Descent 3 Game Guide
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Descent 3 Game Guide
Descent 3 Game Guide
Descent 3 Game Guide

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Vauss Cannon


Damage: Medium
Firing rate: Fast
Max ammunition pyro-GL: 10,000 vauss rounds
Max ammunition phoenix: 15,000 vauss rounds
Max ammunition magnum: 12,000 vauss rounds
Ammo use rate: Medium

Taking over for the vulcan cannon and gauss guns of the previous Descent games, the vauss cannon (perhaps a combination of the two?) acts not unlike the chaingun or machinegun you might see in traditional first-person shooters.
screenshot
Fire the vauss cannon in short, controlled bursts.
The vauss cannon holds a bunch of its own ammo, but if you keep that fire button down for too long, you'll wonder where it all went. Powerful and with the ability to score multiple hits with the same shot, the vauss cannon becomes a powerful ally once acquired. But with limited ammo (and it's occasionally difficult to find), you should only rely on its power for tougher enemies.

One of the biggest downsides to the vauss cannon is its accuracy. Because it fires out several rounds at once, those rounds have a tendency to spread out over a distance. So, the further you are away from the target, the more difficult that target will be to hit. Keep that in mind, then, when you've got your sights on an enemy bot far in the distance. If you keep that vauss trigger on and wonder why this pesky bot isn't dying, you're probably just wasting ammo as most of the rounds are simply passing by the enemy. Wait until you are in closer range; you'll score more hits and do significantly more damage!

In multiplayer games, the vauss cannon is especially good for sneak attacks. There's little warning when the vauss cannon kicks into full gear. If you quietly approach a camping human player, get right behind his exhaust powers, then unleash the vauss cannon at his vulnerable ship, not only will you cause the poor fellow to jump in his seat, but his ship probably won't hold up too long either. Also, because the vauss scores multiple hits (again, depending on range) with each shot, the cannon has a tendency to confuse and disorient its target. While your enemy is bouncing all around from constant multiple hits, it'll be quite difficult for him to get off an accurate shot of his own much less find a way to evade or defend himself.

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