The video provides a guide on selecting Quantum Drives in Star Citizen’s 3.24.2 patch, highlighting the importance of speed, stealth capabilities, health points, and cooldown times for different drive types. The presenter recommends competition drives for smaller ships and civilian drives for larger ones, while also advising players on where to purchase these components in-game.
In the video, the presenter discusses which Quantum Drive (QT Drive) players should choose for their ships in the Star Citizen game, specifically in the current 3.24.2 patch. They mention that this guide should remain relevant for the upcoming 3.24.3 patch as well. The presenter notes that while the choice of QT Drive was relatively simple in previous patches, changes in the game have introduced new factors to consider. The primary consideration is the speed of the QT Drives, which has been equalized across different sizes. Size one drives operate at 165,000 km/s, size two at 19,000 km/s, size three at 240,000 km/s, and the size four A90 jump can reach speeds of 300,000 km/s.
The video emphasizes that while speed is an important factor, players should also consider stealth capabilities when selecting a QT Drive. Stealth drives significantly reduce the electromagnetic (EM) signature of a ship, which can be crucial for avoiding detection. The presenter provides examples of different size two drives and their EM signatures, highlighting the stark differences between stealth, civilian, military, and industrial drives. For instance, a size two stealth B drive has an EM signature of 6,700, while an industrial B drive has a much higher signature of 49,900, making stealth drives preferable for players focused on evasion.
Another critical factor discussed is the health points (HP) of the QT Drives, which can impact a ship’s durability during combat. The presenter lists the HP values for various size two drives, noting that military drives offer the highest HP at 1,300, while competition drives have the lowest at 560. Although HP does not currently play a significant role due to the protective nature of shields, it could become more relevant in future patches, especially against penetrating weaponry. Thus, players should consider the HP of their QT Drives, particularly if they expect to engage in combat frequently.
Cooldown time is also crucial when selecting a QT Drive, as it determines how quickly a ship can jump again after a long jump. The presenter ranks the cooldown times for different drives, showing that competition drives generally have the fastest cooldowns, while industrial drives have the slowest. For size one drives, the competition B has a cooldown of 5.5 seconds, while the industrial D has a cooldown of 23 seconds. This aspect is particularly important for players who make frequent jumps, as longer cooldowns can significantly slow down travel efficiency.
In conclusion, the presenter recommends that if players are not concerned about stealth or combat, they should generally opt for competition drives for size one and size two ships, and civilian drives for size three ships. They also provide guidance on where to purchase these drives in the game, specifically mentioning Urko as a location to find components. The video concludes with a demonstration of the cooldown times for different drives, showcasing how the cooldown varies based on jump distance, and humorously suggests that players may have time to watch shows during longer cooldowns with slower drives.