Cluster Flak vs. Flak Artillery

goodgimp · Post by **goodgimp** » Wed, 25. Mar 09, 19:30

So I just got my first M2 ship last night (around 3:00am... dang you, Egosoft!

) and so for the first time I'm able to equip some Cluster Flak arrays. Previously, I flew a M7 Tiger with lots of Flak Artillery and I love that stuff! Swats down those pesky fighters like ants.

So looking at the Cluster Flak stats I was a little surprised. It's projectile is much slower, has shorter range, and does less damage. I believe the upside is that it hits a wide area, is that true? If so, is it worth it?

What have been your experiences between the two?

OTAS Employee · Post by **OTAS Employee** » Wed, 25. Mar 09, 19:36

The upside is that it looks pretty.

It's apparently a bigger version of the FBL: you'll be lucky to hit something once in a blue moon.
Just like the FBL, it's apparently bugged.

EmperorJon · Post by **EmperorJon** » Wed, 25. Mar 09, 19:36

I think it's meant to hit a wide area, it explodes all over the place, but it actually doesn't do area damage, it's just if one of the exploding flak projectiles hits, so, in other words, it only seems to do damage when it hits directly, so you should just get FAA, which, as you said, has a faster fire, more damage, more range etc.

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 25. Mar 09, 19:37

CFA is useless as the cluster effect is not considered part of the weapon range. Stick to Flak Artillery.

Chealec · Post by **Chealec** » Wed, 25. Mar 09, 19:48

CFA detonates at a specific range - once the fighters are inside that range they're perfectly safe. However if you want to see how nasty it CAN be, find something like a Pirate Carrack with a few on-board and sit about 2km away from it... it can be ouchies.

In practice though it's vastly inferior to the FAA and will cause a lot of friendly fire incidents.

Gazz · Post by **Gazz** » Wed, 25. Mar 09, 21:35

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=240049