[2019] ST: Priority Air Defense Sector

ST, priority air defense sector

The mechanics and visual components of the priority air defense sector, as we promised earlier, will be updated.

The purpose of the changes - in accordance with the wishes of the community to make the priority sector more convenient and understandable and also give a tangible result.

The boost to AA defense is now activated in a much more convenient way: you need to point the camera in the desired direction and activate it by pressing the button. At the same time, as before, the efficiency of the other sector will be reduced.

Immediately after activation, the defending player receives an instant result, a burst of damage is immediately inflicted on the attacking wave caught in AA range by way of a percentage reduction of the current hit points of the attacking squadron. If there are no enemy aircraft in the air defense area at the time of activation, no damage will be done. Instant damage is applied to aircraft with the least amount of hit points at the time of activation. In other words, air defense will try to shoot down the maximum number of aircraft.

Then begins a phase of gradual strengthening of the sector, which lasts a few seconds. During this time, the sector increases its efficiency, and then works at full capacity for a time. After that, the strengthening of the sector is deactivated. To re-activate, it is necessary to wait for it to recharge, during which AA efficiency returns to standard values. The gain, duration, and cooldown options depend upon the ship.

Strengthening an AA sector affects only the permanent constant damage values and does not affect the damage caused by explosions.

Together with the priority sector, the skill Manual Fire control of AA Armament has also been re-designed. Now, it will increase the instant damage inflicted, increase the cooldown duration of the priority sector. It will also completely remove the effects applied to constant damage (both the gradual 'buff' period to the priority sector AND the debuff to the non-prioirty sector side). This will allow ships with weak air defenses to deal a significant 'burst' of damage to enemy aircraft at the moment of activation, but will not increase their ability to deal higher amounts of constant, permanent damage.

Undoubtedly, this change will affect the interaction of aircraft with ships and will require additional balance changes. We will closely monitor the new priority sector system and make adjustments as deemed necessary.

Please note that the information in the Development Blog is preliminary.

Hey Captains,

Thanks for your feedback on the sector changes and the suggestions on how to make the interface easier.

What are you thoughts on these proposed changes? Do you like the sectors getting a "burst" and then proceedings to strengthen, before you having to reactivate it again.

Thanks and keep the constructive feedback coming.

Hey TheDreadnought,

If you take a look at the first screenshot you will see the timer down in the bottom left hand corner.

You can see the "13" and that is your timer.

The answer to your second question is: the planes just have to be in range for the burst to occur. Remember the burst happens and then the sector gradually strengthens before returning to normal, so there is a time where you AA will "strong" and then reduce. Please also remember that there is a cooldown time on activating the sector and that is determined by the type of ship.