These forums have been archived and are now read-only.

The new forums are live and can be found at https://forums.eveonline.com/

Ships & Modules

 
  • Topic is locked indefinitely.
 

Noob question re missiles.

Author
Argosus
Waverunners
#1 - 2012-05-31 10:30:39 UTC
what is the significance of the explosion radius and velocity?

despite the obvious difference in damage, is there any benifit in using torps over cruise missiles? trying to decide which would be more rounded for pvp on say a raven or navy scorp. torps are very limited on range and i would imagine they dont hit smaller targets very well so would cruise be a better choice?
Mfume Apocal
Brutor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#2 - 2012-05-31 10:39:21 UTC
Argosus wrote:
what is the significance of the explosion radius and velocity?


Both serve to limit the damage you do to small/low sig radius (exp. radius) and fast (exp. velocity) targets with missiles.

Quote:
despite the obvious difference in damage, is there any benifit in using torps over cruise missiles?


No.
Argosus
Waverunners
#3 - 2012-05-31 10:43:21 UTC
Mfume Apocal wrote:
Argosus wrote:
what is the significance of the explosion radius and velocity?


Both serve to limit the damage you do to small/low sig radius (exp. radius) and fast (exp. velocity) targets with missiles.




so the lower the number the less damage you do or vice verca?
Mortis Betruger
State War Academy
Caldari State
#4 - 2012-05-31 10:49:10 UTC
Liam Mirren
#5 - 2012-05-31 10:49:25 UTC  |  Edited by: Liam Mirren
if the missile explosion radius is bigger than the sig radius of the target you're shooting the missile will do less damage. So lower explosion radius is better.

The higher the explosion velocity of the missile, the better it'll work against fast moving targets. So higher explosion velocity is better.


You can affect missile explosion radius/velocity with skills and rigs, note that the explosion radius skill (Guided missile projection) does not affect "unguided" missiles like rockets, heavy assault missiles and Torps nor do they benefit from explosion radius rigs (Rigors).

Generally torps are "useless" in PVE unless fitted to a Golem or Bomber and are very limited in PVP (not counting Bomber). Torps make sense on a PVP fit typhoon because it's armor tanked and has the free midslots for tackle and painters. A raven lacks the slots to have both tank, tackle and painters (in a solo situation), an SNI can make it work. Do note that you shouldn't use bling ships/fits in PVP until you really know wtf you're doing, the increased cost won't make up for an experienced pilot.

Excellence is not a skill, it's an attitude.

Tor Gungnir
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#6 - 2012-05-31 10:58:01 UTC  |  Edited by: Tor Gungnir
Argosus wrote:
Mfume Apocal wrote:
Argosus wrote:
what is the significance of the explosion radius and velocity?


Both serve to limit the damage you do to small/low sig radius (exp. radius) and fast (exp. velocity) targets with missiles.




so the lower the number the less damage you do or vice verca?


In essence, targets can be "too small" for certain missiles. If you fire a 450 Explosion Radius missile at a 150 Signature Radius ship it will not do full damage.

Likewise a ship can be fast enough to "outrun" the explosion and take only light damage so the faster explosion velocity the better.

EDIT: drats, too slow.

Space. It seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you.

Daniel Plain
Doomheim
#7 - 2012-05-31 11:52:14 UTC
Mortis Betruger wrote:

i'm not sure if this is still accurate for current missile mechanics

I should buy an Ishtar.

Mavnas
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#8 - 2012-05-31 19:50:06 UTC
Think of it this way: Torps do a lot of damage over a big volume. A ship that doesn't occupy that volume only takes a fraction of that damage, the rest is just wasted on empty space.
Exploited Engineer
Creatively Applied Violence Inc.
#9 - 2012-05-31 20:04:26 UTC
Argosus wrote:
so the lower the number the less damage you do or vice verca?


The lower the explosion radius, the better.
The higher the explosion velocity, the better.

Missiles will never do full damage against a target with a sig radius smaller than the missiles explosion radius.

However, missiles may do full damage against a target moving faster than their explosion velocity, since this can be compensated by having a missile explosion radius smaller than the target sig radius (e.g. if the target is moving at a speed equal to twice the missiles explosion radius, it will still take full damage if its sig radius is larger than twice the missiles explosion radius).
Exploited Engineer
Creatively Applied Violence Inc.
#10 - 2012-05-31 20:06:41 UTC
Mavnas wrote:
Think of it this way: Torps do a lot of damage over a big volume. A ship that doesn't occupy that volume only takes a fraction of that damage, the rest is just wasted on empty space.


Personally (even though this is against the description) I find the explanation that the explosion radius roughly determines the accuracy of the missile (e.g. how far from the center of the target it will detonate) more logically sound.

However, both of these would require that TPs increase the actual size of the ship instead its sensor signature. However, nothing is impossible in EVE physics. ;)