FT Ranging shot.

[Matthew Darksteel]

I'm beggining to wonder if this skill is worth it with only lasting 30 seconds.

I've been pvping in a raa mc where this skill has worked well from being able to reload in 12 seconds however I'm wondering if this skill will have any use at all in a hherc for example where the reload is high. Also this is when I have no negative reload effects on me and I'm sure with crew loss and debuffs my reload on my gundeck at least willbe longer than 30 seconds rending this skill useless.

It may be possible to turn and use my other broadside to get the effects but still this is only 1 shot and also if I'm under negative crew effects then my turn rate is significantly reduced also.

I find that only having low pounder guns (cant remember the exact poundage) this skill really helps with being able to hit targets and also lets me engage at higher ranges to benefit from high FT strength. Also the range itself gives a damage bonus I understand (cba explaining it if you dont know). But again this is only on my raa mc and as well as it's servedme so far I'll be needing a heavy ship where my reload is quite high and so I'll only realisticly get one shot off like this and so the dps gain isnt that much.

http://potbs.grindlama.com/ft/?l=50&s=5325400507 is my build atm without ranging shot. I've had several FTs tell me this build is one of the worst they've seen because I'm not getting the running speed skills but it's working out very well for me atm I can tell you.

I reckon evasion isnt worth is because I've already got "Defence" which is good enough and only costs 20 morale to use. Ive never been too into econ so trade connections skill isnt worth me getting. This leaves me with debilitating shot, ranging shot, tax evasion(gives 5% armour and might also be good for making my econ trips quite short by using enemy ports), crew focus skills (looking at gunnery) and diplomacy.

[DiX Almighty]

On a side note, you dont have to spec for speed, but with no speed skills, my recommendation would be to add a snaring skill (i.e. Deter Pursuit) to slow your opponent since you cant speed up.

[alericmckearn]

i use it a lot on my monty in conjunction with hasty fire. an HH you can get down to around 18 second reload with rum ration/hasty (about the same for the 18 lbrs in the monty). i then hammer them with debilitating broadside or with overloaded shot.