Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Module Name: Ion (EMP) Cannon
Fitting Slot: High
Turret
Range Optimal: 50km
Falloff: 0
Damage: 0
Tracking Speed: 0.009 r/s (about the same as a 1400 artillary)
Signiture Resolution: 400m
Can Cycle: false
Charge Time: 5s
Recharge Time (cooldown): 180s
Cap Usage: 900

Effect: Disables all modules on any ship hit and prevents warp for 10 seconds.
*Can only be fit on battleships.



Was trying to think of module ideas that could be used tactically and provided some flavor to a ship loadout (similar to mjd). The idea here is to provide a single shot, tactical disable at mid range to use as a counter to a point/scram, to disable a logi for a short period of time, provide a situational counter to a MJD or to allow a slower battleship to gain range on a faster target.

Because this wouldn't be overpowered!!!!

Seriously??? What's wrong with the standard suite of EWAR we ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE:
A tactical disable/counter of point/scram: Heavy Neut, Medium Neut, Sensor Damps, ECM, and/or WCSs.
To disable logi for a short period of time: ECM, Sensor Damps, Neuts....
A situation counter to an MJD: Scram
To allow a slower battleship to attack a faster target: Webs, web drones, a friend with scram/web, or long range ammo!

Well in order to perma jam a ship, you would need a total of 19 cannons. Although limiting to 1 per ship is probably not a bad idea.

The issue with using missile mechanics is that it then becomes an insta-hit close range (since no damage is being delt to be reduced by speed/size). So it then becomes too strong vs interceptors, cruisers.. making it far to easy to just align, then disable scramming interceptor, and warp.

You could play with the sig resolution and tracking to make it more viable vs larger targets at short range, but I think something like this should remain a *wildcard* to be used in the right situation rather than something that can be depended on every time.

It looke like you're wrapping multiple ewar forms into one package, that's what mid slots are for

In order for this to be balanced, it would need some serious drawbacks.... Like firing the weapon ALSO neutralizes your own ship, turning off all modules, prevent warp, etc... for like 20 seconds.

I realize you want to use this defensively.... but it is an OFFENSIVE weapon in design... meaning you have to balance it as an OFFENSIVE module... If you want a defense-only, let me escape type of module, you need to go back to the drawing board!

A big cap requirement is very doubtfully enough of a drawback, not even if it uses ALL of your cap. You need to look at how it will be used, because how it will be used, and what you're desiring it to be used for aren't lining up!

Added "Can only be fit on Battleships" to main description... Something I was always thinking but failed to include.

First, I had no idea you meant this to be a BS class module only... that helps limit its use.

How would I use this module:
A.) In a small gang: A ship is attempting to power away from us and kite (talos, Cynabal, etc), I imaged hitting it with this device, which would shut down it's MWD, turn off it's guns, and effectively allow my gang to gank it. Originally, I thought of it being deployed on frigate, cruiser, and/or BC hulls... but the BS limitation just changes the ship I utilize to neutralize targets. And while it's based on "tracking", a ship power away from you with an MWD has a huge sig radius and not much transversal. You'll hit a either of the above ships fine, although you might have a hard time hitting a MWD'ing interceptor...

B.) In medium & large gang warfare: Hit the Gang-Boosting ship with this. This shuts down gang links, making all ships in the opposing fleet easier to kill. Alternatively, hit your desired primary with this, to shut down it's hardeners. Alternatively, hit logistics with this to prevent logistics for several seconds (enabling you to finish off a target).

I don't see this being used very much in "solo" playstyles. It's nice to disable your opponent, but in general you're never attacked by just one person. In general, you don't have 1v1 fights (especially with BS's). And furthermore, when you are being attacked and trying to escape, it's almost always a fast moving, harder to hit, smaller ship that tackles you while his backup comes to finish you off.

I really see this as being a superweapon... and one with very little drawbacks!

One of the best uses of vaga's, cynabals, Tornado's, and Talos' has been powering through an enemy gate camp and killing off the tackle that try to tackle you. Putting a BS on the field that can one-shot the ship into 10 seconds of extreme vulnerability is really brutal to that playstyle. And I still don't see much of a drawback to the BS that implements such a potent weapon. Furthermore, a rapier/hugin can put long range webs on, and Arazu can put long range scram on a target, a falcon can keep it jammed out, and an interceptor can still catch up to it and tackle it. So you're combining all of these roles into a single, potent BS weapon.

A BS is generally slow, but carries large firepower, large EHP, and excellent damage projection as a drawback. I really don't see why it should essentially have an ion cannon that effectively utilizes all of the optimal traits of the above ships, without the vulnerabilities, let alone any major drawbacks.

I think you're forgetting about the turret mechanics. While I agree that it would introduce an element of risk to those playstyles, attempting to hit a fast moving Talos with a BS sized turret is not something that is likely to happen (and sig resolution of the cannon could be balanced accordingly), and with only a single shot fired every 3 minutes, its not something I see as game breaking. If for some reason you were able to easily hit said Talos with you BS guns, chances are the Talos is going to be dead soon with or without this module.

I could certainly see some balancing of the module, either reducing tracking speed, or resolution to make it less effective against cruisers, or more of a 'hail mary'.

I think the important concept here is to introduce a generalized ewar module with a long cooldown in contrast to the current EWAR which relies on constant application. Not a lock-down, but a short term disruption. I just think they could do something absolutely amazing with the visual of a charging EMP Cannon with only 1 shot per long cooldown.

Also, please note that it does not replace any existing EWAR specialized ships. All the example you listed above of long range web/scram jamming etc are all constant application of EWAR... once caught, the target stays caught. This is a limited time application of Ewar, providing a longer range in exchange for a very limited up-time (10 seconds out of every 3minutes)