3 replies to this topic

[-Muta-]

When it comes to cooling down I have read and heard the term.

Max dps: xx.xx dps

Can someone please be so kind to explain me what that means please.

[Bishop Steiner]

damage per second.

Possibly the most overrated and clung to weapon stat amongst the Forum Warrior. Of course, since to achieve high DPS with most weapons requires one to stand stationary or nearly so, and hoping one's target does likewise, hopefully the downside of such a stat becomes apparent.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 03 October 2013 - 09:16 AM.

[ShotgunWillie]

In Mechwarrior, DPS builds are the opposite of High Alpha builds.

A high alpha build dishes out its damage all up front, but after doing somewhere between 1 and 4 Alpha Strikes, it has to wait to cool down before it can do so again. At that point, the player either has to slowly chain fire their weapons, stop firing some weapons groups, or stop firing all together in order to cool down before they can Alpha again. It is still possible to measure their damage per second, but their DPS is not relevant to how they play their build.

A high DPS build is centered around dealing its damage out over time without having to worry about whether or not it's going to overheat. High DPS builds might be able to perform a high alpha, but it's more common that they won't be able to do so. However, if they have an enemy in sight and in range, a high DPS build can constantly fire one or more of its weapons.

Bishop is correct. A high DPS build is at its very best when both shooter and target are standing completely still. Movement on either part, or both, will hamper the efficiency of a DPS build, but in fairness, not firing 6 PPCs because you're waiting to cool down does the exact same amount of damage as missing with a pair of UAC-5s, a pair of medium lasers, and an SRM4. 0 damage is 0 damage.

[verybad]

High DPS can be useful in fast machs that can outmaneuver their targets but they're not good IMO in a set piece battle where both teams are coordinated and working together. (ie protecting eachother).

Good for harassing and irritating the other teams, or finishing up kills, but not great at providing a lot of damage to one spot.

I don't think theyr'e as effective when in a an assault or slow heavy. They can be fun to play with because of the feeling of power from all of the weapons going off all the time, but they're ultimately not as powerful as they feel.

Naturally, I like using a low DPS, low Alpha style mech, because I'm a bad terrible player. I can play an irritating light however...one of my favorite builds is a Spider with 12 JJ, TAG, and a SINGLE medium laser...It's not like I use the laser much either.

Edited by verybad, 03 October 2013 - 09:42 AM.