While the RSI Zeus Mk 2 series seems to be the flagship feature coming with Star Citizen Alpha 3.24.2, CIG also applies some significant changes to the weapons and other ship components ahead of Engineering Gameplay that is supposed to be delivered with Alpha 4.0.
In a recent PTU build that provided access to Wave 4 testers, CIG revealed a complete readjustment of the Quantum Drive components, including changes applied to their speed, range, fuel tank, fuel consumption, and refueling costs. However, the cooldown time for Quantum Drives remained unchanged.
Based on the data collected by Erkul, the following changes have been applied to the Quantum Travel components:
- Agni
- Drive Speed: 61,575,010 -> 240,000,000 (+289%)
- Aither
- Drive Speed: 121,660,300 -> 190,000,000 (+56%)
- Allegro
- Drive Speed: 117,653,700 -> 300,000,000 (+155%)
- Atlas
- Drive Speed: 151,951,200 -> 165,000,000 (+8.5%)
- Balandin:
- Drive Speed: 198,629,100 -> 240,000,000 (+21%)
- Beacon:
- Drive Speed: 253,252,000 -> 165,000,000 (-35%)
- Fuel Consumption: 28 -> 10 (-64%)
- Bolon
- Drive Speed: 74,485,900 -> 190,000,000 (+155%)
- Bolt
- Drive Speed: 155,179,000 -> 190,000,000 (+22%)
- Burst
- Drive Speed: 169,827,800 -> 165,000,000 (-3%)
- Cascade
- Drive Speed: 126,626,000 -> 190,000,000 (+50%)
- Colossus
- Drive Speed: 92,362,510 -> 165,000,000 (+78%)
- Crossfield
- Drive Speed: 235,872,000 -> 190,000,000 (-19%)
- Fuel Consumption: 7 -> 10 (+43%)
- Drift
- Drive Speed: 171,317,600 -> 165,000,000 (-4%)
- Drifter
- Drive Speed: 93,355,660 -> 240,000,000 (+157%)
- Echo
- Drive Speed: 101,300,800 -> 240,000,000 (+137%)
- Eos
- Drive Speed: 138,543,800 -> 165,000,000 (+19%)
- Erebos
- Drive Speed: 101,300,800 -> 240,000,000 (+137%)
- Expedition
- Drive Speed: 148,971,800 -> 165,000,000 (+10%)
- Fissure
- Drive Speed: 106,266,500 -> 240,000,000 (+126%)
- Flash
- Drive Speed: 141,523,200 -> 190,000,000 (+34%)
- Flood
- Drive Speed: 151,951,200 -> 165,000,000 (+8%)
- Foxfire
- Drive Speed: 104,280,300 -> 165,000,000 (+58%)
- Goliath
- Drive Speed: 89,383,080 -> 165,000,000 (+85%)
- Hemera
- Drive Speed: 126,626,000 -> 190,000,000 (+50%)
- Huracan
- Drive Speed: 76,968,760 -> 190,000,000 (+146%)
- Hyperion
- Drive Speed: 145,992,400 -> 165,000,000 (+13%)
- Impulse
- Drive Speed: 113,218,600 -> 240,000,000 (+112%)
- Kama
- Drive Speed: 59,588,720 -> 240,000,000 (+303%)
- Khaos
- Drive Speed: 115,453,100 -> 190,000,000 (+64%)
- Lightfire
- Drive Speed: 89,383,080 -> 165,000,000 (+84%)
- Metis
- Drive Speed: 92,362,510 -> 240,000,000 (+160%)
- Nova
- Drive Speed: 142,764,600 -> 190,000,000 (+33%)
- Odyssey
- Drive Speed: 124,143,200 -> 190,000,000 (+53%)
- Pontes
- Drive Speed: 188,697,600 -> 240,000,000 (+27%)
- Quest
- Drive Speed: 116,694,600 -> 190,000,000 (+63%)
- Ranger
- Drive Speed: 105,273,400 -> 240,000,000 (+128%)
- Rush
- Drive Speed: 159,399,800 -> 165,000,000 (+3%)
- Siren
- Drive Speed: 268,149,200 -> 165,000,000 (-38%)
- Sojourn
- Drive Speed: 131,591,800 -> 190,000,000 (+44%)
- SparkFire
- Drive Speed: 74,485,900 -> 190,000,000 (+155%)
- Spectre
- Drive Speed: 201,111,900 -> 165,000,000 (-18%)
- Spicule
- Drive Speed: 167,593,300 -> 190,000,000 (+13%)
- SunFire
- Drive Speed: 86,900,220 -> 190,000,000 (+118%)
- Torrent
- Drive Speed: 132,833,200 -> 190,000,000 (+43%)
- TS-2
- Drive Speed: 208,560,500 -> 240,000,000 (+15%)
- Tyche
- Drive Speed: 97,328,240 -> 240,000,000 (+146%)
- Vesta
- Drive Speed: 53,629,850 -> 240,000,000 (+347%)
- VK-00
- Drive Speed: 283,046,400 -> 165,000,000 (-42%)
- Voyage
- Drive Speed: 157,910,100 -> 165,000,000 (+4%)
- Vulkan
- Drive Speed: 80,444,770 -> 165,000,000 (+105%)
- Wanderer
- Drive Speed: 99,314,530 -> 240,000,000 (+141%)
- Wayfare
- Drive Speed: 140,033,500 -> 165,000,000 (-18%)
- XL-1
- Drive Speed: 260,700,600 -> 190,000,000 (-27%)
- Yaluk
- Drive Speed: 67,037,310 -> 190,000,000 (+183%)
- Yeager
- Drive Speed: 248,286,300 -> 190,000,000 (-23%)
- Zephyr
- Drive Speed: 186,214,700 -> 165,000,000 (-11%)
For the most part, CIG has only improved the speed for Quantum Drive components as well as adjusting the first and second stage acceleration numbers. A few of the components have their consumption rate change, which means the effective range will remain the same for the majority of the QT parts.
The tank size for Quantum Drive is a factor that belongs to ships rather than the QT component itself, and there is not yet any reliable data to showcase those changes.
QT aside, CIG will now nerf all cannons across the board by reducing their magazine size and slowing down the reload speed. According to the developer, this change is going to make cannons feel balanced against repeaters. Unfortunately, the numbers for the cannon changes are not out yet.
It is yet to be seen how the cannon changes will shake up the meta. Prior to this, laser cannons have been among the top priorities for PvP battles as they are quite powerful in taking shields down in a matter of seconds.
The next build for PTU will allow access for all the backers, and if anything goes according to the plans, we might get our hands on Alpha 3.24.2 on live servers this weekend.
