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Sentry Drones
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Zanar Noud
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#1 - 2017-01-04 00:32:31 UTC
I havent seen this brought up before so if it has been I apologize.

I dont agree with sentry drones being affected by control range. With just a couple modules they can hit targets well beyond the average control range. I just feel like this limits them and their effectiveness unnecessarily. This isnt a rant I just want peoples opinions. Maybe doing that would make them op but I honestly dont think so. The only problem I could think of is with sniper set ups being a little too good but I dont feel that would actually become a problem. Like i said though not a rant just want different views on the matter.
Zhilia Mann
Tide Way Out Productions
#2 - 2017-01-04 01:03:21 UTC  |  Edited by: Zhilia Mann
If you want to extend your control range you have to either:

a) fly a specialized ship
b) give up high slots that could otherwise be used for guns or utility
c) both

This acts as a balance to sentry drones by incurring an opportunity cost if you want to use them beyond 60km. Pretty sure that's intentional balancing and I'm fine with it.

Edit: forgot d.

d) drop drones and approach the target, losing the ability to scoop and reposition your drones.

Of course d) comes with its own challenges. Again, balance.
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#3 - 2017-01-04 03:55:08 UTC
Explanation of Drone Control range: http://imgur.com/BEuyuvV

What you are describing can be done with pretty much any and all drones.

And while Sentry Drones allow you to snipe with a full tank, they also have some pretty big downsides.

- they do not move... which means that the drone ship has to stay still or it has to fly around to collect the sentry drones... which puts your ship at risk or reduces your efficiency.

- they can be destroyed... which isn't too much of a con unless you are being swarmed by hostiles.

How did you Veterans start?
Do Little
Bluenose Trading
#4 - 2017-01-04 17:06:14 UTC
A couple of years ago I ran Level 4 missions in a Rattlesnake with cruise missiles and Navy Wardens. I had roughly the same range with both weapon systems ~ 110Km. Land, MJD to range, drop sentries, shoot. Rats rarely got close enough to cause concern. You need a couple of drone link augmenters for control range and a couple of omnidirectional tracking links with range scripts. After a while I got bored and moved into industry.

A control range over 100Km needs to be balanced, especially with the Rattlesnake bonuses - the Wardens could 1 shot anything smaller than a cruiser at that range. Needing to consume fitting space to achieve the range seems a reasonable tradeoff to me.