The Star Citizen Alpha 4.10.3 PTU patch introduces significant buffs to the Scarnoff zap gun, including increased damage and reduced mass, making it much more effective in combat, particularly in the new Vanduul Incursion mission which features updated gameplay elements like shield mechanics and lootable repair tools. The host highlights these improvements, notes some mission changes, and encourages players to try the enhanced weapon and mission once the patch is officially released.
The video begins with the host introducing the new Star Citizen Alpha 4.10.3 PTU patch, which was recently released and quickly expanded to all waves, indicating that the developers are eager to push it live soon. The host speculates that the patch might go live early next week, although it could be reserved for the upcoming Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE), but that seems unlikely. The focus of the video is on testing the changes made to the Scarnoff zap gun, which has received significant buffs in this update.
Upon attempting to purchase the zap gun from in-game shops, the host discovers that it has been removed from the current inventory, despite being available in the previous patch. Fortunately, they had stocked up on several guns earlier and proceed to test with those. The host reviews the weapon’s updated stats, noting a 41% reduction in mass, a decrease in damage drop-off, and a major increase in impact (alpha) damage from 10 to 30. This results in a 200% increase in damage per second, indicating the weapon is much more powerful than before.
The host then tests the zap gun in combat during the new Vanduul Incursion mission, which is now locked behind reputation requirements. The mission involves retaking a boarded Caterpillar ship, which still has its shield active. The host points out that energy weapons like the zap gun cannot penetrate shields, requiring players to get inside the shield bubble to deal damage. Despite limited ammo, the gun proves significantly more effective, killing enemies quickly, but also has the drawback of damaging the user if fired at close range due to its increased jump range.
During the mission, the host observes other changes such as only one live Vanduul pod being present on board instead of several, making the mission slightly different. They also highlight that players can loot repair tools from the floor if they didn’t bring one, which is helpful for repairing ship components like the power plant. This adds some convenience and realism to the gameplay. The host successfully completes the mission and tests carrying the Vanduul pod back to their ship, confirming that an earlier bug preventing this was fixed.
In conclusion, the host finds the Scarnoff zap gun much improved and more viable in combat due to the damage boost and reduced mass, although its close-range self-damage requires caution. The new mission changes add some fresh elements but largely remain similar to before. Overall, the patch brings notable enhancements, especially to the zap gun, making it a more attractive choice for players in certain scenarios. The host wraps up by encouraging viewers to try out the weapon and mission themselves once the patch goes live.