12 replies to this topic

[Chrithu]

Yesterday I tried FF Armor for the first time, expecting it to boost my mechs durability.

Then I noticed that with FF Armor I have the same maximum in Armor Points as when using Standart Armor.

So basically all that FF Armor does for you is trading 14 Slots for a slight weight reduce. On the Catapult with maxed armor I tried it on it freed up ~2 tons. And it isn't cheap either.

The way I understood the patchnotes and descriütion of FF Armor it was supposed to give your mech more protection, by providing more armor points per ton than Standart Armor. But obviously that can't work if the limiting factor for armor is maximum armor points and not maximum armor weight.

Now I'm asking myself was it really the intention to boost free tonnage instead of maximum armor points with FF. Because the weight reduction is so minor it doesn't rectify the cost in my view.

[Drenzul]

Yes, this is how it works in TT as well which is why its rarely used except on lights.

Clan FF is a lot more heavily used since it only uses 7 crit slots.

[Chemie]

FF is useless. I only use on a jenner because it has the slots available and it gets you 0.7 tons. Big woop. No point in any other mech because you do not have the slots.

[Redshift2k5]

Yes, it is intended to give you more armor for the same weight, but it does not increase the maximum armor.

Thusly, you get the same armor for less weight, resulting in spending 14 crits for meagre weight savings.

Endo does the same thing: 14 crits for weight saving. It doesn't give you more internals or tougher internals, just weight.

[stjobe]

From sarna.net:

Quote

Ferro-Fibrous armor (FF) is a special type of armor used by vehicles and BattleMechs. Utilizing a weave of ferro-steel, ferro-titanium, and diamond weave fibers which boosts the tensile strength of the plating[1], it provides more protection per ton than standard armor (12% for Inner Sphere FF, 20% for Clan FF), but takes up more space on the 'Mech or vehicle. (14 critical slots for inner sphere, 7 for clan on mechs. Two slots for inner sphere vehicles, one on clan.) The maximum amount of protection is not changed; merely the weight of armor required to achieve that level of protection. For a unit which already has maximum armor protection, it is therefore considered a weight-saving measure, at the cost of critical space. The weight savings for Endo Steel are greater than those saved by ferro-fibrous armor, but it is more costly and obviously more difficult to repair or add as an upgrade to a 'Mech.

First developed by the Terran Hegemony in 2571,[2] Ferro-Fibrous armor was lost to the Inner Sphere during the Succession Wars. The Draconis Combine was the first to re-create it in 3040.[3] Later, the Free Worlds League and Lyran Alliance would develop Light and Heavy versions of Ferro-Fibrous armor.[4]

So basically, you trade 14 critical slots for 12% more armour.

Use it if you have 14 critical slots free and need 12% more armour to get to your max.

Edited by stjobe, 23 November 2012 - 05:42 AM.

[Redshift2k5]

For a unit which already has maximum armor protection, it is therefore considered a weight-saving measure, at the cost of critical space.

[Agent 0range]

I use f2f and end endorsing on my hunchie s variant. every slot filled with 2Asrm 6, 3 Ammo, 4 med laser, 1 med pls las in head, Amsterdam 1 ammo, 250 engine and 1DH. runs a bit hot but except damage alphas for hit and run plus a lost torso means you can fire steadily with the other torso plus head med pls. last .2 tons add a bit of armour to legs.

[Vruchtgebruik]

I equipped FF armor on my Hunchback before knowing how that sucks...
Now I can't figure out how to remove it ! No armor critical slots can be dragged away !
Is it possible or should i sell the mech and rebuy it ??

[One Medic Army]

To remove ferrofibrous: go into mech upgrades, select standard armor, and click save (you will need to pay to remove it).

[xxx WreckinBallRaj xxx]

FF does nothing but eat 14 slots in exchange for freeing up weight. On Mechs that can't use all their slots from DHS/Endo, it's good, for anything else, it's useless. Fyi, you shouldn't use Ferro at all unless you've already got DHS+Endo installed first yet somehow still have too many slots remaining. This means almost no variant/build gets use out of Ferro. It's mostly a Light Mech upgrade. DHS is the best upgrade out of the 3 here and Endo is second, thus you'd not logically use Ferro on most builds. If your Catapult has Ferro, but not DHS/Endo first, then you basically shot yourself in the foot.

[Coole]

Vruchtgebruik, on 25 December 2012 - 12:13 AM, said:

I equipped FF armor on my Hunchback before knowing how that sucks...
Now I can't figure out how to remove it ! No armor critical slots can be dragged away !
Is it possible or should i sell the mech and rebuy it ??

Basically just go back to upgrades, and select regular armor instead of ff. You'll have pay the same amount to revert. And I can't be sure, but you may need to check if you have enough weight for regular (thinking like endo steel).

[QuantumButler]

Welcome to the reality, where Ff has never ever been good, IS FF is literally useless even in TT.

[Tarman]

I seem to recall taking it on mechs in MW2, but that mechlab is so long ago that I only really remember moving pretty much all of my weapons systems out of the arms on everything I drove. Here, for sure a total waste of kit. It's on the pile with flamers and MGs.