Ion Cannon - the poor-man's Photon Torpedo?

[pneumonic81]

Generally speaking, I think the Ion is a great weapon. I thought more of it before MW decided to take away the holding cost, but I still think its a fine weapon.

And again that is because there is no "ion energy" requirement in FC. Without that requirement, the weapon is almost too good in FC. The change in overloading was done to partially compensate for that change, and to make it more consistent with other weapons that overload with a 50% increase in power.

I will test a theory out over Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling that Orions are gonna have a new favorite weapon ...

it doesnt have the fear that Photons had, but the ion will definetly be flexable for the power hungry orions.

[Nerroth]

I will test a theory out over Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling that Orions are gonna have a new favorite weapon ...

If that is gonna be a problem, maybe a racial restriction could be added to the weapon?

(Make it like the Eneen HPR or Trobrin radiation phasers - in that almost no-one else would risk using the technology, lest it do very bad things to them...)

[pneumonic81]

well i think its a smart idea to consider limiting them like the hellbore is limited.

[mjwest]

I will test a theory out over Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling that Orions are gonna have a new favorite weapon ...

If that is gonna be a problem, maybe a racial restriction could be added to the weapon?

Oh, I don't think it will be bad or anything. I don't think it will be unbalancing. It will just be what it already is: a compromise weapon between a photon and disruptor where you trade some damage for more accuracy, but also maintain some crunch.

It will never match the screaming terror of held overloaded photons. However, depending on what you want to do as an Orion, it provides more flexible tactics.

Again, I don't think the ion cannon is unbalanced but neither do I think it is too weak, either.

[storeylf]

Again, I don't think the ion cannon is unbalanced but neither do I think it is too weak, either.

Agreed, whilst I haven't played it yet, at least on paper it looks a well balanced weapon.

[Kang]

Ah, thanks. Must have missed that bit

[Steve Cole]

A reminder that we need playtest reports on the Vudar.

[SWO_Daddy]

I will test a theory out over Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling that Orions are gonna have a new favorite weapon ...

I can't speak with any authority about Ion Cannons in FC, but in SFB, the only thing that keeps SFB Ion Cannons "in the box" on Orions is the Ion requirement. Most Orion ships don't have enough impulse engine boxes to support more than couple of them. Remove the ion power requirement, and I'd be really tempted to arm a BR with 5 of them.

[mjwest]

Remove the ion power requirement, and I'd be really tempted to arm a BR with 5 of them.

In SFB, sure. But in Federation Commander, you are limited to a maximum of three on the BR.