I have to say that those Cat-scorts look really nice. Or should I say Purrrty.
Can't say the same for the Romulan ship though. Most Rom ships are very nicely designed but this one, not so much, IMO. Now that I think about it, the Rom Bug-scorts were not on my favorites list either. I wonder if it's just an escort thing....
I'm going to blame the Remans.... it says "allied" and the thing looks kinda Reman.
Yeah, I think that's one of the Reman hull options, and I think the blockier look is meant to evoke the styling of the Scimitar
What about hybrid ships like the T5 Dysons that turn into tactical ships with 7 effective weapon slots?
Well, Dysons are T5 so they're not in the initial list. But it's interesting to note that they *do* meet all of the other criteria - Cdr tac, 7 weapons, no hangar. Including a heavy weapon (to balance the sci-mode secondary deflector) could be neat if they ever do a T6 Dyson.
More importantly, they already have a "heavy weapon" slot. Making the proton beam into a heavy weapon lets it be upgradable, and able to be swapped out with something else.
This looks awesome! Thank you, devs. The "7 or less weapons" limitation is genius, bringing 4/3 Tac ships up to par with the 4/4 and 5/3 flavors and avoiding excessive advantage over Eng/Sci ships.
It's also going to set escorts apart better. Up 'til now it's seemed like Eng ships are actually better for Tac playing styles than most Tac ships: you just need to equip some extra +Turn and then you essentially have a durable escort with an extra device slot.
I expect that the devs have already been considering the heavy weapon slot in their planned space rebalance.
My wallet almost went into cardiac arrest when I thought that with heavy weapons slots the T6 JHDC would now be a worthwhile upgrade to the T-5U, but then I remembered it has 2 hangar bays so it don't be getting one, and my wallet can relax
It'll be great to see what the future heavy weaps will be though since my NX will be getting a slot for them.
I have to say my biggest problem with this is the idea of a 360 Railgun in STO thats considered a "heavy" weapon. As far as I know, any kind of projectile weapon would need to be REALLY big to do any damage to a ship's shields. Putting that on a turret seems ridiculous. Personally I think that a better idea for a Heavy Railgun would be a very small firing angle, like less than 40 degrees, but it does the same amount of damage as a High Yield Torpedo III with Quantum Torpedoes every like 10-20 seconds.
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Anyone want to give me a Temporal Heavy Dreadnought pack? I'll be your friend
On my end, that means upgrades are coming to the Valiant, Kor, Malem, Ouroboros (which I don't fly, but ok), Xyfius (also not using it), Nandi (also dormant), Hazari destroyer and Jem'Hadar strike ship.
Nandi's 4/4 weapons, though, so I think that it wouldn't count.
Now that you mention it, wouldn't heavy weapons make a lot more sense on big ships like dreadnoughts? Escorts are basically glorified fighters. Hm, food for thought.
Yes, indeed it would make more sense.
agreed. cruisers and such make more sense to have heavy weaponary.
Now that you mention it, wouldn't heavy weapons make a lot more sense on big ships like dreadnoughts? Escorts are basically glorified fighters. Hm, food for thought.
Yes, indeed it would make more sense.
agreed. cruisers and such make more sense to have heavy weaponary.
Might make more sense from an in-universe perspective, but from a gameplay perspective escorts are meant to be more of a glass canon, ie low durability with high damage potential. These weapons seem to be meant to bring escorts more in line with the performance of cruisers and science ships, while also reinforcing that damage role.
Ok... so does hybrid Commander Tactical / something BOFF seat counts?
If yes - then pilot escort megapack count (hybrid Commander Tactical/Pilot seat), Faeht Intel warbird and Phantom Intel escort also have Commander Tactical/Intel seat (and they already have heavy lance consoles, add to it heavy weapon...)
Also davefenestrator:
MatHa raptor = Heavy Disruptor Spinal Cannon + heavy weapon ? = yay!
Ok... so does hybrid Commander Tactical / something BOFF seat counts?
If yes - then pilot escort megapack count (hybrid Commander Tactical/Pilot seat), Faeht Intel warbird and Phantom Intel escort also have Commander Tactical/Intel seat (and they already have heavy lance consoles, add to it heavy weapon...)
Also davefenestrator:
MatHa raptor = Heavy Disruptor Spinal Cannon + heavy weapon ? = yay!
I love my Mat'Ha with its WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! Disruptor nose cannon, but that's scatter volley not a Gatling gun. If we could have both on at the same time, that would be very, very nice.
> so does hybrid Commander Tactical / something BOFF seat counts
It ought to since T6 with Commander tac is always? going to be tac + something except maybe on lock box/lobi ships.
The Caitian Escort is stunning, the Fersan has a good shape, but I'd change the colouring from brown to purple, the Reman I'd just slap the visuals from the Reman shields on it to make look a little less Klingon and more Reman.
This explains the Space Balance changes, the buffing of Carrier pets, and so on.
I'm happy the Fersans finally have their own ship, with 360 degree heavy railgun!
I think the odds that the Orions will be getting their own ship to be high, but I'm no longer certain that it will be a Flight Deck Cruiser since I was expecting the Caitian T6 ship to be a carrier.
The Caitians have great taste in Ships, both the Atroix and Escort are gorgeous.
Allied designs! I'm not sure who at Cryptic is helming these design choices or why, but between fleshing out the Science gaps in the two non-Fed factions and finally putting out alien designs that we have been told historically have never sold well, I'm downright giddy.
The prospect of a 360 torpedo sometime in the future is interesting. I'd have to rethink my typical weapons loadout and power management but it would mean I could drop my usual fore/aft torps in favor of more energy and just let the torp turret handle the hull damage spikes.
Requiring a console for heavy weapons to get an upgraded attack seems like a pretty smart balance move. Forces the choice of using the console and losing out on a passive buff or another activated power, or keeping it and losing some general effectiveness in favor of greater spike damage or whatever other advantage it would bring.
I do so love the Caitian hull material.
Cons:
Why in blue blazes is the DPS class getting a buff when it's the DPS in this game that's already wildly out of control? Doesn't this risk making DPS avenues for cruisers and science ships like the Mogh and Vesta clones undesireable? Worse, doesn't giving DPS ships yet another way to do more damage mitigate any change implemented to rein in DPS? Is this some kind of attempt to appease high DPS players? This would never have been necessary if you'd been more lenient on giving other ships access to DHC's - the original heavy weapons. For as many interesting little concepts and possibilities as these things bring to the table, this one giant issue is what's keeping me from calling them "good".
"Players already in possession of one of these starships upon this update’s release will need to claim a Heavy Weapon from the Reclaim tab of the Dilithium Store (for 0 Dilithium)."
So from what I'm gathering by this statement is that these Heavy Weapons won't be craftable? (Unless I missed something).
Also not exactly clear exactly what ships will be getting this upgrade. Oh sure it says "Tier 6 starships with a Tactical Commander seat, 7 weapons and 1 or fewer Hangar Bays will receive a Heavy Weapons Slot and access to a basic upgradeable Heavy Weapon."
It seems pretty straightforward to me - all T6 Raiders (Kor, Baltim, Tadaari, Ouroboros, D4X) and all ships that meet all of these conditions:
Tactical Commander seat (Escorts, Destroyers, certain Dreadnoughts)
7 or fewer weapons (Escorts, certain Destroyers)
1 or fewer hangar bays (Escorts, Destroyers, certain Dreadnoughts)
On my end, that means upgrades are coming to the Valiant, Kor, Malem, Ouroboros (which I don't fly, but ok), Xyfius (also not using it), Nandi (also dormant), Hazari destroyer and Jem'Hadar strike ship.
So I am wondering if anyone has noticed that this sounds like a an upgrade to all the "other" ships that have had no love for a good long time. I mean all of the Orion ships, the last two Nausicaan ships as well as the Tempest. It would not be to far of a stretch to turn the Tempest tail gun into a 360 degree heavy weapon that shoots at a slower rate. The Orions have been sitting for far to long and the one Nausicaan they did just got a slight bump in stats and a hanger bay woo. So yes let's see the Ferasan finally get a ship or three. But don't leave the others in the dark. And let's face it the Tzenkethi are not easy foes for escorts. I fly a MatHa and I need to switch to my Sci ship to do any kind of heavy damage when I head to Gan'chra. Gravity well, Resonant beam, est all which bypass the hard as rock Tzenkethi shields and do a hell of a lot better then trying to blast your way through their shields. But the Sci skills only go so far and are usually a DOT. Which can cause a fight to drag out incase there is a time bonus.
What it says "However, in an upcoming release, many starships will be receiving this Heavy Weapons Slot. Tier 6 Raiders and all Tier 6 starships with a Tactical Commander seat, 7 weapons and 1 or fewer Hangar Bays will receive a Heavy Weapons Slot and access to a basic upgradeable Heavy Weapon." Don't be surprised if it's just a typo. And they forgot to put a few Or's in there.
Because all of the new Sci ships have 1 hanger bay and less than 7 weapon slots. A heavy weapon on a battle cruiser would be redundant because most of them come with devastating weapon consoles or console sets that more than make up for their lack stopping power. Remember a cruiser or battle cruiser is meant to TAKE a lot of damage not dish it out. What it does NOT say is "only".
"Players already in possession of one of these starships upon this update’s release will need to claim a Heavy Weapon from the Reclaim tab of the Dilithium Store (for 0 Dilithium)."
So from what I'm gathering by this statement is that these Heavy Weapons won't be craftable? (Unless I missed something).
It could go either way. Secondary deflectors were handled like this but you could then craft them and get fleet versions too.
I tried to get a comment from my counterpart General Rrueo (who is usually very articulate for a Ferasan) but it seems all she will say is *prr* *prr* kitteh iz pleezd.
Also not exactly clear exactly what ships will be getting this upgrade. Oh sure it says "Tier 6 starships with a Tactical Commander seat, 7 weapons and 1 or fewer Hangar Bays will receive a Heavy Weapons Slot and access to a basic upgradeable Heavy Weapon."
It seems pretty straightforward to me - all T6 Raiders (Kor, Baltim, Tadaari, Ouroboros, D4X) and all ships that meet all of these conditions:
Tactical Commander seat (Escorts, Destroyers, certain Dreadnoughts)
7 or fewer weapons (Escorts, certain Destroyers)
1 or fewer hangar bays (Escorts, Destroyers, certain Dreadnoughts)
On my end, that means upgrades are coming to the Valiant, Kor, Malem, Ouroboros (which I don't fly, but ok), Xyfius (also not using it), Nandi (also dormant), Hazari destroyer and Jem'Hadar strike ship.
Just something small to note in the announcement: it doesn't state 7 "or fewer" weapons. 7 weapons, period. A small thing but it makes a difference on which ships will actually see the upgrade.
Also not exactly clear exactly what ships will be getting this upgrade. Oh sure it says "Tier 6 starships with a Tactical Commander seat, 7 weapons and 1 or fewer Hangar Bays will receive a Heavy Weapons Slot and access to a basic upgradeable Heavy Weapon."
It seems pretty straightforward to me - all T6 Raiders (Kor, Baltim, Tadaari, Ouroboros, D4X) and all ships that meet all of these conditions:
Tactical Commander seat (Escorts, Destroyers, certain Dreadnoughts)
7 or fewer weapons (Escorts, certain Destroyers)
1 or fewer hangar bays (Escorts, Destroyers, certain Dreadnoughts)
On my end, that means upgrades are coming to the Valiant, Kor, Malem, Ouroboros (which I don't fly, but ok), Xyfius (also not using it), Nandi (also dormant), Hazari destroyer and Jem'Hadar strike ship.
So I am wondering if anyone has noticed that this sounds like a an upgrade to all the "other" ships that have had no love for a good long time. I mean all of the Orion ships, the last two Nausicaan ships as well as the Tempest. It would not be to far of a stretch to turn the Tempest tail gun into a 360 degree heavy weapon that shoots at a slower rate. The Orions have been sitting for far to long and the one Nausicaan they did just got a slight bump in stats and a hanger bay woo. So yes let's see the Ferasan finally get a ship or three. But don't leave the others in the dark. And let's face it the Tzenkethi are not easy foes for escorts. I fly a MatHa and I need to switch to my Sci ship to do any kind of heavy damage when I head to Gan'chra. Gravity well, Resonant beam, est all which bypass the hard as rock Tzenkethi shields and do a hell of a lot better then trying to blast your way through their shields. But the Sci skills only go so far and are usually a DOT. Which can cause a fight to drag out incase there is a time bonus.
What it says "However, in an upcoming release, many starships will be receiving this Heavy Weapons Slot. Tier 6 Raiders and all Tier 6 starships with a Tactical Commander seat, 7 weapons and 1 or fewer Hangar Bays will receive a Heavy Weapons Slot and access to a basic upgradeable Heavy Weapon." Don't be surprised if it's just a typo. And they forgot to put a few Or's in there.
Because all of the new Sci ships have 1 hanger bay and less than 7 weapon slots. A heavy weapon on a battle cruiser would be redundant because most of them come with devastating weapon consoles or console sets that more than make up for their lack stopping power. Remember a cruiser or battle cruiser is meant to TAKE a lot of damage not dish it out. What it does NOT say is "only".
I'm not sure where people are seeing the "less than 7 weapons" part. It says 7 weapons, not "7 or less" or "fewer than 8." Otherwise Dalolorn is right about the requirements, the ship has to meet them all (except exactly 7 weapons); there's no reason to think there's a typo.
Comments
Yeah, I think that's one of the Reman hull options, and I think the blockier look is meant to evoke the styling of the Scimitar
T6, 7 weapons, Commander Tac, 1 bay?
Javelin and Heavy Weapon?
Looks awesome, really awesome.
Didn't see this coming.
More importantly, they already have a "heavy weapon" slot. Making the proton beam into a heavy weapon lets it be upgradable, and able to be swapped out with something else.
Hah, now I want the Kolasi even more.
My character Tsin'xing
It's also going to set escorts apart better. Up 'til now it's seemed like Eng ships are actually better for Tac playing styles than most Tac ships: you just need to equip some extra +Turn and then you essentially have a durable escort with an extra device slot.
I expect that the devs have already been considering the heavy weapon slot in their planned space rebalance.
It'll be great to see what the future heavy weaps will be though since my NX will be getting a slot for them.
Anyone want to give me a Temporal Heavy Dreadnought pack? I'll be your friend
don't forget the advanced escorts
agreed. cruisers and such make more sense to have heavy weaponary.
Might make more sense from an in-universe perspective, but from a gameplay perspective escorts are meant to be more of a glass canon, ie low durability with high damage potential. These weapons seem to be meant to bring escorts more in line with the performance of cruisers and science ships, while also reinforcing that damage role.
the rom one looks like klingon one..
My character Tsin'xing
If yes - then pilot escort megapack count (hybrid Commander Tactical/Pilot seat), Faeht Intel warbird and Phantom Intel escort also have Commander Tactical/Intel seat (and they already have heavy lance consoles, add to it heavy weapon...)
Also davefenestrator:
MatHa raptor = Heavy Disruptor Spinal Cannon + heavy weapon ? = yay!
I love my Mat'Ha with its WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! Disruptor nose cannon, but that's scatter volley not a Gatling gun. If we could have both on at the same time, that would be very, very nice.
> so does hybrid Commander Tactical / something BOFF seat counts
It ought to since T6 with Commander tac is always? going to be tac + something except maybe on lock box/lobi ships.
This explains the Space Balance changes, the buffing of Carrier pets, and so on.
I'm happy the Fersans finally have their own ship, with 360 degree heavy railgun!
I think the odds that the Orions will be getting their own ship to be high, but I'm no longer certain that it will be a Flight Deck Cruiser since I was expecting the Caitian T6 ship to be a carrier.
The Caitians have great taste in Ships, both the Atroix and Escort are gorgeous.
Pros:
Cons:
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Join date July 08
So from what I'm gathering by this statement is that these Heavy Weapons won't be craftable? (Unless I missed something).
So I am wondering if anyone has noticed that this sounds like a an upgrade to all the "other" ships that have had no love for a good long time. I mean all of the Orion ships, the last two Nausicaan ships as well as the Tempest. It would not be to far of a stretch to turn the Tempest tail gun into a 360 degree heavy weapon that shoots at a slower rate. The Orions have been sitting for far to long and the one Nausicaan they did just got a slight bump in stats and a hanger bay woo. So yes let's see the Ferasan finally get a ship or three. But don't leave the others in the dark. And let's face it the Tzenkethi are not easy foes for escorts. I fly a MatHa and I need to switch to my Sci ship to do any kind of heavy damage when I head to Gan'chra. Gravity well, Resonant beam, est all which bypass the hard as rock Tzenkethi shields and do a hell of a lot better then trying to blast your way through their shields. But the Sci skills only go so far and are usually a DOT. Which can cause a fight to drag out incase there is a time bonus.
What it says "However, in an upcoming release, many starships will be receiving this Heavy Weapons Slot. Tier 6 Raiders and all Tier 6 starships with a Tactical Commander seat, 7 weapons and 1 or fewer Hangar Bays will receive a Heavy Weapons Slot and access to a basic upgradeable Heavy Weapon." Don't be surprised if it's just a typo. And they forgot to put a few Or's in there.
Because all of the new Sci ships have 1 hanger bay and less than 7 weapon slots. A heavy weapon on a battle cruiser would be redundant because most of them come with devastating weapon consoles or console sets that more than make up for their lack stopping power. Remember a cruiser or battle cruiser is meant to TAKE a lot of damage not dish it out. What it does NOT say is "only".
It could go either way. Secondary deflectors were handled like this but you could then craft them and get fleet versions too.
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My forum single-issue of rage: Make the Proton Experimental Weapon go for subsystem targetting!
Just something small to note in the announcement: it doesn't state 7 "or fewer" weapons. 7 weapons, period. A small thing but it makes a difference on which ships will actually see the upgrade.
I'm not sure where people are seeing the "less than 7 weapons" part. It says 7 weapons, not "7 or less" or "fewer than 8." Otherwise Dalolorn is right about the requirements, the ship has to meet them all (except exactly 7 weapons); there's no reason to think there's a typo.