Ships & Modules

So, like everyone I am waiting patiently for all the T1 frigs to get rebalanced (actually more excited about T1 Cruiser but we got to get the T1 Frigs out of the way first), however no information has been released in awhile and I'm getting restless, so I'd like to discuss with the community on what they think about the upcoming balances, how it should be carried out, which ships will be balanced etc etc. I'll keep track of this thread and edit the post to reflect good ideas that everyone seems to agree on.


To start off I'd like to pose a question, we know mining frigs are going to be balanced, the interceptor base model frigs are most probably gonna get balanced as well if they want to stay competitive, but how about T1 scanning frigs? They are quite used in my opinion and currently the only cheap bonused scanning option (correct me if I'm wrong), do you think they are going to be balanced? Do you support the removal of T1 scanning frigs?

Secondly, I'd like people to post their speculation on their favourite frigs and what they think/how they would like them balanced, here's mine:

Caldari
1. Kestrel, extra mid, more PG/CPU, hopefully enough PG to fit Standards + MWD + Long Point + Tank with 1 fitting mod (unlikely cause thats almost 40% buff in PG). Instead of current fail split damage bonus, Kinetic bonus + missile velocity bonus.

2. Bantam converted into the 'sniper' hull, optimal range bonus + damage bonus with 2nd best agility/speed amongst Caldari frigs and a decent tank. Probably a 4/3/3 layout to give it a utility high that other Caldari frigs lack.

3. Condor upgraded to a sort of mini-hookbill style scram range kiter, additional launcher, 4 mids, 3 lows, best speed with the worst tank, double damage bonus, ROF + Kinetic so more dps than a kessie with worse tank, better speed, worse fitting.

Amarr
1. Inquisitor made into a tanky-rocket brawler, Em missile damage bonus + resistance bonus, extra mid.

2. Executioner not too sure, I figure make it a mini slicer with capacitor bonus + optimal bonus and 3/3/4 layout

Gallente
1. Navitas turned into a drone boat similar to Vexor/Domi, 3/3/4 slot layout, 5% drone damage 5% hybrid damage with 2 gunpoint and probbaly 15-20m3 bandwith and 30-40m3 dronebay.

2. Atron I'm not too sure, maybe double damage bonus and a hull hp buff to make it a mini taranis.

Dont wanna speculate on Minmatar cause I'm not really interested in its frigs other than the rifter and thats already fine.

Really appreciate you guys opinion/suggestions and let the discussion commence, I'm hoping something really good

Your ammar suggestions are a bit meh.

Your caldari and ammar suggestions are way OP: Kestrel with range and grid would be the OP rocket kiter, Bant. dmg and optimal on a frig hull?, Condor 3 launchers and double dmg bonus? lololololol, Gallente t1 frig to drone and turret dmag 0_0 you do realise ishkur doesnt have a drone dmg bonus right?

Minmatar you cant even be bothered...

Dude balance discussions require a more serious approch than buff ridiculously whatever happens to be in my gaqrage atm...

If I had to redesign the the frigate lineup, I would do it like this:

Each race needs
- Close range brawler specialising a primary weapon system #1
- Close range brawler specialising a primary weapon system #2
- Long Range, versatile, split weapons combat frig
- Fast tackle
- Ewar / Logi (Yes, bring frigate sized logistics into the game)
- Scout
- Miners

Design rules:
- All ships should have a place in a gang or fleet.
- All ships should have 10 slots total
- All Ewar frigs should have 5 mids
- All Ewar frigs will also receive bonusses for armour/shield/cap transfer, as appropriate.
- All combat frigs get mining bonusses.

Caldari should be:
- Merlin: Close combat blasters *Done*
- Kestrel: Close combat rockets (4/4/2, 4 missile hardpoints) damage/ROF bonusses
- Bantam: Long range (4/4/2, 3 turret / 3 missile hardpoints), range bonusses
- Condor: Fast tackle (3/4/3, 2 turret / 2 missile hardpoints). speed/sig bonusses
- Griffin: EWar (3/5/2, 1 turret /1 missile/ 2 utility hardpoints), ECM / logi bonusses
- Heron: Scout (4/4/2, 1 turret /1 missile/ 2 utility hardpoints), Scan / Agility bonusses

Minmatar should be:
- Breacher: Close combat rockets (4/3/3, 4 missile hardpoints) Damage / ROF bonusses
- Burst: Close combat projectiles (4/3/3, 4 turret hardpoints) Damage / ROF bonusses
- Rifter: Long Range (4/3/3, 3 turret / 3 missile hardpoints), Damage / tracking bonusses
- Slasher: Fast tackle (3/4/3, 3 turret hardpoints), Speed / Sig bonusses
- Vigil: Ewar (3/5/2, 1 turret /1 missile, 2 utility hardpoints), TP / logi bonusses
- Probe: Scout (4/4/2, 1 turret /1 missile, 2 utility hardpoints), Scan / Agility bonusses

Amarr should be:
- Punisher: Close combat lasers *Done*
- Tormentor: Close combat/Tackle combo *Done*
- Inquisitor: Close combat rockets (4/2/4, 3 launcher hardpoints) Damage / ROF bonusses
- Executioner: Fast tackle (4/3/3, 2 turret / 2 missile hardpoints, 2 utility hardpoints), Speed / Sig bonusses
- Crucifier: Ewar (2/5/3, 2 turret /2 utility hardpoints, Drones), TD / Logi bonusses
- Magnate: Scout (3/4/3, 2 turret /2 utility hardpoints) Scan / Agility bonusses

Gallente should be:
- Incursus: Close combat hybrids *Done*
- Navitas: Close combat drones (3/3/3, 15m3 drone bandwidth), Drone bonusses.
- Tristan: Long range (4/3/3. 2 turret, 2 missile hardpoints, 10m3 drone bandwidth), Damage/ Range bonusses
- Atron: Fast Tackle (3/3/4, 2 turret / 2 missile hardpoints, 1 utility hardpoints, 10m3 drone bandwidth), Speed / Sig bonusses
- Maulus: Ewar (2/5/3, 2 turret / 2 missile hardpoints, 10m3 drone bandwidth) Damp / Logi bonusses
- Imicus: Scout (3/4/3, 1 turret, 2 utility harpoints, 15m3 drone bandwidth) Scan / Agility bonusses

Balance:
- Bonusses should be adjusted for balance and racial coherence. The bonusses should differentiate between ships in the same role, e.g. Gallente - Active tank, Amarr - Buffer tank
- CPU/PG should allow low skilled players to fly the ships in the appropriate role, using meta 1-3 fittings only.
- CPU/PG should allow high skill players to fly the ships in the appropriate role, using Tech2 fittings.
- CPU/PG should never allow top tier weapons along with top tier shields/plates. I.e Max tank OR Max gank, never both.
- Existing inertia/speed/mass doctrine should remain


Flame away


- Ponder

Why would you eliminate the mining frigate?

The Bantam’s role is Industrial Frigate just like the Osprey is an Industrial Cruiser. They can fit weapons so that they can defend themselves when operating in hostile environments. If CCP ever gives us Logistics Frigates I would expect the Caldari one to be based on the Bantom hull. I see no good reason to take away the Bantom’s cargo and mining bonuses and turn it into a war ship.

The Kestrel when fitted with Light Missiles would be your range ship for Caldari.

I would be against eliminating the mining frigate role from the other races as well. I spent my first 3 months of EVE in low sec by myself. When all my ships got blown up, I would go mine in an Ibis until I could build a Bantom, then mine with a Bantom until I could build a Kestrel to run missions. Then when I was not running missions, I would mine some more in my Bantom until I could build an Osprey. I really appreciated the mining and cargo bonuses on the Bantom.

I think the intention is for there to be a new ORE ship that fulfills the role of cheap newbie mining ship.

An industrial frigate that could be fit to genuinely mine ore and simultaneously, aggressively engage hostiles would be entertaining.

For say solo or small gang lowsec frigate mining / aggressive combat roams?

I didn't think it was possible to be less competent at ship balancing than the DEVS but this thread proves it's not that difficult to do.