How much does the increased rate of fire improve Storm Trooper DPS?

[Oddnerd]

Hey all. Has anyone here done the number crunching on storm trooper assault kit DPS improvement? I am not familiar with the calculation of ranged weapon damage in this game, so I don't know exactly what a 0 cooldown means math-wise.

I ask because I realized that I purchase stormtroopers exclusively as walker deterrents and manticore/whirlwind/fireprism hunters - I only ever buy them for the meltas. I know the assault kit is there, but by that point in the game a GM squad seems to pack as much punch, and with a small investment of energy they can do much more damage to heavy infantry.

[Cyris]

I actually did a big write-up of them a few weeks ago, lemme see if I can find it...

Here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2064&p=46705&hilit=ops#p46705

Relevant part:
Range 45.6 (a solid 7.5 longer then a standard range squad). They deal 30 damage with a 2 second burst, followed by a 2 second reload. This is 60 damage each over 2 seconds, followed by 2 seconds of downtime to reposition for the next shot. This comes out to 300 damage over 2 seconds (or 150 dps) for a total of 75 dps for the whole squad constantly firing (followed by 0 dps for 2s).


Does that make sense? Lemme try this:
Vanilla, ST deal 30 damage each for 2s (30 * 5 * 2 = 300 damage) followed by 3s of cooldown + reload time. This nets 60 dps.
Upgraded, ST still deal 30 damage for 2s, but then only 2s of reload time. This nets 75 dps.

Understanding the fire patters of weapons is as important (if not more important) then their actual dps - it helps inform what they best combat situation for the unit is. Storms will be MUCH more valuable to you if you can treat them like snipers - unload a volley, reposition, unload again. The +20% range (and nade) that the AK kit provides is very useful for this (as is the basic cloak). The cooldown is less valuable for hit and run (since it's hard to consistently be moving for exactly 2s), but bumps up sustained dps nicely.

[Wise Windu]

You can use this equation:

Code: Select all

        $dps = ($reload_f * $burst * $dmg_hp) / (($reload_f * ($windup + $winddown +   $burst + $cooldown)) + $reload_d);
     

Found here: viewtopic.php?p=22529#p22529

So normally, the equation will output: (1*2*30)/((1*(0+0+2+1))+2) = 60/5 = 12 DPS per model

Without Cooldown, it outputs: (1*2*30)/((1*(0+0+2+0))+2) = 60/4 = 15 DPS per model

So a 25% DPS increase

[Oddnerd]

Ok I see how it works now. So in order, you have a wind up period, then you fire a burst for a defined period, then you wind down, then you reload?

Do units only fire a single burst before having to reload? It seems silly that they would empty a clip that quickly.

EDIT - I just saw that on the codex there is a firing pattern explanation page. It looks like the reload frequency value determines how many bursts you can fit into a firing period. If I interpret it correctly, it looks like you have an initial wind-up, a burst, cooldown, burst, cooldown, burst, cooldown.... until that value of burst and cooldown reaches a certain value, then you reload. Is this correct?

[Wise Windu]

The wind up and wind down are taken into account after every shot as well, if the weapon has them. So it goes: wind up, burst, wind down, cooldown, wind up, burst, wind down, cooldown, repeat until reload. The weapon fires the average reload frequency value in bursts, so for Stormtroopers, the reload frequency is 1-1, which averages 1, so they fire 1 burst per reload cycle (wind up, burst, wind down, cooldown, reload), which deals 60 damage un-upgraded.