Player Features and Ideas Discussion

A faster rate of fire when overheated offers zero benefit because it just compresses the DPS into a shorter timeframe. Extending ammunition capacity is the ticket.


No, no and no (in that order). I'd rather have the the new version with improved ammunition capacity and swap time than go back to the old RLMLs with a huge nerf. The problem with heavy missiles is a separate issue.

Extra ammunition does not help the problem of entering a fight with the wrong ammo loaded, or having to swap ammo because a situation changed. Being able to swap ammo actually lets the pilot make a choice during combat and possibly be rewarded for that choice with more damage or in some cases the ability to deal damage at all. A 40 second reload does not give you a choice, even a 20 second reload would feel punishing to use in combat.

I still maintain that frontloading rlm damage like this is a poor mechanic solely because it makes the fights binary, either frigates die remarkably quickly or they live long enough that you have to question the value of using the ship over any of its equivalents. Polarizing weapon systems for launchers (rlm only good vs frigs, hams and hmls only workable vs cruisers or larger) is unfun because it makes the pilot feel like they undocked the wrong ship when they could've taken an omen or thorax or arty rupture and had the ability to kill both cruisers and frigates decently without having to change its entire fit.

Caracal proliferation in small gang was mostly from the triple lse and lse/xlasb style fits where you had enough tank that you could stay on field almost indefinitely. Dual lse caracals were actually very balanced against other cruisers, thorax could project far enough to outdamage them in point range, omens could also hold their own (single lse omens couldn't stand up well but aar omens would have little issue provided you were in point range).

Currently reloading isn't an interesting and tactical choice, but a punishment intended to create 'tense moments of fun'.

I do not quite understand your reasoning. If burst damage is the objective followed by lower then average damage, then being able to overheat often is just achieving this objective. What you describe is increasing damage over time by making reloads less frequent. Which still leave switching ammo complexity on the table.

Maybe we talk about different things. In my case its about a module that fills the role the rapid fire ones try to fill. Not per see a modification to the current implementation of these rapid file modules.

Rise indicated they're working on the ammunition swap issue, so that's a separate issue. And yes, that was exactly my point with increased ammunition capacity being more beneficial than a shorter reload time. 20-seconds is never going to happen since this boosts the average DPS beyond the original RLMLs, and 30-seconds is marginally more useful than 40-seconds.


I'll try to explain. Since you're dealing with a limited ammunition capacity and a high rate of fire, RLMLs deplete themselves fairly quickly (36 seconds on a Tengu with V skills; just over 30 seconds overheated). Since missiles don't apply damage instantly but have a time to hit, a even faster rate of fire would see more volleys wasted while in transit after the target has been destroyed (and light missiles are currently the slowest). When you have a larger ammunition capacity and a standard reload this is less of an issue, but with RLMLs two wasted volleys means losing 11% or more of your potential DPS.

This is why I'm opposed to a faster overheated rate of fire or a shorter reload time. Neither address the issue of wasted volleys, which a larger ammunition capacity will help offset to some degree. Having 28 rounds instead of 18 also gives RLMLs more staying power against medium-sized ships.

Looking forward to "[Rubicon 1.1] Rapid Missile Launchers - v3"

More RLML Options
The DPS with 10-round capacity/10-second reload is more powerful than 18-rounds/20-second reload, and both still have a higher DPS than the original RLMLs. Not sure how I'd like 20 seconds of shooting followed by a 10-second reload.


I've made RLMLs work for me. This isn't to say I wouldn't welcome some improvements, however.


Or if he's trying to chase you down you can also blap him. The same is not the same for missiles, because regardless of direction - shooting a moving target greatly diminishes damage application.


Fair turnabout since frigates have become more aggressive of late. And I'm certainly not opposed to a cruiser and battleship-class laser, hybrid or projectile that fires small and medium ammunition with deadly accuracy.

Here is an interesting question.

Assuming PvE and missioning (clearly not going to work in PvP) would a mobile depot bypass the 40 second reload problem?

Only took 194 pages

I think my main issue with RLML right now is RoF bonuses are absolute garbage on them and so many missile ships that used to be good with RLML rely on RoF bonuses for their damage.

The only ship that seems suited to RLMLs right now is ScyFI, and admittedly it's pretty good - but not being able to swap ammo types means you have to fly around with 3 launchers loaded with one thing and 2 with another, so you don't get completely screwed when you come up against that t2 resist assault frigate with perfect resists for what you have loaded.

I think if you fixed RoF bonuses basically not applying to RLML (maybe make RoF also reduce reload for rapids?) and the swapping ammo isse (which you already mentioned, so it's cool that you're aware) they'd be in a decent place.

You do understand that Tranquility is not the test server yes? This post combined with the way you stubbornly forced the rapid launcher changes into Rubicon despite a lack of proper testing makes me wonder.