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The Target Spectrum Breaker formula: anyone knows?
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Camios
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#1 - 2012-11-18 18:09:55 UTC
Hi all.

I find the idea behind this module really interesting, because in selected environments it could really be a game changer.
As far as I can understand, you would not use it always, but it can be useful when you have a fleet without a decent number of logistic ships. In these situations, having the chance to break all locks and warp away could be nice.

Of course this module could be countered by calling multiple targets at once, and this is going to make fleet fights more challenging and then interesting.

That said, having made clear that its domain of usefulness is somewhat restricted, I just ask: has anyone figured out the relationship between the number of locks you have and the probability of breaking them all? Knowing this is of fundamental importance, even to decide when to fit this module or not.

Thanks to all who would share their knowledge,
fly safe.

Camios
Morgan Torry
Arma Purgatorium
#2 - 2012-11-18 18:50:49 UTC
To my understanding, it only breaks locks if they're yellow boxing you - before they actually have a lock. Kind of like how a cloak can only activate if you're not locked onto, it can only work if they are attempting to lock you.

That said, I've read quite a bit on it in the modules section and from my understanding it's not worth having.

Arma Purgatorium - What is Podded May Never Die
Camios
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#3 - 2012-11-18 19:02:47 UTC
Morgan Torry wrote:
To my understanding, it only breaks locks if they're yellow boxing you - before they actually have a lock. Kind of like how a cloak can only activate if you're not locked onto, it can only work if they are attempting to lock you.

That said, I've read quite a bit on it in the modules section and from my understanding it's not worth having.


If they are yellow boxing they have lock on you already.
Don't do the mistake of thinking that when you see them yellow boxing they have only started the targeting countdown.
I know this because I wasn't sure and thus I checked with an alt, so now I'm sure.
Yabba Addict
Perkone
Caldari State
#4 - 2012-11-18 19:48:31 UTC
Yellow box is locked on, red box is aggression.
Camios
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#5 - 2012-11-18 20:03:28 UTC
Once I get access to Buckingham I will try to figure out the formula ruling the target spectrum breaker behaviour, and if I fell like I will share the results in this thread.
Roddy Mcrizzle
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#6 - 2012-11-19 00:26:57 UTC
having never used this module i cannot say how to use it. I have however had it used against me. I will say that when it happened we where in a smallish fleet fight 20 to about 16. We had a tengu as primary, i was in a dual web, armor cane. sitting right on top og him ensuring he did not escape. The next thing i know i lose lock, so does everyone else. We where all like wtf... Well the good part is it only breaks a lock long enough to relock... but the bad news is it caused confusion, not quite enough to save the tengu, but enough..
CaptainFalcon07
Scarlet Weather Rhapsody
#7 - 2012-11-19 01:32:17 UTC
Roddy Mcrizzle wrote:
having never used this module i cannot say how to use it. I have however had it used against me. I will say that when it happened we where in a smallish fleet fight 20 to about 16. We had a tengu as primary, i was in a dual web, armor cane. sitting right on top og him ensuring he did not escape. The next thing i know i lose lock, so does everyone else. We where all like wtf... Well the good part is it only breaks a lock long enough to relock... but the bad news is it caused confusion, not quite enough to save the tengu, but enough..


What are you talking about? You can't fit Target Spectrum Breaker on a tengu, its a Battleship only class module.

"Note: Will affect all targeting computers, including those of friendly vessels and of the host ship itself. Can be fitted to Battleship, Black Ops and Marauder class ships. Prototype Inferno Module."

You must be thinking about ECM Burst which can be put on all ships.
Trinkets friend
Sudden Buggery
Sending Thots And Players
#8 - 2012-11-19 05:00:52 UTC
Currently the equation is this:

Chance of winning = 1 minus number of Target Spectrum Breakers.

This is seriously the most useless module ever. We got ASB's which are so OP its ridonk, and then to even it out (I guess...) we got the TSB. Which bloats your sig, molests your scan res, and can't reduce DPS enough to make it worth having. Ever.

In Retribution, they are reducing the scan res penalty, and fiddling the formula to make it more effective. Or so they say.

There is also a possibility they introduce the micro jump drive, which in my opinion, will be such a terrible failure of a module that it will make ASB's look like the work of Albert Einstein. And I mean, terrible as in bad for the game, failure as in breaks the game.

~~ Localectomy Blog ~~
Camios
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#9 - 2012-11-20 01:01:10 UTC
Trinkets friend wrote:
...


I'm here not to complain, but to overcome difficulties. I'm sorry for your low morale, hope you get better.

I tested it against 4-5 people locking me, and it didn't work even once. So my conclusion has been that for 4-5 people the chance of it working is less than 10%.

Some strange tactics could make this module overpowered. It can be used to negate completely enemy tackle and warp away.

Example:

  1. The goal is to warp away when the incoming damage is unbearable, and your logistics can't keep up.
  2. When you're primaried, ask for reps and for locks from your fleetmates. Having your fleetmates locking you is important since it increases the possibilities of breaking enemy locks by activating the TSB
  3. If you can stand the incoming DPS, fine; otherwise align and activate the TSB and pray. You can thank your friends for having locked you.


  • Counters: possibly if you were stasis webified, your alignment will not save you because you won't be at warp-ready speed once you get free of the locks. You have to get to 75% speed and in that time interval you will get relocked and rescrambled.




    • Trinkets friend
    Sudden Buggery
    Sending Thots And Players
    #10 - 2012-11-20 01:23:03 UTC
    Given that the chance of the TSB working on any one ship is random, and AFAIK and AFAIGAS, less than an ECM burst but only scales up with numbers, you cannot rely on the TSB breaking the lock of anything with a scram on you. Especially anything which isn't a frigate. So, you ativate it, and pray that it actually works vs the blob which is preparing to punch your donut in, and if it does break the lock of the guy scramming you...woot! If not, you die terribly.

    Except, you get the same result with an ECM burst.

    The TSB is a module that relies on you putting yourself neck deep once you've paddled so far up le creek le merde and thrown the paddle away willingly, and then gives you a chance - maybe - to break a few locks - temporarily - to maybe reduce the DPS a bit for a moment, which might - just maybe - let you take a breath before going down. Except, your scan res is so borked you can't actually do any damage!

    Sounds like a great concept for a module!

    May as well fit an ECM burst and a micro-jump drive. At least if it works you'll be 100km away from everything.

    ~~ Localectomy Blog ~~
    Ludi Burek
    The Player Haters Corp
    #11 - 2012-11-20 02:32:19 UTC
    I have discovered the formulaAttention

    If you fit it to your ship, it will always fail to break any locks.

    If you target a ship that has it fitted, it will break your lock on first attempt.
    Camios
    Sebiestor Tribe
    Minmatar Republic
    #12 - 2012-11-20 12:07:39 UTC
    Trinkets friend wrote:
    ...


    Ok, i tested it with npcs, and I confirm what you said. If it really has a chance of breaking only some of the locks and not all, then it is to my understanding that it is completely useless, and even counterproductive.

    I beg your pardon for having shown my enthusiasm.