Test Server Feedback

Do you see how you're not looking at the whole argument?
It's not solely large 00 fleets, and it's not specifically people who solo or do small scale.

AFs are fundamentally flawed in that they have poor performance operating offensively (4th bonus/slots), and exceedingly poor performance operating evasively and defensively. The former being for things like running back to gates or through camps, and the latter being in regard to actual combat mobility.

And yes, it's all hearsay until someone can prove otherwise.
It's like me looking at the trailer for the Hobbit and calling it trash solely because I don't like Peter Jackson (just an example folks), then the movie comes out and it's fantastic and wins a ton of awards.

The difference between myself and the rest being stubborn, is that I've got the hard evidence and you (as a group) do not.

I LOVE All of the individual changes made to the assault frigates, please please PLEASE leave those modifications.

However, I feel the MWD bonus is rather wasted. by all means keep it, but for 90% of AF roles it wont be needed. MWD's are the realm of interceptors, AFs are followup tacklers that use ABs to keep their sigs as low as possible whilst maintaining speed, usually complimented by scram range tackling.

Individual Analysis:

Retribution: Now serves as a very viable heavy tackler, can maintain propulsion whilst tackling due to second mid, serves as a very good DPS boat.

Vengeance: Now has Relatively better DPS to compliment its Amarrian Brick Tank. Serves as a Viable Solo Option as well as gang support.


Ishkur: Drone Hit Point bonus is definitely beneficial, and the additional low slot can be used to suit a variety of fits, overall seems like a good balance.

Enyo: Finally has that third midslot needed to truly close down range and apply its role of Damage Boat, Perfect Buff.


Harpy: Now serves dual roles, one as a very viable long range railgun kiter, another as an up close blaster boat to which the shield resistance bonus is greatly needed.

Hawk: Active Tank is awesome, Please don't remove it, the fifth midslot adds room for a cap booster to supplement a cap heavy tank, and its DPS is amazing, truly an assault frigate if ever there was one.


Wolf: Tracking Bonus is an amazing way to compliment this ship, with its lack of web the tracking bonus ensures the ability to apply DPS within scram range, and the new lowslot can be used in a variety of ways, A very nice way to balance this ship.

Jaguar: again, Tracking bonus is a very nice addition to an already generally recognized good assault ship. Low slot adds more versatility fitting wise without making it too powerful.




Overall Impression: CCP hit the nail on the head, the MWD bonus sent it slightly askew, but I think the individual ship alterations are Perfect. PLEASE dont change them. ♥

Prove it.

Im totally gonna hop onboard with this discussion if thats alright. Being a pretty well known frigate pilot (atleast in highsec) I have alot of good input. :3

These are my PVP related insights as to frigate classes.

T1 Frigates: Serve as a training platform for most pilots. cheap, disposable however that does not mean poor. T1 Frigates like all other ship classes can be mastered and used with enough skill to perform well and above their cost. 95% of Eve pilots skip learning how to fly frigates properly and move into bigger ships like cruisers, something that CCP should try to address in the starter tutorials.
They serve as fleet tacklers, Solo Vessels and Basic EWAR support, a Great way to get to grips of the combat mechanics of EvE, and which to learn a combat style which best suits the user.

Destroyers: Serve as the Natural Step up from frigates. You have learned how to pilot and kill with a t1 frigate, now learn how to hunt them and defend your fleet from them with a destroyer.
Destroyers are not invincible to a skilled frigate pilot, but have enough base stat bonuses to shred the vast majority of careless frigates.

Assault Frigs: Now that you have experienced T1 frigs and Destroyers, you will have found a style of PVP that you are comfortable with. Assault frigates have a big variation of combat styles to choose from, which is a good thing. they are basically amplified versions of their T1 counterparts. Become comfortable with a fighting style on a t1 Hull, then Begin to truly apply it with the relevant assault frigate.
Hunt Solo, or Use them as heavy tacklers for your fleet. If an Interceptor gets a point on something, you are the second line of Attack to get your target locked down.

Interceptor: Interceptors are split into two categories, the fleet support tackler, which is designed to hold point on a target from range, and be a nuisance to get rid of while your heavy tacklers get it locked down.
The Combat Interceptor, designed to engage targets of opportunity using speed to your advantage. Both are a fun and interesting way to fly a Frigate Hull.

EAF: Designed to Provide Advanced EWAR support for a fleet, but are generally not flown solo. A good frigate class for those pilots who love to provide advantage and support.

Stealth Bomber: Covops Gang and Large Fleet DPS support, designed for taking down battleships and above, can be flown solo with the right kind of setup, but is primarily a fleet ship.

Faction and Pirate Frigate : Frigates for the Richer Pilot, Serve multiple roles like assault frigs, but come with a heftier price tag. They are powerful, and dangerous, but should only be flown if you have the ISK to fund them. Basically you are trading ISK for Combat Performance.



All frigate classes have purpose, to compare them is pointless, one must address them individually if one wants to balance.

Battle Helios best helios.

EDIT: And to add some content, Prom has agreed that the T1 frigs, pirate frigs, Assault frigs, and cruisers need a buff. I think those should come first before we start buffing battle cruisers, battle ships, and caps.

:Frystare:

Srs?

Should we start demanding a second round of boosts to frigs and cruisers, because we will be back to where we are now, so that we get in the que now?

(moved from a separate thread — ISD Grossvogel)

There is yet more testing to do, but...:

THE GOOD:

- Yes! Another slot!
- Yes! A 4th bonus! (And a damn good one!)

THE BAD:

- Role Bonus is redundant with interceptors. AFs are not suppose to be beefy interceptors. Reconsider a varied version of the original AB bonus or something else to make them "slipperier".

- The Ishkur's 4th bonus is worthless. Please consider giving it the full drone boat package: 10% bonus to drone DAMAGE and hit points. Under the current setup it is totally underpowered and no longer a viable choice.

- The Retribution is now viable with 2 mids.. However lasers and MWDs do not mix well.

MJ

as I said, T1 frigates can be mastered just like all other ship classes, and an expert T1 frigate pilot can achieve incredible things.
Fights that many would say are not possible, become obtainable goals.

Example:

http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/killmail.php?id=14007423

dont nerf the class, nerf the individual ships.
Some pirate frigates definitely do not need buffing, Drams, DD's, Worm. but then again, the Cruor or Succubus could use (to avoid the word buff) reinvisioning.

People seem to be under the impression that you cannot buff one ship in a class, without boosting all the others. Caracal needing a buff? FIne buff it, Dont buff all the other T1 Cruisers that are fine as they are out of principle.