EMP vs APEMP vs Actually Good Design

I dunno about you, but I think basically any other option would've been better: pure kinetic, pure EMP, APHE, APFrag, even APHEAT... If you can find me a blueprint where we can both agree that its EMP defenses are good and that is somehow more vulnerable to APEMP than pure EMP or some other shell, then I will swallow my words right back.

[@teche6564]

The EMP failed to charge Ohm's batteries so badly that Ohm couldn't talk for this video.

[@BorderWise12]

Very nice demonstration! I guess AP-EMP isn't so great after all. Good to know!

[@thebevil8127]

Ohm single-handedly debunking a whole meta overnight, love it!

[@DarkKinou]

Ime the only viable way of using EMP offensively against a well designed EMP protection is to spray small hits all around the craft (radar guided missiles are perfect for this). With enough hits it will disable LAMS, detection, shields, smokes and with a bit of luck a few LWC/CIWS. Imo it's a decent crippling damage type which fits EMP, the problem is that it doesn't synergise with any other damage type thus you have to invest heavily for it to be worthwhile. Even then you won't end a fight with EMP alone.

[@dr.robertnick9599]

Is it not pretty easy to have the block between EMP susceptible block and hull be made out of rubber? If HE gets to the rubber block dies, but the susceptible block would die too, even if the block its attached too would be HA.

[@DarkKinou]

@@dr.robertnick9599 Inside the hull it's quite easy to make EMP susceptible blocs almost immune. If you insulate surface components for EMP you make them quite vulnerable to all other damage types which are more common. Because surface components are already a weak points in the hull (lower AP / AC, no armor stacking bonus) EMP proofing them would exacerbate the problem.

[@dr.robertnick9599]

@@DarkKinou Thats the thing! They are already vulnerable to everything, why not make EMP completely useless, even if sprayed with small hits all around?

[@DarkKinou]

@@dr.robertnick9599 Because you are far less likely to encounter EMP than any other damage type. For example LAMS are way tankier than rubber, if you insulate them you make them much more susceptible to common damage types.

[@mechastophiles2118]

I think AP-EMP came about from the window of time between the EMP changes and the recent faction craft rework. It's still useful in the "maybe I'll get lucky and fry something important" sense, but not in the "I'll instantly toast the AI" sense. Better than AP-Frag? Probably not. Situationally useful? Possibly, if you find something that just has surge protectors slapped just inside the hull. But as you implied, good EMP defense means keeping the funny electricity away from sensitive bits.

[@LH-gt6gz]

Did notice the internal emp hits didnt go to the surges. Thats worth something

[@OhmIsFutile]

Most of them did..? Keep an eye on the top right corner and you'll see several

[@LH-gt6gz]

@@OhmIsFutile i probably missed that then welp sorry

[@IainDoherty51]

EMP in general is just an annoying damage type to deal with, either killing things excessively fast or doing absolutely nothing. If the person armoured against it then it's one of the worst options available even in AP form, and yet it is a really easy damage type for new players to get used to using because a fair amount of early to midgame designs really don't handle it well.

[@ainumahtar]

Good thing I mostly use EP EMP in mixed turrets with other AP like APHE and APfrag then ^^

[@carlborg8023]

The thing about AP-EMP that makes it objectively better than pure EMP is that it also does kinetic damage, and so it will at least do something against a well EMP protected craft. (To that end one could just as well use a heavy or hollow point). That said I neither like, nor have ever used EMP sooo...