Jacob Holland
Weyland-Vulcan Industries
3
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Posted - 2011.10.06 17:36:00 -
[1] - Quote
AB bonuses and so forth have been proven to be a bad choice, they make the "good" AFs awesome but they do nothing for the "poor" ones...
The "fourth bonus" needs to be tailored to the needs of the ship and its role rather than across the board.
So what is the role of an assault frigate?
Is it's job to tackle?
Well the Interceptors do a better job of that with their higher speed, greater agility and (in the case of the "tackle interceptors) tackle range bonus...
So what about holding tackle when doing so requires a bit more resilience?
The role of heavy tackler then? there would have to be some reason why a larger ship, perhaps a BC, would be impractical in that role - the most obvious is mobility of course, particularly since the reduction in web strength which means that ships like the 100MN Tengus are quite capable of outrunning most of the heavier tackle, at least where scrams are in use.
Ships like the Minmatar recons and, on the more expensive side, the Kronos and Paladin and the Web bonused Pirate faction ships however can all work that role however, with multiple long range or 90% webs at their disposal but their application is very limited. The anti-Vaga Ashimu for example, and the prices of those aren't rising out of all control as would suggest they're in such demand as would justify adding the entire range of Assault Frigates to the applicable group...
So if the role is to tackle then the niche would have to be where you have to get the first tackle on but an Interceptor would be popped before it could get there... or soon afterwards.
But that's not the whole story.
Many of the complaints about AFs is that cruisers do "the job" better and more cheaply so mobility isn't all we expect from them.
So do we need to give them (all) cruiser level damage? is the role we want them to fill the OMGBBQ section of a frigate fleet?
But might that make them uncounterable? if four AFs could kill a tanky, AML Drake without losses what could you bring to stop them?
I would say that I think that damage and tank are the primary roles of an AF, now that means I don't think a second mid is vital for the Retribution. The Hawk is hideously broken by this measure though, and the Vengeance isn't much better. |