Catherine Laartii
Knights of Xibalba
115
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Posted - 2014.03.25 23:15:00 -
[1] - Quote
I think the probably really lies more with the capital-sized modules, specifically the mechanics involved with siege mode and RR. I would propose that capital module stats for reps, either local or remote, and guns get buffed significantly and have siege and triage bonuses to module effectiveness be rolled into the module proper to allow more effective fleet logistics formations.
Part of the reason subcap fleet mechanics are in a better place balance-wise is because the philosophy for fielding them and how logistics works in general at that scale IS in fact balanced very well with how cap is transferred and how formations are set up to rep. Following a similar gameplay mechanic then scaling it up would be, in my limited and humble opinion, a way to help balance capitals better. Buffing the tracking speed on fighters would be ideal as well; having them be able to hit battlecruisers and some slower cruisers would be excellent since it would expand their usefulness.
A good place to start would be with a fighter balance. Buff the tracking up a bit, but reduce the hp and mineral costs slightly. Bringing down that, plus adding t2 and faction fighters would help signficantly; making them around 5 mil a pop for t1 and current prices for t2 or higher would be ideal for expanding the market and helping the carriers themselves out a bit.
Also, a good way to balance bonuses to them would be the Thanatos getting a RR amount bonus to armor, the Nid getting RR bonus to shields to be better in line with racial rates, and each getting local active tanking bonuses. The Chimera and Archon would get transfer range bonuses for both getting cap, the chimera getting shields and the archon getting armor range. You'd have balanced gameplay options assuming the nid would get balanced more towards midslots, preferably the lows and mids flipped around.
This would follow the current subcap logi line with racial bonuses, especially in regards to caldari and amarr being generally fleet-focused in regards to logistics. I would be in favor of keeing triage if it got a big nerf to sensors so it would be used more towards healing structures and ships that survive after a fight, rather than during the fight. Upping the cap/fuel usage and nerfing scan res and sensor strength after doing a good buff to cap reps in general would be appropriate I think. You'd have the gal and min carriers be better suited towards that; giving the hel a tracking bonus might all kinds of awesome too.
Aside from carriers, dropping the damage part on siege module might be an ideal way to buff capitals after rolling the damage into the guns themselves, but to also rolling something like a tracking bonus in there would be great. It would be most ideal to be able to have them use their guns out of siege to they don't drop like flies during a large engagement since they can't receive reps while sieged.
Generally the intention would be to carry over combat mechanics that work subcap and scale them up. Only downside I could see would be big fights lasting a bit longer if everyone knows what they're doing, but that's more the fault of everyone piling into the same node than anything wrong with the capital fight mechanics themselves. |