| Author |
Thread Statistics | Show CCP posts - 0 post(s) |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1605
   |
Posted - 2013.01.13 11:39:00 -
[1] - Quote
This suggestion solves the following problems with gang links:
- brings links on grid without the need to code new mechanics
- nerfs links without making them obsolete, putting all the precious SP in leadership into better use than now
- makes boosting and active and interesting gameplay role in a fleet, instead of being a job for alts
- makes ongrid links more viable for small gangs, promoting upengaging
Links as Projected Assistance Modules
Instead of fire-and-forget system-wide boosts, gang links are turned into normal modules, used just like remote repair, remote sebo and remote ECCM.
The main reasons are the need to kill OGBs and kill boring alt-gameplay. Currently players are excited to fly into combat as fighters, recons, logistics and scouts, but show a single person that wants to be an off-grid booster :D This suggestion would turn a gang booster into a logistics-type (but more complex), very active and vital role in a small gang, and good boosting could mean the difference between winning and losing.
- link fitting requirements are reduced so you can fit a full high rack of links on a CS
- their base stats are bit lower, but can be overheated to be higher
- only one module of a kind can be activated on one ship (so no triple Passive Defense IIs, but as many different links as you can)
- command processor requirement is removed
Range is something that requires careful consideration. I feel it should probably be less than logi and certainly less than EWAR range to enforce tactical decisions instead of just working your boost magic from 100km.
In addition to these targeted high-slot modules, there would ECM-burst style small (<10km?) AOE midslot boosting modules, with similar charge mechanics as ASBs. These would create a short-lived sphere of linky love around the boosting ship. These would be harder to fit and give lesser boosts.
Command ships would need to be adjusted to be able to keep up with their boosted mates, and this would mean removing all their offensive bonuses to keep things in balance.
This obviously favours small gangs, but nothing prevents large fleets to bring a wing of space bards. And it's easy to see that focusing boosting on kingpin ships (logi, tackle) and wings would still yield good results in large fleets.
I like this idea because it brings more complexity into battlefield, more tactical stuff to consider and a new, interesting fleet role using existing base mechanics.
ߦéhat do you think?
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1611
|
Posted - 2013.01.13 18:08:00 -
[2] - Quote
I did mention that CSes would need to be adjusted to keep up with their gang. This would mean making speed/shield boosting ships much faster, and armor boosting ships much tankier. Slot layout changes would obviously be needed as well. So my idea does not work out of the box just applied to current CSes as they are.
Not single person assist, but handful-person assist. This created the need for tactical decision-making, which ships are you going to boost when you can't boost them all? I think this is more interesting and player-skill elevating than passive, system-wide boosts.
As what comes to the necessity of remaining in contact with your fleet, aren't Scimis and Basis viable logis for mobile fleets? In order to benefit tanking of shield fleet, a Vulture would need to be able to boost their logi ships. Anyway, mobile CSes would need to be more mobile than now.
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1615
|
Posted - 2013.01.13 18:29:00 -
[3] - Quote
Are you sure? What about having a Damnation pilot just boosting your Guardians with armor and info links, and an Eos (iknowrite, lol) boosting your recons?
What you would loose in a large fleet is eg. the fleetwide HP boosts
But yes, this change would benefit small gangs much more than large fleets, and I see this as very positive thing.
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1620
|
Posted - 2013.01.14 01:16:00 -
[4] - Quote
Danika,
I doubt that people are terribly against being able to actually fight enemy links, which is not currently very easy (Virtue set), or even impossible (POS boosters). Large fleets could still get benefits from boosting selected ships, but large fleets already have an advantage over small ones, without links.
Recoil,
how exactly would this killl the game and CCP?
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1626
|
Posted - 2013.01.14 10:30:00 -
[5] - Quote
From what I've read, CCP would have changed the links to on-grid only, but ran into some technical issues.
Why not go this easy way, and change them to favor small gangs more at the same time- while creating new, challenging gameplay :)
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1635
|
Posted - 2013.01.15 09:20:00 -
[6] - Quote
Just wanted to repeat that this is indeed the best solution to the gang link issue 
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1658
|
Posted - 2013.01.17 11:00:00 -
[7] - Quote
Perfect solution to a pressing problem! Hot!
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1659
|
Posted - 2013.01.17 11:11:00 -
[8] - Quote
What does it hurt exactly?
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1659
|
Posted - 2013.01.17 11:33:00 -
[9] - Quote
Most common complaint seen in many years is the ability to boost a fleet off grid, and the only reason it is still possible is purely technical according to CCP. See latest CSM minutes for confirmation, they haven't solved it in code. Projected boosting works around this by using existing mechanics. So forcing links on grid is hardly a downside of my suggestion, it is one of the goals.
Regarding large fleets- assuming both sides have an OGB, do the bonuses really matter? Compare to having them on grid, and more dependent on actual player actions would create more differences.
And if as a side effect (due to links getting primaried early) they wouldn't be viable in large fleets, neither side would be using links. I'm aware that this suggestion favours small gangs with link characters, but not in the currently imbalanced way that allows for example POS boosters.
You would have link players whose player skills matter in a small gang fight- real human interaction, instead of asset-like alts.
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1659
|
Posted - 2013.01.17 11:54:00 -
[10] - Quote
Ok let's assume the current Damnation, it has 7 high slots. It would be able to use 7 of these new highslot links (easier to fit than current ones) to boost 7 ships simultaneosly, for example giving rep amount bonuses to 7 Guardians. Got more Guards? Bring another Damnation. Orbit your logi anchor and activate an AOE Sensor strength midslot link to boost all the Guards in the ball against Falcons. Overheat your links to feed more juice to ships that need it.
Same with long tackle, have a Proteus boost other Prots/Lachs to gain more point range.
Just quick examples, link selection and projecting would force more decision making when preparing fleets and coordination on the battlefield.
This would make links very much like logi- provide benefits to ships that currently need it, you are not repping the whole fleet from a safe spot either.
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1663
|
Posted - 2013.01.17 13:11:00 -
[11] - Quote
Those hull bonuses would need to be adjusted, like mentioned in the OP.
Making them like logi would indeed make this a good thing :)
Player skill affecting events > fire & forget offgrid alts
Shiva Furnace is recruiting! Small gang PVP in wormholes and lowsec. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1728
|
Posted - 2013.01.21 07:35:00 -
[12] - Quote
On-grid links that don't benefit the large fleets as much as small gangs = win
-á- All I really wanted was to build a castle among the stars - |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
1734
|
Posted - 2013.01.21 16:47:00 -
[13] - Quote
Good point, and I suggest the same as most gang link suggestions do- let Mining links work off grid like currently.
Them being off grid does not cause any unfair situations.
-á- All I really wanted was to build a castle among the stars - |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
2269
|
Posted - 2013.03.19 10:18:00 -
[14] - Quote
I like these ideas, +1!
OP is not only staggeringly handsome, but also smart. Props!
-á- All I really wanted was to build a castle among the stars - |
| |
|