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What am I missing here? Still getting slaughtered

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited May 2010 in PvP Gameplay
Well, I've followed the rules set out in the sticky thread to the letter since becoming LTC, now I'm CM6, and I'm still losing 4 out of 5 times when it is an even number of players on both sides. I quit being an escort because I was such an easy first kill, it wasn't any fun. As in cruiser in the commander rank I've done alot better, but its still a huge struggle.

I'm posting because I'm experiencing klingons take on 2 or 3 vs 1 and still coming out ahead. I'd really like to know how they do this, and my only theory is their reverse shield polarity lasts much longer than feds. There have been instances where there are not ships to give them support.

Also, I feel I almost have to use reverse shield polarity when any 1 klingon attacks just because of their stacked weapon buffs packing a huge wallop, while my fully loaded personal skill level V phasers and photons with three weapons buffs do little. I also have the nicer shields with them fully built up in my personal skills. :confused

I've been playing almost exclusively PVP for a month now and follow the very good guidelines that are laid out in the sticky, and still getting mostly slaughtered. I can't think of ever winning a 1 on 1 match....e v e r. I would think I would win at least one. I bought the game back in February, so I'm not new to it. Also a die hard Bridge Commander player to this day.

I'm having a hard time accepting that its all strategy and I will always be behind, but that's why I'm posting. WHAT AM I MISSING HERE?

I don't mean for this to sound like a cry thread, I'd just really like to be playing better and am out of ideas. This forum helped considerably, but I'm still missing something.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    If you've been keeping up with the other fairly popular guideline threads as you've suggested then I unfortunately don't have anything new to offer you. I'm awful, period. It does however make a huge difference when I've been with even one other player who works well with my "play style" as it were. I can't think of too many situations where a total 1 on 1 is even a possibility (aside from enemies respawning at the same spot) but it's most likely not a very good idea. Some of these people are just beasts with the reflexes and the experience to stay one step ahead of us.

    I know none of this has helped you. Sorry. I suppose I'm just posting because when you find out what you are missing I want to be there because I probably am missing it too, lol.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    The single most important thing that you can do is play to your strengths. Not just in abilities and BOFFs, but also in your personal play style.

    What class are you?

    RSP lasts the same for both factions, and they both have access to the same buffs and abilities... but the ships and their capabilities are slightly different.

    One thing you can try just off the top of my head is that I've noticed a lot of times someone will race ahead of his teammates. This guarantees that you're the first person targeted, and generally, you'll be focus-fired to death in seconds. So stick with a group, or at least one other ship. That lowers your chances of being targeted first by 50%. Also, since it's so easy to hit "tab", the enemy will also tend to target whoever is closest.

    Another thing to remember is that when going up against a team that knows what it's doing, Escorts will usually be targeted first. Cruisers can soak up damage, but no one can withstand a focused attack by 5 or 6 ships at a time. So you should cut your exposure to as few enemies as possible. Popping Evasive Maneuvers sometimes helps, as it can get you out of range of all but a couple right away. Sometimes the enemy will just target somebody closer.

    If you're having problems with BoPs in particular, start carrying Chroniton mines, that slows them down quite a bit. When they lose maneuverability they lose their biggest advantage.

    Also, roll a Klingon, fly a BoP and learn it's strengths and weaknesses. That'll help. :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    I still find PVP more fun than PVE, but it does get tiring. I would think the shoe on the other foot would be tiring too. To the klingons players I imagine its much like the boredom a fed player gets playing PVE.

    Every once in a while I get have a good run, have a team that doesn't have any stupid pew pew cowboys and we win. The close losses are fun as well. These I would say account for about half of my PVP games, the others are slaughters. There's not really much I can do with stupid players and being moths to the flame, but I think I can polish myself up more.

    Here are my specific problems as a tactical commander using a heavy cruiser.

    Shields torn through easily despite being fully developed skill set and level 5 corariant. Have to use reverse shield polarity to stay in the fight whether it be 1v1 or 1v 10. I try and stack my heals evenly and save them for when I have to. I can't take a punch for a very long time like the klingons, though that may be due to poor teamwork as well.

    Evasive maneuvers doesn't get me away very often, even with ramming speed and full power to engines. Klingons get away so much easier.

    Weapons are all level 5 and fully developed skills, but still might as well be a water gun against a klingon who has the slightest idea what he's doing. Usually it takes a wingman or 2 shooting at the same target to take it out. This is not the case at least with me when it comes to klingons.

    The rest of the issues is just poor strategy and teamwork among teammates which I'll never be able to fix. I thought getting to the commander rank would have less cowboys in PVP, but thisi is not so.

    I'm enjoying myself overall, I just want to be better of course.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Kinjiru wrote: »

    Also, roll a Klingon, fly a BoP and learn it's strengths and weaknesses. That'll help. :)

    Thankyou. I have a klingon player but I want to work through the fed before focusing more on it. Its fun being on the offensive for a change though. I've been playing slow trying not to get through the ranks too fast and enjoying the story. If I were focusing on points I probably would be an admiral by now.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Ad.Astra wrote:
    Thankyou. I have a klingon player but I want to work through the fed before focusing more on it. Its fun being on the offensive for a change though. I've been playing slow trying not to get through the ranks too fast and enjoying the story. If I were focusing on points I probably would be an admiral by now.

    You're welcome. :)

    I really didn't think I'd enjoy Klingon as much as I have. I concentrated on my Fed just like you are, got to RA% and then switched over. Now my Klingon has become my main character. I like the way the ships handle a lot better than the Fed side. I'm really looking forward to the incoming story content.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Ad.Astra wrote:
    I still find PVP more fun than PVE, but it does get tiring. I would think the shoe on the other foot would be tiring too. To the klingons players I imagine its much like the boredom a fed player gets playing PVE.

    Yep it does get borring TBH.
    Ad.Astra wrote:
    Every once in a while I get have a good run, have a team that doesn't have any stupid pew pew cowboys and we win. The close losses are fun as well. These I would say account for about half of my PVP games, the others are slaughters. There's not really much I can do with stupid players and being moths to the flame, but I think I can polish myself up more.

    You my have answered your own question with this statement. Klingons tend to work together more often. We will throw each other heals and focus fire more often.
    Ad.Astra wrote:
    Here are my specific problems as a tactical commander using a heavy cruiser.

    Shields torn through easily despite being fully developed skill set and level 5 corariant. Have to use reverse shield polarity to stay in the fight whether it be 1v1 or 1v 10. I try and stack my heals evenly and save them for when I have to. I can't take a punch for a very long time like the klingons, though that may be due to poor teamwork as well.

    They are probably using Target Shields on you. Counter this with Emergency Power to shields and increasing your shields (you might need a battery as well)
    Ad.Astra wrote:
    Evasive maneuvers doesn't get me away very often, even with ramming speed and full power to engines. Klingons get away so much easier.

    What I use is Emergency power to engines on top of Evasive maneuvers ( Or a Battery )

    Ad.Astra wrote:
    Weapons are all level 5 and fully developed skills, but still might as well be a water gun against a klingon who has the slightest idea what he's doing. Usually it takes a wingman or 2 shooting at the same target to take it out. This is not the case at least with me when it comes to klingons.

    Try using Target shield subsystems. Or Target Weapons subsystems so they will hit you with a water gun LOL.
    Ad.Astra wrote:
    The rest of the issues is just poor strategy and teamwork among teammates which I'll never be able to fix. I thought getting to the commander rank would have less cowboys in PVP, but thisi is not so.

    I'm enjoying myself overall, I just want to be better of course.

    Try joining a fleet. Or add players to your friends list that you see who are actually trying to win, then try and get them to group up regularly. Learn your roles and your ships. Learning teamwork will greatly make you more effective than any load out IMO. Ive seen some players in DOB fleet offer to help others with strats and loadouts. Id just ask them when you see one.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Very good advice. Some of it I was doing, but I haven't played with the target sub-systems very much. Perhaps that is what is handicapping me.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Well if I read everything correctly you're a tactical officer, rank Commander, and a cruiser pilot right?

    What bridge officer powers are you using? What is your weapon loadout?

    While it won't really fix the group problems but it might help out with your 1 on 1 and grouped performance.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Here's a few tips from a veteran tac/cruiser.

    Our weakness is our shields. We don't have powerful shield boosting abilities like ST3 or RSF. That makes only RSP as a solid defense, or if your really lucky, another cruiser will toss an ES on you, be sure to do the same for him.

    However, if there's is no RSP available, you have to to SPAM balance shields. You will be amazed at how much time this will buy you. Plus, if your the target of an alpha strike, the first button you should hit is EPtS, because there's a good chance they're targeting shields, which has a 30 or 40 percent chance of dropping a shield facing, EPtS will fix it. RSP won't keep you alive if your shield is down. Also, don't forget ST, it reduces all damage hitting your shields by 20 to 30 percent, depending on what level you use.

    Best defensive combo is two cruisers throwing ES on each other.

    Consider trying turrets. People don't use these much, but they're very effective at close range. They do some serious damage to hulls, and provide you with 360 degrees of good firepower. You'll want at least one torpedo forward, and one back. I've killed many BoP's and Raptors that were on my tale using turrets.

    Don't use your FOMM or APA, until his shields are about down. Then unload. Don't forget Go Down Fighting, that's 50% more damage even at full hull health.

    Hope this helps.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    get a Character (or 2 or 3) character(s) to RA 5 on solely pvp. I did it. I'm good now, you cant give words to jump past experience.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    my set up for commander in a cruiser would be as follows

    tactical:
    hyt1
    apb1

    engineering:
    engineering team 1
    rsp 1 <or> extend 1 (based on how good of a team you have, extend is better than rsp at keeping team mates alive)
    engineering team 3
    emergency power to shields 1

    science:
    hazard emitters 1
    hazard emitters 2

    ~~~

    note that thats set up for team support, because thats all that cruisers really have going for them - support.

    stack heals in such a way that their target always has a resistance running, throw heals on the targets they dps. and try to get a semi-competant team - that makes a world of difference.
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