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Fleet Formations
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Staleward Ad'mraa
F-I-N-K PROPERTY
#1 - 2012-09-01 11:53:03 UTC
Designate Fleet Formation
Many times have I found myself wishing I could put a fleet in formation so they travel together in a ideal formation to allow for better defensive positioning which can allow for quicker response time against enemies or offer ways to protect invaluable cargo.

Fleet Formations can be designated by Fleet Leader, Fleet Commander, and Wing Commander allowing for multiple formations to be designated for pilots. For a pilot to join a formation, they can click on Fleet > Join Fleet Formation > Select Fleet Position to be able to pick a place to join the formation.

There can be several fleet formations Fleet Leader, Fleet Commander, and Wing Commanders can designate for those under them. Each with their own advantages and disadvantages which can be exploited to your advantage, allowing for maximum effectiveness of their roles. Some fleets formations can be offensive in nature while others are defensive. Majority of formations can be taken from current history of wars or sports formations, allowing for better tactics to be employed or experiment with formations that can yield surprising results.

Of course staying in formation can lead to its own troubles, making it easier to pick smaller ships off and quickly move out of range. To counter this, ships automatically break formation if they approach, orbit, or keep distance from another ship. This allows for breaking formations if it benefits the fleet. Downside to this, if everyone breaks formation, it can lead to a disarray and unorganized combat.

Fleet Leader Formations
Fleet leader formations allows for groups to be placed strategically around the leader. Only Fleet Commanders are allowed to choose where in the formation they want to join. This allow for a larger fleet to be centered around the main fleet leader. Upon a Fleet leader choosing the formation, any fleet commander under the fleet leader position can choose a position to set up to create their formation of their own.

Fleet Commander Formations
Fleet commander does have a choose to position his or fleet in an certain formation that can vary depending on the type of formation he chooses. Some formations are much more effective to others depending on the type of fleet that is being assembled. Do the fact that multiple different types of ships can be under his command, it can become rather complicated fast. Upon a fleet commander choosing the formation, any Wing Commander under the commander position can choose a position to set up to create their formation of their own..

Wingman Formations
Unlike fleet leader and fleet commander, these formations can be detached from the fleet leader or fleet commander formation, which allows for the ability to set up patrols around formations. Upon a Wingman choosing the formation, any Wingman under the commander position can choose a position to set up to create their formation of their own.
Adiam Baisheka
Perpetua Umbra
Interstellar Alcohol Conglomerate
#2 - 2012-11-26 21:43:30 UTC  |  Edited by: Adiam Baisheka
Advantage:

-Visually no more blob/Amoeba looking Fleet battles

-Encourages use of smaller size ships by limiting the # of formation types you have as the ship type gets bigger. battlecruisers < cruisers < destroyers < frigates

-Now battles can be won not just by firepower you bring but also the battle tactics you use.

Dis-advantage

-Fleet commander would have to think more lol

-Extra Calculations to the Server for bonuses or drawbacks for each ship in formation

Eve trailers show these formations but the real game doesn't implement it.
These formations can be limited to type/size ship types so battlecruiser or higher would have only one or two formations available ands as you go down to frigates you get more options. This will encourage a variety of ships to fly in fleet battles instead of just hundreds of Battleships, and capitals. A formation example would be

1) Sphere formation - defensive formation would increase the defensive capability of any ship( maybe a cargo ship) that is positioned at the center of the sphere with a drawback of decrease defence to the ships positioned outside.

2) V formation - would increase your group's agility/speed but also increase you sig radius.

3) Wall formation - offensive formation would increase group's concentrated fire power or lock times but also reduce speed/agility. Good for calling primarys

Maybe these levels are based on the wing leader's level... just some ideas.
Danika Princip
GoonWaffe
Goonswarm Federation
#3 - 2012-11-26 22:06:17 UTC
So...what does this give you that cannot already be done, other than eye candy? Tactics beating numbers already happens. Using support already happens. Bonuses already happen. Anchoring on the FC already happens.


How, if you need to be in formation to get a bonus, would a fleet work if you don't all have the same navigation skills? Or the same ships? How is, say, a mixed rokh and maelstrom fleet going to work? Or that special snowflake megathron you can never get rid of? Would you be limiting the speed of the fleet to that of the slowest ship, and so ruining your logistics, recons, support etc?