Player Features and Ideas Discussion

The one feature I was looking for most is capacity for use in a mining support role. But neither new version does anything in this direction....instead it focuses even more on mission roles.

These new ones are NOT adding versatility, nor are they expanding game play. They are just more expensive versions of the same thing.

I agree, the Noctis is still a valuable ship after the release of the MTU. But the Marauder's bonus to tractor beams (which some players were concerned about during the Marauder rebalance) needs to be addressed again because of the new meta versions...

aka Is CCP going to leave the Marauder tractor beam bonus the way it is? (We all know the answer is yes but I just want it documented for future tolling ammo )

The Noctis is an active salvager. Its fast, mobile, and lots of clicks

The MTU is passive, takes more time, but in situations where you can park an alt with an MTU and salvage drones, then alt+tab back to your main, it really shines.

I personally use a combo of parking my alt in a Noctis, then drop a MTU and salvage drones. When I come back to it, if it isnt done yet then I use the noctis to finish up.

MTU does not make the Noctis redundant, if gives you options on how you want to do the job.
Personally I think the noctis should get a buff so that its better in the areas that you would only want to use a noctis, such as wormholes, pvp battles, etc.
More tank, agility, sensor strength, smaller mass, whatever.
The Noctis has exactly one roll, whats the harm in making it op for its task? People are less likely to get ganked in wormholes with it? It will be able to warp out when someone drops in on it?

Anyway, as is, I dont think the MTU outshines the Noctis, only does the same job, but differently. I do think that the Noctis though, being THE ship for salvaging, could use a buff just to be sure for those that are on the fence about it.

They're quite useful in w-space, both in utility and as bait. Stronger ones will be useful in the bait category.

Rather then make all the MTUs pretty much the same, just better versions, balance them like any other ship or mod.
2 versions.
1st
Pros
-Faster tractor (speed up for debate)
-switches targets faster
-tractors furthest to closest
Cons
-Easily popped. Low shield, armor, and structure.
-Drops loot on destruction.
This would utilize the risk reward balance better. Clear rooms faster, but risk loosing it all.

2nd Version.
Pros
-Tank
-Huge cargo bay
Cons
-Slow tractor speed
-If its popped, you lose the loot.
This is more for miners, so the cargo hold would need to be significantly larger, but making it loose its cargo on destruction means when it does go pop, it hurts. And no mining ship is going to be able to get to it in time to clean it out. Or be able to carry all the ore.

Price, make these expensive if you want, if they are useful, them people will save up and buy them. And if they cost a lot, well that just adds more tears.
Sensor strength, Not sure this is even useful. In wormholes its used as bait, so making it harder to scan is pointless, and in normal space, anything that has a cargo big enough to use this is going to be pretty easy to scan down as well, so. . .dont know.

To me this adds variety and balance better then just " Heres ones that are better, but they cost more"

How about focusing on crimewatch instead regarding those new Structures. It can't be that they could be easily destroyed in Highsec without Concord interfering... and if you are a PVE Drone user - then good luck. If your Drones are set to Aggresive they will attack the aggressing player and you are doomed.

Same for a MD.
Why does it go in reinforce? Why would a cheap disposable little depot have the same benefits of a POS? Why can you just scoop it up and re-deploy it? Easymode for the lazy.

lol, yeah... tell that to wh people...

Despite CCPs intentions I don't see much use for the Noctis now. We've sold all of ours and solely use mtus. In wh space I want the least valuable pve assests on grid that can get the job done. For salvaging that means the shooters drop mtus and come back later in a Catalyst to salvage. No reason to risk a 100m ship where a 10mil one will do.

When running hs missions we can't find a reason for the Noctis either. Drop mtus as you go. Come back in fast warping ship to scoop the loot. I wonder if ProSynergy saw a big hit to their business model now that salvaging can be done almost entirely AFK by the pilots themselves?

Although we use them I think they were a terrible idea from a gameplay standpoint. However I am sure they are here to stay. Can we at least come up with some way to fix this dynamic:

1. wh pve dude gets dropped on and killed. 50% possible loot drop
2. mtu immediately scoops the loot and now must be killed. another 50% drop

Sure you can kill the tractor first, while the other guy just slowboats out of range because the mtu has way more hp than even the noctis. Or as happens, you just kill they guy knowing you probably aren't going to get paid. Incentive to pvp slightly reduced.

Well congratulations, now i cant say that there isnt any approval for these new metas. . .
But the overall opinion is that they are a waste of CCPs time since they arent what the players want out of their MTUs.

Correct me if Im wrong here.