Pac SubCom
A.W.M
Ka-Tet
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Posted - 2007.04.30 08:42:00 -
[1]
 Originally by: Ash Vincetti
Originally by: Ridley Tree
good stuff
The problem, however, with the way that CCP is going, is that any AOE weapons intended to "disperse" packed blobs of 200 battleships, would completely and utterly destroy small ship skirmishes and engagements, and pretty much ensure that ships that aren't vulnerable to AOE weapons become the new Blob standard (i.e. carriers and above).
That is not necessarily the case, it depends on the game mechanics. The new Aoe weapons may have an explosion radius and a suiting explosion velocity, letting frigs dodge and outrun them. They can also be delivered by those small ship groups in the form of stealth bombers.
CCP also wants to give the players "new things to do", by introducing intermediary targets like station components, stuff a group of small ships can accomplish. With new anti-battleship weapons, you'd see more of this going on, and the defender would use small ships too, since they are more effective against other small ships.
This could make eve more fun for many, because they could do something without having to grind for hours in case they lose their battleship. I have lots of ISK, live in a rich region, but am still loathe to commit a t2 battleship only to see it shot down under me in three seconds while I'm lagged out, and then having to grind for six hours to make it good. No thanks. But if the frigs, or let's say t2 fitted cruisers can make a good difference, I'd be more inclined to be there. It's not about being a cheapskate, it's about the lifetime loss/fun relation. Intermediary targets = more targets = more action = more fun. I can understand what CCP is trying to accomplish.
Aoe weapons may not immideately stop the battleship blob, but it forces it to spread out into smaller groups over more space, and this will decrease its efficiency substantially. This is because the left "flank" cannot engage a group of hostiles appearing on the right flank, and warping there would again subject them to AOE fire. As a result, smaller detachments of ships (BS) would be forced to act more independently. Most battleships are able to fit large launchers, you'll see lots of AOE fire going on, meaning lots of maneuvering to evade it, depending on its range and speeds. Caldari standoff ships (read, ravens) might get a new role in large scale fleet combat, laying down withering fire on anybody who likes the blob.
Effectively you will see a dispersing of forces and firepower, which increases survivability of ships, meaning longer engagements. In addition to this, we will have more hp increase or other mechanisms to make the fight longer, and this gives you more time to execute any tactics (even and especially while lagged.
Incidentally, frig fleets would make carriers more important in their intended way, since they can carry lots of instant replacements to faraway places, motherships can carry your clones as well. Carriers and dreads are vulnerable to frig EW, but can carry large amounts of anti-frig drones. Especially this vulnerabilty to EW can give the frig user an advantage, the effectiveness of frig EW is demonstrated by Agony. It is the ultimate blob weapon, because it makes every player effective, and with a high efficiency. A single damperner frig can seriously hamper a carrier and makes it much more ineffective in combat. And frigs are fast, can engage flexibly all over a more drawn out battlefield.
Destroyers will also become more important to counter the frigs and AOE weapon delivering stealth bombers...
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∞ TQFE
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