It should be pointed out that when the game launched, the skill tree had damage specific skills you could put points into to increase the damage of different energy types. Since you didn't have enough skill points to fill all of them up, this meant that going 'rainbow' would actually hurt your DPS. After the skill tree revamp that removed this and instead just had the skill 'energy weapons damage' it became less of an issue, more so if you just use the generic beam or cannon consoles, however the stigma somehow remained.
If you are min/maxing, then yeah, going for a single damage type is probably best, but for the sake of playing the game casually, a rainbow build isn't nearly as bad as some people make it out to be! :-)
1. Mixing different energy types lowers damage, because the tactical consoles that boost one energy type are more powerful than ones that boost all.
2. Just because a ship has multi-colored weapons doesn't mean they're different energy types.
3. It is entirely possible to build a ship with multiple energy types and still do high DPS, if you know what you're doing.
4. Most players who mix energy types do so because they don't know what they're doing.
Thus, if a team of "rainbows" is doing badly, it's most like not because they're rainbows per se, but because they just don't know how to set up a ship properly, rainbow or not.
Unfortunately this game does not provide any instruction for how to set up a ship, nor any way to objectively measure your performance without using third-party software.
It should be pointed out that when the game launched, the skill tree had damage specific skills you could put points into to increase the damage of different energy types. Since you didn't have enough skill points to fill all of them up, this meant that going 'rainbow' would actually hurt your DPS. After the skill tree revamp that removed this and instead just had the skill 'energy weapons damage' it became less of an issue, more so if you just use the generic beam or cannon consoles, however the stigma somehow remained.
If you are min/maxing, then yeah, going for a single damage type is probably best, but for the sake of playing the game casually, a rainbow build isn't nearly as bad as some people make it out to be! :-)
Also, that version had the various skills for boosting different energy weapons at different levels. IIRC you had to be level 40 to spec into Antiproton.
Riding to a Staff Christmas Lunch right now. Also, it is my Birthday. There is an awesome rainbow that ends at one of the most picturesque views in New England. Awesome.
Just saying.
"Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell BAD." - Spock
It should be pointed out that when the game launched, the skill tree had damage specific skills you could put points into to increase the damage of different energy types. Since you didn't have enough skill points to fill all of them up, this meant that going 'rainbow' would actually hurt your DPS. After the skill tree revamp that removed this and instead just had the skill 'energy weapons damage' it became less of an issue, more so if you just use the generic beam or cannon consoles, however the stigma somehow remained.
If you are min/maxing, then yeah, going for a single damage type is probably best, but for the sake of playing the game casually, a rainbow build isn't nearly as bad as some people make it out to be! :-)
@pwesuricata The stigma remained as one of the devs a while back nerfed the generic consoles to be less effective then the single type consoles. Projectiles got hit super hard by the nerf as if you take generic torpedo consoles you lose all damage boost to mines. So no mixing front and rear projectile weapons. Projectile users are worse off now with the new skills tree as back with the old skill tree the generic consoles boosted Kinetic damage which they don't anymore
I have yet to try the much lauded, all-turret "Rainbow Skittles Build."
It's impressive looking when a cruiser fires 8 turrets w/ rapid fire. Not so great DPS-wise since you have that 8x power drain vs only having 3-4 beams firing. Plus last time I tried it (years ago), I could never really get all 8 to fire at same time, 2 would always be off and only fire when a couple others were cycling.
There was a thread or two on that topic recently. Hope it gives you some ideas.
Ah, the only time I seriously tried to do proper dps was making my crazy turretboat (now moved to a pilot raptor for added giggles as spraying skittles whilst firing the microbarrage looks awesome )
Comments
If you are min/maxing, then yeah, going for a single damage type is probably best, but for the sake of playing the game casually, a rainbow build isn't nearly as bad as some people make it out to be! :-)
2. Just because a ship has multi-colored weapons doesn't mean they're different energy types.
3. It is entirely possible to build a ship with multiple energy types and still do high DPS, if you know what you're doing.
4. Most players who mix energy types do so because they don't know what they're doing.
Thus, if a team of "rainbows" is doing badly, it's most like not because they're rainbows per se, but because they just don't know how to set up a ship properly, rainbow or not.
Unfortunately this game does not provide any instruction for how to set up a ship, nor any way to objectively measure your performance without using third-party software.
My character Tsin'xing
Just saying.
Ah, the only time I seriously tried to do proper dps was making my crazy turretboat (now moved to a pilot raptor for added giggles as spraying skittles whilst firing the microbarrage looks awesome
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the Rainbow Connection
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