Empire Specific Rocket Launcher Stream 5PM PDT

[Chewy]

Originally Posted by Rothnang

HAs are never particularly deadly without an Engineer to resupply them. Especially since you can sit in a more protected location with the Phoenix it should no problem to resupply.

What I really hope is that the Phoenix cannot pass through spawn room shields.

Well that protected location could be more harm than good with the phoenix. If the rockets are limited by fuel timers instead of control within a set distance then you can't do much more than fire over a small lump with those turn speeds. If the ammo is really only 3 rounds then they are going to be the worst ESL due to not being able to take on targets while the other 2 ESLs have ammo to spare for any one target they want if they get past a blockade, even as just one lone HA.

People debate over tank mine suicide runs, well at least those cost infantry res. Strikers and Lancers can do that all day for one SC or cert cost without much time exposed and maybe at great ranges. If the ammo counts Roy posted are right (damn you admin ammo cheats) then the phoenix can be ruined before getting out of the box if the rocket cam control is to limiting over the limited range.

300m is a good distance for a rocket, but if it takes half that to make a small turn with its travel speed then the Phoenix may not be worth the costs over dumbfire rockets. Testing needed.

[Zulthus]

I really like what they've done with the launchers. I only feel like the Lancer sound should be changed a bit, it seems to bass-y for the kind of weapon it is.

[OctavianAXFive]

Originally Posted by bpostal

Hmm. Looks great but I wonder if the Striker can lock onto MAXs

In the video Higby said that the Striker does not lock onto maxes, though they (the dev team) had talked about it. He seems to be aware this is a weakness but thinks that its raw killing power against vehicles makes up for it.

As for OP and UP lets let launchers be field tested before we make general declarations.

From what I understand the phoenix is meant to be fired from just behind a hill. As in, you fire it slightly at the sky, and then angle it down over the other side of the hill. Will that be too situational? Test it out!

And the Science gets done.
And you make a neat gun.
For the people who are still alive.

[Mordelicius]

Lancer:

- Unlimited range
- 100% accuracy to the reticule
- No drop
- Instantaneous hit
- Can be primed before targetting
- Huge ammo pool
- Can be hip-fired
- Can be spammed (no cooldown; see ammo pool)

So, basically get a bunch of of HA with 1 engineer to resupply.

- Charge>Pop head out>Fire accurately>Instantaneously hit/Duck back>Repeat

Also, I know Higby said that it's not meant to snipe against infantry. I'm skeptical of how much damage a sustained spam fire of these can do in an infantry fight. Just take a platoon/squad of these guys bobbing up and down on a good cover. And with enough ammo, who needs a cover? Simply sustain fire then reload. With enough Lancers around, while 1 or 2 are reloading, the rest will be firing continuously.

[Hamma]

Thanks Roy for the breakdown!

[GraniteRok]

Will have to see how they are once they're released. Interesting to say the least.

The Striker's lockon puts out a warning, is defeatable with smoke/flares and with no dumbfire, not able to sneak attack like the other two. Damage is very high on a rear shot to a tank.

The Phoenix has the appearance of limited range, not greatly maneuverable but probably able to be launched from some cover and has an AA counter if seen in time. No dumbfire either but can quickly ADS and shoot as if it is.

The Lancer, in my opinion, will be the deadly one and will top the complaints; Ambush capability, instant hit and no warnings at all plus what appears to be a significant range. Dumbfire isn't accurate but up close and personal, that won't matter.

[bpostal]

Originally Posted by OctavianAXFive

In the video Higby said that the Striker does not lock onto maxes, though they (the dev team) had talked about it. He seems to be aware this is a weakness but thinks that its raw killing power against vehicles makes up for it.

Ah, must have missed that. Kinda disappointing, I suppose, but then again I only used my Striker on VS MAXs in flight/trees anyway. Cheers!

[Hamma]

Couple more Harasser Screenies:



http://www.planetside-universe.com/media.php?view=2339



http://www.planetside-universe.com/media.php?view=2340

[AThreatToYou]

Honest, my best opinion is that the Phoenix is going to need an increased ammo pool. At least 1 more rocket. The others should be fine.

[bpostal]

Originally Posted by AThreatToYou

Honest, my best opinion is that the Phoenix is going to need an increased ammo pool. At least 1 more rocket. The others should be fine.

I could get behind that. IMO every rocket launcher should at least have enough ammo to start an AMS on fire if hit from the back with no engy repairing it.

[Climhazzard]

Originally Posted by Rothnang

Did they mention somewhere that you have to keep aiming at the target to maintain the lock with this?

Not in this stream, but it had been stated previously that you would need to maintain the lock.

It wasn't clear from the video if you can hold the charge in the weapon, or if it fires when it reaches 3 automatically. The latter would make it much harder to use of course.

If it's like the original Lancer, it'll fire automatically.

I'm curious if it's possible to fire a "level 2" shot. It seems likely, but in his Reddit AMA and this stream, Higby only ever talked about and showed off the "level 1" and "level 3" shots.

Originally Posted by Sifer2

The TR got shafted. [...] Only launcher that can't be dumb fired [...]

Technically, the Phoenix can't be dumb-fired either.

Originally Posted by Mordelicius

Lancer:

- Unlimited range

Unproven.

- Instantaneous hit

Not quite.

- Can be hip-fired

With terrible accuracy. Only useful in close quarters against large objects.

- Can be spammed (no cooldown; see ammo pool)

Cooldown is front-loaded in the form of its charge-up time.

[DirtyBird]

[Sonny]

I definitely thought that the lancer looked like the best ESL - the flexibility of decent hip-fire damage and brutal charge up damage, without the need to lock on makes me fear for my poor sunderers .

The striker looked awesome too but at least the long lock on time will limit its spammability.

I was a little disappointed by the Phoenix as it didn't look super manoeuverable and the damage output seemed a little low for the time it took to fire each rocket. But I guess if you had a few NC heavies together spamming them over a hilltop then that would compensate for these minor downsides.

Look forward to trying them out in game!

Sonny

[HiroshiChugi]

Hey, just wondering... Next time you post a tweet, could you maybe post what it says as well for those of us at school and work who cannot view what it says? Just wondering...

[DirtyBird]

I will certainly endeavour to meet your request.