Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Been looking for a reason to recommend denying focus group membership to gewns. Found this:

I'd like to throw my hat in the ring as well for this group.

I FC for a corp of relatively new PvPers in Gallente FW and we regularly field T3Ds and ships of comparable size/cost. I've had experience working with all 4 T3Ds in solo and small gangs in a variety of fittings.

I have been flying as a solo pilot in lowsec for about 2 years now and have witnessed metagame shifts first hand as many have. As many solo pilots, I face outnumbered and outgunned fights every day and I absolutely love finding ways to beat the meta without joining it. In regards to the T3D discussion, I recently began flying T1 battlecruisers solo as they sit at a comparable price point to the T3Ds and are extremely effective in countering the strengths of the T3Ds.

I have seen the impact of these ships on the new player experience and their dominating effect against new players looking to move past T1 frigates and make their way into Small Plexing. These ships are dominating the current meta and have had suffocating results inside of Small Complexes.

I would love to be able to bring my viewpoint of the subject to the table in a rational, intelligent discussion with some of EvE's best and brightest to help this silly space game we play grow and flourish.

I have access to Slack for the discussion and would very much like to take part.


Fly Dangerous o7

It's a new initiative that was discussed briefly in the recent CSM minutes, proposed initially by Sion I think as a way to better utilise what the CSM can do and provide a way to include greater expertise in some discussions, especially where the CSM doesn't have that expertise but is limited in what they can do because of NDA:

http://cdn1.eveonline.com/community/csm/Meetings/summit/CSM10-S1-D2.pdf

Howdy there CCP, I'd like to apply for this group as I believe that I could relay some feedback to you all about Tactical Destroyers.

I have flown them rather extensively, in a wide variety of scenarios, including:

- Wormholes (for both PvP & PvE)
- General Low sec PvP in form of Small Fleets/Gangs & Solo
- SOV Null Sec, PvP in form of Large fleets & small Gangs
- Faction Warfare LS, PvP in forms of both Solo & Small Gangs

I almost exclusively fly the Confessor though, as it's my favorite, but I do have experience w/ the others. I hope you all select me, so that we can work together to help solve any problems that T3Ds have created :) Thank you

I would be very interested in being part of this focus group. My corp and alliance use T3 Dessies regularly so we know the pro's and cons in fighting with and against them.

They are extremely fun even if over popular at the moment. Definitely have some constructive feedback to give on how to address the following;

1) Insta warping due to mode change
2) AF's seemingly losing their way
3) Cost
4) Skills

I think there can definitely be some amount of re-balance that does not nerf Tac des or take the fun away from flying them.

A quick example of some of my thinking for consideration in the group.

Why not look at changing AF's instead of doing too much to Tac dessy (with exception of insta warp and perhaps a few small stats changes to svipul - mainly sig increase). Because just bringing tac dessy back towards AF's is not a good solution you need to bring AF's a little towards tac dessy.

Pulling up AF's

1) Reduce build cost on AF's a bit so they are an even cheaper option but still more costly when compared to T1 frig or T1 dessy.

OR (note it says OR)

2) Add a switching mode to AF's - so it has 2 modes not 3 like a tac dessy. One speed and one tank mode allowing AF's some more flexibility in doing their primary job - robust hard tackle with decent DPS application. Also allows them to still be viable as solo PVP options.


Pushing Tac des down
1) Add skill required for switching mode - each level reduces the switching mode time by x % so that there is another investment hurdle for max switch mode speed

OR if barriers are not the current way of thinking

Look at increasing the switching mode time form 10 sec to say 12 sec and see how that goes.
Add a gate timer to switch mode ability of say cloak timer plus 3 sec so that you cannot insta warp by mod switching
Add a little sig radius to svipul and see how that goes

Don't muck about with any other features on Tac dessies they are pretty ok.

I would very much appreciate being accepted into this focus group.

I am primarily from a Solo PvP background for the past 3 yeras now. As many would understand in similar backgrounds, you not only study what you fly, but also what others are flying. This includes fighting in all types of secuirty space, wormholes, nullsec, low and high.

There are quiet a number of tweaks, nerfs, buffs that I believe all four destroyers need and would love to hear what others have to say about them.

First and foremost, the T3D's are a great addition to the game. So kudos to you CCP

I while I don't chose to actively fly them I do understand t3d capabilities and their impact on the wider balance of the ships around them. I have a fairly extensive posting history and the ability to listen. When it comes to fitting ships I have a somewhat unique reputation for getting ships to do what many would think impossible.

Boki's Application to T3D Focus Group

Pilot's Name: Boki
Alias: Defiant Blessings
Eve Specialties: Business / Small Gang PVP / General Tactic & Strategy
Age in Eve Universe: 12 years off and on
Eve Related Projects:
- Eve Business Insider
- Character Bazaar Broker & Appraiser
- Alliance Exec & Small Gang FC

During my time in Eve, I have seen many different metas and transformations of the game. Many balance patches, the ebb and flow of pilots into the universe, and the rise and fall of many empires. I have always been an effective communicator, I have always ran my own corp / alliance / organizations in Eve, and I have always encouraged other players to recognize trends and adapt to them through the use of somewhat high-level theorycraft and conceptual understanding of game mechanics.

The conception of T3Ds has created a recent trend not unlike that seen by the first-pass T1 Cruiser changes from so many seasons ago, and I feel I would have a unique opinion to add to the discussion as to how this latest trend has affected the rest of the universe.

It is my personal belief that certain T3Ds are not in precise balance with others, and that nature of imbalance has largely to do with the current meta and trends in the size and scope of combat these ships were meant for. However it is also my belief that T3Ds offer a unique positional advantage to many small groups mainly through the versatility of the ship. I love to fly all 4 races, and I have dedicated myself to increasing my mechanical ability in this ship, something that Eve rarely offers the chance to do anymore.

I respect them for what they have brought to the game, I fear them on the battlefield, and I have some good ideas for how they can be made to fit more seamlessly into the universe.

Please accept this application to take part in the T3D Focus Group!

Sincerely,
-Defiant Blessings / General Boki of the Adaptation Armada.

Hi, my name's Davis

(low scattered mumbles from the group )*hi Davis*

It's been just over 12 hours since I last flew a T3D. *tentative applause* I've been trying to be strong, but I just can't seem to give them the kick. Almost all my kills the last week have been in a confessor. It's just too strong and cheap, It's really starting to cut into my other ship classes, I've barely been able to sit a cruiser for over a month and I just cant bring myself to get into frigates anymore. I think my corpmates are starting to notice. My participation has been up, but I just haven't been filling other roles lately, you know?

Just last week FC called for an armor cruiser fleet and I couldn't help asking "do we need a prober? heavy tackle? kitey damage? all of the above?". (from the back of the audience) *we've all been there man* The FC even took pity on my and let me come along.

A few of the other guys have started to fly them too. We've been sneaking out in small gangs and shooting up pretty much anything we can find. Even if we go down, the insurance is practically a scam and we can't help getting into a new one straight away to keep going.

I need help guys, I've tried to kick the habit on my own but they just *so good*....


(the group leader speaks up) *thanks for sharing Davis*

Not putting an application in myself, but rather pointing a recommendation at Suitonia. What these focus groups need are tourney players, they dig deep into the meta to maximize potential. This focus group also needs new player help and content guide creators, people who know how important K.I.S.S. is (keep it simple stupid) . It also needs calm rational people good at speaking. There are very few candidates suited better than Suitonia.

Just one question. If this focus group thing goes well, will CCP consider doing focus group work with other aspects of the game? Ships, modules, game content, etc...

I think this kind of format is exactly what is needed. The F&I section can get a bit volitatile and toxic when weeks go by without responses from devs on what are perceived to be important points and ideas. As well, F&I can fill with hundreds of useless bittervet posts. A filtered focus group is perfect. Useful opinions from a wide area of game experience, and a set time where dev feedback will be present and engagable.

More than +1 for this. An idea this great surely came from a brainstorming session with CCP leggybro and CCP chair.