The Plasma Hoax

Veteran · 2003-10-31, 07:43 AM

I thought plasma was the bomb, the shiz, or what have you, but I made a disturbing discovery.

I was launching plasma grenades at the ground trying to kill myself so I could travel around, and I launched one several meters from myself. It exploded and I caught on fire, but I took about 6 damage total. I launched one directly at my feet and took normal damage. The damage-over-time effect is severely reduced outside the very center of the plasma blast.

I wonder how many people think that everyone in their grenade's splash radius is taking full damage-over-time from the plasma, cause they're not. Some are taking pathetically little, and I think it's possible that plasma grenades suck.

I'll keep a jammer-loaded Thumper in my inventory for minesweeping purposes, but I think my days of using it as a weapon are over. The Rocklet Rifle seems to offer excellent versitility, doing good damage to both infantry, armor and MAXs. Maybe I'll try that.

Opinions to the contrary are welcome. So many people praise the plasma Thumper that I wouldn't be surprised if someone proved me wrong.

MacavitySWE · 2003-10-31, 07:50 AM

Plasma thumper is quite good if you use it as it's supposed to be used. You on top of tower/wall and lobbing green burning doom on the heads of your doomed enemies

Also, secondary mode inside towers rock since the troops are hurt bad as they charge upwards

But I agree, sometimes the damage seem to be quite low

Kikinchikin · 2003-10-31, 08:14 AM

meh no wonder a lot of peeps escape me. that thing sucks im only keeping SA for decimator, altho i may switch that in for something else sniping maybe.

SilverLord · 2003-10-31, 09:15 AM

What about the frag grenade? Does it do good damage to an area?

Acaila · 2003-10-31, 09:50 AM

I use frag nades, better aoe damage, less of a grief weapon.

SweetTater · 2003-10-31, 10:27 AM

You forget one thing about plasma: the OMGWTF factor. When someone sees that green mist around them and they start getting hit for damage constantly, a lot of people will panic. It doesn't matter that they aren't getting hit for a lot of damage, if their screen keeps flashing red, they'll freak.

Mudflap · 2003-10-31, 10:40 AM

Let's not forget the ability to paint cloakers. It's nice to be able to light them up for friendlies, or even have a little help finding them if you dont have DL.

I've always liked plasma, and still use it. If you're really good, like I am sometimes, you'll get direct hits, and those hurt like a mother! Two direct hits takes out pretty much anyone, three kill everything but MAXes and vehicles.

SilverLord · 2003-10-31, 11:30 AM

In my outdoors load out I have an MCG, Thumper with 4 boxes of plasma's. I might make it so I have 1 jammer box, 1 plasma box, and 2 frag boxes.

Edit: What exacly can the jammers do except disable mines and such?

MacavitySWE · 2003-10-31, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by SilverLord

What exacly can the jammers do except disable mines and such?

They disable implants also, making it hard for a max to use DL, a grunt to use surge and so on

Generally piss people off to have all their implants gone during a period of time

Happy lil Elf · 2003-10-31, 01:35 PM

Disable implants.

Spee · 2003-10-31, 01:48 PM

It also pwnz0rzzz t3h r4d4r.

ZjinPS · 2003-10-31, 01:54 PM

Just like any weapon with a 'splash' effect, the closer you are to the target on impact the more damage it gets. The fact that ALL of the damage now stacks instead of overwriting makes it more useful.. in theory.

I still prefer the rocket rifle.. I usually have a few plasma grenades in a pistol holster for hunting infils and tossing into respawn rooms. Plasma nades own infils..

Often, I will go to a plasma when my cycler empties if Im close enough. I can throw 2 nades in the time it takes to reload..roughly..

Acaila · 2003-10-31, 02:18 PM

Jammers also disable vehicle weapons I think. Not sure as I am usually running like a coward when I am not in 1

Unknown · 2003-10-31, 02:24 PM

Nope, jammers do not disable vehicles. The only thing that will disable vehicles (and it only disables their weapons) is the EMP (which, it seems, alot of people don't even know about. Yes, that's right, your EMP is good for more than just clearing a CE's hard work in 2 seconds.). It only has a shortlived effect, but it's kinda fun seeing the gunners panic after getting hit by an EMP wave

.

Jagd · 2003-10-31, 02:35 PM

Man you have got to be kidding me! You expect to get full damage even if you have no aim? Plasma is still the most spam-happy weapon out there, and of course if they are on the fringes of the explosion they only get a little crispy. Rather than claiming plasma sucks, you should head to VR and practice hitting stationary targets before moving out onto the battlefield.