PSU's front-page MAX survey

[Veteran]

Is it odd to anyone else that NC has some of the best MAXs and yet votes them the weakest? It's like they just filled in their own empire hoping to whine their way into a new set of buffs. Too bad, it ain't gonna happen.

I'm sorry for you if you can't see that the Pounder is far and away the weakest, if not broken, AI MAX; it has a four second reload time now, reduced splash damage, reduced AI and AV damage and its increased ROF with no increased clip size means even more reloads. Also, the anchor ability makes it more likely to be killed by Decimators, unlike the other MAX abilities, which make them less likely to be. An empire without an AI MAX is in a pretty odd position, and that's TR for you. I understand there are a lot of new players, but for the seasoned NC: what were you thinking when you lied on that survey? You know full well that the ScatterMAX owns and is extremely popular. You know that your AV MAX rocks AI. You know that your AA MAX has rocked pretty much forever. Come on, fess up, and don't give me any bullshit about the shield sucking, because you use it all the time and it's been taking three Decimators to put you down.

Hopefully the devs aren't swayed by surveys. It's clear people just fill in their own empire no matter what they believe.

I hate to see democracy perverted.

[Veteran]

:boohoo: <-- ah, the sweet sweet music

[Lise]

Well, another thing that might be swaying people is that they don't know how to USE their MAXes. People. MAXes outdoors against Terrans = Striker fodder. Even if I'm the only Terran still using the damn thing, I do carry enough rockets to kill all of you. :devilwink And yes, I'm looking all of you Vanu. Jumping in the air won't help when I'm painting you with a Striker.

The Pounder needs some help badly. The overall damage isn't too bad even now, the problem is that damn reload time. Nothing was wrong with the two-second reload time. I saw plenty of Pounders eat Decis pre-Balance Pass. Now, 4 seconds actually is the time between Decimator shots I think. It's disgusting.

And the DC? Beh. Should've stayed AI I think. It just doesn't work as an AV MAX.

As for the other empire MAXes - the Vanu MAXes are hotness now (which is why they are used so much, they are that Empire's strength now, along with the versatile weapons.) Like I said, outdoors they're still Striker fodder, but if the enemy lacks AV for some reason the Quasar is a piece of work. The Comet is an anti-MAX monster, and the Starfire is competent now. Not the best, but it can at least make a Reaver run off.

NC wise - again, the Scattercannon is VERY MUCH Striker food outdoors, especially at longer ranges (though the alternate fire modes do help.) Indoors however, it WILL take more than one Decimator user to kill him. At close range the Scattercannon is insane, AND it's good at AM, since those shots will kill a MAX in 13-16 shots (depending on how many pellets per shot hit.) The Falcon really is not all that hot, even indoors unless it's in a hallway. The Sparrow is still the best anti-air weapon in the game. As MAXes are to the Terrans, aircraft are to the NewComs. If you have more than one competent AA user out there, an air assault on an NC base is madness.

[BDMJ]

*not touching this with a 20ft pole

[Unknown]

As a mosquito pilot, I'd just like to comment on one thing: I hate TR AA MAXes (not in an "OMG!!! NERF TEH BURSTER" way, but in an " Aw crap, not a burster...*blows up*" way). The FaF ability of the NC is kinda annoying too, but at least I can outrun those, and I get a bit of warning before I actually start taking damage. I've only played VS AA MAX a small amount, but from what I experienced, FaF would have been much nicer than the constant tracking currently required.

As for Pounders...Yeah, I'd say they're kinda gimped. They said they'll be working on adjusting the ammo values due to the balance pass changes, but who knows how long that's gonna take them. I still fear them (as well as SC MAXes) even when I'm packing a decimator though.

TR has a bit of an advantage in the AV role of their AV MAXes in that the shots have a much faster travel time, so there's much less leading required, and your shots won't miss as often.

*Note* The above comments were made by a VS, non-MAX user (I've only used MAXes a relatively small amount, though I do have some experience with them).

[Lise]

Yeah, I should mention the Burster. It is competent, but in a different way than the other AA MAXes. The Burster is good for close AA support - guarding towers and whatnot. The other AA MAXes can take down targets from a distance, but when it comes to short-range AA, the Burster owns all. It does somewhat limit the utility of the MAX however.

[STEALTHKILLER]

All the maxes are weak and strong.

[NoSurrender]

NC maxes are great but the shield is worth diddly. TR needs some love but that shield has been LONG!!! overdue. Lise it takes like 5 seconds to turn on in that time you would alrdy be hit with a decimator and most likely it would be multiple people firing at you. (i was a NC AI Max )

[Slice]

I can't believe you say the TR has ANY AV advantage with their AV Max (if you were speaking of Striker just let me know and forget this post) because the AV Max is crap. For it to be even remotely useful, you have to be anchored. That leaves you as Deci/Phoenix/Lancer/Tank Shell fodder. Either that or you get run over. Go figure. If anything, fix the TR AV Max before worrying about the pounder. The pounder is still useful, just not while reloading.


Here's something interesting I've noticed:

NC Weapons: Don't have to aim much (*exception Phoenix/Gauss)
-Reasoning: They use shotguns (*exception Phoenix/Gauss)

VS Weapons: Have to aim a little more
-Reasoning: You dont aim much with lasher, just fire in general area, but lasher and lancer and pulsar still need to be aimed.

TR Weapons: Must aim (*exception Mini-Chaingun)
-Reasoning: You have to keep Striker crosshairs on target; Cycler (all medium assault weapons) has to be aimed


Notice I've left out the Maxes. The NC AV and AA Maxes don't require aim (yes, i do realize that you actually have to have the crosshairs on the target, but once you launch a missle you dont have to keep the crosshairs on target); close-range the AI Max doesnt need much aim, but long range it does.
The VS Maxes all require aim, including the AA max.
The TR Maxes all require aim except the pounder, but its nearly required now due to the horrendous reload time.

[Lise]

Yeah, those shields aren't really worth much. Doesn't help against the Comet and it soaks like two Strikers at best. With the possible exception of the Falcon, however, don't you DARE tell me the NC MAX weapons are gimped.

And even the Mini-Chaingun requires good aiming. The Terrans are easily the most finesse-based empire in the game, I'd say (though the Barnies are up there too.) You can't just grab the weapons off the shelf and own with them immediately; you have to practice with them a bit and think about what you are doing when you're fighting. But whoof. Any Terran who hits Zen Mode is a SCARY thing to watch.

[Biohazzard56]

No Shit ^^ , lise is right

[Hamma]

The TR MAX's got the shaft in the BP, however they were uber before so we must pay the price :p

[Slice]

Hehe very true Hamma. I miss the old Beta DC and Pounder Maxes.

I also agree with Lise, even though I said the Minichaingun doesnt require much aiming, it still isnt very effective as a spray-and-pray weapon. However, if you start on a run with that baby, and your ammo doesnt run out, I have one piece of advice for those poor, newbie Jackhammering-NC: Stay outta my way or die!

[Searo]

Any NC that hits zen mode with a Gauss is far deadlier than any Jackhammer user you would see.
Sadly, my connection is not powerful enough and my reflexes aren't fast enough for me to do anything like that. I use a Sweeper.

[flypengy]

I think the biggest problem with the NC AI Max is that it is a far better anti-max weapon than it is an AI weapon. The scatmax can take out the comet max with a little skill. (I've yet to lose in a fight against a comet with scatmax) The only max that can defeat the NC AI max hands down is the DC.

People fail to realize that with such a large majority of troops carrying decimators maxes are very hard to use unless you get the initial strike. For the scatter max to be effective it has to be within 10m of it's target otherwise the shot spread is too wide to kill it without taking substantiave damage. Switching to secondary or tertiary mode will make all the shots hit the target, but with a severe cool down penalty. The quasar has near pin point accuracy and the ability to 'dodge' decimator/rocklets with jump jets, the pounder max's ability to lob grenades at an extreme rof doesn't even give the deci users a chance to retaliate (until reloading).

I would like to see the shot spread reduced on the scatter max, I think that would be the greatest way to level the maxes out (that and decrease reload on pounder to 3). If you watch a scatmax shooting, about 5m in front of it shots are hitting the ground...how is it suppose to be effective when combat (even in towers) is normally far greater than 5m.