tl,dr; no need to buff armor reppers any more.
Ok, personal reality check after a shitload of quality time with pyfa, especially on cruiser level. I'll be backpedaling most of my criticism. Looking at AAR fits in more detail, I find them very viable indeed.
- speed issue of active armor is fixed with this buff, which is
big - downgrading to Ions does not mean that a blaster ship is doing insignificant dps, quite contrary
- MAAR+MAR reps can be better adjusted according to incoming damage than single ASBs
- MAAR+MAR reps are easier to fit than either dual LASB or single XLASB on cruisers
- MAAR+MAR peak burst is significantly longer than dual LASB or single XLASB
- MAAR+MAR reps a lot more than dual LASB, and a bit more than single XLASB during burst, and doesn't drop to 0 after that.
- capacitor always lasts longer than ASB charges
This was for example Moa vs Vexor realistic fits, Moa has that magical 5% resist bonus, Vexor has no bonuses to reps.
So I'm starting to see the light with AAR and not buffing the repper stats at all- check out MAAR+MAR fits on cruisers if you still think that med repper amount needs buffing
[Vexor, MAAR+MAR=LOVE]
Medium Ancillary Armor Repairer I
Medium Armor Repairer II
Damage Control II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Medium Capacitor Booster II, Navy Cap Booster 400
Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I
Faint Epsilon Warp Scrambler I
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
Medium Ancillary Current Router I
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Hammerhead II x5
Warrior II x5
Hornet EC-300 x5
Hammerhead II x2
Warrior II x1
Needs PG implant. Clearly my future favourite cruiser. Obviously vulnerable to neuts and the tank requires a lot of attention to economy, but 888,9 p/s burst tank, 473 base dps (HHs+CNAM) and 2466m/s with full tackle has to have a weakness.
Or a single MAAR Thorax. Neutrons, full tackle, more EHP than 1600mm II plate fit. 2891 m/s top speed. Yeah, more than the revered XLASB, which can't even fit Neutrons and requires lolamounts of fitting acrobacy.
If these kinds of fits would be unneutable, forums would be nothing but NERF GALLENTE!!!111 in no time. Which we might see anyway tbh.
Also, check out MAARMARMaller with RAH against two damage types
I also find the buffer tank buff very well balanced, it doesn't turn heavily plated ships into interceptors, but creates a new style of "light armor buffer" which is very interesting. 800mm fits are comparable to LSE tank in EHP and mobility, slightly less damage but with no mid slots lost. Sweet balance.
MAAR+MAR Exiled Myrm with armor link in a small gang gets a mad amount of EHP from just the burst period. Brutix can probably live up to it's design, rushing to target while repping the damage it receives during the sprint. I'm looking forward to ending this theorycrafting and getting my hands on the ships :)