Funny, I was expecting something more faction neutral, like the Gnosis, where you can choose pretty much what weapons system you want. Could've been interesting. And since there is no role bonus anyway on dmg or projection, most people will end up fitting autocannons ! So ... What about removing the laser capa bonus, and replacing it either by a bonus for each weapon system (and add 2 missiles points), or replacing it by another exploration bonus, and letting us choose our weapons ?

I think you meant drone and projectile (or hybrid for mad EFT deeps) weapons systems. Nobody used lasers on eg. Mallers before the tiericide gave it a damage bonus.

Without any kind of damage bonus will use whatever weapon they like best. The specifics of damage application or weapon effectiveness wont matter.

for example despite the laser bonus I will end up using hybrids.

The best slot layout would have to be 4/5/6.
The +5 virus strength is plenty, for null one would usually be better off with a T3 due to the interdiction nullifier.
The laser bonus I suspect will go mostly unused. But could be wrong.

5/5/5 and shield tanked will get you nearly 1k dps and decent tank still while being able to fly around cloaked (needs a cpu implant and some meta modules). by moving a high to a low, it cuts a decent amount of damage off or prohibits you from being able to warp around cloaked.

HERE THEY ARE
Astero

Role Bonus: 100% reduction in CPU requiement for cloaks
Role Bonus: 37.5% increase Scan Prob Strength (maybe this should be a rounder number? right now it follows the t1 bonus)
Role Bonus: +5 Virus strength for Relic and Data Analyzers

Can fit Cover Ops Cloaking devices

Amarr Frigate Bonus:
4% bonus to Armor Resists

Gallente Frigate Bonus:
20% bonus to drone hitpoints

Have fun with that lock time delay and lack of tank.

After seeing the 1000dps blaster fit shield cruiser, I'm inclined to JUST use this ship in PvP. Cloak, approach, 0, and kill. Ogres (either a second set to say F* you. If they kill one, woopty friggen do) and Blaster II with void.

If this was meant as an exploration cruiser for long deployments, I'm not seeing it. Going by everyones suggestions and the bonuses as is, I see drone version of the Vigilant that can cloak on top of that.

Thought the idea was exploration with some teeth? I see lots of teeth with a little bit of explo.


Increase cargo bay, by quite a bit, drop the drone bay size to say.. 200? an decrease the bandwidth to 100. Its a CRUISER. Not a battle cruiser. Not a battle ship. Its a long deployment explo cruiser. Even if you strictly focused on that people are going to break it for Pvp so theres no worries there.

The mobile fitting array will take care of any needs regarding swapping out drones. This will be an essential NEED for "long deployments" so why not focus around the fact that one is going to be carried?

Keep hearing people cry "no laser bonuses? wtf? Needs more pew pew." I saw, wheres my hybrid turret bonus? I could use more dps on top that 1000. Go home.

When did it get 100% reduction to cloaking device targeting delay.

Amarr uses drones also, so it is a shared trait. If it gets lasers it is pushed too much to the Amarr side.

Just as an example, it will take this ship about 9 seconds to target a rupture. Based upon the information I can get at work at least.

That is with Signature Analsys to level 5 and Cloaking 5.

And all of that considered, a Vexor can easily get in that DPS range. A Vexor could probably kill this relatively easily, too.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I think the drone bay makes sense, actually.

They just combined the two drone-weapon races for the first time. The drone bay should be incredible.

So GǪ drone + ECM, dropping the missile bonus?

If the frigate should be able to probe, salvage and cloak without refitting, it needs 3 high slots.

Also, that cruiser is overpowered. Should only have a bandwidth of 75, 100 tops.

What?.. Why on earth kill the sole reason for it's existence! Unable to do relic and data sites anywhere else but hisec?
Logistics, a cloaky logistics to support big fleets! How is this exploration. Sorry if you want a different ship please do not try to cripple this one to make it into your dream ship for incursions.

CCP PLEASE keep this an explorer and not let them talk you into making this something else entirely.

That will be said under all circumstances in which it can do any meaningful DPS and be able to use a covert ops cloak.

Pretty sure 4 unbonused lasers aren't the reason this thing can supposedly pull off 6/10s.

I am putting a suggestion out for comment.
Please do not shoot me down on it, try to keep it constructive.
Lots of thoughts on the ship being overpowered in certain conditions.

If the stratios had one light turret for getting aggression and no other turret slot and totally dependent on drones, would it solve the over powered issue or do you feel it would cripple an otherwise good ship?

If you think it is now underpowered what would you add back?

Please comment.....

Seeing as the Guristas lineup is most likely having its drone focus removed, these are the new drone ships.

You may be correct ... but pirate ships are before balance pass. So this Gila may be diffrent from new Gila.

The +5 virus strength is fine, especially if you use T2 analyzers.
Even the scanning bonus is fine. I regularly scan down everything but 2.5% sigs with an unbonused ship, sisters core scanner probes,a T1 probe launcher, no impants, and no scanning mods.
Without the drone damage bonus, you are looking at a base 316 DPS form Ogre IIs.

You look like not willing to train skills for these T2 analyzers...

And what will be left to covops if the Astero is better than them for their job AND better at pew pew at the same time ?

you're thinking dps = dps, when in reality dps = dps +/- consideration for tracking, range and applied damage type. with no damage bonus and everything else being equal, it's why autocannons were - and despite recent buffs, may still be - arguably the pound-for-pound best weapons platform in the game.

As can the Gila

Tradeoffs are important, and something you see in many ships. Removing a slot or a hardpoint takes those slots away from EVERYONE and all play styles.

Reducing fitting would force players that want to maximize gank or isk/hr into making choices. Do I want to use a rig slot to fit a cpu rig, a low slot for a co-processor, or downsize my guns?

This way each individual player chooses which tradeoff to make for their own individual needs. It promotes both balance and variety.

Giving the ship 100% laser bonus completely defeats the reason to remove 2 turret hardpoints, with 4 turrets worth of damage it gets too high of DPS.

It probably is the only way to force lasers on this hull. With four turrets worth of damage, it would compensate for pulses higher fitting requirements, their high cap use and their bad tracking at the short ranges this hull would be suited for, given its slow speed and huge sig radius.

I'm fine with keeping more hardpoints and some irrelevant laser bonus - I'll just fit Blasters or ACs and be happy with that.

If they want to force the ship to match its description it needs to specialize in lasers in a way that overcomes all their shortcomings on a hull that would typically start to engage at 2000 m or less.

Considering the optimal range bonus - that doesn't make any sense at all - lasers wont be unviable on this ship for their optimal range. It's nonsensically high without any bonus at all - if anything this ship needs a laser tracking bonus that lets conflag pulses outperform blasters at 2000 m in terms of damage application, fitting requirements, cap use and damage types.

[snip]

5x Garde II
5x Ogre II

849 DPS with neuts, webs, scrams.

Thanks for the utility high slots

[Stratios, Test] Needs 3% CPU implant
1x Covert Ops Cloaking Device
2x Medium Unstable Power Fluctuator I
2x Heavy Pulse Laser II (Conflagration M)

10MN Afterburner II
2x Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I
Faint Epsilon Warp Scrambler I
Medium Capacitor Booster II

Medium Armor Repairer II
2x Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
2x Drone Damage Amplifier II

Medium Anti-Explosive Pump I
Medium Processor Overclocking Unit I
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I


5x Garde II
5x Ogre II

849 DPS with neuts, webs, scrams.

35 pages of baseless and senseless arguing.

It is NOT a pvp boat, forget the EFT capital turret fits with 10k dps. It is a combat exploration ship, emphasis on pve not pvp.

"but people will use it for pvp" - So let them! Even more tears for you to harvest when they lose a 400mil ship...


If anything, it needs a buff to lasers. Any kind, CCP Rise's idea of optimal is excellent. It will just support CCP's idea for "drones and lazors". Motivate us to use the lasers, add a laser bonus.

And no one in their right mind will fit this for PvE with a 16k EHP tank to get that 900 DPS you mention.

EVERYONE here is putting out max gank fits and then assuming that EVERYONE will suddenly fit all of their 400+ million ISK SoE cruisers with a max gank, 900 DPS fit with less EHP than 2 Punishers.

The reality will be far from it. The people that try to do that will learn quickly; others will be far more reasonable with their fits.

CCP please don't nerf this to hell!!!

You have made a perfect ship, it is not overpowered despite what the EFT warriors come up with. Who would use it like that?

Add some kind of laser bonus to the hull and leave the rest as is. A piece of art.

Helios (Gallente CovOps), AFAIR, has only two highs too, so it's still out of luck (except combat probe launcher, as you propose)

I love all the people freaking out over the +5 virus strength, it is plenty enough for most all but the hardest sites in null sec and WH. But why should they spend 12 days to use T2 Analyzers when covert ops gives that to them as a hull bonus, therefore this ship should as well.

Maybe introduce SOE Analyzers for a considerable markup that mimic T2 but only require the appropriate skills to level 1, that way they can ***** they don't have enough coherence.

So many are complaining that the ship is worthless at hacking without a +10 bonus, and it is not.

Also, exploration includes combat sites that are scanned down as well, so in reality this ship is the epitome of exploration.

I am an explorer, I have used everything form a covert ops frigate to a t3, battle cruisers fit for exploration, cruisers fit for exploration.

My favorite ships to explore in don't have any kind of virus or scanning bonus to them at all, no rigs or implants either and I seem to do just fine.

My T3 only is used for the cloak and interdiction nullifier, I like the emergent locus analyzer for the probe bonus, but the virus strength is just a side effect because I used it long before the virus strength was even a thing.

I do not disagree. Please also consider the explorers concerns.

Give them the Marauder treatment? That is not a bad idea.

The reason it is considered OP right now is it is to good of a hunter ship, its intent is a PvE based ship that can defend its self from hunters, a slower lock time would make that possible.

If it took about 12~15 total seconds to lock a cruiser it would be less than optimal for a hunter style ship, but if you are already in your site and a ship warps in you can begin to lock it in a reasonable amount of time giving you the advantage.

6(5) second delay in cloaking isn't that significant. It is certainly not enough time (including lock) to escape if you are in anything but a nano cruiser due to bumping.

A 100% penalty to targeting delay would be enough to appease me. That would give it an average time to lock a cruiser to about 16 seconds. That way it wouldn't adversely affect its PvE potential while nerfing the surprise PvP potential.

And, we could always reduce the damage, but people are adamant against that idea apparently. I think it is the easiest path to follow and it doesn't involve putting 7-10 different "bonuses" on the ship just to make it work.

You do realize that applied DPS>raw DPS. Giving the drones tracking, velocity in addition to damage will make the ship more deadly than it already is.

Increasing the targeting delay would work, but I think I am still in favor of reducing the scan resolution.

where will the tank on that ship be, you have 3 of 5 lows for damage mods, 2 of 5 mids for web and painter, you will need a point so that makes 3 of 5 add in a prop mod and there is 4 of 5 mids and 3 of 5 lows and no where for a tank.

gank setups will happen no matter what, and while needing to be considered they are an exception but not the rule.

Doing an experiment on Sisi, will post results with pictures when I get home.

I am in null sec with a rookie ship fitted with a T1 probe launcher, Standard scanner probes, a T1 relic and data analyzer.

I have successfully scanned down a relic site.

I will post progress pictures when I can get back home.

My Ship and Implants
First Container
First Completed
2nd Container
2nd Completed
3rd Completed
4th Container
4th Completed
5th Container
5th Failed
5th Second Try
5th Second Try Completed
6th Container
6th Completed

So, the morale of this is, the +5 is well enough to do even null sec sites.

And as for my skills being at level 5, not once did my coherence drop below 10, except for when I failed the hack, so the extra 10 coherence form level 5 was not needed.

Edit: I even had enough CPU left to put a cloak on that ship.
2nd Edit: The 37.5% to Scan Probe Strength is more than generous being as that was done with only a single 10% implant. What you get from a sisters probe launcher.

The hacking mini-game that was introduced in Odyssey requires was intended to move the profession from Skill point dependence to Player skill dependence.
The ship bonuses were to make it easier, but are not required.

To be fair this is the first time I have ever gotten a run straight to the core, outside of the initial testing before odyssey, let alone 2 in the same site.

The hacking mini-game that was introduced in Odyssey requires was intended to move the profession from Skill point dependence to Player skill dependence.
The ship bonuses were to make it easier, but are not required.

To be fair this is the first time I have ever gotten a run straight to the core, outside of the initial testing before odyssey, let alone 2 in the same site.

That's just my point. No, there is no reason to have lasers on this ship, or a laser bonus. Regardless of whatever someone chooses to do with it, none of those scenarios involve the use of laser turrets.

and that happened, and I lost, it will happen. but that is still the exception and not the rule.

The reason it is considered OP right now is it is to good of a hunter ship

yup and Amarr are half drones and it gets a resistance bonus. so it fulfills it Amarr side quire well

But right now it is to good, it tramples over all other hunter class ships.

[Stratios] Requires a 3% CPU Implant

Covert Ops Cloaking Device
4x Heavy Neutron Blaster II (Void M)

2x Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I
Faint Epsilon Warp Scrambler I
Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Faint Warp Disruptor I

800mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
2x Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
2x Drone Damage Amplifier II

3x Medium Trimark Armor Pump I

5x Ogre II

Effective HP: 35,211 (Eve: 27,089)
Tank Ability: 8.97 DPS
Shield Resists - EM: 0.00%, Ex: 50.00%, Ki: 40.00%, Th: 20.00%
Armor Resists - EM: 76.52%, Ex: 57.73%, Ki: 69.47%, Th: 69.47%

Capacitor (Lasts 1m 50s)

Volley Damage: 3,664.45
DPS: 928.61

50 pages in here's a t;dr: for any newcomers:

The cruiser is fine, either roll it out as is or put a laser bonus for maximum amarr/gallente authenticity.

FFS, now you are being dense. It was shown that null sites can be done with no bonus at all.

Do you think the only place I hack is on Sisi? I have done plenty on TQ. The only surprise I had was the 2 direct path mini games. Putting those aside, 7 hacking attempts were done 2 were givemes so I will discount those, 1 failed attempt, so 4 of 7 hacks were successful. That seems right for a Unbonused ship.

You sacrifice functionality for versatility. It can do 3/10-6/10s, relic and data sites without the need to reship. A T3 can do 10/10 but not relic and data sites also, a covert ops frigate will excel at doing relic ad data sites but cannot touch combat sites.

If you reduce drone dps not a single person will use it for lowsec deds, everyone will just continue using Ishtar. If dps needs to be reduced for whatever reason, then it should be done in some other way, removing or reducing turrets hardpoints comes to mind.

4 DDAs push the ships DPS up to 772 with Ogre IIs and 731 with Garde IIs

You are asking for a christmas gift. The only reason you gave for the +10 virus bonus is because it's an exploration ship. Yet people already demonstrated that +5 was enough even for nullsec. So we have your wishes and questionable allegations versus proven facts. There's nothing more to say IMO.

Covert Ops ships are T2 ships, note they also get a +10 Virus strength.
T3, while not T2 are on the same post as T2 begin advanced ships and they get the +10 virus strength.
Exploration frigates are T1 ships and get a +5 virus strength.

These ships while being pirate ships are still T1 ships there Meta level is 8 which is where there powe comes from but they are still T1 ships and therefore only get a +5 virus strength like all T1 ships.

The ship will be *perfect* for lowsec.

I've done all sites with an Imicus, and the Stratios will be able to do all combat sites of lowsec.

And yes, there is absolutely no reason to use these ships only for relic/data sites. They are not supposed to replace covops in this matter. The whole point of these ships is to be able to do relic/data sites ON TOP of being able to fight ! So YES, covops SHOULD BE better for relic/data sites only, but the covops will never do combat sites, and that's what these ships are supposed to be better than covops at.

The problem is that there are other ships too who want to be flown, and there are already ships to do what you want. So why do you want, in fact, THIS speific ship to do something you already have plenty of ship to do it ?

CCP Rise, remember the Dominix.

Or it could you know be 2 different people who genuinely disagree with what you have to say.
My characters all have something in common btw and they all also have positive sec status.

Or it could you know be 2 different people who genuinely disagree with what you have to say.
My characters all have something in common btw and they all also have positive sec status.

Didn't read every post in here, but i got a question that comes with the new ships ... are there plans to bring out new sisters of eve items like for example a sisters of eve analyzer and or other items? .... just as a idea tho :)

The cloak is an integral part of exploration, but was suggested to give them the marauder treatment as to nerf there PVP a bit while not ruining there PVE side.

How's this for better stats?

---

Astero

Role Bonus: 100% reduction in CPU requiement for cloaks
Role Bonus: 37.5% increase Scan Prob Strength (maybe this should be a rounder number? right now it follows the t1 bonus)
Role Bonus: +10(+5) Virus strength for Relic and Data Analyzers

Can fit Covert Ops Cloaking devices

Amarr Frigate Bonus:
4% bonus to Armor Resists
OR
+5m^3 drone bay per level

Gallente Frigate Bonus:
20% bonus to drone hitpoints
10% bonus to drone hitpoints and optimal range

Slot layout: 3H(+1), 4M, 3L(-1); 2 turrets, 0 launchers
Fittings: 32 PWG, 170 CPU
Defense (shields / armor / hull) : 480(-80) / 660(+60) / 620(+20)
Capacitor (amount) : 430
Mobility (max velocity / agility / mass / align time): 312 / 2.87 / 975000 / 3.88s
Drones (bandwidth / bay): 25 / 75
Targeting (max targeting range / Scan Resolution / Max Locked targets): 37km / 620 / 6
Sensor strength: 13
Signature radius: 35
Cargo Capacity: 210

---

Stratios

Role Bonus: 50% reduction in Energy Turret capacitor need
Role Bonus: 37.5% bonus to Energy Turret tracking and optimal range
Role Bonus: 37.5% increase Scan Prob Strength
Role Bonus: +5 Virus strength for Relic and Data Analyzers

Can fit Covert Ops Cloaking devices

Amarr Cruiser Bonus:
4% bonus to Armor Resists

Gallente Cruiser Bonus:
10% bonus to Drone hitpoints and damage

Slot layout: 5H, 5M, 5L; 3 turrets (-1) , 0 launchers
Fittings: 920 PWG, 400 CPU
Defense (shields / armor / hull) : 1450(-500) / 2400 / 2450
Capacitor (amount) : 1700
Mobility (max velocity / agility / mass / align time): 182 / .47 / 9350000 / 6.09s
Drones (bandwidth / bay): 125 / 500
Targeting (max targeting range / Scan Resolution / Max Locked targets): 55km / 275 / 7
Sensor strength: 20
Signature radius: 150
Cargo Capacity: 550

---

What these changes accomplish:

ASTERO:
The Astero is made a better frigate overall - with the loss of a lowslot, there is now potential for better drone application and better damage. It should be great for doing the lowest level complexes and blitzing L1s and L2 in hostile space - maybe even better performance in wormhole space! Since there's no gun bonus and not too much tank, it won't be overpowered when it comes to PvP. The +5 virus strength will be a welcome bonus to those of us who do sites in nullsec (this can be changed back if it overshadows other ships too much). The loss of shield HP makes it so this can not be turned into an OP PvP brawler because of 4 mid slots.

STRATIOS:
The loss of a turret slot on the Stratios minimizes the potential for the neutron fits that some people think are OP (despite them being complete glass cannons)- yet damage application will be better for PvE'ers, making this ship more capable in PvE and less capable in PvP. The loss of shield HP prevents the efficiency of pure shield gank fits.

You have previously been caught spamming with multiple identities on this very issue.
Only your identities think this.Will you stop trying to trick CCP RISE INTO BELIEVING THIS IS A WIDELY HELD POSITION.
This user has been reported for using multiple identities to spam this thread. The accounts have posted repeatedly with the intention of giving the impression that a number of people hold a similar view.This has been passed to CCP for action.

I think you're missing the point, here. All PVP potential aside, these ships are PVE exploration ships. They're designed with durability and longevity in mind; huge drone and cargo capacities, and a minor inclination to use Lasers (t1 crystals never break, and crystals last longer than other types of ammo per m^3).
.

The frigate can run combat sites, your Helios cannot.

can anyone explain to me why i should be flying that frigate instead of my Helios?

cruiser looks fun. renders my Ishtar obsolete. u guys think it will be very expensive? hopefully not more than 200mill.

Gallente Cruiser skill bonus per level:
7.5% Heavy Drone max velocity and tracking speed
10% Drone hitpoints and damage

Heavy Assault Cruisers skill bonus per level:
5km Drone operation range
7.5% Sentry Drone optimal range and tracking speed

Role Bonus:
50% reduction in MicroWarpdrive signature radius penalty

The Frigates does not need +10 either.

You already know if you give 1 a +10 people will cry for the other to have it also. There is no doubt in my mind that these will be able to blitz level 1-2 missions and low end rated and unrated complexes.

The Frigates does not need +10 either. A covert ops frigate cant solo a 3/10 complex.

I will ask again for those who want the +10, why do you feel you should be able to do high end sites without T2 equipment?

No troll, if you can convince my why I will yield the fight. But "because it's a pirate ship" is not a good enough answer.

As expected, you can't come up with a reason. Because there is none, high end content requires T2 or better modules.

As expected, you can't come up with a reason. Because there is none, high end content requires T2 or better modules.

I am sure someone will find flaws with this also, but here goes anyway.

When I do high sec exploration, I fit my Navy Vexor for both and it only has 4 mids. It easily does 4/10 most all unrated complexes and all Data and Relic sites I come across.

How capable this will be as an all in one is yet to be seen. I personally plan to do some serous testing for an all in one fit once they are ready on Sisi.

I will ask again for those who want the +10, why do you feel you should be able to do high end sites without T2 equipment?

Sorry, but this ship is not designed as a pure data/relic site exploration ship. It has combat capabilities too which should hint you about its intended purpose.

Hey wanted to check in again.

We've been talking about these ships quite a lot the last day or two and still aren't settled on making any changes. I think we're in a relatively good spot, which is great. We do have some minor concerns about the power level that comes with a resist bonus and a full drone bandwidth allocation. That said, with no projection or application bonuses and larger sig there's still no way the Stratios can compete with the Ishtar at a fleet level so it's just a matter of figuring out if it's too much at a smaller scale, which is debatable to say the least.

We are also talking about the virus strength issue and there's good arguments on both sides. I think any change here will wait until we decide about the rest of the ship and be made in relation to those changes (for instance if it lost any damage output it would seem very sensible to increase the virus strength).

For now, I want to let this sit a bit longer while we think things over and see how the sisi feedback plays out.

Thanks for the discussion!

This makes no sense, CCP Rise. Why should reducing its DPS warrant stomping on other ships' role?

But that is all it is, paper DPS without some kind of application bonus it can be rather hard to apply it.

That could be said even if it only had 3 mid slots, 2x web and a scram + covert ops cloaking device will stop any sub-cap from moving.
Even 1 prop mod, 1 web and a scram can cause all but the fastest frigates to be caught.

Even then, if they follow the same pirate bpc cost 80,000lp +20mill isk for the cruiser assuming 1k isk per LP the minimum cost would be 100mill. The same rate for the frigate it would be minimum 30mill.

near unbonused HAMs and heavies...pass.

In my opinion,
Cargo Scanner II
Relic Analyzer II
Data Analyzer II
10mn Microwarpdrive II/10mn Afterburner II
Medium Capacitor Booster II (Cap Booster 200)

Cost, training time, and accessibility are not balancing factors. See the old titans for reasons why.
Cost is not a reason to obsolete an entire line of ships.

Also, they temporarily changed 2 agents for SOE to level 4 security agents, so I am now confident that these ships will come from a high sec LP store.

Just out of curiosity how does anyone feel about calling these ships "Coalition" ships rather than "pirate" ships?

Two things would happen if the site difficulty were increased, it would put fledgling explorers in a position where they may get frustrated and stop exploring. Second it would put players who are wanting a increased virus strength in the same exact place as they are now, wanting greater virus strength due to the site difficulty needed to be increased.

I understand the sites are not too difficult if you know what you are doing. My point was to artificially create boundaries for virus strength increases, the sites would need to be proportionally difficult which would create more problems than it would solve.

You have a valid point; +10 is what defines a good exploration ship for hacking. Guess what? These aren't for hacking.

For all those who feel +10 is necessary to do null sec hacking sites.

Several posts in this thread mention that +10 is required to do null hacking sites.

Now, Tell me again how the ONLY advantage it has over the SOE ship should be removed? Or should cov ops ships be resigned to the same pile the Primatae should be in? Haven't heard of that ship? Neither did I until a corp mate 2 days ago bought one for PI. Joke is the new PI indy does it better.

I'm all ears buddy.

Please try to scan a 3/10 and take your covert ops frigate into it and complete it, bet you cant but the SOE frigate can

Fixed that for you.

It has 4 low slots, the average armor tank for a frigate only uses 3, that gives you room for a DDA.

It is certainly an interesting mechanic, and without any kind of virus strength bonus it has potential. The only trouble I could see with it is a regeneration mechanic it could get to the point where one could not lose. All you would need to do is keep hitting empty nodes until you are maxed out on coherence (not sure if there is a max) and then do any other nodes you need to kill the datacore.

Unfortunately being so late into the expansion process it is likely to late for them to code such a feature.

Another potential bonus I've had in mind although it would require significantly more iteration be done on the hacking game is that a ship grant a total of 4 or even 5 utility slots in the minigame instead of the usual 3. This would be more useful if we could take utility items between minigames, as it was once stated we may eventually be able to.

no cloaky combat fit? what in the hay are you smokig? a full flight of 5 double health t2 drones with drone space for 10 more and potentially a DDA in the low isnt combat? really?

the ship isnt designed to hunt down enemy players, its an exploration ship that cam defend itself from or kill players already running sites.

understand what the ship is designed for then perhaps you can try to not turn it into a cloaky AF.