The Homing Launcher

[Sentinel Actual]

I'd like to know whos locking on to me when I'm flying around, like their icon could flash or something. When theres many players clustered around, its hard to tell whos firing, thus making it hard to retaliate.

[BlackMilk]

Another complaint thread about the launcher. Always talking about what's fair.

 

Fair is not one "skilled" pilot terrorising a whole session with a Lazer jet. That's what many people here seem to think. Fair is not restricting the best defense (best meaning easiest and most effective in this case) to high rank players. Rockstar didn't put a rank requirement on it so everyone could defend themselves from players in the air.

 

Can't fly your unarmed plane or chopper around others? Fly higher. Can't dodge the missiles while you're trying to shoot players with your Lazer, Hydra, Savage, Buzzard, Valkyrie or Annihilator? Tough, get better. A good pilot can still do what I said above; terrorise a whole session with one jet. Or chopper, even.

 

Complaining about how unfair the launcher is is just silly. It's only unfair if you're trying to get easy kills when you're a bad pilot and you believe that you should be able to do this without ever dying. Accept your loss and move on already.

 

I always say that if what happens in a public session bothers you, you should leave. While this definitely goes for the people you're targeting, it also applies to yourself. The tools in the game allow a decent pilot to kill countless players without biting the dust. If a defensive tool like the launcher is preventing you from doing this, either get better or if you can't take it, leave the session and find easier targets.

 

EDIT: Just for the record, I am a terrible pilot when it comes to offensive flying. I can fly just fine normally, transport and such. But I'm dead meat if I'm in the air and another pilot targets me. I have also been able to avoid dying to every single homing launcher missile fired at me. If you like spending all that time in the air (I do use my pegasus air vehicles, but rarely against other players, I also spend most of my time on the ground) you should really be able to dodge them. Or maybe you're just used to easy targets and you should commit to a little training. Try some of those flight school jobs or start/accept 1 vs. 1 DM's while you or your target are in a jet. Good luck and all that.

Edited July 9, 2015 by BlackMilk

[Quarthon]

Dont have time to read all the replies but I think aircrafts should get a 30 second stealth feature. Once a missile homes in on you, click "go stealth" and the missile loses its target. Make it have a cooldown of 2 or 3 mins. This gives time for you to fly away and regroup or gives time to the guy with the homer to get the f*ck outta there. Also make it so you can use stealth before a missile is launched so you can get a good sneak attack.

[Killzone3265]

i need auto lock on to kill

And the first person defending it arrives, lol

 

 

Really though, did you even read? It's not so much about "terrorising the lobby with aircraft" it's more about the stupidity of a weapon killing all the fun of flying.

f*ck's the point of using an aircraft if you're "forced" to fly so high that there's literally nothing to do?

Edited July 9, 2015 by Killzone3265

[BlackMilk]

I'm bad at discussions so I just change quotes to my liking.

 

Let's hope your next post does a little better.

[t20ali786]

They need to buff up the launcher and make it only lock on to the aircraft with weapons.

[mightynighty]

oh joy!

 

another useless whine thread.

[Sentinel Actual]

Its range needs to be severely reduced, there is no reason for the missile to follow me as far as it does. It really should only lock on to armed aircraft, people flying in regular helicopters and planes aren't threats.

[Killzone3265]

there is no reason for the missile to follow me as far as it does.

Along with that, the beeping notifying you of the lock on stops a few seconds after the rocket starts chasing you, lol

[scottmacdougall]

Go passive. Problem solved.

Edited July 10, 2015 by scottmacdougall

[smokingndriving]

"

 

Another complaint thread about the launcher. Always talking about what's fair.

 

Fair is not one "skilled" pilot terrorising a whole session with a Lazer jet.

 

[Smooth Longsack]

Everybody wants to be seen non-transparent, right? This is the underlying reason behind this thread if op is on current gen. I also like to be fully seen in a lobby. Therefore i fly nimbly around players til they fire a missile. I'll already have the passive mode option at the ready. When I'm about to be shot down, boom, i go passive. I fly away for 50 seconds and I'm back, playing with fire.

[Mithridates158]

 

there is no reason for the missile to follow me as far as it does.

Along with that, the beeping notifying you of the lock on stops a few seconds after the rocket starts chasing you, lol

 

Not for me. When people fire homing rockets at me I hear the beep from the time they start locking on until the time the rocket runs out of fuel. I play on ps4 btw

[Bearded Coffee Monkey]

 

Having any vehicle with a minigun that shoots explosive rounds.

 

What kind of lunatic thought having vehicles able to output an infinite stream of explosions was a good idea?

Considering how the range on those miniguns is like, 50 feet, it's understandable. Although it's questionable for the Savage, but it definitely makes it worth it's price

 

I don't know. I mentioned this in another thread but just the other night I had a stand off with a helicopter and at nearly point blank range, not much moment on the part of the Buzzard AND with a lock every time I CONSTANTLY missed taking down a heli.

 

You can see it in action here:

 

 

 

 

 

NO way this hadn't been nerfed recently. Some of those shots weren't even close.

 

1. You fired before the lock finished multiple times

2. You weren't even aiming directly at the helicopter each time you fired, some reason something forced you to aim behind the helicopter at all times

3. You couldn't process that the helicopter was too close for the missile to make one of it's 90 degree turns

4. You were blindsighted at one point when you lost track of the helicopter for seemingly no reason, taking your sweet ass time realising you have a radar showing exactly where it is the whole time

5. Not once did the thought enter your mind that maybe you should just shoot the pilot as he was failing as hard as you were

 

 

Jesus, is this what goes through the mind of the people that instantly whip out the homing launcher?

 

 

Well, granted, I never claimed to be MLG, but I did get lock. Multiple times. Ans sometimes even waited a few seconds with the lock on just for good measure.

 

But, it was still fun.

[xOptimus Prime]

Using a HL against me is a sign, that they are ready to be killed instantly by my Savage.

 

I usually check my target (insurance costs) and then proceed to switch to 1st person view and kill him/her.

 

Switch back to 3rd person and get PASSIVE read im case of an unlucky spawn.

 

HL makes things so much easier. You always know your griefing is justified.

[Pete4000uk]

I have had a few missiles sent my way in civilian aircraft since the update with only the sound of it trying to lock and no indication its on its way. Most of them have missed, not sure if that's because I've become better at roof skimming or if its been nurfed

[blusunone]

The homing launcher is a useless piece of sh*t...unless you are spending a lot of time in free roam battles, which is a huge waste of time and money.

 

If you play missions and survivals, you will never use it. You can use the combat mg, heavy sniper, or even minigun to take out helicopter gunners, pilots, and npc's in vehicles. All of these options are faster and easier, not to mention much cheaper than the homing launcher.

 

I can't help but cringe every time i see a low level, most likely financially struggling player fire off several of these in a row. Usually they miss two or three times, and are trying to take out a low level threat. Each time they do that, they just spent more on ammo than i will on all 10 waves, just to get 2 or 3 kills.

Edited July 10, 2015 by blusunone

[Pifko]

I am getting better at flying my Hydra and shot a guy in midair with a rocket recently, but I am having one problem... Why does the thruster (rarely) die with no damage to the plane? What am I doing wrong? I assume I cut it out by holding the brake too much? Can I restart the engines? It never happens in hover mode.

 

Homing rockets should not be able to lock on to civilian-class vehicles and helicopters with weaponry should have one-use flares only. Jets are fine.

Edited July 10, 2015 by Pifko

[Killzone3265]

Why does the thruster (rarely) die with no damage to the plane? What am I doing wrong? I assume I cut it out by holding the break too much? Can I restart the engines? It never happens in hover mode.

You probably are holding the breaks down too hard, and you can restart the engine by accelerating.

[Pifko]

 

Why does the thruster (rarely) die with no damage to the plane? What am I doing wrong? I assume I cut it out by holding the break too much? Can I restart the engines? It never happens in hover mode.

You probably are holding the breaks down too hard, and you can restart the engine by accelerating.

 

 

I try accelerating, but nothing. I am either so close to the ground I have to bail, or I am already dead. Would you recommend I don't use the brakes and just pull back and let go? I forget I am not in a car so it's hard.

Edited July 10, 2015 by Pifko

[Killzone3265]

 

I try accelerating, but nothing. I am either so close to the ground I have to bail, or I am already dead. Would you recommend I don't use the brakes and just pull back and let go? I forget I am not in a car so it's hard.

Try not to press down more than halfway on your breaks trigger. If you want to go slow, make sure your landing gear is out. If your engine stalls, accelerating should start it back up but I think you could try switching to hover mode and see if it kicks in quicker.

[Jimrod]

 

i need auto lock on to kill

And the first person defending it arrives, lol

 

 

Really though, did you even read? It's not so much about "terrorising the lobby with aircraft" it's more about the stupidity of a weapon killing all the fun of flying.

f*ck's the point of using an aircraft if you're "forced" to fly so high that there's literally nothing to do?

 

 

Well if you're not "terrorising" the lobby you don't need to fly around other players, the map is huge and the lock-on for the launcher is about 50 feet, presuming it doesn't lock onto every other random object in sight first. There's plenty of space for you to fly around and not get locked. If you're constantly flying around other players and getting locked I'd imagine it's because you're also trying to kill them right?

[Killzone3265]

 

Well if you're not "terrorising" the lobby you don't need to fly around other players, the map is huge and the lock-on for the launcher is about 50 feet, presuming it doesn't lock onto every other random object in sight first. There's plenty of space for you to fly around and not get locked. If you're constantly flying around other players and getting locked I'd imagine it's because you're also trying to kill them right?

 

Oh yeah. Everyone's gonna die at the wings of my blood curdling Duster plane.

 

If I wanted to fly alone, bored, then I would be playing singleplayer. Purposely isolating yourself in an online multiplayer free roam is pointless.

Also, 50 feet? Are you mad? The homing launcher range is like 3-4 city blocks... That is, assuming you're even in the city. Try attempting to survive while on more northern ends of the map.

[Jimrod]

 

 

Well if you're not "terrorising" the lobby you don't need to fly around other players, the map is huge and the lock-on for the launcher is about 50 feet, presuming it doesn't lock onto every other random object in sight first. There's plenty of space for you to fly around and not get locked. If you're constantly flying around other players and getting locked I'd imagine it's because you're also trying to kill them right?

 

Oh yeah. Everyone's gonna die at the wings of my blood curdling Duster plane.

 

If I wanted to fly alone, bored, then I would be playing singleplayer. Purposely isolating yourself in an online multiplayer free roam is pointless.

Also, 50 feet? Are you mad? The homing launcher range is like 3-4 city blocks... That is, assuming you're even in the city. Try attempting to survive while on more northern ends of the map.

 

 

If I'm within a block of anyone on this game the chances are they're going to try and kill me, that's pretty much what GTA is.

 

People can lock me from the other side of the known universe yet when I try to lock I basically need to be in the cockpit with the pilot. I think it must be down to crappy servers and lag.

 

If you want to fly close to other players and not get shot there's always passive mode...

[Cubanoking99]

I actually wish it was improved it was nerfed baaad.

 

Recently I tried to shot down a smuggler plane and I was fully locked on all shots and tried different angles and all 6 shots missed lol.

[x_FRoe__]

I have never been hit with the HL lol. I mean really the HL can hit the jet? I have had multiple players try to team up and spam 2-3 missles at once and still to no avail.

 

If anyone is moaning about the HL then they kinda suck as a pilot tbh. I don't mean to be rude or nothing but in the Lazer/Hydra there is absolutely no way u should even have a close call with said weapons.

 

I do think the HL should be rank locked too though as it is a decent weapon Vs choppers and ground vehicles. Maybe a 110 or something just between the RPG and Minigun.

[Killzone3265]

If anyone is moaning about the HL then they kinda suck as a pilot tbh. I don't mean to be rude or nothing

That was quite rude. Have you even read the OP, I said that the jets are the only thing that are able to survive the homing launcher extremely easily. Try flying anything else and you will be caught be the missile with zero effort.

[Choppers]

"Flying Coffin" lmao.

 

I've begun to lose hope of anything being done about that abomination. What Nutduster said would we be fantastic, but like he said, it's probably too late.

 

I agree wholeheartedly though. It really has nothing to do with piloting skills (especially for me, flying's my thang) since the Homing Launcher can do impossible turns, lock on from 4 light years away, one-hit kills anything, and the target being in anything slower than a Lazer/Hydra is toast, helicopters specifically.

 

The only time you'll survive a rocket from the HL in a heli is if you're speeding toward them and by the grace of god it whisks by and doesn't decide to do a 180 and nail you. But ayy, they got 9 more!!

 

'Course most people around here don't fly much anyway and have no idea what I'm talking about, and will just say "you're a bad pilot".

[Shadowfennekin]

I think it's a piece of crap honestly whenever I try using it. Waste of money, only use it on Pacific Standard to take out choppers. I do wait for the red lockon but it rarely works I need to be CLOSE to the helicopters/planes too. I'm flying way up at the tip of Maze Bank..... I hear a lock on and BEEEEEEEP, look around as I'm flying in circles only one guy around and he's on foot. I can be more than a "few blocks" down and still have a lock on noise.

 

In short, should be level locked for 100 at least. You don't even have to be hurting anyone in your Hydra to get attacked as people are so scared, I only go after bounties and smugglers in mine I don't grief anymore I did in RDR but I learned how awful it is and stopped.

 

They need to either level lock it, refund the low levels. OR give a defense to unarmed stuff(Hell, make it Pegasus exclusive I don't care it would give more purpose to calling out my Titan rather than stealing one)

[STEEZYR]

It needs to be buffed against jets

Simple solution is buff it but have it not able to lock onto non lethal planes / helis