Ships & Modules

So what is the cut off point for tracking, or is more tracking always better?

-Liang

Consider the tracking calculation. It's all built around what I call the "tracking factor":

T = (transversal * sig res) / (range * sig * tracking)

It can also be expressed as (angular velocity * sig res) / (sig * tracking), but the above form is more useful for this discussion.


If you're inside optimal, the chance to hit is 0.5 ^ (T^2). This is 100% when T = 0, 50% when T = 1, 6.25% when T = 2, and so on, dropping off very quickly for T > 1 but also quickly approaching 100% for T < 1.

For this discussion, let's assume that range and your gun's sig res are fixed, and represent transversal as speed, so we get the following:

Bigger is worse for shooter: transversal
Bigger is better for shooter: target sig, tracking.

Doubling any term on the top line has exactly the same effect on accuracy as halving a term on the bottom line, and vice versa.


So, how do our modules stack up?

A decent unbonused web will slow the target by 60%. This is the same as multiplying by 0.4, or dividing by 2.5. A web has severe range limitations, but slowing the target not only improves our accuracy but also improves our ability to dictate range. Webs are stacking penalised with other webs. Webs improve accuracy for all vessels attacking the target with guns and also improve missile damage.

An unbonused PWNAGE with sig focusing V increases sig by 30% * 1.25 = 37.5%, or multiplies by 1.375. This is stacking penalised with other painters and with MWD and shield rig sig increases. Target painters have decent range, plus a falloff. Webs improve accuracy for all vessels attacking the target with guns and also improve missile damage.

A scripted Tracking Computer II improves tracking by 30%, or multiplies by 1.3. This is stacking penalised with other modules that improve tracking. Tracking modules apply at any range, but only affect the ship they are mounted on.

Note: all three module types under consideration stack fully with each other, as they affect different parts of the calculation.


If you can get the target in range, webs are far and away the superior option. They are almost twice as effective as anything else (before we start squaring things!), suffer fewer stacking issues, and also grant speed superiority.

Target painters have range, and not much else. The bonus granted is a lot smaller, and they suffer more from stacking penalties. They are a little more useful on missile boats, as missile damage is capped at sig / explosion radius, regardless of any other factors (the other two factors are a combination of sig, explosion radius, speed and explosion velocity, and 100% - apply the smallest of the three factors to the nominal damage to get actual damage).

Tracking bonuses only affect you (tracking links notwithstanding), but at least you are in complete control of them and they always apply.

Side comment: an unbonused scripted tracking disruptor at level V applies a penalty of just over 50% (20.1% * 0.25 * 2). Applying a single target painter is not enough to fully counter a tracking disruptor. A single web will provide a bigger benefit that a single TD penalty.


(Caveat: some numbers might have chanced since I last looked)

Thank you very much. Excellent post.

Consider a griffin pilot orbiting a battleship at 10km with his Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive running. For argument's sake, say his speed is 2520 m/s (loses a bit due to orbit). With the microwarpdrive running, his sig is 252 m.

Putting this into the above formula gives T = 2520 * sig res / (252 * 10k * tracking) = sig res / (1000 * tracking).

We're dealing with a battleship, so sig res of its guns is 400. Thus, T = 400 / (1000 * tracking), or 0.25 / tracking.

A Rokh with a full rack of Neutron Blaster Cannons II and an all-V pilot has base tracking of 0.0649. 0.25 / 0.0649 is a little under 4, which gives the Rokh a 0.003% chance to hit.

Add a single TC II with a tracking speed script, and tracking rises to 0.0844. T = 2.96, hit = 0.23%.

Stick a 60% web on the target and its speed drops to 2520 * 0.4 = 1008. At tracking 0.0649, this gives T = 1.54, hit 19.29%. At tracking 0.0844, T = 1.18, hit 37.79%.

Applying a single tracking module and a web has taken our pesky frigate from unhittable to taking quite a bit of damage. One more module and it could quickly become very dead.