Gramtar
GoonFleet
GoonSwarm
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Posted - 2008.07.25 17:50:00 -
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I see only two significant problems with nano ships at the moment - the Sacriledge and to a much lesser extent the Ishtar. They are problematic because they do not depend on tracking to do damage - Missiles and Drones.
Want to know the difference between a 10km/sec Vagabond and a 5km/sec Vagabond? Straight line speed. That's it. In fact, a Vagabond fitted with a single T1 polycarbon and T1 ambit (falloff bonus rig) is arguably better at solo pvp than one fitted with 2 T2 polycarbons. Neither can hit anything if they orbit faster than 3.5 km/sec. The 10km/sec Vagabond can more easily burn out of a bubble after jumping into a gate camp. Neither could or can permanently run their MWD under most setups.
The multiple aspects of these changes - huge speed reductions, huge reduction in web effectiveness - have two impacts: Again missiles (Caldari) are buffed. Drones (Gallente for the most part) are buffed. Minmatar is nerfed twice over.
If you want a new counter to nano-ships, the answer is not to come down with a heavy hand on what was always considered the best of them - the Vagabond - and do the same with ships that already are the counter - Rapiers and Huginns. Remember the Target Painter, the module that has no practical use in PvP whatsoever (doesn't even increase the signature radius of POS modules)? Why not simply give that module a % reduction to MWD effectiveness?
Personally, the only ships that need fixed at the moment are the Sac and Ishtar. Ironically, the proposed changes make them ultimately better, while simply making Minmatar the most worthless race in EVE. Let's review Minmatar briefly:
1. Worst capital ships in both classes (Dread and Carrier) by far, due to damage and tanking ability
2. The Tempest - once considered among the best Battleships - takes the T2 ammo nerf (reducing range and damage), the HP buff (reduces the importance of Alpha strike), Tracking and Range nerfs (can't hit anything moving with T2 ammo while fitting a damage buffer of any sort) - is now almost as bad in Fleet as a Raven, and worse than a Raven for POS shooting. The same changes negatively impact the Muninn.
3. Smaller ship classes pretty much rely on speed and agility to pick their fights - The Rapier and Huginn considered among the best recons for small gang work because of web effectiveness.
The Vagabond has been considered the best HAC at penetrating deep into hostile territory while still being able to bring a significant amount of damage. Yet, the Cerberus, Sacriledge, and Ishtar can all fit a slower, nano setup and make full speed orbits without any damage reduction.
What are the benefits of flying the Vagabond and Rapier/Huginn after these changes? The former won't be able to burn out of a hostile bubble camp, and the latter won't be able to keep anything smaller than a plated Battleship from burning back to a gate.
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