My first M7 Yokohama

[Palladin888]

Laaaaate last night I finally bought my first M7. I haven't even used it yet.
My impression so far

good spee 112m/s almost as fast as my Vidar
5,000,000 shield points 5x that of my Vidar.
good cargo space 2xthe space of the vidar.

Now i need to figure out what guns to fit and where to fit them.

I probably wont get to use it until my next day off which is 4 days away.

[EmperorJon]

For a personal M7, the Yoko is reasonable, as it's fast and quite nicely shielded. However, when it comes to weapons, it has no anticapital, really.

I'd suggest SSC everywhere you can, EMPC anywhere else, and a few MAML spare for anti corvette if need be. And that's basically all you can do.

[Palladin888]

I have noticed that Terran ships have a decent tank ability but are lacking in weapon load out versatility. At this time I am still trying to buy up all the SSPs but thre are very few around and they have a much shorter range than the MAMLs.

[eldyranx3]

Board an Aegir. Much better than the Yokohama.

[Master of the Blade]

Board an Aegir. Much better than the Yokohama.

Broadly true, but I actually find it easier to fight while flying the (somewhat tiny) Yoko than when using the Aegir. Aegir eats too much fire while the Yoko fights like a really big, really tough M6.

Loadout wise, you could go with EJ's suggestion and go with SSCs everywhere you can, but this omnomnoms the laser capacitor rather fast. It's better to go with SSC in all turrets and 8x M/AML in the front. Though the freight bay is quite small for a frigate, the Yokohama has enough space for ample quantities of ammo and energy cells along with its other equipment.

[pjknibbs]

At this time I am still trying to buy up all the SSPs but thre are very few around and they have a much shorter range than the MAMLs.

SSP isn't designed for the same job as MAML--you use SSPs to swat fighters, while MAMLs are better used against bigger, slower targets.

[kardgar]

If you haven't tried one the Tiger is an awesome M7. What it lacks in shielding it makes up with raw firepower, anti-flak everywhere and IBL's on the main battery and top notch speed.

The Yoko is solid though, however I prefer the Tiger as an M7.

[BDK]

My first Yoko quickly got demoted to single sector patroller. As a personal ship it's no good at all. Sure it can kill fighters quicker than anything I've seen, but as far as damage goes against capital ships it's no good and it has no space for fighters either.

A Panther is so much better; More firepower, faster and room for 32 fighters.

[Palladin888]

I played with the Yoko last night a bit.

It can mount SSP in the top and bottom turrets. I had 4 MAML and 4 SSP in the main slots but I am gona change back to 8 MAML in the main bay.

SSPs are deff great for swatting fighters though.

The trick to MAML use that I have found is to strafe as much as possible while at max MAML range. Even with Kha'ak is seems to drop the damage taken.

Just need 1more 1GJ shield and I will be ready for the last stage of OFF plot.

Thinking about taking in a half dozen TMs loaded with M3 fighters

[cmdnenad]

Get some Wraiths, they really add some anti-capital ship punch. And Yokohama needs it...

[deca.death]

.

Sell that thing and buy yourself some decent commonwealth m7, like teladi or split ones. Next time ask for "second opinion" here on forum before you decide to invest. Terran M7 have no dedicated frigate weaponry so they have to use corvette weapons. Yes, this is bad as it sounds. Their damage output is pathetic. in OFF they can serve well to a point. Here, link:

Aegir, Field test

[Master of the Blade]

Sell that thing and buy yourself some decent commonwealth m7,

Your attitude towards anything that isn't overpowered is really annoying. Seiously, just because the Shrike/Panther/Tiger are 'better' than the Yokohama, doesn't mean you shouldn't fly it. The Yoko gets Wraiths, which are just fine against capitals, and to an extent it can go against a Kha'ak capital with only its lasers. (I haven't actually tried it, but since the 3GJ shielded Hyperion of X3R with its BHEPTs could kill a 9GJ KM2 before the KM2 took down its shields, I'd imagine 5GJ is pretty safe to be taking constant 3xGKE fire from the rear turret of a destroyer.)

[deca.death]

Your attitude towards anything that isn't overpowered is really annoying.

Word you were seeking was "powerful" not overpowered. Terran faction was added later into X3 world and certain aspects of them were left unfinished, like their economy and their M7 class. They could add few tweaks like lateral mounted PSP turrets or anything, making them even remotely useful. But they haven't and that's how things are. They are terrible choice, especially for first M7. And I don't but that "anti fighter platform" for unsuccessful designs. My Nova Raider was anti fighter platform. That's like to have fighter which sucks at dogfighting but its great for killing drones.

[TBV]

The Yoko is a perfectly acceptable player-frigate. It does take marginally longer to kill the first couple of enemy capital-ships than it's IBL-equipped counterparts, but it doesn't struggle to do it in any way shape or form.

It is only at a serious disadvantage if you let the AI fly it in sector, as it'll be
seriously out-ranged as it heads toward it's target.

[deca.death]

The Yoko is a perfectly acceptable player-frigate. It does take marginally longer to kill the first couple of enemy capital-ships than it's IBL-equipped counterparts, but it doesn't struggle to do it in any way shape or form.

"Marginally"? You are pulling my leg, right?
Oh I had this conversation once already.

For weapons, you've got recommendations. And I would claim that IBL has no alternative, unless you want to fight with 40% of battle capacity. Damage output of vette weapons like CIG/ISRs is ridiculously low compared with IBL, which is nothing more then slightly nerfed PPC. There are two tier difference between those guns. When you have 4 of those on board, you fear no one, Q or K are just nuisances then. Without IBL anthing bigger then vette is potential problem.

As always, I find myself disagreeing. CIG is a perfectly acceptable alternative to IBL in most situations,

Perhaps in situations that don't include capital ships. It's not about opinion, its pure mathematics.

CIG DPS hull/shield
3.200 9.800 =13.000 (range 3,46 km)
IBL DPS hull/shield
8.100 46.200 =54.300 (range 5,14 km)

I can clear xenon sector with 4 IBLs. Try killing single K with CIGs, then you'll see the difference.

Btw CIG=MAML.

[Infekted]

So you'd usually put in 4 IBL? So factor of 2 difference on your stated figures. How long can most M7s keep firing those 4 IBLs?

I do agree with you as it goes, the terran M7 is gimped compared to commonwealth ones. But not to the extent that you are implying.

[Master of the Blade]

Word you were seeking was "powerful" not overpowered.

No, I deliberately chose 'overpowered'. I use it in the capacity that there is a CLEAR DIFFERENCE in the popularity of frigates as a result of their percievable effectiveness. (Shrike/Panther/Tiger>everything else. More recently, Griffon/Shrike/Panther/Tiger>everything else )

Just because it isn't overpowered, the Yokohama is in no way, shape or form a frigate that cannot hold its own. Sure, PSPs somewhere would have been nice, but the setup it has now works in general combat in much the same way as the Griffon, which I recall you liking. Now, let's not start arguing about the Griffon, because this thread is about the Yokohama.

When someone has bought a Yokohama and is complimenting it, cutting in with 'get another frigate' is the least helpful thing you can do imo.

Anyway, back OT,

The trick to MAML use that I have found is to strafe as much as possible while at max MAML range. Even with Kha'ak is seems to drop the damage taken.

Fine for Kha'ak corvettes and Commonwealth/Xenon battleships, not so fine for the KM2s and KM1s you'll probably face.

For fighting Kha'ak battleships, for all I've praised the Yoko, it is at a disadvantage compared to IBL, GC or PPC equipped frigates though by no means useless. You do not want to stay at max M/AML range, because GKEs outrange them, and the battleship will be able to bring 2 or 3 turrets to bear on you. This is somewhat painful, whether you're in a Thresher or a Deimos.

Fly in as quickly as possible and get behind the enemy battleship. This means only one turret can hit you, and your main weapons (assuming 8xM/AML) can out-dps three GKEs. If you start taking fire from any other turrets, switch to external view and strafe to a position where only the rear one is firing. Assuming you're not running MARS, you could try smuggling a few Wraiths past their defences but I've never been one for missiles to be honest.

[deca.death]

So you'd usually put in 4 IBL? So factor of 2 difference on your stated figures. How long can most M7s keep firing those 4 IBLs?

I do agree with you as it goes, the terran M7 is gimped compared to commonwealth ones. But not to the extent that you are implying.

Oh believe me, I know exactly what I'm talking about. Remember when you pepper Q from distance in springblossom? It take ages to die. That is same kind of firepower terran M7s deploy.

Most M7s can sustain 4 IBLs reasonably long. I put 4 in weaker w. generator ships like shrike or Q. Or when they can't fit more like in aggy or deimos or cerebrus (in last two they are divided on flanks 2+2 so that's not really best solution). In tiger I put 2+2 in turrets (they can fire practically forever) +6 in spinal, 10 total. Panther can sustain 6 IBLs for 52 sec. It's 14.5 million of shield damage. 8 CIGs/MAMLs in same time can do about 4 million. Numbers speak for themselves, but practice confirms them. Any of you cleared xenon sectors in yoko? Tiger has no problem in doing so.

[Master of the Blade]

Any of you cleared xenon sectors in yoko?

Yup. First ship I ever cleared X472 with, actually. Sure, it takes longer than with higher dps ships, but it's far from impossible and not even that hard since the Yoko is essentially immune to all anticapital weapons. Funner than with a Tiger/Panther, too, because you actually have to 'dogfight' Qs, kite bigger capitals and are immune to pretty much any number of fighters instead of just killing stuff with IBLs. It's a matter of fun.

I'm actually flying a Tiger in my current game. It's fully capable of clearing Xenon sectors alone, using the same tactics over and over and OVER again. However, I bought an Aegir (a mod adds it to shipyards, but this is irrelevant) and have the OFF Griffon to escort me not because I need them but because it's more fun to have to protect your allies and have them protect you. You have to be active, not just 'meh, it's a Q. Kill in 5 seconds, move on.' It's more, 'that Q's going for my Aegir. Will it be OK?', 'Oh, the Griffon just tore through thirty fighters. Cool!'. Because the Yokohama needs you to be active with different approaches to all enemies, you get that involvement. Not a perfect analogy/whatever, but I think it gets my point across.

[TBV]

"Marginally"? You are pulling my leg, right?

Not at all. It takes a bit longer, so what? this game never gets hard enough combat-wise for it to be a problem. Version 1.0 yes, but not now.