Why can't all factions have access to all types of Point Defense Systems?

pweistheworst · August 2013

I understand that most Starfleet vessels in the TV shows and films have phasers and most Klingon ships have disruptors, but STO doesn't limit players to a single weapon type in the game.

So ... why are FED and FED-allied toons limited to the Phaser Point Defense System and KDF and KDF-allied toons limited to the Disruptor Point Defense System?

I have some FED toons that use disruptors and some KDF toons that use Phasers or Antiproton weapons.

I feel like the devs should do one of two things with the Point Defense System (PDS) Consoles:

1) Make versions of the PDS console for every base energy weapon type (phaser, disruptor, polaron, plasma, etc.) and give all factions access to all of them via the C-store or lockboxes.

2) Change the way the PDS console works in the game so that there is just one PDS console and it only works if you have a tac console that boosts a specific energy weapon type ... so if your ship has a disruptor induction coil then the PDS console does disruptor damage or if you have a plasma infuser then the PDS console does plasma damage, etc. It will not work if the player has multiple tac consoles for different energy types.

Does anyone else feel like all players (regardless of faction) should have access to a variety of Point Defense System types?

starkaos · August 2013

You answered it in your first paragraph. While the Captains can use various energy weapons, powers are limited to one energy type. This is why we are limited to Phaser and Disruptor turrets for Ground Engineer powers and not Antiproton or Chroniton or other types of Turrets. To do what you propose would require to have a ton of completely identical consoles except for energy type and completely identical kits. If the devs need to change the stats on one Point Defense Console or Engineering Kit, then it would change for every Console or Kit since there is a tag that says its Federation or Klingon. With different types, then the devs will have to change every instance of it and it is easy to miss something. The only acceptable method for this would be to have power customization and who knows if that will be available.

walshicus · August 2013

Best alternative: have PDS change from being a console to a weapon type with an auto-target-nearest-object fire mode.

spectreofwar604 · August 2013

Point Defense systems for all factions! PAH!

REAL Klingons take torpedo hits full-on, bracing for impact, and howling in triumph as our hull buckles! Keep your federation crutches!

Seriously though, I do remember reading someone's idea on this years ago, where the point defense system would be tied in energy damage to whatever tac consoles you had, and that if you had more than one it would default to your faction's energy type (phaser for Fed, disruptor for KDF), and this would eliminate the need for the many multiple types of PD systems.

thratch1 · August 2013

I think you primarily want this change for cosmetic reasons, as its intended purpose -- to shoot down shuttles/fighters and torpedoes -- isn't really affected by what weapon type it is.

I wouldn't care about the change if there's an easy solution, but if it's a complicated problem, then I think there are bigger things the devs should be focusing on.

tc10b · August 2013

Same reason why it's the Phaser/Disruptor/Plasma, Lotus/Lance/Javelin/Aux Heavy Cannon.

If you want to take advantage of it to the full, use the default weapon type of your faction. They aren't that bad, honestly.

smoovious · August 2013

I suppose they could have the point defense system automatically use the dominant energy type you have equipped on your ship...

Say you have 4 beams on your ship... 2 of em are Tetryon, 1 is Polaron, and 1 is Phaser.

Since you have more Tetryon than the other two, the point defense would use Tetryon.

I agree that if your ship has 5 weapons dealing Tetryon energy damage, it does seem kind of silly that your point defense energy is Phaser.

-- Smoov

Unknown · August 2013

This content has been removed.

pweistheworst · August 2013

Also, just to be clear, the PDS isn't just useful against fighters and torps ... the description says it also does increased damage against small capital ships (frigates, if I recall) and I know from experience the PDS can indeed help when you're surrounded by small capital ships.

The main reason I brought this up is "a little bit" because of cosmetics (it does look weird to have phasers coming out if all your other weapons are disruptors), but also because the PDS is buffed by tactical consoles. If you have phaser tac consoles then the FED PDS damage gets a boost. I would like to see that boost on my FED ships that use disruptors or AP weapons.

That's the main reason I brought this up. Sounds like I'm not the first or the only person to want the PDS console to work with different energy types.

Why can't all factions have access to all types of Point Defense Systems?

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