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Below is my feedback regarding balance changes in PTS 1.1. Mechs used in the testing were a BSW-X1 and TBR-A.
IS Armor Quirk reductions:
The BSW-X1 did not feel noticeably impacted by the quirk reduction. It is not known to what degree the increased duration of clan lasers influenced this, as many ballistic builds were present in the PTS.
Clan Laser Duration increases:
The longer durations predictably forced longer exposure times. As a result, only very high-alpha/firepower builds felt viable. Other builds were unable to effectively apply damage without taking significant amounts in return. Individual results varied among weapons, and a breakdown is below.
cLPL - Performance felt interchangeable with the cERLL, which weighs 2 tons less. Reducing Heat and Duration would be one way to justify the additional tonnage cost and distinguish the weapon from the cERLL.
cERLL - Long duration requires a build committed to high alpha to be effective. Was not viable for poking.
cMPL - Performance was similar to the cERML, which weighs 1 ton less. Reducing Duration and increasing Damage would justify the additional tonnage cost and distinguish the weapon from the cERML.
cERML - Better performance than the previous PTS. Light/fast-moving mechs were noticeably more difficult to bring down using this weapon.
cHLL - Very long duration. Requires a build committed to high alpha to be effective. Stagger-firing 4 of these in pairs was more effective than using a non-ghost heat setup. The duration was long enough for the first pair that the extra exposure time needed to stagger-fire the second pair was irrelevant.
cHML - Excessive duration for its range. This weapon is more of a liability than an asset. The cHML needs a duration reduction, range increase, or both.
Conclusion:
Offsetting the damage and range advantages of Clan lasers with increased duration is a logical approach, but the changes in PTS 1.1 go further than needed and are detrimental to weapons that need the opposite adjustments.
Thank you
Edited by 0Jiggs0, 29 July 2018 - 10:51 PM.
