test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
universal weapon type
sagen
Member Posts: 454 Arc User
I'm new to the game and see a lot of weapon choices (phaser, plasma, etc). I know that different weapons work best against different factions of foes. I think that at higher levels you have to specialize in a type of weapon and the damage type (ex. tricobalt torpedoes). If you had to pick one weapon/ damage type to tank throughout the game, which one would you pick and why? Thanks
0
Comments
Weapon types don't mean a whole lot in anything to be honest...pick a proc or color you like and go with it...if all you're worried about is maximum dps then Antiproton would be the best choice.
Beam array: (270 degree arc of fire, useful for broadsiding attacks; fore/aft weapon)
Dual Beam Bank: (90 degree firing arc; forward weapon only; useful for moderate turn-rate ships that can not load cannons)
Turret: (360 degree firing ark, medium firing rate; fore/aft; low damage per hit)
Cannon: (180 degree arc of fire; fast firing rate; forward weapon only; low damage per hit)
Dual Cannon: (45 degree arc of fire; fast firing rate; forward weapon only; medium damage per hit)
Dual Heavy Cannon: (45 degree arc of fire; slow firing rate; forward weapon only large damage per hit)
Torpedoes: (90 degree firing arc; useful against hull *variable stats based on type*)
Mines: (aft weapon only; *Variable stats based on type*)
Energy types (2.5% chance when firing, apply):
Phaser: disables a random subsystem
Disruptor: decrease damage resistance of the target
Plasma: apply a damaging burn over time to the target
Polaron: decrease targets power levels for a few seconds
Tetryon: extra damage applied to shields
Antiproton: +20 critical severity which improves the total damage of a critical hit
Projectile type:
Photon: (average damage, average fire rate, -20 crew to target)
Quantum: (High damage, low fire rate, -10 crew to target)
Plasma: (Low damage, average fire rate, a damage over time affect)*
Transphasic: (low damage, average fire rate, 30%shield penetration)**
Chroniton: (average damage, low fire rate, 33% chance of slowing target for a few sec.)
Tricobalt:(High damage, very low fire rate, 33%chance to disable target for a few sec.)***
* When using torpedo High Yield, fire a slow moving (can be destroyed by enemies), heavy damage torpedo
** On mine versions, it is has %40 shield penetration
*** This torpedo can be targeted by the enemy when normally fired. Can be upgraded with high yield to fire a larger, slower moving version that deals more damage, and will always cause a rift once detonated at the target. Torpedo spread only fires one torpedo according to the ability. Torpedo spread (I = 2 targets) (II = 3 targets) (III = 4 targets)
These are just the basic types. Later on as you play, you will discover hybrid or special weapons.
If you play a cruiser, focus on getting beams; have only one torpedo in the front and the aft. The rest should be beams.
If you play an escort, focus on cannons; have dual (heavy if applicable) cannons on the front, maybe one torpedo, and turrets only for the aft
(Although science vessels are not recommend for early play unless you have experience with the game mechanics) Variable build. Due to a very limited number of tactical stations, chose weapons based on tac power choice. Science vessels only truly shine once you reach lvl. 40 (T4 ships).
Mines are not recommend for early play
Single cannons are ok at early play, but not for end game play (only for special cases)
Although a specific type of weapon has no advantage or disadvantage against any enemy, weapons have synergies that make you more effective at a certain role. For raw damage early game, disruptors and plasmas do the trick. Plasma energy type with plasma torpedoes also synergies well. Late game is when you can get fancy with your set up, but if you want the most damage, take antiprotons with quantums. Science vessels generally do well with polarons and tetryons. There are consoles that can boost the effect of those energy types. However, experimentation of different weapons and types are all part of the learning and having fun in this game. Always test new ideas to see how effective they are once you hit late game (lvl 40).
Weapon type DPS output is not affected by the type of ship. I use Rom Rep Weapons on an Intrepid, with Borg Weapon set and they are more effective than not using the consoles as they all have multiple bonuses. I use virtually all the power boosting Rep consoles infact and have 2 DPS boost consoles max. I'm more power on my Sci, as it is my main, and believe me, AP is a poor choice for a SCI, if not the worst due in fact to it's lack of proc.
Romulan Warbirds have lower power total than Federation ships but have special singularity core abilities to make up for it.
Also they can all Cloak while in combat unlike other Factions.
Some of them can fire Torpedoes, Mines, and use Bridge Officer Abilities without breaking Cloaked. Good for an All-Projectile Build, as you do not require Weapon Power for Projectiles which eliminates power handicap. Plasma Torpedoes are best this as their Damage Over Time ignores enemy Shields. Klingons have one ship type that can do that too, I believe.
If you want to tank I'd say skip Romulans...they have lower power which reduces your shield and evasion and they don't have Cruiser Commands.
Every Romulan ship is a Warbird and they don't get most of the bonuses of the class of ship a Warbird would belong to.
Birds of Prey are just a single type of Klingon ship.
Trust me...if you want to tank Warbirds are inferior.
As others have said, all Romulan ships are Warbirds, which are distinguished by their singularity cores as opposed to warp cores. But as to size, I think you will find that starting with the Tier 3 Mogai, Warbirds tend to be the biggest ships in the game and often dwarf their same Tier Fed or KDF counterparts. (Some exceptions apply) All the way up to the Ha'apax and its varients and the Scimitar and its varients which are among the biggest playable ships in the game. Also, by the way, welcome back and good luck with your build.
Seriously. DPS wheeners aside, pick a type you like and stick to that. My newest captain is all phasers (I find a certain trill in knocking enemies subsystems off line), the one before that was plasma, the one before that one anti proton, but only the Iconian version because I liked the colour so much. Unless you want to belong to the really heavy end hitters, it doesn't really make much of a difference as long as you stick to one type.
Or you can make a rainbow boat with different types of energy damage, but only one type of weapons (beam banks, cannons, whatever) and then have consoles that boots that type of weapons. No, if you want to play with the elite that won't be the best choice, but then if you want to play with the elite it's going to cost you a pretty penny in real life money not to mention that that contents is not that much better (in terms of rewards) than normal or advanced. And for missions, patrols and battznes it's utterly unnecessary and a waste of cash.
As for the Rom vs Fed question other people already covered it.
It makes me excited to play a Romulan and get the feel of that faction. Can Fed officers purchase and fly Rom ships?
This isn't EvE Online. :P Here it doesn't matter.
Still detecting the presence of EvE Online in your thinking.
Boredom, maybe?! People could be tired of always using AP. But it has the extra, innate [CrtD], making it virtually impossible to beat, DPS-wise; but other weps have different advantages (some of which come with a space set of your choice). And things change. Like currently [Dmg] is the bomb. At this point, I'd say 'Tetryon' and 'Plasma' are probably the least favored. But there's a good build to be made with every weapon type, really.
^^ This.
No they can't