Defender & Firespray Comparison

[Hobojebus 11,341]

Ugly...UGLY! how dare you sir!

[DreadStar 1,124]

I am moving on after two weeks playing three amigos, and I am going to try out this one tomorrow (i am going to be testing defender builds for a few weeks).

 

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

 

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

 

Captain Jonus (22)

Swarm Tactics (2)

Seismic Charges (2)

 

I am not really certain on my choices for Jonus, but i like how it looks on paper thus far. Oh and yes, i accept critiques (i think i got the word right this time?!)

Edited August 1, 2014 by DreadStar

[horsepire 372]

 

MJ calls it overcosted.

Obviously it must be. 

I believe MJ also said there was no way to put an appropriate cost on the white k-turn as well.

 

Edit: I also believe to date this is the best platform for the heavy laser cannon. I never could justify putting it on a firespray because of the rear firing arc.

 

 

Why does the rear firing arc make it a worse gun platform? It's the only ship in the game that has a rear firing arc...it's in addition to the utility of the HLC, not instead of it.

 

If you want to argue for the white K-turn making the Defender better, OK. I disagree, but fine. But saying you would never put a heavy laser on the firespray...because it CAN shoot behind itself with the primary weapon? That makes ZERO sense.

[Lagomorphia 1,285]

They share mathematical durability averages, missile and cannon upgrade slots and point cost ballpark, but beyond that they're very different beasts. Direct comparisons favour one in its field and the other in its field.

 

Why does the rear firing arc make it a worse gun platform? It's the only ship in the game that has a rear firing arc...it's in addition to the utility of the HLC, not instead of it.

The Firespray pays for its rear arc in points, it isn't free. The HLC can't fire out of it, so you're paying for two main guns that are in competition.

 

The Firespray uses the Rear Arc instead of immediately turning, to keep using the HLC it would have to red K. The Defender, however, has a white K turn instead: that flips it around allowing the secondary weapon to be fired. That's why it's better for the Heavy Laser Cannon. That and Rexler Brath.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Lagomorphia

[Introverdant 707]

 

 

MJ calls it overcosted.

Obviously it must be. 

I believe MJ also said there was no way to put an appropriate cost on the white k-turn as well.

 

Edit: I also believe to date this is the best platform for the heavy laser cannon. I never could justify putting it on a firespray because of the rear firing arc.

 

 

Why does the rear firing arc make it a worse gun platform? It's the only ship in the game that has a rear firing arc...it's in addition to the utility of the HLC, not instead of it.

 

If you want to argue for the white K-turn making the Defender better, OK. I disagree, but fine. But saying you would never put a heavy laser on the firespray...because it CAN shoot behind itself with the primary weapon? That makes ZERO sense.

 

 

I think a lot of people find it generally advantageous to line up shots with the rear arc more than the front. It lets you dictate range more and means you don't have to K-turn. You also don't have an especially long K-turn. Range 3 forward-arc shots are not really the firesprays main schtick. It's not the worst place you can put an HLC, but a reasonable percentage of your HLC shots are going to be taken while either stressed or otherwise having your action denied. Which is why it's mostly run with Krassis.

[Hobojebus 11,341]

 

 

MJ calls it overcosted.

Obviously it must be. 

I believe MJ also said there was no way to put an appropriate cost on the white k-turn as well.

 

Edit: I also believe to date this is the best platform for the heavy laser cannon. I never could justify putting it on a firespray because of the rear firing arc.

 

 

Why does the rear firing arc make it a worse gun platform? It's the only ship in the game that has a rear firing arc...it's in addition to the utility of the HLC, not instead of it.

 

If you want to argue for the white K-turn making the Defender better, OK. I disagree, but fine. But saying you would never put a heavy laser on the firespray...because it CAN shoot behind itself with the primary weapon? That makes ZERO sense.

 

HLC cant use the rear fire arc and its not doing your self any favours k-turning that beast, better to stick with primery weapon and mount the HLC on a ship made to k-turn really.

[horsepire 372]

Do we know how many points the rear arc on the Firespray "costs"? I mean, has someone done the math?

 

I'm not saying the Firespray is the world's best HLC platform or even that it's better than the Defender, just that I wouldn't rule out taking a HLC on the Spray just because it can also shoot backwards (albeit not with the admittedly quite expensive gun you've given it).

 

Semi on-topic question: people keep talking about how you have keep the Defender at range, and that it's great at staying at range. This may be a stupid question, but...how? You can't move backwards in this game, i.e., you can't "kite." You have the white K-turn and that's great but it doesn't move you backwards. With the 1-forward and barrel roll you can sort of stand in place I guess? Is that what people like to do? But then you don't have an action...

 

EDIT: And you actually don't even have a 1-forward in the Defender, so...guys? How do you keep a ship from closing on you?

Edited August 1, 2014 by horsepire

[AgentV 456]

 

I am moving on after two weeks playing three amigos, and I am going to try out this one tomorrow (i am going to be testing defender builds for a few weeks).

 

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

 

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

 

Captain Jonus (22)

Swarm Tactics (2)

Seismic Charges (2)

 

I am not really certain on my choices for Jonus, but i like how it looks on paper thus far. Oh and yes, i accept critiques (i think i got the word right this time?!)

 

 

That build is so much fun...

[catachanninja 4,131]

My biggest knock on the defender is all the red turns, not alot of arc dodging you can do in a straight line. I can't find an application I'd rather want a defender in

[Lagomorphia 1,285]

The 1 and 2 turns are red. The Defender doesn't boost and barrel like an Interceptor, it zooms past and Ks. Treat it like an interceptor and it'll fail you.

[Lagomorphia 1,285]

Semi on-topic question: people keep talking about how you have keep the Defender at range, and that it's great at staying at range. This may be a stupid question, but...how? You can't move backwards in this game, i.e., you can't "kite." You have the white K-turn and that's great but it doesn't move you backwards. With the 1-forward and barrel roll you can sort of stand in place I guess? Is that what people like to do? But then you don't have an action...

 

EDIT: And you actually don't even have a 1-forward in the Defender, so...guys? How do you keep a ship from closing on you?

 

Full throttle forward, left or right, then K turn. You're then behind them.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Lagomorphia

[Ken at Sunrise 2,064]

 

I think if the PS3 had an EPT you would see a lot more them. Named ones are probably getting playtime for the EPT alone because their abilities are pretty marginal and combotastic.

You forgot the most important trait of the defender, it's butt ugly  absolutely awesome looking in every single way!

Fixed that for you.

 

 

I know it is just taste and some say it's just a TIE with more panels but to me

 

The TIE Defender looks like a killer/predator. 

[bamaguy94 15]

personally i flew a PS1 defender with ion cannon in a tie swarm with howlrunner and mauler with SW and honestly i found most people ignore the defender and focus the higher PS so i can always boost it and i feel it makes it much more cost effective if your boosting its PS to an 8 or 7 just food for thought

 

[Eruletho 544]

 

 

I am moving on after two weeks playing three amigos, and I am going to try out this one tomorrow (i am going to be testing defender builds for a few weeks).

 

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

 

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

 

Captain Jonus (22)

Swarm Tactics (2)

Seismic Charges (2)

 

I am not really certain on my choices for Jonus, but i like how it looks on paper thus far. Oh and yes, i accept critiques (i think i got the word right this time?!)

 

 

That build is so much fun...

 

I like Jonus naked with Onyx's instead of Deltas

[Lagomorphia 1,285]

I'm not saying the Firespray is the world's best HLC platform or even that it's better than the Defender, just that I wouldn't rule out taking a HLC on the Spray just because it can also shoot backwards (albeit not with the admittedly quite expensive gun you've given it).

Depends on how you fly the Firespray. If you're taking a large number of rear arc shots that HLC is mostly wasted, and it's far too expensive to waste. If you're going to great effort to make the most of your HLC (such as K-turning and long range maneuvering) you're reducing the effectiveness of the rear arc further. For players who make extensive use of both arcs the HLC simply isn't worth it: they'd rather maneuver thinking with both arcs and avoid K-turning to optimise their rear attacks.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Lagomorphia

[Lord Master Igneus 46]

I really like having a combo of Autoblasters and cluster missiles for close combat, cluster's would be good for the lower agility ships too especially at range 1.

[Introverdant 707]

I really like having a combo of Autoblasters and cluster missiles for close combat, cluster's would be good for the lower agility ships too especially at range 1.

 

You.... you do? 

[MajorJuggler 7,752]

I think if the PS3 had an EPT you would see a lot more them. Named ones are probably getting playtime for the EPT alone because their abilities are pretty marginal and combotastic.

You forgot the most important trait of the defender, it's butt ugly.

 

 

 

I think if the PS3 had an EPT you would see a lot more them. Named ones are probably getting playtime for the EPT alone because their abilities are pretty marginal and combotastic.

You forgot the most important trait of the defender, it's butt ugly  absolutely awesome looking in every single way!

Fixed that for you.

 

 

PISTOLS DRAWN AT HIGH NOON TOMORROW! 

[barriecritzer 479]

I have found that a defender and a firespray work really well together.

[Nataris 259]

BH + Recon

Onyx Defender + HLC

2x Academy Tie

Defender flanks while the Ties block for the BH up the middle. Its not the greatest list, but I've enjoyed flying it so far.