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Quantum? or Photon?
captainobvious09
Member Posts: 182 Arc User
I run several different ships, Defiant, HEC, Jem Dread...
What torp is better? Do different ships do better with different torps?
I have always run quantums, but recently I have seen many threads saying "run photons", and I was wondering the theorycrafting behind this.
Thanks!
What torp is better? Do different ships do better with different torps?
I have always run quantums, but recently I have seen many threads saying "run photons", and I was wondering the theorycrafting behind this.
Thanks!
Post edited by captainobvious09 on
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Building a torpedo boat focusing on rapid fire of multiple warheads? Go photon. The interaction between the short CD (6 seconds) and Projectile Warfare officers allows them to maintain a greater rate of fire with less weapon slots filled than any other torpedo.
Building a boat with a torpedo strictly as a finishing punch? Go quantum.
If you're in something like a cruiser that doesn't keep pointing at your target, then quantums give better burst damage and you don't take advantage of photon refire rate
The general rule I've heard (and usually go by) is this: Buffed, use quantums. Unbuffed, photons.
It really comes down to a question of play-style.
Photons fire faster, so have higher damage per second. Quantums hit harder per torp.
Use whichever you like. It's not that big a deal.
Also, Photon DPS being higher doesn't take into account using abilities like High Torpedo Yield or Torpedo Spread. Assuming you always use HTY as soon as it's up, the damage/DPS difference seems to fall in favor of quatums.
DPS also assumes that you're using one torpedo bay, and always use it as soon as the recharge has worn off. This doesn't take into account turning, healing, activating other BOff powers, or simply NOT using them because an enemy's shields are still at full power. I'm not sure whether it takes into account having, say, two forward torpedo bays and firing them alternately (as the "Shared cooldown" is less than the recharge time), but I doubt it (kind of like how a beam weapon's listed DPS doesn't take into account that you'll be losing 10/20/30 weapon power by firing it and another weapon at the same time).
So basically, if you know you're going to be using torpedoes all the time, go Photon. If you use them a fair amount but find yourself sometimes skipping using them in favor of doing something else (healing, waiting for a torpedo buff to finish recharging, etc), go quantum. If you only use torpedoes situationally, go with something heavier-hitting like Plasma or Chroniton.
Spike Damage? Quantum, especially in conjunction with high yield skills.
This especially starts to be a thing when you start messing around with High Yield, because each torpedo in a salvo can trigger each PWO... If you are a torpedo boat, High Yield 2 is more like High Yield 3.5 because your salvo is almost guaranteed to be chased by a bonus full-damage torp on the end.
You want to run a load-out that is most comfortable to your play-style, AND utilize your chosen Bridge Officers with support from your Duty Officers.
Look at your Tac Consoles .. make sure they correspond to the Torp you are running.
Delta Fleet
I know BOff abilities affect them, but I do not think consoles do - and who cares! That's a lot of pew pew in a 180 degree arc
So, if you want "fast" shooting, it'll be worth 200 Lobi - even for a little bit.
Otherwise, yeah Photon :P
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