Player Features and Ideas Discussion

New ship class proposal: flagship 

Here's the concept- jump capable capital class ship specializing in use of gang booster modules. I realize cap ships such as carriers can already use gang links. To go with the suggestion for this new ship class I propose a new class of gang boost module which boosts fleet navigation, ie jump range, etc. I see this combination opening up new fleet tactical options, particularly if super carrier jump range is reduced as I've seen suggested. A fleet with a flagship would be able to travel further than one without, but would now have a ship that is essential to protect. Furthermore it could compensate for different jump ranges of different fleet classes, eg make a mixed fleet of carriers and dreadnoughts more viable, and may result in an effective limitation on the size of blobs jumping a long distance from home. Given that gang boosters switch off when a ship warps, application of this concept may require either a code change by ccp, or careful timing and coordination of fleet maneuvers.

Suggestions for ship bonuses are boost to racial smart bomb damage, smart bomb range, smart bomb cycle frequency. Thus armaments are largely defensive in nature and effective against smaller ships, so the ship function does not overlap too much with the high dps capital ships already in the game.

To further avoid overlap with existing cap ships, the ability of carriers to fit gang links might be removed.

a strategic cruiser can already be configured to have 6 warfare links. To make a capital specifically for this it would need some substantial bonuses to it or add modules that can only be used on it or it just wouldn't be worth while. If it is made as such it would only benefit the blob, something everyone complains about already.