The higher level you get the more you'll want the tiny advantageous technical differences on your side. That's because the skill difference becomes smaller and smaller. It's the same thing anywhere.
Last time I ran the numbers I had reaver with 19% more DPS, mosquito with 15% more damage per mag and scythe with its miscellaneous benefits. I don't see the problem there as far as balance goes but if TR players really don't want that advantage then surely that is kind of tough luck, TR are supposed to be the faction that can "keep on firing" after NC/VS have stopped, that is the TR advantage. I guess TR will have to be happy with just the marauder/vulcan/striker/fracture/carbines being the strongest in their category's whilst NC have assault rifles and nose guns (in your opinion).
Well what I don't want to see happen is the Reaver to be balanced/situational at A2A and straight inferior at A2G. And we're dangerously close to that happening all things considered.
Well, there is the slight difference in reload speed that's being added. Most typical dogfights aren't resolved before anybody has to reload their rotary so it could play a small role. Reaver only has a quarter second difference in either direction from the other two, so hard to say if it'll be significant or not when it comes to required uptime/ability to dodge around during the reload since you can't shoot. Estimating those benefits/penalties is way beyond my piloting skill level. Comparing the long range differences (aka, once damage fall off has kicked in - perhaps include middle of fall off range, too) between the rotaries for giggles could be interesting as well. Perhaps on a Lib (or Gal if you want a longer vid) since it's a more likely long range target than another ESF. Non-ESF targets would also let the reload difference come into play.
I saw there was another patch on the PTS and retested the values today. Here's what seems to be the case now: Measured from the frame that the ammo counter drops by one, to the frame that the tag above the Reaver dissapears. NC - 2.16s TR - 2.6s VS - 3.03s I'd encourage anyone to run their own tests to validate my own results, if something seems out of place don't hesitate to say so.
Are you sure? VS nearly 1 second slower TTK than NC? I find the 1/2 second to TR already to much but i could live with that but 1 second?
Would run a Test myself, but not smart enough to do that stuff. If thats true, then its too much asymmetrical Balance in my Opinion.
I'm not sure how I feel about the accuracy of those numbers. I'm running a few more tests with different methods because I think something is off.
All rotaries need mroe bloom. I love how they add damage falloff, then buff the minimum damage after fall off to be greater than it is now. Don't care about TTKs but I do care about being sniped from 400m out by a single reaver doing 400 damage per shot. That or buff the tankbuster to a 400-550m/s velocity. Sucks jousting a reaver only to have him release his whole clip before my first tankbuster even gets to him. Then extra sucks that per shot is higher for him than me. Maybe thats why I love watching ESFs take daltons from 400m out. Fluke shots, but they deserve every single one they take to the face.
Yeah this is giving more reliable numbers, with NC at 2.00s even. TR at 2.4. and VS at 2.43s. It's not really "true" TTK because it doesn't account for projectile velocity, but it seems measuring based on the aircraft being impacted is no longer reliable and can vary wildly, up to a half second or more. These last tests were done just with the time it takes to fire the minimum number of shots to kill, without waiting for any return feedback. It also means the "side by side" video comparison is pretty pointless since it's showing what the server gives you. It could be adjusted to include the travel time of the last shots fired, but I really couldn't be bothered.
With this Numbers, id say bringing the Hailstorm to 700m/s Velocity and shaving off 6 Bullets from the M18 Magazine and we are good to go in regards to Rotary Normalization.
Because in this State, its not better than the other two Rotaries. Its Aimbot TTK is about 0.4 Sec better, but in reality, its not. To be Clear, so you are able to understand it: Hailstorms Velocity of 800m/s will allow you to aim with very little Lead required. The Time between Firing and Hitting is so small, that more Shots will connect when someone starts to evade. This basically brings its TTK down to about the same Time as the Vortek. As a Scythe Pilot, id say, nothing wrong here, but then.. Reavers are big Targets. They are really easy to hit, even if you keep Distance. The Vorteks Trait was seen as an Offset for the Fact, that the Reaver has a 20% bigger Hitbox. Now that Trait, in Reality, is gone. Ive said it in numerous Threads. Best Option would be to normalize the Reavers Hitbox if they normalize the Rotaries, but SOE doesnt want to go that Route, it seems. I fly all three ESFs, and the Reaver is the easiest to hit, except for a Scythes Top/Bottom which you wont see against a good Pilot. Pair that with a Rotary that allows you to hit your Target quite easily, and you have a Problem. Not going into the M18 Magazine, quite obvious how more Bullets will be a fine Thing.
Hitbox changing = **** tons of work. unlikely to happen.... Also it doesn't matter how awesome your nosgun is if someone is chasing you, so the "bc big hitbox = awesome nosegun" theory makes me laugh. Do what every other "good" reaver pilot does and turn the hell around, You got a big gun, use it....bc according to you, since your hitbox is SO big, your going to die anyway...
Try to read what i wrote before you Post. It helps. I said, i am NOT a Fan of SOEs "Big Hitbox = awesome Nosegun" Philosophy, but thats how it is atm. I never modeled 3D, but i would think, shrinking a Model cant be that hard.
That Hitbox/Rotary Comment from Higby? Its not like he knows a lot of Stuff, but at least its from him. But if thats all you have as an Argument, we are done, it seems.
The hitbox offsets the AB speed, and most powerful Vthrust. Add in that the max non AB speed is what 7-8 kph less than the scythe, and it has 200 kph cruise speed. Even then the hitbox is not really sufficient enough of a drawback for all the best A2A powers in your ESF.
