Player Features and Ideas Discussion

"Page 2 of 2" featuring stats etc.

This may (and will) break the common “two ship bonus + role bonus” factor; but we might as well apply other cool thing to the rest of the ships in the game. There are a lot of things to give them. Not to mention, there are a few ships in the T1 bracket that have a lot of bonuses/penalties.
But back to Corvette.
So in short, this ship type is for those who wish to be part of an anti-cruiser role, relying on sig/speed tanking while being on cautious for frigates and destroyer hulls. Of course, cruisers with fast tracking turrets could still take on this ship as well -- and of course Assault Frigates and other T2 Interdictor hulls. The Corvette is an alternative for those who may not be all too high in skills as veterans, but could still be part of the offensive wing instead when there are sufficient suicide tacklers.

But what other advantages does the corvette has?
I want to get to that later. It is best to show the disadvantages first, so that one does not instantly think it is a solopwnsled. I disagree of it to be a T2 ship, because Assault Frigates are already there. But the T1 bracket could need such.



I like to use a Minmatar variant as an example as it is quite straightforward with the projectile turrets. But let’s start with the general aspects/bonuses/penalties…


Rifter-hull class; tougher and slightly larger brother.
Please put eyes on the penalty/disadvantages. Essentially, this corvette would be using small artillery rather than small autocannons. Generally, the other racial ones would use railguns and beam lasers.
However, there needs to be a restriction. I’d almost say that Autocannons, Blasters, and close-range lasers are to be restricted. (by the way, I know lasers live from optimal range).


General aspects
- Shield/Armor/Hull between frigate and destroyer
- Slightly higher resistances than frigate and destroyer

Bonuses
+ xy% to optimal range, by skill level of Corvettes
+ very notable flat bonus to artillery-themed/long range turret damage
+ +7.5% Rate of Fire
+ +7.5% to Afterburner

// So this Rifter-Corvette would be dealing a lot more Volley damage, but also with a higher rate of fire - making it clearly a threat to ships above destroyers; such as cruisers and above - and making it even more imperative that one needs to use anti-frigate ships like destroyers to take them down.


Penalties
- -30% to Tracking Speed
- -90% falloff (or restrict the use of close range turrets like Autocannons. This is important)
- Turret Signature Resolution penalized by +150
(should be a total 190 with Small Artillery I think)

The Sig-Resolution and Tracking Speed penalties need to be high enough, so the artillery turrets have severe trouble hitting Frigates and Destroyers; yet be capable of hitting Cruisers.
In my opinion, it should be possible to just program a simple ruleset that applies a +/- to turret Signature-Resolution during To-Hit calculations, like:
(base small artillery value should be 40 afaik)
-VS Frigates/Destroyer +150 (190)
-VS Cruisers 60 (100)
-VS BC/BS 0

Anyhow, the signature resolution penalty is just to make sure a corvette has a hard time with frigates/destroyers, but be able to be a thorn in the eyes of cruisers and above.



I know the bonuses are off the hook. I wanted to refrain from using Med Turrets as the damage would just be too strong. It would be better with Small (Artillery) Turrets, as it is easier to fit without too much of a hassle.
On the other hand, Large Turrets on a Corvette would have had the sig resolution/tracking penalties built in - making it easier than the complicated penalty aspects posted above.

The Escort class idea was to have this “medium turret on frig/destroyer ship” maybe; but I think it is better to leave that out for now. I know it will get ridiculous as soon as we see Frigates with X-Large turrets ;P.
Anyhow, I will leave the Escort for a different thread and time, as I am sure this will be enough of a headache for everybody for now.

Cyclical imbalance is good, however Eve is a game where it'd be difficult to implement. Part of me wants to say this is a stealth let's add some frigates with medium weapons post.

I'm thinking corvette is the wrong term to use with what you are describing. Corvettes are traditionally smaller and lightly armed. It is also hard to see what a ship class like the corvette would be used in eve (corvettes are used mostly for coastal patrol or anti sub duty).

Naming aside, I find that your idea does have some good points. But it does seem to take away some of what AF are designed to do. I don't see the idea, presented as it is, as something filling a hole that other ships already do.

I would love to see a frigate with a single, large turret running around though (mostly for the lols).

I would like to see your thoughts on escort class. I imagine a anti-tackle frigate.

Hehe. I know justifying stuff is not necessary but I think it could be interesting. As for explanations, I left that one out.
I totally agree that Corvette is the wrong word. Basically, the issue is the fact that when EVE was born, frigates had always been the smallest playable ship.


That said, it has come to me a lot of times that the EVE "frigates" actually have the wrong term themselves.
- The new "Attack ships" such as Slasher, Atron etc are actually more of corvettes and strikecrafts.
- Combat ships like Rifter, Tristan are ~more of a "corvette" or "Patrol ship"
- Destroyers are actually "frigates"// though these of course given the role of real destroyers designed to eat frigates. In other words, the EVE-Destroyers are more like Escort-Frigates.
- Cruisers fit their name - but a lot of them could be divided into sub-categories like Scout/Light/etc


It is a bit of a snowball/domino effect if one were to use the right terms. But in the end, it would make things just a bit too complicated for the market directory so it is better to put the sub-terms like Heavy Assault Cruiser under "Advanced Cruiser" (as it is T2).


Hehe thanks.

I'm a bit uncertain after the issues were mentioned by you guys. As-is, the destroyer hull has that aspect of anti-frigate.
edit; mishaps in diction here

To be more precises, I think the Escort might fit better on the Destroyer bracket. Unfortunately, the main problem for that idea is that one could also just make modules for the Destroyers instead (though that would be boring). I'll talk more about that idea in a later posting.

If the Escort were to be a frigate after all, it would need to be fragile than frigate and be some "light destroyer" -- but that is a serious problem as Destroyers do the job and Frigates would lack somewhat.

Other problem is the fact that Attack Ships like Slasher just got their love patch :/

Another idea was more about a support frigate or destroy that has a set of buddy "anti-tackle modules" next to its offensive capabilties,


- like a "remote warp stabilizer projector";

- a projecting module that negates Stasis Webifier effect son friendly units

- module that projects a "buff" that lowers signature resolution of buddy's turret as well as the explosion radius (while improving missile explosion velocity a bit)

These could be exclusive for such an Escort as well as the Support Cruisers like Scythe, Augoror etc.

I have some ideas with offensive capabilities, but I will do a similar write up like Corvette.
I am still not sure if it would be on par as {Frigate - Corvette -Escort} or {Destroyer - Escort´} (like Bro of Destroyer // "Destroyer Escort) - but that is where it gets tricky. Have to conceptualize stuff.

The last thing would be to put Escorts on the Cruiser bracket, so there are is more room for things. Nevertheless, something between Frigate and Destroyer is problably the way to go.




Now that you mention that, not a bad idea - at least more like "cloaky finders".
An abstract idea for that one would had been the Scout Frigate types like Probe, Magnate, etc have access to modules that "raise their bump radius" or give them something like sonar pings.

With modules of all slot-flavors, they could be based on various science skills. One could use the tactical overview and as they ping around, they would get fake and real "spherical detections" hinting that something could be looming around. (like the bubbles you see when probing with some 16AU settings - just that this is "on grid").
Science skills lower the cooldowns of these modules or whatever. Or feature dumb-fire torpedo that does no damage but sort of a bomb/smartbomb effect, possible decloaking ships in that explosion radius of ~5 km; when the player thinks a ship might be in that sensor-pinged sphere.


But this too might be something for a later posting, so I do not ramble up the responses.
I suppose not everybody would field thesse variants of Probes/Magnates as these are not combat ships but "science vessels". They could use modified torpedoes etc with longer reload times to do the anti-cloaky and other stuff.
Perhaps make it a bit harder in terms of using directional scanner etc, so that is closer to a profession and requiring more "player skill". However, such player might end up accidently bumping his buddy out of cloak.


Lastly, I was thinking of a small hyperjump-capable ship but that is way too extreme (and must be thought through).

They'd need some higher resistances though - so they don't just blow up instantly in happiness the minute it discovers that that blip was not a random stellar echo.

This is an additional ship based on the CORVETTE content listed above.

Quick facts are here. Detailed descriptions will follow soon (sp).


.




Frigate hulls involved in this idea: Probe, Magnate, Heron, Imicus

To be slightly up-scaled in size to fit the larger “corvette size” (disregarding the actual historical facts of WW2/Naval vessels - this is just a name).

This variant of the exploration/combat probing scout frigates utilize various science and advanced technology aspects for tracking down cloaked foes within the proximity as well as countering AI-controlled entities.
General Slot Layout (roughly)

- Two for missile bays (Rocket/ Light Missile / Rapid Missile Launchers), or for utility highs like a probe launcher (for shooting Heavy Probe ‘Missiles’)


- Designed for propulsion, optional tackle, specific unique science modules



- Damage Control, perhaps a 400mm plate.





+ Small variety of modules to ping and scan the promity/grid for irregularities that could be possible cloaked threats (or false echoes due to stellar activity); utilizes ways to detect their location and decloak them.
Blips appear either as spherical bubbles on tactical overlay, hinting something might be there. There must be several “false entity signals” to fool one.

Note: This is not 100% I-Win versus cloakers starting with the fact you should get too many signals to deal with. However, if you are moving around and there is a Corvette Scout around, you might get noticed. Luckily, the detection bubbles will be inaccurate enough in their radius, showing that the cloaker may or may not be in that area.
Cloakers can warp off quickly if they think they might have been detected. Holding still is the best defense though.


+ Bonus Damage versus AI-controlled units (Drones, Fighters, Fighter-Bombers - Possibly Rogue Drones too) -
And
Bonus to Remote Sensor Boosters and ECCM buffing

+ Applies several science-themed modules with various aspects; AoE field generators, Light EWAR,
Access to ~Single-fire, dumb-fire specially-remodulated Heavy Probes or Heavy Missiles that cause effects on a specific area (similar to bombs, on a smaller scale)
*10 second cooldown per launch.

Note: Fitting 2 probe launchers (if possible) could allow you to launch dumbfire moon probes too; depends if these fall under the “bumping/2km decloak” ruleset. I am not sure. Been a while since the last time I used moon probes


//example medslot module:
“Experimental Rocket Fuel”
On activation, it improves the missile explosion velocity by 5% and missile velocity by 5% per “Rocket Science“ Science Skill Level
// More science modules would utilize “Science” Skills as well as PI commodities as fuels/ammo.

"Threat matrix"
While active, the "bump" radius of the ship is raised by x kilometers, making it virtually larger.
However, this also temporarily raises the Signature Radius by x meters, making it a plausible target for possible torpedo attacks.


+ Role Bonus: Can fit Rapid Missile Launchers (Assault Missile Launcher) -98% to fitting requirements
+ Good versus single Frigate targets

- Not a combat vessel. Not a probing vessel.
- Lesser agile than Frigates and Destroyer
- Though having more HP than Frigates and capable of fitting platings or some shield tank, it cannot sustain too much punishment.
- Limited capabilities in a battlefield despite capabilities versus frigates and drones.
- Falls victim mostly to Destroyers (and Cruisers)