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Any speculation yet on what "other means" may be? I did a quick search on CCP Bettik's posts, and there's only 4 since March, so I don't even know what that particular Dev has been working on specifically to guess what the change may be.

And as long as we're suggesting "fozziefication", I think other drone stats should be looked at, besides Amarr drones. For example, all heavy drones having 100m signature radius? When a ship capable of carrying 5 of them and launching 3 has a radius of 150m? Makes little sense.

I wonder if they are thinking of removing drones from the overview, making them untargetable (and thus balancing them against other weapon systems.)

And as long as we're suggesting "fozziefication", I think other drone stats should be looked at, besides Amarr drones. For example, all heavy drones having 100m signature radius? When a ship capable of carrying 5 of them and launching 3 has a radius of 150m? Makes little sense.

And for gods sake, let us give our fighters names, I mean, there are pilots in there! Why let dust mercs have usernames if our fighter pilots are nameless?

I wonder if they are thinking of removing drones from the overview, making them untargetable (and thus balancing them against other weapon systems.)

Would be nice but would have to be damagable through means of smart bombs and FoF missiles.

Doesn't have to. You're right, but it doesn't have to make sense. :) Sig radius is not a reflection of size, but also of electronic emissions. Drones, being remote controlled, naturally involve a lot of these electronic emissions, (hence drone bandwidth) so may have an inflated sig radius.

But drones have needed all kinds of work, programming, UI and balancing, since... well, since forever. :)

Still doesn't make enough sense. Even if sig radius is just due to electronic emissions, why are shield-tanked Minmatar drones the same sig radius as armor-tanked and slow Gallente drones? Shouldn't the shield extenders make Minmatar and Caldari drones larger, signature-wise, and Gallente and Amarr drones smaller?

Which in return would lead to battleships with as many hardpoints as highslots less useful, as you'll likely leave one for a smartbomb. And one for a Neut.
Suddenly the pest is even better.

I have a few rebuttles to that
1. When i can shoot the turrets off of your ship then things will be fair regarding weapon systems.
2. This would actually make them make a decision between full damage or survivability.
3. Nothing is stopping that ship from destrying the host drone ship.

As a Pilot who flies an Ishkur and algos I want to +1 this.

However, when flying solo in a drone boat with active reps going, you not only have to manage your own tank and cap and dps projection, but also the damage taken by your drones if the opponent is smart bomb fit or has the intelligence to start shooting your drones.

So long as drones don't become TOO overcomplicated so that trying to pvp with them becomes even more difficult then... I'm all for this.

Good post as always Stan

I'd rather not see drones turn into disposable ammo like rockets, but instead have smart and significantly different play style (mini fleet commander?) to turrets.