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Faw Ftw
prierin
Member Posts: 7 Arc User
FAW
. We all have our opinions on whether or not it should be used. After playing through the complete storyline again from the (delta) beginning, I can confidently say YES, but not necessarily for STFs.
The Romulan/Cardassian arcs, FAW is a MUST, if for nothing more than that annoying (but brilliant) habit the larger ships have of locking you in a tractor and unleashing a High Yield Torp attack. If I could somehow do that as well as wipe their shields with tachyon I might adopt that strategy myself.
Even if you get away from the tractor you still have at least 3 high-powered torps to deal with. You can either attempt to target them individually or, as I prefer, FAW em! Works like a charm every time. I also have the advantage of captaining ain Intelligence ship with the Target Evade ability, so I can escape that way as well, but many cant.
Now that I have moved on to the Borg arc I have replaced FAW with another ability as it isnt as fundamental. The good thing is with the new training program you can swap your BOFF abilities on the fly, so thats a good thing.
So in the future, when discussing the dreaded FAW, I think players, especially those who have not yet reached the Romulan/Cardassian arcs, need not to be dissuaded from using the ability. Once beyond that, and especially when entering into STFs, I think the ability should be used sparingly if at all.
Thoughts?
The Romulan/Cardassian arcs, FAW is a MUST, if for nothing more than that annoying (but brilliant) habit the larger ships have of locking you in a tractor and unleashing a High Yield Torp attack. If I could somehow do that as well as wipe their shields with tachyon I might adopt that strategy myself.
Even if you get away from the tractor you still have at least 3 high-powered torps to deal with. You can either attempt to target them individually or, as I prefer, FAW em! Works like a charm every time. I also have the advantage of captaining ain Intelligence ship with the Target Evade ability, so I can escape that way as well, but many cant.
Now that I have moved on to the Borg arc I have replaced FAW with another ability as it isnt as fundamental. The good thing is with the new training program you can swap your BOFF abilities on the fly, so thats a good thing.
So in the future, when discussing the dreaded FAW, I think players, especially those who have not yet reached the Romulan/Cardassian arcs, need not to be dissuaded from using the ability. Once beyond that, and especially when entering into STFs, I think the ability should be used sparingly if at all.
Thoughts?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
You will forever be missed and never forgotten.
Post edited by prierin on
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Comments
Single Target? BFAW is best.
Multiple Targets? LOL BFAW is best.
NPCs that have lots of fighter spam? BFAW is best.
NPCs that have lots of targetable torps/mines? BFAW is best.
A Tactical attack buff that strengthens energy weapons that suffer no penalty to anything, unlike Torps/Mines? BFAW is best.
You need this capability on a short cooldown that excels on both single and multiple targets? BFAW is best.
1. What ability are you replacing FAW with?
2. What's your ship/build/DPS results in the "canned" arena of ISA?
And if I may be so bold, unless said DPS number is at least 30k, many will lambast your thoughts because the only metric we have is "DPS" and the most effective multiplier of DPS is FAW.
To rob a line: [quote: Mariemaia Kushrenada] Forum Posting is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace and revolution continue on forever. However, opinions will change upon the reading of my post.[/quote]
As far as specializations, I am running pure Command, both ground and space.
I am not recording my dps as I am not that interested in numbers, tbh. If I can kill them quick I am happy...
My both my KDF tactical captains and my science captain only use DHCs because they fly the T5u B'rel BoP and T6 Maths raptor. No beam weapons period. the only KDF toon I have that uses beams is my engineer. I can manage the Rom and cardi missions just fine.
Wouldn't it be a trip if FAW worked more toward being an ability for something like that? Dealing with targetable torps, mines, and pets?
Instead of it being...
+Damage -> +DPS
+RoF -> +DPS
+Target -> +DPS
...that it was more like...
!+Damage -> =DPS
+RoF -> -Damage -> =DPS
+Target -> -Damage -> =DPS
...but I'd never post that. Could you imagine the rage?
As for the Cardassians/Romulans and their attacks...don't be so squishy? I mean, it's one thing if you were on the Ground where the Cardassians like to toss 9001 grenades at you at the same time...but Space?
How about a T5 B'rel with 4x DBBs, OD/Ancient OD...and FAW!
I think that pretty much nails oit on the head. Everyone should be entitled to play in the style they are most comfortable in. I am a fan of FAW whereas others, for some reason, want to nerf it to death.
I say use whatever tools are available to you to get the job done.
I use beams on my Phantom, but am about to change. It turns on a dime so I don't have t worry about getting mobs caught on my flanks as I have with escorts in the past... I'll probably keep at least 1 360 beam, tho.... always handy
Heh - after a respec I'm not so squishy but you have to admit, getting caught in a tractor at <3km and having a volley of high powered torps thrown at you kinda of hurts...
Wouldn't you be worried that she'd have you and also just randomly select others from time to time too?
Um... You can.
There's nothing stopping you from using a Plasma Torp launcher (with HY) and a Tractor Beam. It's only 1 torp, but it's a heavy hitter. Normal HY torps can't be targeted, but they offer the same "string of torpedoes" effect.
Once you have access to the Omega or Rom Rep torps, they do the same thing as those NPC ones.
Guys, I think we found Geko's forum account.
You can do the same thing with tractor beam repulsors too, also very handy, but it costs a sci boff station, which is expensive on most builds
That would also lead, to a whole lot of damaged people!
Praetor of the -RTS- Romulan Tal Shiar fleet!
Oh, I know it's POSSIBLE, but in order for me to accomplish this I'd have to juffle BO abilities and what not... meh.
Again, using the crafted Particle Emission Plasma Torp =
True - but the first wouldn't apply to non Romulan Feds.
Yep, everyone is entitled to use the weapons they want on the ships that they want.
Hell, I have more fun playing Storming the Spire in my KDF BoPs than I do in my Fed cruiser and science vessel that uses beam weapons. Sadly, out of the hundreds of times I've played Storming the Spire I have only seen a handful of times when someone else other than me is flying a BoP in that mission.
I have to admit that I am tempted to install Beam Arrays in my BoPs and bring them into some Borg STF missions just to get some WTF!?!?! reactions...
When playing by themselves...
...in a group, it's important to contribute to the group.
Doesn't mean folks can't use/fly what they want...
...just that they should be contributing in a meaningful fashion.
Finally, a voice of reason in this thread.
I am firmly in the NERF it camp. and for a simple reason its ridiculous that a all weapons firing at what ever target they can could possibly do more damage than a directed attack.
same with cannon scatter volley no way in hell it should do more damage than cannon rapid fire.
maybe if they had a long delay built into the firing sequence to account for target spooling or something, but just random firing doing more damage i call BS .
So you dont want to talk about what IS good even when checking the nunbers.. You prefer talking about what FEELS good while playing? Rofl sry but thats just so much bs^^
If you were to check you'd see that faw tops whatever you are doing and you would see that your mines are worthless - waste of slots - sane for torps and all that. Not saying thats good just saying thats how things are in this game.
Pls dont try to make other players use some build/abilities just because they feel right for you (without actually being goog) if you dont really put it to the test by logging/parsing combatlogs
I'll admit, I see your logic. A directed attack should *always* carry more damage than a scattered attack for the mere reason, if anything else, that it is a directed attack.
A single beam can carry 100% of its power, but once you divide that beam into 2, 3, 4, etc. you also divide the power output and, hence, the damage. Perhaps a dual beam attack would carry a 60/40 ratio whereas a 4 beam attack would carry something closer to 40/ 20/20/20. With your primary weapon always directing the most energy for the attack.
Lets play Devils advocate, however: if I fore a torpedo spread, they are all individual torps and should carry the same damage potential per torpedo. This would potential mean I can take a torp that deals out, say, 5000 kinetic and multiple that by 6-12 torps, each dealing the same damage. After all, unlike a powered weapon like beams or cannons, they are reliant on their individual warheads and power.
So nerf FAW and beef the hell out of Spread III?
Not sure what you mean, exactly. I'm not trying to get anyone to follow any build other than what they want to play. I am merely arguing against those who have, and constantly do, demand that others NOT use FAW for pretty much any reason. Put the DPS aside for a moment and consider PvE. There are PLENTY of instances where FAW can save the day.
Advising others that torps, mines, etc. are a waste of an aft slot *because* of FAW is, for all sense and purpose, OP is pushing people towards a particular build.
As for combatlogs, etc, as I said from the beginning, I am not a DPS hound trying to constantly sniff out a few higher damage numbers. I like to defeat enemies quickly, sure, but thats not my main drive. I play, like most, how I like to play, with the ships, abilities and weapons I like to use. Im still experimenting and yes, things will change from time to time so if anyone IS thinking of following any particular build over another, my suggestion is to make sure it fits your playstyle before becoming a DPS clone.
Quite doable actually esp with T5U with the 4th TAC Console
4 DBBs up front, 2 BA aft. Or... I know this sounds sickening... Going 6 Beam Arrays and turn the T5U B'Rel or Norgh into a Rainbow Beamboat!
UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ
Actually, I tried that. I couldn't do it for more than 2 hours because it looks so wrong to do that with a BOP.
no nerf torp spread too. again for the same logic the extra work of the targeting computers. if it had a long target spoll ok but if not then TS faw and CSV should all be last ditch clearing efforts with reduced accuracy . i mean the beam or the torp should actually carry their damage cause a torp is a torp and a beam is a beam but they should not do MORE damage.
This is where I respectfully disagree. If you fire off 10 ICBMs, the raw power of each isnt diminished by the fact youve launched more than one at a single time. Once launched, they are under their own power, guidance and whatnot. You don't need to calculate each individual torp... just say 'thataway! Fwosh!' and let them go...
Now, I WILL admit that launching out a spread of what appears to be a dozen torps is a bit extreme and although as visually awesome as that is, I think it should be narrowed down to 6 at TSIII, 4 at TSII and 3 at TSI but EACH packing a full punch.
Not that STO would implement this, but if they did I can guarantee you the resurrection of the torpedo boat fleet! LOL
EDIT: A side thought - if you fire a full spread at a target and there happens to be a cloaked target in the area of fire, do they take damage as well?
Yes, FAW is the highest DPS skill, it's also an easy skill that people tend to use as a crutch. One example given in this thread was the Phantom using Beams and no FAW.. I hate to tell you, but that can actually make one of, if not the single highest DPS single target build you can get.
Take a Phantom, use your Tac BoFF slots for nothing but Tac Teams and Attack Patterns, and use Surgical Strikes instead of FAW with OSS to hammer single targets using Exploiters instead of Locators and CritD Beams. If you don't think that's a viable build, you simply don't know what you're talking about. You can make plenty of viable builds that don't use FAW including Cannon/Torp builds using Gravity Wells to pull everything together. Take a Fleet Patrol Escort, fire off a gravity well, hit Torp Spread, CSV, and just for extra fun fire off your Saturation bomb and tell me that doesn't 'help your group.'
FAW is fine, it doesn't need any adjustment, people just need to realize it's a great ability but not the ONLY option. I also hate to break it to you guys but a lot of the reason FAW gets such good DPS numbers is that it's used in ISA and the total is inflated by hitting targets that aren't even taking damage, like the Gateway. FAW is awesome, no doubt.. I use FAWIII on my Main and it shreds.. but it's not an automatic requirement for every build.
Instead of seeing them nerf beams or fire at will, I would prefer a slight boost to Cannon and Turret weapons to bring them up to Par and make them more of an option. Nothing over the top, I would first increase Cannon Arc to that of Dual Beam Banks (90 degrees instead of 45) and give them a slight damage and fire rate boost. That combined with a few ships that have 'cannon centric' traits would really go a long way toward creating some of the build diversity that people so badly want to see.
If your goal is to be helpful in a group and bring solid DPS without using FAW, it can absolutely be done. It's just going to require a little more work then going onto Reddit and copy/pasting the highest DPS build you can find.
As a DBB fan, I actually carry Tractor Beam 1 on a few builds (I usually throw it on my attack keybind) .
Using it has 3 advantages for me: slowing down a single target so it has less resistance , having the target around for a BO and a Nukara mine squeeze .
And while I don't see the need for Faw in the Romulan & Cardy arks, I do agree that they are prolly the most interesting adversaries we have, along with the Delta main baddies .
I'm also fascinated by the Romulans as adversaries ... , as their warbirds deploy 3 attacks rapidly and in a short order (tractor beam, torpedo volley, and my favorite , the virus), while seemingly other NPC's take their time .
Been around since Dec 2010 on STO and bought LTS in Apr 2013 for STO.
I always use polarize hull for tractor beam escapes, and so long as I keep moving high yield plasma torps don't touch me.
Let the stupid suffer