Kueyen
Ananke Astrodynamics
Terran Commonwealth
19
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Posted - 2013.06.21 22:12:00 -
[1] - Quote
I agree mostly with Unforgiven Storm's general idea, but it's not far enough!
Many have made the point that the design space for industrials is dominated by cargo capacity, and that all other attributes are distant seconds. Another point that continues to return is that the Orca beats every T1 industrials AND the T2 deep space transports at this task by virtue of its versatility, its combined cargo holds, and its tank.
To me the only logical conclusion is to first equalize the racial T1 cargohold sizes (so the design space moves back to racially diverse tanking methods, speed, and agility), and then make the large ones just a bit better than ONE thing an Orca can do, at least at skill level V:
- Give the speedy/tanky racial hulls (the Iteron Mark I (yes, rename it to that), the Badger Mark I, the Wreathe and the Sigil) a cargohold of 1K m-¦ and a generic cargohold of 10K + 2K/level m-¦ (20K m-¦ @ V). Vary average-T2-fit agility/tank from destroyer/destroyer to cruiser/cruiser across the factions, and make them go 6AU/s.
- Give the hauly racial hulls (the Iteron Mark V, the Badger Mark II, the Mammoth and the Bestower) a cargohold of 1K m-¦ and a fleet hangar that holds 25K + 5K/level m-¦ (50K m-¦ @ V). Remove a few lows to account for no longer needing expanders to reach these numbers. Vary average-T2-fit agility/tank from battlecruiser/destroyer to battleship/cruiser across the factions, and make them go 3AU/s.
- Give the Iteron Mark II, the Iteron Mark III and the Iteron Mark IV to Interbus, rename them, add a skill for Interbus industrials, and give them a cargohold of 1K m-¦ and each a specific hold that holds 100K + 20K/level m-¦ (200K m-¦ @ V, yes, THAT much. My Orca holds over 170K m-¦ of ore, and still has a decent tank and the ship maintenance bay on top of that!), and an agility/tank of battlecruiser/cruiser. I'll leave it up to CCP Rise and CCP Fozzie to come up with 3 useful/thematic specialised holds; these could be Ores/Minerals, Ices/Ice Products/Fuel, and PI/Moongoo. They go 3 AU/s.
- Give the Hoarder to Interbus too (same skill), rename it, and give it a cargohold of 1K m-¦ and a 250K + 50K/level m-¦ ship maintenance bay (500K m-¦ @ V), including refitting ability. Agility/Tank should be battlecruiser/cruiser. Also 3 AU/s.
- When the time comes, give the Blockade runners a cargohold of 1K m-¦ and a generic cargohold of 5K + 1K/level m-¦ (10K m-¦ @ V) that is unscannable, and keep it capable of fitting a covert ops cloak. Agility/Tank should vary from destroyer/destroyer to cruiser/cruiser across the factions. They stay at 9AU/s. Pretty much the same as they are now.
- When the time comes, give the Deep Space Transports a cargohold of 1K m-¦ and a fleet hangar of 50K + 10K/level m-¦ (100K m-¦ @ V), and self-defense capabilities. Agility/Tank should be destroyer/cruiser to cruiser/battlecruiser across the factions (if it's possible for a skiff, it's possible here). Make them go 4.5 AU/s. This is a ship I'd be willing to buy at the 150-180M isk price they currently stand at.
Each of the abovementioned special holds would of course be unaffected by modules or rigs. To account for that, remove 2 or 3 low slots from all industrials and transports. Make sure that mission agents look in these extra holds for materials required for mission completion, and fix this for mining barges and exhumers too! Similarly, in-space "loot all" should go into the special hold when applicable too.
This is, of course, just one opinion among over 500 others by now; I hope it contributes to CCP doing something truly inspired with industrials (and transports). |