Iexo Peoa
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
0
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Posted - 2012.08.10 12:28:00 -
[1] - Quote
I imagine I will probably be thoroughly flamed for this suggestion, and I apologize in advance if it's been brought up before without my seeing, this thread is 106 pages long after all.
In any case, while we're on the subject of ship rebalancing, it's always struck me as a little counterintuitive that one would need to train Battleships to get into Carriers. Granted, they're the largest subcapital warships before carriers, but they're two different types of ships.
Battleships are gun/missile boats, and regardless of claims that some are droneboats, a droneboat in subcapitals (with the exception of the Arbitrator Cruiser) just means that a ship has greater than average drone capabilities. However, (with the exception of the Arbitrator Cruisier) these ships are still gun/missile boats first, with their main weapons providing the vast majority of their firepower, and drones serving only a secondary role, typically for use against frigates and other small targets.
As such, I've always favored the idea of expanding the carrier line into subcapitals, with two small subcapital carriers, usable in high-sec, that would approximately equal the overall power/tactical value of battlecruisers and battleships, but with similar battlefield roles to their capital counterparts.
NOTE: Drones, in the context of this suggestion, refers to actual moving drones, not sentries, which I never considered true drones to begin with.
The smallest of the two, I like to call "Escort Carriers", would be akin to battlecruisers. About the same size, about the same firepower and tank (though these could be adjusted within this approximate range to balance their effectiveness within their role), and will use drones as their primary, perhaps even sole means of doing damage, with high slots reserved for either support modules or other things that don't require turrets or missile bays. Equivalent damage could be acheived with drone bonuses, in damage, range, controllable number, or some combination of the three.
The largest of the two, I like to call "Light Carriers", would be akin to battleships. Like their smaller counterparts, about the same size, firepower and tank as their gun/missile boat counters, and will likewise use drones as their primary or sole means of doing damage, with bonuses to drone damage, range and number of simultaniously deployed drones giving them this firepower. (Note: As a thought, it may also be worth considering to allow Light Carriers ONLY to deploy small numbers of fighters (balanced by bandwidth), in lieu of equivalent bandwidth worth of standard drones.)
The drone bonuses in both ships could be targeted to apply only to moving drones, not sentries (which I never considered true drones anyway). Such distinctions could be part of a drone overhaul that could accompany these ships.
This would provide an entire line leading smoothly into carriers, and thus (Capital) Carriers would require level 5 (or 4, as I believe was stated in the article) of Light Carriers, rather than Battleships, which is a bit more intuitive. This also allows prospective Carrier pilots to learn carrier tactics in subcapitals before moving into very expensive capitals, as well as bringing carrier tactics into high-sec which, though it would probably require much testing and balancing, would definitely make combat in high-sec much more diverse than it currently is.
It'd also throw droneboaters a long overdue bone (especially if accompanied by long-needed drone overhauls), and, it may sound a bit selfish, but as a droneboater myself, it would make me very happy, as I'd finally have a ship that would suit me, without having to settle for a severe cut in firepower. |