Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Okay, I'll try to keep this concise. I've read numerous threads on here and off topic conversations regarding the situation with Gallente, and decided to put together my own thoughts on how to fix the situation.

1. More range on hybrids, particularly blasters.

Reason: Gallente are traditionally slow. Recent adjustments to the game have made some advantages gallente could use to bypass this not as efficient. Since they cannot set the engagement range due to their speed, they need the ability to fight effectively in a slightly wider envelope. By no means should they have better tracking than Autocannons, as that would infringe too much on Minmatar niche, but this would be a relatively simple fix to some of the problems at hand.


2. Bring back Gallente Drone superiority.

Note: this one's potentially trickier, so bear with me a moment.

Reason: I understand fully why CCP removed the drone control bonuses from all ships, way back when. It contributed too much to lag. However, I do not advocate giving all drone ships back said bonuses. Rather, I think a few select gallente ships should have it.

Further, I do not think it should be a 'universal' bonus, but rather should be limited to certain types/sizes of drones. I would propose giving the Vexor and Myrmidon +1 drone controlled per level in Gallente ship skill. With the Dominix netting +2 per level, and the Moros gaining +3.

Now, first off, I don't think under normal circumstances you should be allowed to field more than 5 of a single drone category, regardless of your total drone control, thus only 5 combat drones in any given wing.

Vexor
+1 Drone Controlled per level in Gallente Cruiser from the following: Mining Drones.
(Still maxes out at 75 bandwidth so you can field no more than 5 medium combat drones with 5 miners, or 5 light combat drones with 5 harvesters.)

Myrmidon
+1 Drone Controlled per level in Battlecruiser from the following: Light or Medium EWar or Logistics. +5% to Drone Sensor Dampening effectiveness or Armor Repair effectiveness per level if Battlecruiser.
(Maxes out at 100 bandwidth, allowing you to field 10 medium size drones.)

Dominix
+2 Drones Controlled per level in Gallente Battleship from any drone type.
(I'd max them out at 225 bandwidth, which is not quite 2/3rds of their dronebay, and would allow them to field 5 heavies and 4 sentries, but they'd have to field 5 heavies, and 10 mediums to get the full benefit of the 15 drones. Also, the limitation of 5 of a given type stands, so they could have 5 sentries, 5 medium combat drones, and 5 medium ewar drones, but not 10 medium combat drones, or 9 sentries.)

Moros
+2 Drones Controlled per level in Gallente Dreadnought from any drone type.
(After running the numbers, I really don't think the Moros needs more drones than the Dominix, but maxing out with 375 bandwidth would allow it to field 15 heavy drones, which the Dominix wouldn't be able to do in this model.)

Erebus
I'm uncertain what, if anything, to do with the Gallente Titan, if it should even be included on this list. Perhaps a +1 Drone controlled per level, with 250 bandwidth, and no drone hitpoint or damage bonuses. That would keep it flavorful with other Gallente ships, but since it's not a dedicated drone ship it'd still be overshadowed in that role by the Dominix or Moros.

Allowing these ships to dual role with their drones would make them more potent, without increasing server lag to the point it once was with all drone ships having the drone control bonuses, and it would allow them to keep their drone damage bonuses, since they would not effect their 'second wings'.


3. Tweak ship speeds while nerfing agility to enhance their performance while not infringing on Minmatar specialties.

Reason: In addition to, or in place of the hybrid range boost, enhancing the max speed of Gallente ships could represent them having powerful engines, but keep acceleration and agility low to reflect their large heavy ungainly hulls. This could help in areas such as closing to web range, but wouldn't imbalance them or steal any of Minmatar's speed/agility thunder. It would also remain true to their 'racial flavor' considering they do already have ships with bonuses to MWDs, and such.

EDIT: Expanded on point 2 with specific details and numbers after doing a bit more research on the ships in question. Removed turret balance 'chart' as being too vague and not very useful.

Okay, why do you think that?

Gallente have some ships with bonuses to microwarp drives and such, but they have traditionally been slower than everyone but perhaps Amarr. Their ships are not small, or sleak, and thus speed and agility would require significant justification.

As for Hybrids having high DPS and tracking, you have to strike a balance somewhere, which is why I gave each category in my 'turret balance' one high, one mid, and one low factor. Otherwise one category is going to overshadow the others, which would put us right back in the situation we're in now with Hybrids being overshadowed by the other two.

So, you're welcome to your opinion, but please explain your justification, otherwise it does not move the discussion forwards.

I like some of the ideas, which should help considering you can't overheat drones and there's no hardwiring for drones either. Combined with the hybrid shortcomings, Gallente have it pretty rough.

Gallente could be fast, but not agile.

Line up your target, MWD into range easily, but LOL, if you want to disengage, you're going to have to really work for it. Stuff like giant turning circles, longer align time, lower agility, etc.

I added some more specific details and numbers to point 2 in the original post. So here's a bump to bring it to people's attention.

Care to elaborate, or was it your intention merely to bump the thread without actually contributing anything to it?

Lol, I see, so providing humor and entertainment was your intention. Well you've succeeded. Thanks for that! XD

Now, let's get back on topic.

Well, if this idea works out well, I could see applying it to a few other race's ships as well, but for the moment I'm focusing on Gallente, for two reasons. One, they're they only ones who have 'drone ships' beyond cruisers (not counting rattlesnakes), and two, because they seem to be in need of a boost at present.

Low in comparison to the others. I know there are other considerations, and I can't honestly say what the exact best number ratio is, but in order to have a good balance each turret type needs to have strengths and weaknesses in relation to each other. That is an overly simplified model of what such a relation balance could be, but by no means is it all inclusive, or meant to be reflective of existing or future numbers so much as it is meant to aid in understanding my thought process.

Hybrids in general, that means between blasters and railguns, I believe should have high damage output, solid range, but not quite match the tracking speeds of projectiles, or the range of energy weapons. In terms of damage output they should lead the pack, but they need enough tracking to hit enemies at their moderate range, but won't hit as well as autocannons do at their ideal range. This is, in part, because minmatar ships are faster, and so they need more tracking to compensate.

So, I can't say for certain whether my proposal would increase or decrease tracking speeds on blasters, because I haven't run the numbers myself. But I can say that blasters AND railguns definitely need a bit more range to fit into their projected niche, possibly more damage too.

I hope all of that makes sense to you.

no, quite wrong actually.


their damage should be very, very high, with very low range and average to high tracking. Blasters are about face-melting damage, if you manage to catch the target. For blasters, unlike all the other weapons, the damage projection should not be skills nor the guns, but the ships themselves. In real-world situations, this should equate in ships that are fast-ish, but suffer from agility problems, thus not impossible to avoid their "bull rush", buuuuut, may the gods help you if you're at web range or closer to one blaster ship, for no tank will be able to save you.



also, drone boats are fine.