I would like to know how to optimally use the Ion weapons ((Ion Blast, Ion Blast Mark II, Heavy Ion).
With that goal in mind, I have these questions:
How long does each Ion weapon disable an enemy ship system? This is so I can know if it is optimal to regularly change room targets with an Ion weapon to disable two systems or more at the same time (if Ion weapons can disable a system for a long amount of time), or if it is better to keep it locked on at a single room to keep that room's system disabled at all times (if Ion weapons only disable systems for a brief period).
Also, it is described to be able to "hit and disable shields as well as systems". Does this mean that I have to target the enemy shield system room to be able to disable the shields of the whole enemy ship? Or does this mean that any enemy ship room I attack will be treated as if that room has its shield disabled?
Best Answer
Having had to depend on an Ion/Beam combo, I've worked out the Critical thing for Ion Weapons is consistency.
As agent86's answer says, Multiple hits within the "Lockdown" period stack, but the minute that timer runs out, the locked system restores to full.
So your aim is to keep the lockdown timer on any disabled system from running out. Therefore you should be focused on ensuring on repeatedly hitting one system within its period rather than spreading ions around other systems.
To illustrate; if you bring shields down to 0 with ion, then target weapons, you have to hit the shields again before the lockdown on the shields lifts, otherwise they'll restore, and then while you're bringing them down again, the lockdown you've put on the weapons will lift.
If instead you keep hitting the shields, you'll keep resetting the lockdown timer on them and they'll stay down. At this point your other weapons pick up the slack and tear into the non-ionned systems.
Once you have low enough shields that other weapons can penetrate (e.g. your lasers can bring them down, or your halberd/glaive can breach them), you want to focus at least some of your system damage on the helm and engines. Remember, every miss with an ion weapon is bringing you closer to a timer reset.
One useful trick is to alternate between ionning a single system and the shields (e.g. one to the shields to reset their timer, then one to the weapons to lock them down). However you increase the chance that one miss will lead to the shield lockdown running out, especially with the slower Heavy Ion cannons. (Which is why faster ion blasters are more expensive/require more power than ones that do more damage).
Other useful tips:
I hope this helps!