Heavy's OP Ion Torpedo

Hey, @felker_s - I know you're good about checking the forum.  Did you see the other posts on this topic?

@DarthFDG

I've read some, though I did not find any response from a CM on this topic, except when I (and some others) thought that firing 3 torpedoes was a bug. (Funny how uncommon the use of the card was, if we only noticed it this Summer). Though if there was a topic exactly like this one, with a longer conversation about it, then no, I did not find that one.

That being said, I'm also unsure what the player consensus is on this topic, for me, it is surprising to see people cheer for such an imbalanced buff (- maybe they only play as ground troops).

My main problem is that the torpedo requires no skill whatsoever, only some seconds to charge, and then it does all the work. Taking into account that with many ground vehicles, there is no way to dodge, and with starfighters, it is entirely up to your maneuvering abilities, this kind of damage output feels unfair.

I also thought and many of my friends that it is a bug. It is just super powerful and really OP. Really discourages you to waste points on ATST or any other vehicle!

The ion torpedoes are OP. All you need is 3 or 4 heavies with ion torpedoes and vehicles become pretty redundant. It just doesn't feel right that a heavy trooper can melt an AT-ST on their own. On Crait the AT-ST has become an almost pointless waste of BP. I sometimes find myself taking advantage of the OP nature of the ion torpedoes. On some maps they are a fairly easy way to avoid any real combat and easily stack BP by taking vehicles out from a long way away, Crait being a prime example of this. You will have a load of heavies right at the back of the map parking the bus. Ion turret set up and taking out every vehicle in sight with the OP ion torpedoes. The buff changed the way the GA's play and not for the better imo. Most speeders, LAAT gunner, AT-RT, any vehicle where the driver is exposed have always been easy to take out with a bit of a decent aim. To be fair all the vehicles have a weak point and can be taken out fairly easily with decent aim. The nature of the OP ion torpedoes makes having weak points on vehicles almost pointless if you can take them out from miles away with no real aiming requirements. Perhaps they can stay OP in terms of damage if the the lock on is made to take a lot longer something like the ion disruptors in GA without the distance restriction or perhaps combination of both distance restriction and longer lock on time. It needs some sort of balancing. 

I have heard that EA people plan to nerf the ION torpedo. But we don't know when it will be. 🤔

Anyway...

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Game-Information/ION-TORPEDO-was-hugely-buffed-just-a-small-talk/m-p/6866002#M6365

After some struggling, I found the countermeasure for the ION torpedo.

• For Srarfighters

I strongly recommend to use the Tactical Jammer star card(Fighter/Interceptor class only). It makes huge difference. Now, you can easily run from the missile lock on. 

Off course, taking the distance from those troublesome heavies is good tactics always. Then attack them from their above/behind.

For me, dodging the ion torpedo was really hard because the mechanics is totally different from the other lock on missiles. The Ion torpedo is very fast. Afterburner cannot break the lock on.

I should be careful for those projectiles. Circling was not a good trick.

• For Ground vehicles

As you know, for the ground vehicles, the situation is worse than the starfighters.

For the speeders, Tactical Jammer card is really good too.

For AT-STs, AATs, 3 defensive cards and taking cover is good.

Thanks @Sati_Sati.  Now I might have a chance at staying alive in a starfighter in GA.

@Sati_Sati

Yep, I've just upgraded my Jammer card today. Never felt the need for it before, but in GA, it seems to be better to have that one equipped, rather than a Laser Barrage / Overcharge damage buff card for example.

Taking cover with the AAT or AT-ST can be really clunky though. I always try to do it, but the AAT turns ever so slowly, and tends to get stuck in narrow pathways. The AT-ST is a bit better in its maneuverability, but it can also make interesting stepdances on the corner of Mos Eisley buildings.

Shouldn't the Burgg and its modification be nerfed?

@raidernaphtali

Far as I know, it has already been nerfed before (the number of projectiles on the burst upgrade for example). But I don't know, you may be right - on Xbox, I don't even see people using it, and I don't use it myself, so my knowledge on this weapon is vague at best.

From the patch notes of tomorrow:

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS

• Fixed an issue where Ion Torpedoes were too strong against vehicles

So let's hope they aren't as OP anymore!