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This new module requires a new rank 8 skill called Invulnerability Core Operation that requires Tactical Shield Manipulation level 5 and Capital Shield Emission Systems level 3 to train.

CCP, Please look at Tactical Shield Manipulation. Right now training this skill actually hurts any passive shield tanking because the closer you are to 30% shield the higher your regeneration rate.
So by making TSM V a requirement you are asking people to train a NEGATIVE skill. The fact it's a negative skill to train in the first place is silly, since to maximise your passive shield tank you actually want it to start to leak as close to peak regen as possible, so any skill levels in this skill past 1 actually hurt your tank (you just use faction mods at 1 rather than T2).

100% agreed. TSM is ludicrously counter-intuitive to shield mechanics and could use a look.

Not that I think too many people will be rushing to fly Rorquals and using the PANIC module, but I suppose this is a good time to bring that skill to attention.

It's already blocked. PANIC will only do 'yourself plus subcaps/orca's'. Not other Rorquals in fleet.

IMO the PANIC module should disable target locks and should disable impacted ships' fleet hangars from being accessed.

Disable Hangar
I'm envisioning the Battle Rorqual becoming much more common after this. Imagine a Rorqual and a number of DSTs loaded up with Cap Booster 3200 charges, nanite paste, ammo, whatever. The Rorqual blows the PANIC module and the DSTs are now free to offload their cargo into triage, machs, etc.

Disable Lock
Secondly, the Rorqual can now start repairing friendly ships while invulnerable. This makes it an all-too-effective replacement of Triage.

In case it can't: That's what the poor guys who can't afford a Rorqual in their Skiffs are for.

This makes sense. Alternatively, they can nerf stationary compression equipment. Tbh, I prefer the later.

This does nothing but boost the corporations that have the resources and pilots to protect or replace such an asset. I understand that you want to add more risk vs. reward to the mining experience but that's not what is going to happen. This will chase even more mid-range and small corporations back into high sec space. This helps the already annoying one person locust fleets of 16 alts blobbed around a freighter in high sec space. Now for a corporation to even get a foothold in low sec they are going to need billions of ISK to replace the ships they know they are going to lose. So the orca will become a high sec dream ship for locust fleets and the rorqual will be a distant dream for smaller corporations.
In all fairness this should come with a refund of skill points. I've invested millions of skill points and several months into something that has now become virtually useless to me. I now won't be able to use a Rorqual because neither I nor my corp can afford to replace it every few days. With these changes I will probably end up dropping at least 2 of my accounts and probably more when it's all said and done. For those saying that I was just afk on my boost pilot couldn't be more wrong. I do box my accounts but they all have separate inputs from me and are all in full view at all times. I almost feel like I deserve a refund of my subscription fees and no, I don't generally plex my accounts. I pay for them.

Peak shield recharge is at ~30%, it falls off progressively underneath that. In a lot of cases, especially in passive shield fits or in capitals, bleeding the damage to armor is actually a better option. TSM preventing the bleed hurts you in a lot more situations than it helps you.

The only reason it's taken to 4 is for access to T2 hardeners/AIFs, because the skill levels themselves are a net negative. This is counter-intuitive to what you'd think, and that's why TSM is bad.

Edit: Meant to type armor instead of hull, point still the same, skill is bad.

Jezus multiboxing Rorquals are going to be a thing now. I'm already seeing orders from people ordering 7 of these things at a time. I love all these changes when they're applied to single characters, but I'd really suggest CCP runs the numbers on a scenario where someone multiboxes 10 Rorquals with T2 industrial cores and strips and entire system in no-time. This might be a bit too much.

I am worried that with these changes Orca will outclass all exhumers as a high-sec mining ship. Sure, it will most probably have smaller yield than Mackinaw and Skiff, but it won't have to leave the belt for an hour, if not more, because of truly massive ore hold (Mackinaw is already crying in the corner) and won't care about gankers that much, because of giant tank (Skiff is getting mad). For a price of lesser yield, it's a little too good.

In case of Rorqual this is non-issue, because of it not being able to go to high-sec (so, more importantly, Concord home).

EDIT: Posted in wrong thread