Xavier Sunder
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Posted - 2009.04.15 03:04:00 -
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I bought this character to be used with SBs. That's how much I like their concept. I've flown them in numerous wars and low/null sec fights.
Glass Cannon
The concept of a glass cannon is absolutely fine, and it works in just about every game there is. The problem is, you're making them glass cannons that can only fight one or two types of targets. And, not sure statistics-wise, but that cuts down on a pretty huge number of ships. Glass cannons, in every other MMORPG are cannons against EVERYTHING. The mage/thief concept from fantasy games can still hurt other mages and thieves. In fact, they're pretty short fights. This goes for old pen and paper D&D up to whatever modern compy game that's based on it.
Tank Destroyers
I had coincidentally got in a discussion about old WWII tank destroyers with my dad recently. Him being a military history buff. Their basic concepts were they should be cheap, they should be fast, they should be mobile. Per wikipedia:
 Quote:
A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armored fighting vehicle designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles. Many have been produced as a tank-like vehicle, but with light armor and capable of higher speed, with a gun or missile launcher. Many lack turrets.
If the repurposed SB is to take out "tanks," they need SOME kind of defense against tanks. Whether it's speed, re-cloak, maneuverability, whatever. But having a sluggish anti-tank tank that can't recloak is like putting a sprinter in a marathon: they'll start out okay, and then collapse. The only defense I can see SBs having is hoping no one shoots you. Interceptors were already the absolute bane of SBs, and that was fine. But with only torps and no recloak, basically any ship is. If it's big enough you can hurt, they'll have drones and will eventually wear you down. Or will simply leave, as you can't get anywhere near tackle range safely.
Cost Benefit
The training to get in and properly fly a cloaked SB is pretty high. I won't spit all the skills out, but they're pretty significant. Just what does someone get for that return, especially if they aren't Caldari and have to deviate from their normal weapon skill path? You have a cheap platform that is cost-effective against a handful of target types IF that target doesn't have any help not of those same target types. And do remember that even though the base cost is low, the insurance payout is also low because it's a T2 ship.
I just don't know that having a T2 SB is better than having a T2 BC or BS. With the old cruise system, I could still do some okay damage to smaller ships and stay WELL out of range. But more importantly, I could re-cloak quickly.
I don't need to warp cloaked. Yes, it's nice. But the class is Bomber, not scout. As for sneaking up on someone, they already know I'm here because I'm in local.
Friends
I'm getting the idea that SB's should only be used in mixed gangs. Having BS's take the shots and other ships to keep the smaller frigs/cruisers off of you. But again, wouldn't a Cruiser, BattleCruiser or BS be better?
Trade
What is this buff really entailing?
+More dmg to 2 types
+Cloaking warped
+Increased ship CPU/Grid
+Additional room for Bomb
-lower cloaked speed
-less dmg to more than 2 types
-Massive increase in recloak timer
I frankly see this as a net nerf. It's more of a change, but overall the ship has become weaker IMHO.
Suggestions
If the goal is to remain a BS/tank destroyer, it needs to really do that. Take out the racial bonus dmg. If you're fighting BS's and your target happens to be good against that, you are now pretty much screwed. SBs need to be able to put the hurt on any BS. Either more speed or more dmg as well. Otherwise, I don't see their value.
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