8 replies to this topic

[Jack Shayu Walker]

The PPC differentiates itself from the guass rifle in this game by being a hotter, slower traveling, faster firing alternative to the gauss rifle. The Gauss + PPC synergy being back in town is increasing how much it's used but the problem isn't with the fire rate of PPCs! Increasing their cooldown doesn't thwart the huge Pinpoint Front-loaded damage alphas your seeing from 3/4 PPCs, it only hurts their DPS.

The increasing of it's energy draw was a good idea, but the cooldown is now almost as sickeningly long as the gauss rifle. The weapon doesn't need to be relegated to the long-range only weapon class you're sticking the gauss rifle in PGI. If I pour in heatsinks to cool this already insanely hot weapon, I should be able to defend myself from hairy upclose situations moderately well.

Edited by Jack Shayu Walker, 23 August 2016 - 04:44 PM.

[1453 R]

Alternatively, do what all the lore grognards are pushing so hard for in this whole mess: equip stuff other than PPCs.

Pinpoint weapons have a definite edge over duration weapons in the current Energy Draw system. Besides, this is the Public Test Server. Let them run the numbers for a few days. Maybe their testing will agree with you. No need to blow your fuse without even playing the build.

Edited by 1453 R, 23 August 2016 - 04:21 PM.

[Jack Shayu Walker]

1453 R, on 23 August 2016 - 04:21 PM, said:

Alternatively, do what all the lore grognards are pushing so hard for in this whole mess: equip stuff other than PPCs.

Pinpoint weapons have a definite edge over duration weapons in the current Energy Draw system. Besides, this is the Public Test Server. Let them run the numbers for a few days. Maybe their testing will agree with you. No need to blow your fuse without even playing the build.

Clan PPCs didn't reap any benefits from power draw other than broken alpha strikes, so im not quite sure why they needed a cooldown nerf. Before this latest change they had advantages to go with their disadvantages over Gauss Rifles. Now it just comes down to they are lighter if you don't provide proper cooling and have unlimited ammo.

They used to have good DPS if you devoted enough pod-space to cooling them.

PS: I have played the build.

Edited by Jack Shayu Walker, 23 August 2016 - 04:41 PM.

[1453 R]

Clan PPCs reap the benefit of (failing at) competing with far fewer 90-damage laser fusillades under Energy Draw. They're not supposed to be DPS weapons - that's the purview of autocannons, which took a bunch of very big nerfs in this latest update beeteedubs.

PPCs are burst weapons - deliver one big stonkin' instantaneous whack from a considerable distance without having to deal with volatile ammo, then ideally pull back into cover or defend yourself until you can do it again. They are supposed to be disadvantaged against brawly weapons in brawling ranges because brawling weapons are entirely outclassed by PPCs outside brawling ranges.

[Jack Shayu Walker]

1453 R, on 23 August 2016 - 05:00 PM, said:

Clan PPCs reap the benefit of (failing at) competing with far fewer 90-damage laser fusillades under Energy Draw. They're not supposed to be DPS weapons - that's the purview of autocannons, which took a bunch of very big nerfs in this latest update beeteedubs.

PPCs are burst weapons - deliver one big stonkin' instantaneous whack from a considerable distance without having to deal with volatile ammo, then ideally pull back into cover or defend yourself until you can do it again. They are supposed to be disadvantaged against brawly weapons in brawling ranges because brawling weapons are entirely outclassed by PPCs outside brawling ranges.

They don't have to be burst-only weapons to be balanced, and in the burst weapon department they are still outclassed by guass rifles. I would argue that PPCs should certainly not be relegated to only burst damage. Heat is supposed to be a PPCs limiting factor, and inside brawling range a mech mounting a couple of PPCs is still going to lose to a dedicated brawler anyway.

Players should have the choice to do some decent DPS against non-brawlers in a CQC fight if they prioritize heat-sinks over even more PPCs. This new system is supposed to promote more build variety and choice. Pigeonholing PPCs into the "boat n' alpha strike, or go home" category is not conducive to achieving that goal.

Edited by Jack Shayu Walker, 23 August 2016 - 05:09 PM.

[ScarecrowES]

Aww... where did the scary ppfld touch you?

Thank god ED is tanking. It's embarrassing at this point.

[1453 R]

Shiryu? Seriously. Chillax.


The cLPL has a total cycle time of roughly ~4.9s between burntime and PTS cooldown. Less than a half-second difference from PPCs Noticeable, but with ~5s cycle times on both weapons it's hardly crippling. And if it turns out it is crippling, they'll revert it before it goes live.

This is, however, what happens when the forum erupts in sky-is-falling hysteria at the thought of triple PPC builds being potentially viable again.

[Jack Shayu Walker]

Some numbers to look at.


DPS
Live:
cLPL: 2.97
Gauss Rifle: 2.61 (With charge time)
ERPPC: 2.50


PTS (previous patch):
cLPL: 2.67
Gauss Rifle: 2.24
ERPPC: 2.22


PTS (current patch):
cLPL: 2.67
Gauss Rifle: 2.24
ERPPC: 1.90

Edited by Jack Shayu Walker, 23 August 2016 - 05:31 PM.

[Jack Shayu Walker]

1453 R, on 23 August 2016 - 05:15 PM, said:

Shiryu? Seriously. Chillax.

Aw, why ya gotta butcher my name like that, it's the name of a battlemech and everything.
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Sha_Yu

I'm plenty relaxed. Just want to make my voice heard while I still have a chance.