Bla5to Frigate
The Praxus Consortium
2
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Posted - 2015.11.07 22:01:46 -
[1] - Quote
I think that the Rorqual should be focused on primarily two things. Boosts and Defensive capabilities for the fleet on grid. It should be able to mine as well, just not to an extent of the barges.
I like the idea of a capital size mining laser. Not near as powerful as a doomsday type weapon and able to mine an entire asteroid per cycle (thats just crazy), and only useable on certain asteroids. It should have a long cycle, mine at a volume closer to the barges but less than the exhumers. This just keeps the pilot busy clicking on different things while he constantly spams his dscan in anticipation for him to be the BOSS that his ship allows him to be. Because when a hostile shows up on grid, thats when he really shines.
As far as major defensive needs, I feel like the Force Field module is the most suitable. With a module fit the Rorqual is able to activate a force field around itself that its fleet is capable of entering. This force field module will require a new skill that will improve three areas per skill level. I'm no statistics guy, but I'm thinking it will improve duration, hitpoints and area that the force field encompasses. This should be capable of being overheated for higher numbers but damages the module so it won't work as effectively without sufficient repairs. Once activated, this will allow a good amount of time for reinforcements to arrive and rescue the operation. Once the duration/hitpoints expire due to a large fleet, poor skill threshold, or any other reasons, the Rorqual looses its force field mode and is now into armor. The FF drops and the entire fleet is now vulnerable to attack.
In addition I feel that there should be some sort of "bowhead" like fleet hanger in the Rorqual to allow for at least a couple of fitted ships for defense. Say there is a small roaming fleet of hostiles in the area, they show up on grid and the Rorqual immediately goes into Force Field mode. The miners in the system all high tail it to the Rorqual, get within its force fields and jump ship into the fleet bay of the Rorqual and hop into some ships with fighting ability to maybe drop a few hostiles while reinforcements are on the way.
I also think that the fleet should be able to assign its drones to the Rorqual pilot once the Rorqual goes into Force Field mode. Perhaps a limited drone bay, but able to operate lots of drones. (but significantly less than a carrier). I'm not sure of the numbers or bandwith etc... (Someone help out here please)
I'm thinking of a scenario that would go kind of like so. The fleet is busy mining away just flying through an entire asteroid field making quick work of the asteroids with the boosters of the Rorqual. Intel comes in that there are hostiles in route. Everyone has some time to get within the force field distance of the Rorqual once the ship goes into force field mode. The hostile fleet shows up in dscan and the friendly fleet all assign their drones to the Rorqual pilot. The Rorqual then activates his Force Field module just as the fleet lands on grid. The friendly fleet then activates the fleet bay and hops into a couple of assembled battleships to help fend off the attack while friendly enforcements are called in for help. The combination of the couple of battleships plus the drone control capabilities of the Rorqual would fend off an attack of a small roaming fleet. If it is a fleet of more ships than can be handled by this scenario, once the battleships and drones have been destroyed, either the enemy fleet actively attacks the Rorquals force field (which is well trained and has tons of hitpoints/duration timer/etc...) or they get out of the system to avoid the friendly fleet that may or may not be on the way.
I feel like this can be improved upon but I feel that this alone can be a decent defensive platform for the fleet. People good at the numbers things can chip in and make some recommendations as well. |