Alice Katsuko
Terra Incognita
Intrepid Crossing
101
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Posted - 2012.04.27 19:48:00 -
[1] - Quote
I like the overall direction, but am concerned about some of the specifics.
(1) Bombardment ships.
If I understand correctly, you are defining "Bombardment" ships based on their use of missiles. This is a bad idea.
First, missiles are not a role, they are a weapons system; while choice of weapons influences how a ship is used, it does not dictate a ship's general role. We have missile-using brawlers (i.e. Vengeance) and missile-using snipers (Cerberus). Their role is defined by their slot layout and bonuses, not so much by the fact that they use missiles. That certain platforms are not well-suited for certain roles (missile-based snipers) is a different matter.
Second, not all factions should have missile ships. Missiles are a Caldari specialty, and are one of the things that sets Caldari apart from other factions and makes them unique, much as lasers do for Amarr and artillery does for the Minmatar. Similarly, Rockets and HAMs (but not long-range missiles) are the Khanid specialty. It makes no sense to give other factions a line of ships based around missiles when we already have a faction that specializes heavily in missile use. It would be akin to giving the Caldari a laser-based line of ships. So building a role around missiles seems rather odd.
Third, extending from the second point above, by defining a "role" of ships based around missiles, you risk becoming entangled in pointless symmetry, where each faction gets a missile-using "bombardment" ship in each class regardless of negative effects, solely to ensure that each faction has its own bombardment ship.
Rather, it may make more sense to ask what a particular ship or tier of ships should do, and then work around that. In some cases it may not make much sense for all factions to have a particular ship pseudo-role. For example, I'm not sure how much sense it makes to give the Amarr a drone-based battleship like the Dominix, or give the Minmatar an e-war battleship like the
(2) Defining roles.
Please do not forget about the different racial styles, or try to homogenize ships based on role across factions.
(3) Piecemeal balancing.
As has been pointed out in previous posts, it may make more sense to balance all the frigates at once, rather than balance individual ships. Changes to one frigate will effect all other frigates. And there is no point in changing a handful of frigates, only to have to come back and rebalance them a month or two later because changes to other frigates have created a new balance issue. I don't think anyone will complain about having to wait for a month or two, or more, for a full frigate rebalance that is properly tested. |