Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Super-cruise Overcharged FSD (SCO) @DryHeatAndSand

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming SCO frame shift drive technology has dramatically altered the meta for travel across all fields and careers. This review will cover the dynamics behind SCO drive performance, and how it is affected by module size or grade changes.

Further advancements in this technology are expected over time, through what form these advancements take is yet to be fully explored. It has been implied that future ships will take SCO drives into account in their design, and that enhanced SCO performance may be a driving force behind encouraging commanders to purchase them.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:19 SCO Technology
0:46 SCO Boost
1:44 SCO Scaling
4:34 Other Attributes
5:22 Exceptions
5:49 Intra System Travel
6:20 Deep Space Transit
7:35 Combat Operations
8:28 Conclusion
9:48 Closing

updated 2 years ago

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Super-cruise Overcharged FSD (SCO)

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-05-24 | SCO frame shift drive technology has dramatically altered the meta for travel across all fields and careers. This review will cover the dynamics behind SCO drive performance, and how it is affected by module size or grade changes.

Further advancements in this technology are expected over time, through what form these advancements take is yet to be fully explored. It has been implied that future ships will take SCO drives into account in their design, and that enhanced SCO performance may be a driving force behind encouraging commanders to purchase them.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:19 SCO Technology
0:46 SCO Boost
1:44 SCO Scaling
4:34 Other Attributes
5:22 Exceptions
5:49 Intra System Travel
6:20 Deep Space Transit
7:35 Combat Operations
8:28 Conclusion
9:48 Closing

Nuclear Option | Tutorial | SAH-41 Chicane | How to fly a Helicopter.

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-12-19 | In this video I show some basic flight maneuvers and demonstrate some bad habits or mistakes that are commonly made during flight. This includes takeoff, low flight, terrain occlusion, evasive maneuvers, and landing.

Sources
Helicopter blades in flight: youtu.be/NUZGLkH0RJU?si=2K-DVYEiXEvVmnkT
Vortex ring state in smoke: youtu.be/UBGZH8PzfTI?si=piNcIkThV3HTyGcf

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:26 Takeoff
2:13 Helicopter Lift
3:30 Vortex Ring State
5:22 Collective
7:31 Speed Control
9:45 Level Flight
11:10 Acceleration
12:18 Braking
13:36 Pinwheeling
14:52 Braking Turns
17:11 Missile Avoidance
19:18 Think Defensively
21:41 Landing Setup
22:32 Rolling Touchdown
24:05 Hover Landing
25:30 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | A-19 Brawler

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-12-17 | The A-19 Brawler is an optimized ground attack platform with emphasis on payload capacity and durability. Combining control, engine, and systems redundancies with thick armor, the Brawler is well suited to flying low while transporting especially large payloads. Abundant hardpoints ensure that a single Brawler can effectively handle multiple targets on the ground, though it lacks equivalent air to air capability.

The Brawler works best with support from allied interceptors or with general air superiority. Brawlers should operate from behind allied lines engaging targets with missiles or glide bombs until defenses are soft. After the airspace is clear, Brawlers can close in for gravity bombing and gun runs on structures or fortifications.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:31 Flight Performance
2:51 Strengths
4:58 Weaknesses
6:45 Conclusion
9:01 Closing

Nuclear Option | Naval Ship Overview | Shard Corvette

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-12-01 | The Shard Corvette is a compact warship emphasizing anti-aircraft capability, but able to perform costal bombardment and limited low yield precision strikes against land-based targets. Its mix of direct fire and missile ordinance provides for multiple layers of effective defense against all aerial threats, granting the Shard impressive airspace denial capabilities. While fast and maneuverable, the shards light armor and radar targeting systems make it vulnerable to low yield saturation attack and electronic jamming.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Hardpoints
0:59 RAM-45 Missile Battery
1:42 57mm Autocannon
2:51 20mm Point Defense
3:37 AGM-48 Missile Battery
4:11 Short Range Radar
5:07 Strengths
5:43 Airspace Denial
6:35 Coastal Support
6:59 Fleet Escort
7:41 Weaknesses
8:28 Rocket Salvo
9:24 76mm Guided Shell
10:27 Radar Jamming & ARAD
11:27 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Community Goal Rewards Overview | Nov 27th 2025

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-11-28 | Allied, Imperial, Federal and Independent Powers have deployed fleets to undermine, contest and fortify the enclave surrounding HIP 87621 following the discovery of Radicoida unica, a unique flora with promising bio-chemical properties.

Each Superpower has deployed a megaship representing their interests to specific systems around the enclave. This event relies on powerplay merits for progress, making it a requirement for players to sign up at the megaship representing their powerplay leader’s superpower. Neutral players cannot accrue reward tiers in this GC; all players must be pledged to a power for rewards to accumulate and contribute to the victory of their superpower.

The weapon on offer is interesting, but not universally relevant and therefore not of concern to the average pilot. Some specific ship builds will find this module appealing but most players will find it difficult to use without a specially tailored ship build.

Signup Locations:
Federation - The Ironbridge megaship in the Col 359 Sector JW-V D2-31 system

Empire - Sapphire Lance megaship in the HIP 88965 system

Alliance - Horizon's Glow megaship in the Col 359 Sector DZ-M B9-2 system

Independent - Freeman's Touch megaship in the Col 359 Sector PM-T C4-3 system

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:21 Overview
2:05 Lore
2:39 Reward - Credits
2:59 Reward - Powerplay
3:55 Reward - Hardpoint
7:00 Closing

Nuclear Option | Weapon Overview | AAM-36 Scimitar - Beyond Visual Range Missile System

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-11-23 | The AAM-36 Scimitar is a long-range active radar guided missile optimized for engagements beyond visual range. Capable of sustained low hypersonic flight, the Scimitar is ideal for attacking all aircraft from over the horizon, but remains exceptional at general air to air engagement at ranges beyond 20km.

Hostile craft seen launching these weapons should also be prioritized for direct or indirect attack when possible. Radar jamming from an E-warfare system can disrupt the radar targeting of hostile aircraft and prevent the scimitar from working correctly when launched. If a hostile aircraft is believed to be acting in this role, lock it with a jamming pod and annoy it into submission, suppress any missiles that it tries to launch with the same tactics.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:31 Effective Use
1:50 Performance
2:48 Weakness
3:27 Shot Positioning
4:12 Best Targets
5:26 Awareness
6:39 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | UH-90 Ibis

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-10-30 | The UH-90 Ibis is an adaptable medium size air-lift platform with emphasis on fine control and rapid response capability. The Ibis leverages this to full effect with a suite of compact vehicles, infantry, and gunship packages optimized for light close support, combat resupply, or search and rescue operations. Twin electric turbine fans provide immediate forward and reverse thrust to assist with acceleration and breaking, allowing the Ibis to reach about 500km/h and decelerate for landing in about 30 seconds.

The Ibis is small but powerful, cheap but effective, soft but devastating. It’s a creature of nuance that demands crews who can attend to its quarks and fly it down a narrow path of effectiveness. It’s a perfect stumbling block for the inattentive, and ideal knife for the skilled, and a wonderful boon to the stranded. It adapts quickly to need, applies itself well to demands, and rewards careful crews with reliable and consistent performance. It’s the kind of machine that can well outlast the battlefield, and find as much use in peacetime as it does in war.

The UH-90 Ibis is the Plowshare and the Sword.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:45 Uses
1:34 Flight Performance
3:19 Durability
4:31 Considerations
6:00 Counteraction
7:39 Defensive Tactics
9:05 Logistical Power
9:47 Conclusion

Nuclear Option | New Player Tutorial | Terms & Vocabulary

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-10-01 | Nuclear Option incorporates many real live elements into its near future simulation, including the general behavior of missiles and aircraft in combat. This has naturally drawn down many of the terms and concepts used in the military to describe these behaviors and other events that can occur in game.

This video will review some common terms, vocabulary, and brevity codes that can get used in Nuclear Option, and in other combat flight simulators. These terms are sourced from a variety of sources, so they may differ somewhat from real world application. Feel free to add anything I missed, or got incorrect in the comments below.

This video is bookmarked, so feel free to skip around as needed if you already know something or only need specific information.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:20 Disclaimer
0:46 Terms Begin
0:56 Effective Fire
1:15 Target Lock
1:48 Firing Solution
2:25 Guidance Methods
2:50 Thermal Guidance
3:31 Radar Guidance
4:06 Radar Jamming
5:06 Notching
6:56 Laser Guidance
7:49 Datalink Guidance
8:41 GPS-Inertial
9:43 Brevity Codes
10:25 FOX Codes
11:28 Wild Dog
11:56 Guns, Guns, Guns
12:20 Pickle
12:41 Rifle
12:58 Long Rifle
13:13 Magnum
13:32 Laser On
14:28 Lasing
14:47 Nose Cold
15:10 Nose Hot
15:30 Bogey
15:52 Bandit
16:21 Hostile
16:59 Defending
17:19 Splash
17:41 AWACS
18:19 Conclusion
18:35 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Concord Cannon

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-09-12 | The Concord Cannon is a size two gimbaled variant of the standard Kinematic Cannon. Trading raw damage per shot for a three round burst fire mechanism in a lower caliber, the Concord provides for increased overall damage if all three rounds in a burst make contact with the target. The result is a competent, though nuanced improvement to cannon technology that rewards good positioning and a steady hand.

The Concord cannon is another great example of a weapon variant expanding on gameplay, but remains highly confined by its mount type and hardpoint size, like all power play weapons. Its use and purpose are well defined, giving this weapon an identity and application that can be integrated on most ships in the game, making it one of the better variants to chase overall, though not the best or most relevant.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Stats
1:15 Combat Performance
2:41 Engineering
4:22 META
6:01 Conclusion
6:37 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Dry Commentary | Hull Abilities & The Type 11

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-08-07 | Hull abilities are a concept that is currently being explored to a limited extent with SCO optimization, Mk II cargo racks, and thee Type-11’s Mining Drill. Hull abilities are any capability that is bound to a ships hull, and not transferrable. In the past we have seen instances of certain ships having specialized internal bays that can only receive specific modules.

This video will detail some changes to the UI that I believe will help in this regard, and then speculate on how these changes can facilitate an expansion of these unique attributes. The goal is to better communicate features and abilities to players in outfitting, and provide a foundation for additional abilities and features to be added to all ships as needed going forward.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:15 The Hull Tab
3:47 Common Abilities
6:26 Specialized Abilities
7:04 Type-10
8:49 Type-7
9:45 "Scout" Ships
12:08 Keelback
13:06 Sidewinder
14:53 Hauler
15:36 Adder
16:06 Imperial Courier
16:46 Conclusion
17:31 Closing

Nuclear Option | Combat Encounters | Cricket vs Vortex

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-08-04 | Nuclear Option isn’t a balanced game, it’s a semi-realistic simulator, and that means an array of different encounters can play out in ways that are unexpected. In this encounter, a Cricket is able to effectively engage and destroy a Vortex by exploiting its pilots’ mistakes and leveraging the cricket’s strengths.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:26 Target Acquisition
0:50 Mini-Map Overview
1:33 Commit
2:03 Radar Ping
2:34 Altitude Check
3:01 Leftward Turn
3:27 Nose Hot
4:06 Minimal Range
4:45 No Escape Zone
6:06 Missile Launch
6:25 Splash Vortex
6:47 Results
8:02 Closing

Nuclear Option | Combat Encounters | Chicane Urban Strike

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-05-27 | EDITORS NOTE: This is experimental content, I will make more if I see good engagement and positive feedback. Be sure to leave any suggestions you have in the comments.

This combat scenario covers tactical decision making when using the Chicane at low altitudes an urban environment. The Chicane is commonly revered for its ground attack capabilities, and rightfully so, this helicopter platform is durable, maneuverable, and well protected against attack. These strengths are, however, predicated on distance and reaction time. One common mistake a pilot can make is overconfidence in their abilities. The Chicane relies heavily on subtlety and stealth to approach and destroy a target. Without this advantage, it becomes brittle and relatively easy to kill.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:51 Urban Approach
1:39 5km Range
2:26 Target Dropped
4:02 Convoy Approach
4:56 Convoy Attack
6:16 Critical Mistake
7:02 Failure
7:20 Damage Assessment
8:07 Conclusion
8:21 Closing

Nuclear Option | Weapons Overview | Patch 0.30.2

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-05-10 | Nuclear Option offers a variety of available weapons across multiple archetypes, not all of which are implemented at time of writing. The following are a selection of weapons available as of patch 0.32, along with their attributes and best use cases.

These weapons are the selection available as of patch 0.32 and may not reflect the current offerings in game. Individual weapon performance in game may differ from figures provided in this video, as future patches make adjustments. Feel free to add any additional information, corrections, or insights I may have missed in the comments below.

EDITORS NOTE: The current patch is 0.30.2, not 0.32. Thanks to @KajuTheRudeMonke for pointing this out.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:18 Terminology
0:37 Smart Weapons

0:50 Weapon Categories
1:12 Optical Guidance
1:43 Thermal Guidance
2:22 Radar Guidance

3:11 Air to Air Missiles
3:26 IRM-S1
4:30 MMR-S3
5:20 AAM-29 Scythe

6:46 Ground to Air Missiles
7:11 RAM-45
8:20 Strato-Lance R9

8:59 Air to Ground Missiles
9:32 AGR-18 Lynchpin
11:01 AGM-48
12:15 AGM-68
13:25 AGM-99
15:01 ARAD-116
16:50 ALM-C450
18:11 ASHM-300
19:23 ALDN-4 (20Kt)

20:30 Gravity Bombs
21:06 76mm Guided Shell
22:10 PAB-80LR
23:20 PAB-125
24:11 PAB-250
24:46 GPO-500
25:39 GPO-2P Auger
26:43 Demolition Bomb
27:38 GPO-N (1.5Kt) & (250Kt)

29:51 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | FS-20 Vortex

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2025-03-31 | The FS-20 Vortex is a compact lightweight multi-role fighter interceptor, with emphasis on VTOL and stealth capabilities. Its short, delta wing configuration, and single engine design provide for excellent subsonic acceleration and snappy maneuvering. However, these benefits come at the cost of survivability and fuel efficiency, limiting effective range and high-altitude combat capabilities.

The Vortex is a powerful tool in the hands of focused, fast thinking pilots who can prioritize targets, and ignore distractions in service of critical objectives. It rewards that subtle flier with top tier stealth and responsive flight controls that enable some of the most evasive flying available in a manned aircraft. It rewards the practical thinker with a wide selection of tools that can readily prosecute almost any target, responding quickly to the unexpected attack, or the sudden opportunity.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Flight Performance
3:01 Effective Use
5:37 Counteraction
7:21 Conclusion
8:04 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Dry Commentary | Improving Thargoid Combat

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-12-28 | With the end of the Thargoid war, it would appear that the Thargoids are taking a back seat to the game narrative for a while. This presents an opportunity to analyze the best and worst parts of the combat experience to provide some additional feedback. My hope is that the thargoids return at some point in the future, but that their tactics and behavior evolve to reflect lessons learned from their defeat. There are also some dynamics of AX combat that need to be tweaked to make the pace and structure of combat feel more rewarding.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:36 The Basics
2:47 The Standard
4:22 Scalability
6:42 A Change In Tactics
8:08 A Smarter Fleet
11:05 Slower IS Faster
12:52 Shutdown Fields
16:19 Interceptor Damage Model
17:47 Thargon Swarm
19:27 The Rapier
22:16 Scout Effects
23:45 More AX Weapons
24:46 Additional Thargoid Ships
25:48 Conclusion
26:30 Closing

Nuclear Option | Weapons Overview | Patch 0.29.0 [OUTDATED]

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-11-24 | This video is outdated, you can see the latest version here - youtu.be/Msdfut7Zs_0

Nuclear Option offers a variety of available weapons across multiple archetypes, not all of which are implemented at time of writing. The following are a selection of weapons available as of patch 0.29.0, along with their attributes and best use cases.

These weapons are the selection available as of patch 0.29.0 and may not reflect the current offerings in game. Individual weapon performance in game may differ from figures provided in this video, as future patches make adjustments.

Chapters:
0:00 Opening
0:20 Terminology

3:10 Air-to-air Missiles
3:26 IRM-S1
4:30 MMR-S3
5:18 AAM-29 Scythe

6:45 Ground-to-air Missiles
7:05 RAM-45
7:39 StratoLance R9

8:17 Air-to-ground Missiles
8:46 AGR-18 Lynchpin
9:56 AGM-48
11:05 AGM-68
12:30 ARAD-116
15:15 ALM-C450
14:59 ASHM-300
15:42 ALND-4 20kt

16:46 Gravity Bombs
17:18 76mm Guided Shell
18:16 PAB-80LR
19:20 PAB-250
19:58 GPO 500
20:47 GPO-2P Auger
21:24 Demolition Bomb
22:17 GPO-N 1.5kt & 250kt

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | VL-49 Tarantula

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-11-12 | The VL-49 Tarantula is a large quadrotor tiltwing aircraft with emphasis on logistical and tactical air support. While unable to fulfill both roles at once, the Tarantula can be quickly modified to perform one or the other. True Vertical Takeoff and Landing functionality grants the Tarantula full use of helicopter landing pads and total freedom to land anywhere it can fit.

The tarantula is a supporting aircraft designed to complement others and fairs poorly when acting alone, move with ground forces and while covered by allied aircraft. The Tarantula is vulnerable when landing to drop kit, or when lining up for gun runs, but it can bank hard to avoid fire when its rotors are in their full forward position. Acceleration and braking take time, so plan ahead and have some abort plans in mind if an attack run goes sour.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:28 Attributes
2:45 Transport Variant
4:33 Gunship Variant
6:50 Supporting Weapons
8:50 Conclusion
9:52 Closing

Elite Dangerous | General Commentary | The Ideal Hyperspace

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-09-09 | With the recent advent of Supercruse overcharge, much of the tediousness of in-system travel has been resolved. While there is still much to be addressed about the supercriuse mechanics as a whole, I want to take this chance to address some longstanding issues with long range travel in Elite Dangerous.

0:00 Intro
0:20 What Makes It Boring
1:26 The Technical Problem
3:02 Previous Systems
3:49 The Ideal Solution
5:19 Fuel Stars & Scooping
7:50 Star System Approach & Departure
9:48 Deep Black Drops
10:33 Lore Justification
12:11 Conclusion
12:30 Closing

Images from Wikipedia - Stellar Corona: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_corona

Elite Dangerous | Dry Commentary | Engineering Rebalance Overview

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-08-03 | Fronter recently announced a significant balance pass intended to address the long grind normally required for engineering. This was a generally welcome enhancement of the game, but does leave some other issues with the engineering system largely unaddressed. This video will review the changes they have made, highlight the specific effects to gameplay that are expected, and look at some issues that were left unresolved.

Visual aids used in this video were extracted from the Frontier Livestream youtu.be/xMazIZ57NQI?si=KTxgWzgNxdIpJqcn

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:30 Materials Volume Adjustment
2:42 Fixed Blueprint Progress
3:54 Reduced Engineer Unlock
5:04 Suit Engineering Requirements Reduction
5:52 Suit Carrying Capacity Increase
6:34 Thargoid War Material Rewards
7:16 What's Missing
8:44 Conclusion
9:42 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | KR-67 Ifrit

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-07-19 | The KR-67 Ifrit is a multi-role fighter bomber with emphasis on flexibility and high payload capacity. Despite its large airframe, the Ifrit’s pitch vectoring twin engine design allows for surprising maneuverability and responsive acceleration. These features create an expensive but versatile platform that can deal with most threats, but remains outclassed by specialized airframes in their respective elements.

Pilots looking to fly the Ifrit need to think in straight lines, get in and get out quick. Prefer attacks from a greater distance and avoid being tricked into a kill box. When possible, fly with friends, preferably in the most focused configuration you can, mostly air or mostly ground. Avoid close contact with the Revoker, you have more missiles that it does, so use them. Thermal missiles are your worst nightmare, use terrain if you can, but remember to cut throttle and break hard if not.

Remember that a multi-role fighter is a jack of all trades and master of none, don’t get stuck competing against a specialist in their element or you will probably loose. Play to your greatest strength by supporting the allies on a map, the Ifrit is fast and carries a long stick, you should be smacking people with it from outside their reach whenever possible. When setting up a bomb run, be sure that local air defense is handled at range or by another ally, a single S1 can kill the Ifrit so be careful with anything that fires thermal.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Flight Performance
2:09 Loadout
2:41 Best Uses
4:38 Weaknesses
5:59 Unfocused Power
7:44 Conclusion
9:02 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Sirius Heatsink Launcher

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-05-31 | The Sirius Heatsink Launcher is a tech broker modified variant of the standard heat sink launcher with a total of five charges, which exceeds the current engineering limit of four, making the Sirius variant the most powerful heat extraction system available. Sirius variant sink launchers can be acquired from specific Sirius Corp megaships located across the bubble. These tech brokers offer other unique modules not available at any other human technology broker.

The Sirius Heat Sink Launcher is a top shelf utility mount that allows commanders a performance gain exceeding the current best engineering standards, as such it is highly desirable. With no difference in power, distributor, or mass loads compared to the standard variant, the Sirius sink blends easily into any build that favors sink capacity over other concerns. While the materials requested of the tech broker can be time consuming to acquire, none of them are difficult to find, making it relatively simple to get enough ingredients for batch purchases.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:35 Attributes
1:10 Engineering
1:38 Practical Use
2:51 Conclusion

Arizona Sunshine II | Dry Review

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-05-23 | Arizona Sunshine two is a VR based linear zombie shooter supporting four person camping co-op and a standalone multiplayer horde mode. Taking some inspiration from shows like Zombieland and movies like Castaway, Sunshine II has a decidedly grim comedic tone reflected through a protagonist somewhat maddened by isolation and the restless presence of the zombie horde, nicknamed Fred.

If you are looking for a good VR game, Arizona Sunshine offers a well-built campaign mode, and the foundations for a robust hoard mode, though it does need more content to reach its full potential. The story isn’t award winning, but it does carry player effectively through the campaign mode without leaving a sense of boredom. The overall tone and direction are presented with a sense of campy confidence that leaves this title with a sense of identity that I hope to see in future sequels and DLC.
If you like VR shooters, this is probably your jam.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro

Elite Dangerous | Dry Commentary | The Ideal Sensor System

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-05-17 | Sensor systems in elite dangerous have been mostly untouched since the game launched. While effective, these systems are limited compared to current competitors in the space sim genre. This video will make a series of suggestions to improve the sensor mechanics, and related functionality, with the goal of making the system more intuitive, flexible, and powerful than the current standard.

These changes would help deal with a lot of the current issues and inefficiencies in the sensor systems. They would increase the amount of information players have without needing to change the current interface layout. These changes take advantage of current assets, with the most difficult request likely to be the module sub targeting indicator.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:26 Current Radar
2:00 Target Status Override
3:28 Target Intent
4:54 Sub Targeting
6:25 Hostile Objects
8:17 Team Effects on Allies
9:10 Detection Range
10:12 Conclusion
10:43 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Dry Commentary | We Need Scrapping Mechanics

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-05-09 | The recent development of SCO drives in Elite Dangerous has been a welcome enhancement to the games travel ecosystem. They represent a well thought out and implemented mechanic that has rendered all previous iterations of Frame Shift Drives obsolete. Which begs the question… what do we do with the old drives.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:23 The Problem
2:09 Scrapping
4:01 Respect For Time
4:46 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Dry Commentary | Paid Ships, Prebuilds, and Perverse Incentives

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-04-27 | Frontier Developments recently announced that they would begin selling early access to new ships, and instant outfitting packages that players can buy to jump directly into high level activities. This presents an opportunity to look at their plans, and make some suggestions about other ways that Elite Dangerous can generate revenue that avoid direct impact to the play space.

We should definitely and respectfully let them know when we don’t like something, and more importantly, vote with our wallets when they don’t listen. What is happening to elite is not a crisis, but time will tell if these decisions bear good fruit.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:25 Live Service Funding
2:28 Perverse Incentive
3:12 Prebuild Ships
4:36 Early Access Ships
6:27 Ideal Funding Model
8:25 Ascribing Intentions
10:27 Conclusion
11:16 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Super-cruise Overcharged FSD [OUTDATED]

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-04-17 | This video is outdated, you can see the new version here: youtu.be/oTjPkYawEes

The Super-cruise Overcharged FSD is a modified jump drive variant that, at time of writing, sacrifices raw hyperspace jump performance for the ability to boost in super-cruise. This boost function is activated using the same button currently mapped for normal thruster boost. The overcharge mode allows for vastly increased acceleration and top speed, but generates tremendous heat, reduces the effectiveness of ship control systems, and will rapidly drain the largest available fuel tanks.

SCO technology is a powerful tool for use in a number of powerful applications in trading, combat, and power play. While it can be used for exploration, high fuel, limited hyperspace range, and the prospect for module damage, makes it impractical for use without the support of a nearby carrier or station. With this technology still in its infancy, further advancements are expected in the near future, with a high probability that SCO technology makes it into other drives going forward.

Traders & combat pilots will find this technology the most useful, especially when supported by fleet carriers.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:54 Attributes
3:14 Intra System Travel
4:34 Deep Space
5:47 Combat Operations
6:17 Conclusion

Nuclear Option | Weapons Overview | Missiles & Bombs | Patch 0.27.4 [OUTDATED]

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-04-05 | This video is outdated, you can see the latest version here: youtu.be/GBbNCcYMzW4?si=EkLOir7WI2l8lBH9

Nuclear Option offers a variety of available weapons across multiple archetypes, not all of which are implemented at time of writing. The following are a selection of weapons available as of patch 0.27.4, along with their attributes and best use cases.

These weapons are the selection available as of patch 0.27.4 and may not reflect the current offerings in game. Individual weapon performance in game may differ from figures provided in this video, as future patches make adjustments. Feel free to add any additional information, corrections, or insights I may have missed in the comments below.

Error Note: In this videos terminology chapter I mix up notching with terrain masking. Notching is an evasive maneuver, terrain masking is the process of hiding from radar using low flight or object occlusion.

Chapters
0:00 Opening
0:20 Terminology
2:52 Air-to-air
3:06 IRM-S1
4:08 MMR-S3
4:40 AAM-29 Scythe
5:31 Ground-to-air
5:54 RAM-45
6:33 StratoLance R9
7:13 Air-to-ground
7:37 AGR-18 Lynchpin
8:49 AGM-48
9:54 AGM-68
11:04 ARAD-116
12:56 Cruise Missile
13:48 Nuclear Cruise Missile 20Kt
14:22 Gravity Bombs
14:58 PAB-80LR
15:34 PAB-250
16:13 GPO-500
16:47 GPO-2P Auger
17:25 Demolition Bomb
18:19 Nuclear Bomb 1.5Kt
18:52 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | EW-25 Medusa

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-03-21 | The EW-25 Medusa is a specialized electronic warfare platform with emphasis on missile defense and ground radar attack. In addition to its suite of radar jamming and directed energy weapons, the Medusa provides significant intelligence gathering and AWACS capability that make it a powerful supporting asset during large engagements, though it can also act alone with good planning.

The EW-25 Medusa looks and feels unique among aircraft in the game, it acts as a well-executed demonstration of new features and functions that are likely to be expanded as the game develops. While the Medusa is relatively easy to fly, its mechanics are much more challenging to master than other aircraft, they will take patience and practice understand and master.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:28 Laser Power
2:32 Suppress & Silence
3:52 Flight Characteristics
4:57 Vulnerabilities
5:57 Best Use
7:01 Other Uses
7:38 Conclusion
8:43 Closing

Dry Commentary | 2,000 Subscriber Channel Update

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-03-11 | I’ve been at this for more than four years, and just recently crossed 2,000 subscribers. My uploads have been random lately because I’ve been working on a lot of projects away from my keyboard. I got started making videos initially for fun, but that eventually turned into making video tutorials because I wasn’t satisfied with what was available for Elite Dangerous. I thought I would try my hand and see if I could make something good, and it turns out that people like what I have to say, despite the dry delivery.

I have a lot of projects external to this channel that demand my attention on a day-to-day basis, some are work obligations, some are family commitments, and others are being compiled into an additional channel which I plan to talk about more in the future. These projects mean that I may need to take occasional breaks to manage my workload, but they do not mean that I am walking away. Building this channel is a major accomplishment that I take great satisfaction in, and am thankful for the audience that has congregated around it. I hope that what I make continues to be helpful, informative, and that nobody comes away from one of my videos feeling baited or bored.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:34 Channel Memberships
1:08 The Tip Jar
2:06 Future Plans
3:30 External Projects
3:57 Thank You
4:17 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Module review | Imperial Hammer Railgun

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-02-29 | The imperial hammer is a modified variant of the railgun offered as a powerplay reward from Arissa Lavigny Duval. This version trades a sing, high damage shot for a three round burst that offers higher damage potential should all three rounds strike their target. In addition, the imperial hammer offers an automatic trigger that allows for continuous fire without the need to time individual bursts.

Overall, the Imperial Hammer is a top shelf weapon variant that every commander should have somewhere on their top five list. It’s a great weapon that can be made relevant in many situations, with practical performance that will at least match its standard counterpart. The hammer’s firing behavior gives it a unique sense of identity and challenge that makes this variant fun to use.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:34 Attributes
2:45 Engineering
5:32 Practical Use
8:09 Summary
8:54 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Pack Hound Launcher

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-02-16 | The Pack Hound Launcher is a modified variant of the seeker missile rack, available as a powerplay reward from Li Yon Rui. Pack Hound launchers are available only as a size two fixed mount. When activated, this missile rack fires a swarm of four micro missiles which fly in a semi randomized swarm towards the target. These smaller swarm missiles deal 7.5 damage per successful hit compared to the standard seeker’s 40 but can be fired so quickly that the total damage per second of a single pack hound rack far surpasses the effective damage of its standard variant.

This module is well worth the effort and wait to acquire, and its one of the more dramatic weapons in the game. The cloud of vapor trails this weapon lets lose can be seen from far away, and look as intimidating to bystanders as they do to attackers, making it a weapon equally suited for trolling as it is for practical combat.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Stats Overview
1:10 Highly Desirable
1:38 Significant Downsides
3:32 PvE & PvP
4:00 Engineering
6:00 Build Considerations
6:54 Conclusion
7:19 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Advanced Plasma Accelerator

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-01-25 | The Advanced Plasma Accelerator, sometimes called the APA, is a power play variant of the Plasma Accelerator, and can be aquired from Denton Patreus. This weapon is only manufactured as a size three fixed hardpoint, and offers a slight increase in base Damage Per Second compared to the standard plasma accelerator, but spreads this damage out across three hits.

The Advanced Accelerator can only be installed on a limited number of ships. It draws a ton of power, and generates a lot of heat, making the advanced accelerator difficult to work with in a lot of situations. As a result, its best acquired by players who have already unlocked engineering for power, distributor, and accelerator modules, since most builds will need a bit of adjustment in order to apply these weapons at their best.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:13 Stats
0:28 Considerations
1:05 Engineering
2:44 Desirability
4:21 Conclusion
5:15 Closing

How is Elite Dangerous Doing?

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2024-01-16 | It’s been a while since I’ve done a video on Elite Dangerous, so I thought I would poke my head in and see how things have been going thus far. This was the game that got me interested in space sims, and led directly to my interest in titles like Star Citizen, so I regard it fondly even if I don’t currently play very often.

Star Citizen | Ragtag Mercs | Racing - Light Fighters Only

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-11-20 | Editors Note: Due to technical issues with the servers, we were unable to form a friends lobby and race together. The first hour is more of a podcast where we chat while troubleshooting the issue, racing begins around the second hour, see chapters below.

Watch the Ragtag Mercs practice racing popular PVP ships in Arena Commander. Get familiar with the handling and performance of different combat ships on the race track. See how these ships perform in the hands of different players from track to track.

Chapters:
0:00 No Audio
4:18 Stream Begins
4:45 General Chatting
17:45 Friend Server Down
24:35 CIG Money Trouble
27:15 Friend Server Still Down
31:12 Shop Talk
35:50 The Algorithm
36:27 Not A Scam
48:51 RACING BEGINS
1:04:34 Gatac Syulen Chat
1:09:26 Esperia Talon
1:13:05 Switch to Arrow
1:29:17 Switch to Buccaneer
1:36:29 Switch to Aurora
1:43:06 Switch to Mustang
1:51:45 Switch to Gladius
1:58:55 Closing Out

Nuclear Option | Weapons Overview | Missiles & Bombs | Patch 0.25.2 [OUTDATED]

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-11-17 | New Version of this video available at: youtu.be/PbS2WiX88Y4

Nuclear Option offers a variety of available weapons across multiple archetypes, not all of which are implemented at time of writing. The following are a selection of weapons currently in game, along with their attributes and best use cases.

These weapons are the selection available as of patch 0.25.2 and may not reflect the current offerings in game. Individual weapon performance in game may differ from figures provided in this video, as future patches make adjustments.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:18 Missiles Use
2:23 Air to Air
2:34 IRM-S1
3:53 MMR-S3
5:17 AAM-29 Scythe
6:39 Ground to Air
6:58 RAM-45
7:29 StratoLance R9
8:10 Air to Ground
8:31 AGR-18 Lynchpin
9:37 AGM-48
10:54 AGM-68
12:02 Cruise Missile
12:49 Nuclear Criuse Missile
13:17 Gravity Bombs
13:49 500kg Bomb
14:52 Demolition Bomb
16:11 Nuclear Bomb 1.5kt
16:56 Conclusion
17:24 Closing

Star Citizen | Ragtag Mercs | Racing - Open Practice | Nov 16th, 2023

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-11-16 | An open racing night in Star Citizen Arena Commander with the rag tag mercs. Here we practice racing tactics and strategy in a chill and conversational environment.

Chapters:
0:00 Setup & Testing
9:30 Defford Link
14:31 Snake Pit
17:40 Spectacular Crash
18:00 Racing Continues
20:35 Old Vanderval
27:35 Halloran Circuit
34:32 Miner's Lament
42:58 Intermission
52:26 Defford Link 2
58:53 Miner's Lament 2
1:07:27 Defford Link 3
1:12:24 Old Vanderval 2
1:16:55 Halloran Circuit 2
1:23:54 Miner's Lament 3
1:32:23 Old Vanderval 3
1:37:23 Game Crash
1:39:30 The Icebreaker
1:45:16 Miner's Lament 4
1:52:09 Rikkord Memorial Raceway
1:57:23 Miner's Lament 5
1:05:46 Closing Out

Star Citizen racing is already fun, and its going to get better.

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-11-04 | The Star Citizen PTU isn’t in a good place right now, even after citizen con. There are a lot of flaws and issues that are still being worked out, and I’ve had really bad luck playing on the persistent universe for a few months now. As a result, I’ve started spending more time in Arena Commander, a smaller and more compact version of the game originally designed for testing and practice.

Arena Commander offers a bunch of different modes, but one of the best is Classic Race. On the surface it’s not a complex mode, but it remains one of the most important in the game, since it acts as the most effective expression of the racing career currently available. There is a solid selection of tracks derived mostly from the Stanton system, with a few that are currently unique to the mode.

Master Modes, Maelstrom, Flight Surfaces, and their related component rebalances are going to alter the performance of each ship on a fundamental level, but you should not let that keep you from getting started, since there are principals that will remain consistent across these changes, and since racing is fun right now. The barriers to entry are low, and the potential for improvement is high and measurable.

Star Citizen Is Warming Up

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-10-26 | Over the last decade, this game has been climbing a long development ladder that began with a relatively basic pitch for what amounted to another wing commander. There was a lot more to it, but the essential goal was to modernize a concept from the 90’s that remains fondly regarded by everyone who played it. While I never encountered Wing Commander in its day, I have encountered a ton of people who enjoyed it, especially since Star Citizen got rolling and dredged up all those nostalgic memories for them.

Its not a bad time to get in the game, but even if you decide against it, consider funding others that you think look fun. Hits and misses abound, but win or lose, developers are only able to take risks that players are willing to back. We can set the standards ourselves, or let them be set by wall street, and last decade, they’ve missed more often they they’ve hit.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:30 Early Access
1:07 AAA Shade
1:30 Golden Years
2:10 Controversial Decade
2:59 Cultural Date Stamp
3:55 Technical Failures
4:48 Stagnation
5:44 Crowd Funding
6:37 Expectations
7:01 NOT A Scam
7:14 If It Succeeds
8:28 Next 12 Months
9:05 Conclusion
9:38 Closing

Nuclear Option | Ground Vehicles Overview

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-10-14 | Nuclear Option has a wide assortment of ground vehicles, with plans for more as the game develops. Each has a specific function and capability on the battlefield. The following is a brief list of some important vehicles to look for, and their functions in combat.

These aren’t all the vehicles planned, so depending on when you watch this video, there will be more. Keep in mind that Nuclear Strike is still in alpha, so these capabilities are subject to change as new features and vehicles get added.

EDITORS NOTE: The Linebreaker Sam actually fires the same missiles as the AFV-8, but carries more of them. It does not have a range advantage over the AFV series.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:18 FGA-57 Anvil
1:11 Main Battle Tank
2:18 AFV-8 Series
2:30 AFV-8 Air Defense
3:30 AFV-8 APC
3:47 Linebreaker Series
4:04 Linebreaker IFV
4:26 Linebreaker APC
4:56 Linebreaker SAM
5:34 LCV-45 Recon Truck
6:02 HLT Support Trucks
7:08 Aero Sentry SPAAG
8:01 TK-941 Boltstrike
8:46 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | SAH-41 Chicane

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-10-10 | The SAH-41 Chicane is a ground attack helicopter with emphasis on stealth and low ground flight. Sporting a massive AGM-48 payload, the Chicane is able to saturate large areas of the battlefield with low yield ordinance sufficient to overwhelm air defenses and other lightly armored threats. With typical engagement range under ten kilometers, the Chicane prefers localized attacks on targets within visual range, though a few of its ordinance options offer greater range at the cost of payload capacity.

Taken as a whole, the Chicane is best deployed alongside ground vehicles and with air focused escorts like the Compass or Revoker, creating an effective screen against ranged AA and other aircraft able to close with the Chicane. Hostiles seeking to attack the Chicane should always attack from above the rotor line, ideally from behind its wings, where incoming rounds are likely to damage the tail and turbines.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:36 Brawler & Archer
0:58 Handling
1:28 Low IR
1:51 Guns & Flack
2:01 The Turret
2:41 Ground Attack
3:10 Logistics
3:41 Stealth
4:46 Beware AGM
5:07 Conclusion
6:20 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | SFB-81 Darkreach

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-09-23 | The SFB-81 Darkreach is a high level strategic bomber offering a large selection of ground focused ordinance ranging in power from small conventional bombs, to nuclear cruise missiles. With significant emphasis on payload capacity, the Darkreach sacrifices speed and maneuverability for armor, a deep magazine, and long loiter times.

As a bomber, the Darkreach is surprisingly flexible in payload and engagement range. While it can’t engage other aircraft, it can neutralize large swaths of ground forces in a single pass and from a wide variety of altitudes, including stratospheric and low ground attack.

With high payload capacity, thick armor, and excellent fuel efficiency, the Darkreach makes for a powerful ground attack platform respected by all who fly for or against it. Offering a multitude of ground attack options, and ample range, the Darkreach can engage and destroy most ground forces, near and far, in a single pass. Though slower to travel, and more difficult to replace, the Darkreach is well worth the effort for those with the patience and awareness to wait for an opening, and exploit every opportunity.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:27 Attributes
0:50 Low Altitudes
1:19 Standoff Distance
1:57 Gravity Bombs
2:25 Ordinance Intercept
3:25 Value & Logistics
4:07 Escorts
4:43 Conclusion
5:18 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | FS-12 Revoker

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-09-11 | The FS-12 Revoker is a specialized fighter interceptor that emphasizes super maneuverability at high speeds. Featuring an afterburner and small wing cross section, the revoker offers a handling profile that is less forgiving at low speeds. It requires a surprising amount of runway to get airborne, making the Revoker impractical for launch at forward airfields, though it can still land at them in emergencies.

Pilots who play the Revoker to its strengths will find excellent successes at high altitudes, beyond the range of AA guns, providing fast response against hostile interceptors, enemy bombers, and other large aircraft. In this environment, missiles fired from the ground are easy to evade, often without the use of flares. This king of the skies is best assailed at altitude by other interceptors, or using saturation attack by multiple opponents.

Chapters:

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | CI-22 Cricket

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-09-07 | The CI-22 Cricket is a lightweight ground attack fighter designed for close ground support against lightly armored hostiles. While it can be adapted for anti-aircraft operations, the cricket lacks enough survivability to endure the open skies.

While not as fast as a jet, the Cricket is ideal for hard flying at low altitude, where it can slip in and out of canyons or hide along mountainsides. These flying characteristics give the Cricket impressive stealth capability, despite possessing no stealth technology. Skilled pilots can strike out at enemy camps, convoys, or radar stations, flying below radar level, and only emerging from cover to deploy its payload before diving back to safety.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:18 Low Flying
1:21 Landing Performance
1:48 Its Slow
2:21 Ground Attack
3:16 Considerations
3:43 Summary
4:16 Closing

Nuclear Option | Aircraft Review | TA-30 Compass

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-08-26 | As a multi-role fighter, the Compass is a go to choice for unknown or highly variable mission profiles. While not as maneuverable as the Cricket, the Compass can still fly hard along the ground at high or low speeds without feeling awkward or unwieldy. Even in the late game, a Compass is competent and dangerous, sporting the ability to kill interceptors and bombers with some deft handling.

This jack of all trades is a valuable supplement to established air forces, though as a master none, it’s often unfit for solo, or deep penetration strikes behind enemy lines. Its best kept close at hand, at or within the friendly lines of combat, venturing out short distances to strike hostile forces and then returning to dissuade a counterattack.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Loadout
1:13 Flight Performance
1:52 Strengths
2:10 Weaknesses
2:30 Late Game Performance
2:54 Conclusion

Steam Page: store.steampowered.com/app/2168680/Nuclear_Option
Official Discord: discord.gg/u64GtcNjkQ

Nuclear Option | Dry Review | Well Rounded & Realistic Near Future Flight

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-08-19 | Meet Nuclear Option, a near future combat flight simulator currently free to play on Steam during its alpha testing phase. Having bought into several early access projects, like Fractured Space and Dragon: The Game, I was even more interested when I saw that the game is not for sale, but you can request access for free. The download is compact, and was ready on my 100M/b connection in about five minutes. It loads fast, and has a simple menu system that will definitely evolve as the game develops.

Everything that is deployed in the game is working great, making it one of the best alpha level experiences I’ve had in a long time. I highly recommend this for fans of simulator games. These guys deserve success, and they need more publicity than they are getting for what they have built.

NOTE: At time of recording, the SAH-41 Helicopter was not available to play and so was not included in this review.

Steam Store Page: store.steampowered.com/app/2168680/Nuclear_Option
Official Discord: discord.gg/u64GtcNjkQ

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:40 One Issue
2:13 Learning Curve
2:53 Missions
3:52 Alpha Economy
4:12 CI-22 Cricket
5:03 TA-30 Compass
5:33 FS-12 Revoker
6:12 SFB-22 Darkreach
6:49 Nuclear Explosions
7:15 Damage Modeling
8:00 Conclusion

This video was NOT sponsored or requested by the developers or any other party. I made it on my own, because I think its cool and want it to succeed.

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Cytoscrambler Burst Laser

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-08-16 | Designed by the pirate king Delane to enable less lethal acts of piracy, the Cytoscrambler deals tremendous damage to shield systems, with the stock variant dealing about 330% more damage than a standard size one burst laser system. This comes at the cost of being totally useless against the hull of target ships. The end result is a weapon that can outperform huge hardpoints when targeting shields.

With niche applications, and severe hardpoint limitations, the Cytoscrambler is an interesting and powerful, but nuanced weapon best applied in PvE situations on close combat focused builds. It's an interesting mark to chase, but not an essential powerplay weapon to pursue if you’re just getting started.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:22 Overview
1:15 Downside 1
1:40 Downside 2
2:10 PVP
2:38 PVE
3:05 Synergy
4:22 Engineering
5:02 Experimental
6:18 Conclusion
6:45 Closing

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Azimuth Enhanced AX Multi Cannon Gimbal

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-08-13 | The Azimuth Enhanced Multi Cannon Gimbal is a tech broker variant of the well established Aegis Enhanced Multicannon available at rescue ships. This is the third generation of AX multicannons, and benefits from the lessons learned on its ancestors. Available for size two and three hardpoints, the Azimuth Enhanced Multi-cannon resolves the two greatest weaknesses of its Aegis Enhanced predecessor, namely damage output and reload time.

Overall Azimuth appears to have hit a home run with this weapon. Gimballed multi cannons are phenomenally easy to use, offer long combat endurance, and integrate well with most any ship. While still not as powerful as a guardian weapon, Azimuth has succeeded at closing the gap another notch. The tech broker restrictions are a major downside, since it places this weapon in direct competition with guardian weapons, but it does have the advantage of functioning in maelstrom systems.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:18 Weapon Stats
1:34 Advantages
1:54 Drawbacks
3:47 Conclusion

Elite Dangerous | Module Review | Pacifier Frag Cannon

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-07-11 | The Pacifier is a Power Play variant of the Fragmentation Cannon given as a loyalty reward to supporters of Zachary Hudson. This modified variant features a tighter spread pattern & longer effective range at the cost of damage per pellet, making this weapon do less overall damage than the standard variant, but deals that damage from a greater distance.

This makes the Pacifier much easier to use, especially for larger ships like the anaconda, because it greatly increases standoff distance. This makes it a favorite for large ship PvP & PvE builds, where engagement range is expected to be under 3KM. Burst DPS attributes for this weapon are incredible, trailing closely behind the stock fragmentation cannon as one of the highest damage dealing hardpoints in the game.

NOTE: I'm this video I refer to the plasma charger when comparing performance, this was intended to be the plasma accelerator but the two were mixed up in my script.

The Plasma Accelerator is popular in PVP, while the Plasma Charger is commonly used in Thargoid Combat PvE.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:25 Strengths
1:24 Downsides
1:42 Engineering
2:23 Considerations
2:50 Closing

Minecraft | Dry Commentary | How Game Design Can Trump Graphics

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-07-09 | Now here is a game I never imagined would become what it has. Minecraft is basically ubiquitous in the younger gaming world, but has retained a lot of its older, 1st generation audience. I was first exposed to this game during its beta while I was in High School. Students would play it through the browser during lectures in computer literacy, so it spread like wildfire through the whole school before it was even released officially.

What has always impressed me about it is the nature of its engine, which was originally written in javascript. This workhorse programming language had been essential for running various web browser elements for about a decade at the time, and was used in a handful of browser only games. Java also has a bunch of commercial applications, and is known for being powerful, if occasionally obtuse to work with.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Minecraft's Origin
1:32 Constrained Creativity
2:23 The Failures of Anthem
3:15 Minecraft By Comparison
4:00 Evolution in Design
4:32 Design & Success
5:23 Conclusion

PC Build | Part 3 | Power Supply Installation

DryHeatAndSand - Gaming 2023-07-07 | How to prep and install a power supply, and an overview of the different cables that you can encounter while getting things set up.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:38 Selected Power Supply
1:00 Wattage Ratings
2:15 Unboxing
3:08 Set In Place
3:45 Mounting & Fasteners
4:31 Cables Overview
6:32 Digital Monitoring
7:45 CPU Cables
8:23 PCIe & 600 Watt
9:07 Split Ends
9:48 Cable Management
10:27 Patience & Care
11:52 SATA & MOLEX
14:03 Leftover Cables
15:28 Braded Cables Care
17:00 Save Spares
17:46 Conclusion