Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Second idea for some CCP Drone lovin!!

Drone Subsystems to be added to all TRUE Drone boats, like the Vexor, Dominix, Ishtar, Arbitrator, etc.

My idea is simple, bring the addition of Drone Subsystems to true Drone boats to give further play-ability to these ships while not skewing balance for every other ship that uses Drones as an additional DPS boost. This would work nearly exactly the way T3 does, except you don't assemble the ship in the same way. The ship would have (3) total Drone Subsystem slots that would correlate to (1) Low Slot modules type, (1) Mid Slot module type and (1) High Slot module type. These Drone Subsystems would be a premium version of their T2 module counterpart (stacking would still be in full effect if you then added the same module types in that bank). The Subsystems would be changeable just like with T3 ships now, and with the exact same restrictions, but freeing up potentially (3) total slots for other uses. The Subsystems would be built from Blueprints Originals seeded to the market. I thought about the Blueprint dropping from WH space and using only the parts from said WH's but I doubt anyone would pay 200+ million for EACH subsystem and drop those on a 5 mil ship. Therefore the subsystems would have to fall in line with the ships, small -> medium -> large and be priced reasonably (cost to build) to say somewhere about the cost of T1 Rigs for that ship type. Here's some of my thoughts.

ELECTRONIC DRONE SUBSYSTEM: (High slot)

Drone Link Augmentor (the subsystem improves as the skill does)

Required minimum skills:

Combat Drone Operation III (same as DLA I).
Electronic Drone Subsystem I (Rank 1 just like T3 subsystems, improve the skill to improve the range bonus).

Functionality (Increases Drone Control Range)

Stats: LvL 1 = +12km, LvL 2 = +16km, LvL 3 = +20km (same as DLA I), LvL 4 = +24km (same as DLA II), LvL 5 = +28km.
*Keep in mind this Subsystem takes up no modules space, although it starts off poor, it's still more than base.

TACTICAL DRONE SUBSYSTEM: (Mid slot)

Drone Navigation Computer (subsystem improves with the skill)

Required minimum skills:

Drone Navigation III (same as DNC I).
Tactical Drone Subsystem I (Rank 1 like T3, improves with skill level).

Functionality (Increased Drone MWD Speed & Orbit Speed)

Stats: LvL 1 = +15%, LvL 2 = +20%, LvL 3 = +25% (same as DNC I), LvL 4 = +30% (same as DNC II), LvL 5 = +35%.

Omnidirectional Tracking Link

Required minimum skills:

Drone Sharpshooting I (same as OTL I).
Tactical Drone Subsystem (Rank 1 like T3, improves with skill level).

Functionality (Increased Drone Optimal Range & Tracking)

Stats: LvL 1 = +10%, LvL 2 = +15%, LvL 3 = +20% (same as OTL I), LvL 4 = +25% (same as OTL II), LvL 5 = +30%.

OFFENSIVE DRONE SUBSYSTEM: (Low slot)

Drone Damage Amplifier

Required minimum skills:

Weapon Upgrades I (same as DDA I).
Drones I (same as DDA I).
Offensive Drone Subsystem I (Rank 1 like T3, improves with skill level).

Functionality (direct damage modifier)

Stats: LvL 1 = +5%, LvL 2 = +10%, LvL 3 = +16% (same as DDA I), LvL 4 = 23% (same as DDA II), LvL 5 = +31%.
*This one was odd as the T1/T2 bonuses were not the normal 5 apart on a scale of 0/5. But I chose +5/6/7/8% difference.


With exception to the DLA, all Modules of a similar type would still suffer Eve's stacking penalty and therefore wouldn't increase much beyond the current with 3/4 of the same module. Since the Subsystem is only a premium at level 5 (compared to the T2 module it replaces) it helps keep proper balance for those ships without these subsystems. It would allow true Drone boats to have up to (3) additional modules at any given time which would boost the overall effectiveness of that ship as a Drone ship while not increasing DPS by more than about 1-3% (due to stacking and only the DPS from the Drones) which wouldn't make them all the sudden OP on the battlefield, but give that Drone user more utility in his/her ship while staying true to Drones as a primary weapon system.

To reiterate, the Drone Subsystems would be (3) additional slots on true Drone boats only, that would use specific subsystems built by players from CCP seeded BPO's at roughly the cost of T1 Rigs for that ship class, be exchangeable like with T3 ships, be required to purchase and train 3 new skills in the Drone tree (all Rank 1 like with T3 subsystems) and give a benefit to the type you chose to fit without sacrificing a modules slot to do so. I would figure that these would blow up if the ship did instead of a chance to drop them, kinda like Rigs do. This would add yet another SP sink for older players, add more market variety, give more variety/options for those who love Drones, and a pointer in the right direction for making Drone only ships (or near Drone only).

"Sentry" is not a synonym of "stationary" or something to that effect.
I know that it's irrelevant to concept itself, but just in case it will be implemented (and knowing CCP's habit to adopt silly, "slangy" names...) I wanted to point this out, although the name gives an idea on your suggestion even before reading the rest.

Sorry, didn't realize I placed it in the wrong spot

it would also allow your drones to be targeted and you loose alot of your logi effects for balance.

i like it!

+1

I wonder just how many players even realize that five bot drones only = one remote rep. Sounds like a plan Jan, do eet CCP.

This is the EXACT reason people are flaming the [Odyssey] Gallente Tech 1 Battleship thread right now about the incoming Dominix "Nerf" to Large Hybrid dmg. Nobody wants to admit that the Domi is OP, can field just about any role, and has the single HIGHEST DPS sub-cap in the game at nearly 1900 DPS with 6% Imps (and that's without Officer mods). No other BS is capable of that kind of DPS while STILL having a 1K+ DPS tank (with HG Crystals)... Sorry that was off topic but yeah, it's silly to see all the "Don't tread on my Battleship bro" comments

Probably the best idea I've read about any change to Drones.

Alright I'm adding this new concept from a request via an Alliance member, which I think is a good idea for once again more Drone lovin. I haven't hammered out all the details but I have a good generalization of what I think could work and how to implement it. First off, there are many in Eve who desire a time where Drones are considered a true Primary Weapon System just like Guns, Missiles and Lasers are now (Drones cannot currently match the DPS of the other weapon platforms, although have more utility). This idea is about customization on a Drone level (regardless of ship using them). In order for it to work CCP would have to create new BPO's (BPC's for T2) for each Combat Drone type (Light/Medium/Heavy/Sentry). I will give a few examples and not go into detail on every single Drone, since they would be the same options across the board. For the examples I will use Hobgoblins.


BPO 1 = Hobgoblin I (no change from current).

BPO 2 = ECM Hobgoblin modification (drop the current DPS output by 50% and add 50% of the ECM stat from the Hornet EC-300).

BPO 3 = Neutralizing Hobgoblin modification (drop DPS by 50%, add 50% of the Neut drain from the Acolyte EV-300).

BPO 4 = SD Hobgoblin modification (drop DPS by 50%, add 50% of the strength from the Hobgoblin SD-300).

BPO 5 = Stasis Hobgoblin modification (drop DPS by 50%, add 50% of the speed reduction from the Warrior SW-300).

BPO 6 = TP Hobgoblin modification (drop DPS by 50%, add 50% of the Sig bloom from the Warrior TP-300).

BPO 7 = TD Hobgoblin modification (drop DPS by 50%, add 50% of the reduction from the Acolyte TD-300).

BPO 8 = Defensive Hobgoblin modification (drop DPS by 75%, add 10% +resists to Shield/Armor, +15% HP to Shield/Armor/Hull, 25% faster Shield recharge rate, +100% Sig radius, +100% Optimal**)

**The +100% Optimal would not be added to the Sentry Defensive modified Drones and would still be sub-par to the Optimal of the actual Electronic Warfare Drones. As an example the Opitmal Range of the Hobgoblin I is 1km vs 5km of the Hornet EC-300. This builds in game balance as these new Drones would be half as good as either standard DPS Drones or their EWar counterparts but contain BOTH of their abilities giving the player more options on the field.

T2 BPC's would have all the same variants based on their T2 Drone types.

____________________________________________________________________________

And in before the "The Defensive Drones would be waay to OP with all those added stats!" lets do a comparison of the 2:

HOBGOBLIN I(standard variant)

Shield: 56 hp - 0/20/40/60 (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp)
Armor: 120 hp - 60/45/25/10 (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp)
Hull: 296 hp - 0% resists
Shield Recharge: 250 seconds
Dmg Mod: 1.6
Dmg: 15 Thermal every 4 seconds
Optimal: 1km
Falloff: 2km
Sig Radius: 25

DEFENSIVE HOBGOBLIN MODIFICATION(no other type would gain these stats)

Shield: 64.4 hp - 10/30/50/70 (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp)
Armor: 138 hp - 70/55/35/20 (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp)
Hull: 340.4 hp - 0% resists
Shield Recharge: 187.5 seconds (still not even 1 DPS passive regen)
Dmg Mod: 1.6
Dmg: 3.75 Thermal every 4 seconds
Optimal: 2km
Falloff: 2km
Sig Radius: 50 (the bigger radius is to help make the Drone a higher threat to the NPC's than the ship deploying them)

The changes aren't really that big and won't help someone survive any longer in a fight if used in PvP, therefore keeping balance between PvE/PvP. But it would help loads for newer players who have a hard time even doing LvL 2/3 missions solo and would give another option to those who love Drones, like fitting a bigger gank setup for Missioning while the Defensive Drones deal with some of the tanking.

__________________________________________________________________________

Here's why I suggest only adding 50% of the base stat of the Electronic Warfare Drones while reducing the Drones DPS by 50%, Sentries. One could imagine a fully boosted Drone boat with Modified Sentries hitting players at 100km with some damage but also Web or Neut, etc, causing a HUGE imbalance to the game. But if that Web/Neut or what have you is reduced by 50% then it's not nearly as horrible (while still adding some possible change in tactics for PvP). For those who don't know, EWar Drones are pretty terrible in their current form. The only 2 most players even bother with are ECM and Neut. The Web ones just don't slow the target down far enough, TD/SD Drones are a complete joke, and the TP ones are meh. This leads me to a secondary suggestion for this idea, add another SP sink in Drones and call it (oddly enough) Electronic Warfare Drone Specialization. Make it a Rank 5 (just like the Racial Specs) and have it give 5% per level to the strength of the EWar ability on the Electronic Warfare Drones. This skill would still apply to the newly created Modified Drones as they would always be 50% less effective than their standard counterparts, based on skills. But this would hopefully help EWar Drones gain a little life in Eve from what they barely have now.


Also, this idea is not as simple to implement as my other 2 because of the sheer number of new items (BPO, BPC, the Drone itself) that CCP would have to create. In total it's:

1- Skill Book
112 - T1 BPO's (4 races, 4 Drone per Light/Medium/Heavy/Sentry, 7 new BPO's per Drone)
112 - T2 BPC's
224 - New Drones in the game. (there's currently 107 non-Fighter Drones in the game)
449 - Total new items to create for this concept

Personally I'd drop the idea of added range bonus. It won't help much with aggro/threat and once they drone is orbiting it won't make any difference. then you don't have to explain why Sentries don't get the bonus when the 3 other types do. It'd be a hell of a lot of work for devs to create this but tbh, if I were actually in space I'd do stuff just like this myself.