Ships & Modules

Speculation on the base they will specialize from:
https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=79996&find=unread

Specialized versions would give up portions of that base for specific capabilities.

I'd love to see a use for the Slasher other than with newbs saving up for a bigger ship. Or for a Burst other than disposa-cyno, newbie mining, or tripping rat spawns in that one mission.

I dislike the idea of a one-size-fits-all frigate, though. Moar flavour plz.

This why they're being rebalanced.

What role does "tank" have in frigate class ships?

Each race should have one ship that is straightforward to use, whether for new pilots or more experienced ones. The model here is the current Rifter. This ship class should have two useful bonuses to that race's turret weapons system and a balanced slot layout. Other ships in this class should be the Executioner, Condor, and Atron. Obviously, this should involve changing bonuses a bit to make them more useful.

Then, each race gets a ship that utilizes missiles. The model here is the Kestrel. Other ships in this class are the Breacher and Inquisitor. For Gallente, the Tristan becomes a missile ship. Notably, all these ships turn into stealth bombers at the T2 level. This class gets extra high slots to fill with launchers and relatively few mid slots (never less than two, however). Each ship gets a racial damage bonus and a ROF bonus.

Then each race gets a ship that does racial e-war. Mid slots should be plentiful in this class. The model is the Griffin. Other ships in this class are the Crucifier, Maulus, and Vigil.

Then each race gets a prober. Ships in this class are the Magnate, Heron, Imicus, Probe

Then each race gets a mining ship, with a secondary role of frigate class logistics ship. Thus, the same hull can be useful to a brand new miner looking to get into the game, while having a relevance to a more experienced pilot as well. Tormentor, Bantam, Navitas, Burst.

The final ship for each race offers flexibility in that race's style. Flexibility, of course, is CCP's trademarked way of saying "split weapons system." Gallente and Amarr get turret and drone damage bonuses. Caldari and Minmatar get turret and missile damage bonuses. Ships in this class are the Incursus, Slasher, Merlin, and Punisher. This class is also faster and easier to fit than the other classes - they make the best tacklers for lower skilled players. Once a player trains the necessary skills, they offer the same damage potential as the more straightforward combat ships.

It should be obvious if you understand frigates. It just about where the emphasis goes and what the bonuses and fitting space will be like. Punisher or Merlin for example. Are they worthless? No. Are they pain trains? Also no. And modified for racial style; rifter is more likely to be an all around combat frigate, Puni is more likely to be a brick that fights by attrition. And don't say that Rifter is not tanky now with MSE or triple trimark fits being possible.

Use the system CCP announced instead to class them
Combat ships - Damage and tank
Attack vessels - Damage and mobility
Bombardment ships - Long range (missiles only?)
Support vessels - EWAR and Logi
Industrial ships - Mining & transport

Har

Now what specs each of them needs?

I always believed inties needed one extra medium slot for sensor boosters/more tackle.

Id like to se a frig/dessy sized logi ship. Get some market for those c type small rr modules out there. Not to mention opening up a whole world of fun doing L3/4s with a gang of T1 frigs like its a miniature incusion fleet.

Something like 4h 3m 2l
for three Rr a cap xfer in highs A capboost battery and charger in mids and two lows for either a plate dc local rep or more cap relays.

Nah a logi frigate should be a T2 ship that is actually able to tank at the same time. Maybe launch new frigates and the t1s can be logi too but a bit bad :P