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Viral Matrix...what?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited March 2010 in The Academy
What is this ability? I have each of the three types of classes (Tactical Science and an Engineer.) None of them have this ability and between all of their bridge officers...none of them have this power either. But boy every NPC cruiser I run into hits me with that, plus sub nucleonic beam, ties me up with a tractor and Heavy Plasmas me. And they have it on a 30 second cooldown...which means I'm shut down about about 15 seconds every 30...or 50% of the time. And don't even get me started if I'm facing multiple ships. :p

I'd love to have an ability like that.

So where is this ability...and is there any kind of defense? I'm assuming this game has a rock-scissors-paper mechanic too...so I figured that it would be on one of the 3 classes...but so far no luck. And since when you're shutdown, no abilities can be used...I'm stumped.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I believe it is a tier 4 B.O. ability. Science if I recall correctly. Which means you can only use it if you have a T4 Sci vessel.

    And yes, certain baddies spam them like crazy. The only defense to which is Science team.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Its a Science BO skill that kicks in at Teir 3 for Viral Matrix I.

    Subnucleonic Beam is a Science Captain skill that is picked up later in the levels (Tier 3 also I think). But it has been so long I can't remember when I got it.

    Edit to add about the Defence. VM can be removed with Science Team by a team mate. Or if you see the VM ball headed your way, cast Science Team on yourself and it will prevent VM from sticking.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Viral Matrix is a Science ability. Version one is a Tier 3 power, version 2 and 3 are Tier 4. The blue rarity officers you get as mission rewards should have it occasionally.

    I believe Sub Nucleonic Beam is a Science Captain power - the only way to have it is to be a Science captain above a given level.

    The main defense against Viral Matrix is the Science Team power (a Science officer ability.) This cancels holds, and provides a significant boost to shields. Tactical officers also have Attack Pattern Omega, which I believe also removes Holds. *Edit* I believe that both powers were either changed to allow you to use them while held, or will be in an upcoming patch.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    My science bridge officer has viral matrix as her third ability and I love it. As far as defenses Science Team is the only one I know of, I believe it's able to be used even after you've been hit by a Viral Matrix, but also prevents the VM as well if cast early.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Shadowself wrote:
    I believe that both powers were either changed to allow you to use them while held, or will be in an upcoming patch.

    APOmega could always be used when under a hold effect (VM or Tractor Beam). Science Team was changed a few patches back to allow it to work in the same situation (It didn't before).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    dragon47 wrote:
    APOmega could always be used when under a hold effect (VM or Tractor Beam). Science Team was changed a few patches back to allow it to work in the same situation (It didn't before).

    Negative Ghostrider, I have Science Team I and III and I can state that as of the last patch those abilities are not accessible during VM shutdown. I did not have any other debuffs (that have an icon) on me.

    Maybe it got bugged with the last patch dunno.

    As far as Omega...that's a Captain rank skill and I'm not high enough for that yet. Something to look forward to then.

    For soloing it's a no-win...I don't like the idea of blowing the Sci Team shield recovery right off the bat, but if it is the only way to keep fighting then I'll do so.

    Thanks for the info folks!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    No, you can definitely use Team powers while held by VM. I've popped Engineering Team III many times to try and live through it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Rerednaw wrote: »
    Negative Ghostrider, I have Science Team I and III and I can state that as of the last patch those abilities are not accessible during VM shutdown. I did not have any other debuffs (that have an icon) on me.

    Maybe it got bugged with the last patch dunno.

    Then you're experiencing a bug and it needs to be reported, because per the patch notes on Feb. 18, 2010
    Powers and Combat

    •Science Team, Security Team, and Engineering team can now be activated while your ship is held.

    Now, as a Tactical Officer, I prefer to use APOmega. But, I have had to use Science Team (had ST II on my Science Officer, a Lieutenant Skill) and it worked just fine as well. (Haven't experienced VM in a while , though, as I don't see it much in Cardassian space.)

    I guess a good way to check is when you go under VM or other hold, all your abilities should gray out, except for Science Team and/or Attack Pattern Omega. If either or both of those are graying out, then that needs to be reported, as those skill shoud be usable.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    SCi Team worked for me last night while I was VM'd. SCI Team is a great ability, and Version 1 of it is availabe as a SCI BO Ensign slot. Its a bread and butter ability.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Rerednaw wrote: »
    Negative Ghostrider, I have Science Team I and III and I can state that as of the last patch those abilities are not accessible during VM shutdown. I did not have any other debuffs (that have an icon) on me.

    Does too work. I've been using it. If it does work for you, bug it, because it should.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I have Science Team 1 and I use this last night against the Magic purple pixy dust better known as VM and this was after I was hit and held with it so yes it does work.
    Rerednaw wrote: »
    Negative Ghostrider, I have Science Team I and III and I can state that as of the last patch those abilities are not accessible during VM shutdown. I did not have any other debuffs (that have an icon) on me.

    Maybe it got bugged with the last patch dunno.

    As far as Omega...that's a Captain rank skill and I'm not high enough for that yet. Something to look forward to then.

    For soloing it's a no-win...I don't like the idea of blowing the Sci Team shield recovery right off the bat, but if it is the only way to keep fighting then I'll do so.

    Thanks for the info folks!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    dragon47 wrote:
    Then you're experiencing a bug and it needs to be reported, because per the patch notes on Feb. 18, 2010



    Now, as a Tactical Officer, I prefer to use APOmega. But, I have had to use Science Team (had ST II on my Science Officer, a Lieutenant Skill) and it worked just fine as well. (Haven't experienced VM in a while , though, as I don't see it much in Cardassian space.)

    I guess a good way to check is when you go under VM or other hold, all your abilities should gray out, except for Science Team and/or Attack Pattern Omega. If either or both of those are graying out, then that needs to be reported, as those skill shoud be usable.

    Yeah I did bug it. ALL powers were grayed out. I retested it by running the same mission several times. I have both Eng Team and Sci Team. None of them are usuable. Don't know why. I ended up dropping the missions in the area and moving on.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    i have VM 3, do you know what Sci consol helps it?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Rerednaw wrote: »
    Yeah I did bug it. ALL powers were grayed out. I retested it by running the same mission several times. I have both Eng Team and Sci Team. None of them are usuable. Don't know why. I ended up dropping the missions in the area and moving on.

    I have the option gray out, as well, but I'm still able to click the button. Though, it only grays out for ~a second when it happens. Try hitting it anyway and see if that doesn't help.

    :/ Hope whatever it is clears up for you soon, though.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    i have VM 3, do you know what Sci consol helps it?

    + to Sensors

    + to Sensor Probes
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