elite)
-Elite/Hard(new tier)
Though I think that upping the sheer strength of the NPCs won't solve the entire problem. Another part of it is that we just know the routines. If Cryptic finds a way to make unpredictable STFs, but avoid just plain Nintendo Hard instances, I think that'll make for some pretty challenging and ultimately more fun STFs.
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Because beams are DPS weapons and can hit targets in much wider arcs. DHCs are spike weapons and are a bit harder to get multiple targets in your CSV arc. They also suffer a lot more from drop off damage, just ask or fly with Dennis and see him whizzing around like crazy getting to 3-2kms of targets.
I need to get a parse with him on so I can check out his DPS graph, it should have higher peaks and troughs.
As for VD, the problem isn't really the adding of a new difficulty level as such, it's that there are a lot of people that have all the "best gear" and then complain they can't do it.
I think I may just test out my defiant next time you're on Kira, I got a hunch.
It is through repetition that we learn our weakness.
A master with a stone is better than a novice with a sword.
Has damage got out of control?
This is the last thing I will post.
They should take some of the randomization technology they're applying to missions and apply it to group queues (have seen it mentioned a few times here and there, but I can't remember for the life of me the folks that mentioned it to give them credit - it's not my idea).
Basically, depending on what the group is doing - it's possible that different things will happen. For your casual, run of the mill, average group - it will just run like the usual. For other groups, random dookie will start to happen to challenge them...might be tougher ships, might be more ships, might be different ships...just random possible things that would get triggered because of how hard that group was rocking. Meanwhile, the casual PUG - wouldn't know the difference - they'd just go through it like they just go through it.
Well, that gets into those suggestions on gating and unlocking content levels...and yes, it being per toon. If it's been done on one toon, it shouldn't be that difficult to do it on another - perhaps even have some sort of sponsorship thing to reduce what it takes, etc, etc, etc.
But yeah, I've always joked that somebody could give me a JHAS with all the best gear...and...it would be a complete waste. It's not my style of play...I'd do better DPS in a crappier ship with crappier gear because it's something that I've actually flown - it's in my comfort zone, sort of thing.
So yeah, there are a lot of folks out there that go all out - grab some cookie cutter build, break out the wallet, buy all the best...and then complain. They don't get it's not the ship nor the gear nor anything else...nothing else...but them.
It's why it's all but impossible for me to do any build recommendations. Oh, I'll discuss mechanics and components of the builds - if I don't know, I'll try to track down answers or direct folks to folks I think know - or Hell, I'll even just ask the questions not being asked to try to get the answers...my ego doesn't care.
But to recommend a build to somebody? I don't know how they fly. I don't know if they're a clicker, binder, or a mix of the two. I don't know if they're WSAD, mouse turning, or something else. Don't know if they've turned the music off and wear headphones because they're listening as much as they're looking at what's going on...don't know a damn thing about them...so I can't recommend a damn thing for them.
Sure, could say...if you can do XYZ then build ABC should rock for you - but can they XYZ? I sure as Hell don't know, and it's entirely possible that ABC could be the worst thing for them to try because of that...
The very old blog "The Engines cannea take it" put the drop off at 4% per km past the 2km point.
I believe the blog is still out there and showed that cannons dropped off almost double of beams.
R.I.P
Wasn't sure if the info there was still good or not. It's dated on some other mechanics where things have changed in the interim. I know that somebody's got some spreadsheets out there - but for the life of me, I can't remember who did it to try to hunt it down again. Pretty sure it was a Google Doc sort of thing...meh.
Its old, true. If I remember corectly though the original testing was done with white equipment without buffs so while the skills have changed in how they effect weapons the base date should still be close to accurate.
I would love to see a modern and new retesting though.
R.I.P
I didn't have much luck trying a quick search for that other stuff (did I imagine it?) - could have sworn somebody had taken a look at it somewhere in 2012 or maybe even 2013. That blog above is 2010...
-Devs make harder mode (for the sake of this, call it nightmare mode) and give epic rewards for beating things in that mode.
-Players play nightmare mode. Players get demolished. Hardcore serious players figure out how to win, and start getting epic rewards. Casual everyday normal gamers get slaughtered.
-Hardcore serious players start using epic rewards. Casual everyday normal gamers see rewards and want them. They ask hardcore players how to get them. Hardcore players explain how to get them. Casual everyday normal gamers try again and get slaughtered.
-Casual everyday normal players cry to the devs about how the new mode is too hard, and they can't get the rewards. Hardcore serious players again explain how to beat it. Casual everyday normal gamers start to make excuses as to why they can't do it.
-Hardcore serious players continue to enjoy new difficulty mode, and continue to get rewards. Casual everyday normal players start to nerd-rage on the forums about how it's not fair that they can't get the rewards.
-Hardcore serious players AGAIN patiently explain that they need to do X, Y, and Z to beat it. Casual everyday normal players say they don't have the time to put in the effort required for it, they have real lives, blah blah blah more excuses.
-Devs get sick of Q.Qing and nerf nightmare difficulty. Everybody gets rewards. Hardcore serious players get bored and ask for another buff to difficulty.
-Devs create "hell" mode. Players get slaughtered by "hell" mode. Hardcore seriou...
You get the idea. This has happened a few times over the course of my time on STO. The original one was the old STFs and Terradome. They were hell. They were epic. They were fun. Normal players Q.Qd and they got nerfed. Then Hive Onslaught Elite came out. It was hell. It was hard. It was fun. Normal players Q.Qd and it got nerfed.
You really want to bring this argument up... again?
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While I'd say your summary there's 99.93% correct - it's still far more entertaining to watch it all play out on the forums.
Hell, the Elachi were nerfed. The Borg have been nerfed. The Voth were nerfed.
Harder's not going to happen - they're going to keep adding more powercreep while nerfing the mobs.
They're retooling the Undine - how much do you want to bet (I'm poor, so 2 EC?) that during the beta for the Undine stuff that they get nerfed too...?
If you're struggling in elite stfs, then you weren't paying attention for the last 50 levels. Why is that anyone else's fault?
Maybe if the NPCs were buffed and people couldn't sleep through the whole single player campaign, but instead had to think, find advantages, and learn the game, then they wouldn't suddenly find themselves pugging an ISE and blowing an optional.
Not by us, per se, but by Cryptic. No (large amounts of mainstream) players -> no income -> no game. It's really that simple. Peeps who get obliterated at every turn won't buy fancy Lobi consoles: they'll just storm off in a huff.
Cryptic will always keep things relatively simple. Simple enough so casual players can still get a sense of accomplisment, but not so simple they'll be bored out of their skull. Unfortunately, the latter will always be the case for peeps truly apt at this game: unfortunate, as Cryptic -- the odd handout notwithstanding -- doesn't cater to said group.
Dev's, if you are reading this - stop listening to whiny children with no understanding of what balance even is screaming for nerfs so they can be 'OP' themselves.
The money is in the adults seeking some entertainment. I have no idea why you continue to pander to this mindset of a child with no income.
I sometimes say I'd love to meet some of the people behind the ships I see, though thinking about how many WTF moments I have already with some of them maybe it's not a good idea.
By the way I like the sig VD
It is through repetition that we learn our weakness.
A master with a stone is better than a novice with a sword.
Has damage got out of control?
This is the last thing I will post.
I agree. More health is not the answer. That is why borg have as much hp as it is. If you compare that 1.3 mil hp tac cube with an "equivalent" level tac cube from Orellius redalert it is about 4 times weaker. Both level 52.
What they need to do to make npc's harder is to give them a couple of buffs to cycle through the same way players do. Let's see them with 2 tac teams and reverse shield polarity. Lets see an aux2bat cube. Then suddenly having a balanced team will mean something. Science would become viable in PvE.
I do not believe that npc's are so much resistant to science but since all they are are weapons and health there isn't much left for science to do. They already feel like they are debuffed. since they have no heals it is just a question of how long til dead.
Try using VM or scramble sensors on any of the Borg, barely lasts a second half the time or the mobs are too weak to justify using it. Donatra obeys her own special laws of the universe, most dreadnought have the same sort of resistance and they seem to have 125 all power levels as you need a good 4 drains to get their shields to blink off for a few seconds and then it's back up in a flash.
Some of the other sciencey stuff they're not resistant to, it's just it's so pathetic it's not even worth using.
Long and short of it is Devs don't want to make science an iWin button (which I agree with) however the problem is damage has now become the iWin button as it has scaled completely above any challenge.
It is through repetition that we learn our weakness.
A master with a stone is better than a novice with a sword.
Has damage got out of control?
This is the last thing I will post.
Well considering what I've seen of the Undine in the new featured episode... if that's just a taste of what is to come, it's almost a 100% guarantee there will be nerfs on the horizon for them.
But... that would require effort. And the casual everyday gamer would actually need to think! And they would then say that they don't have the time to learn the game properly!
Long story short, as VD said, my post more or less sums up what happens when NPCs in this game get buffed. Examples include, but not limited to: Hell Week (IE wonderful NPCs that killed EVERYTHING in ESTFs and all PvE content on elite right before the end of S6), the Elachi (who were actually quite nasty, but are a joke now... except on the ground, they're still rather nasty there), the Undine, ESTF Borg (they got a +30% resistance debuff after S6 started, and got around 20% of it back later, then were nerfed... then buffed... then nerfed... you get the idea), the Voth (yes, they have been nerfed), and ALL NPCs one week after S7 was released.
Welcome to the MMO model, where your casual everyday gamer cries foul and things get derped.
Please show me the patch notes....
Cannons/Beam Arrays
Dual cannons/Dual beam banks
Dual heavy cannons/ and.......................... nothing
we need a heavy Beam bank only usable on cruisers to get more dps on criusers
Beam overload is a PvP only skill useless in Pve its damage is way too low
Beam fire at will
We do not have a beam rapid fire and need it to equal cannons crit chance
beam users need more than 1 special atttack
Saphire.. Science ground......Ko'el Romulan space Tac
Leva........Tactical ground.....Koj Romulan space Eng
JJ-Verse will never be Canon or considered Lore...It will always be JJ-Verse
Saphire.. Science ground......Ko'el Romulan space Tac
Leva........Tactical ground.....Koj Romulan space Eng
JJ-Verse will never be Canon or considered Lore...It will always be JJ-Verse
1. A beamboat, scimitar or not, has the highest sustained DPS in the game. Unless the match is about 30 seconds long, the beamboat will win over time.
2. Scimitars are the best beamboats because of their battlecloak, five tac consoles, and boff layout
3. An escort only wins in ONE category - single target short burst damage. Killshots or quick downs, but that lasts all of 4-6 volleys and then they are spent, whereas a beamer just keeps on trucking.
My most powerful DPS ships in order.
1. My 28k DPS scimitar (beams)
2. My 22k DPS avenger (beams)
3 My 18k DPS FAE (cannons)
4. My 17k DPS Dhelan (cannons)
I been doing this minmax stuff for a long time now, and thats about as high as I can even see myself getting at the current level of power creep. Sure there are those that can do better than that, but Id say thats a good benchmark/proof of the disparity between beamers and cannons (from the same player with the access/wealth for the top gear in the game)
Fleet Admiral Rylana - Fed Tac - U.S.S Wild Card - Tactical Miracle Worker Cruiser
Lifetime Subscriber since 2012 == 17,200 Accolades = RIP PvP and Vice Squad
Chief of Starfleet Intelligence Service == Praise Cheesus