I really like the idea of the Crow right now kind of. It really needs a new model though. It's described as being bulit for speed, yeah? Thus it makes sense if it's faster than other HFs. What about 375 cruise, putting it right between HFs and LFs?
The AT is usually my first transport for a trader character. I see no reason to change the AT.
However, that brings up another issue. The AT is an incredible bargain when compared with the Hercules Civilian Heavy Lifter. The AT is superior to the HL in every way: weapons (2 guns & 2 extra turrets on AT), cargo space (800 vs. 750), hull (60k vs. 40k) and bots/bats (240 vs. 150). Hardly anybody ever buys a Heavy Lifter, since it costs a couple million more due to including type 4 transport turrets and it is inferior to the AT. I think the Heavy Lifter should be fixed by reducing the price substantially and selling it without weapons (but make sure that transport turrets are available for sale at any base that sells the HL).
The civilian lifter is so so much more agile then almost every other transport. I've heard stories about pirates using it, as its agility allows the pirate to get behind and stay behind the transport. Plus a heavy lifter won't be seen as a valid threat - it would get sorely underestimated. (No CD means the lifter needs a buddy, though)
The AT may have more cargo space then freighters that cost a similar amount, but it is also much much easier to kill, as it lacks the 395 cruise speed that freighters currently have. And with the 4.86 economy, it is not too difficult for one to work their way from a 2.1mil dormedary up to a 10mil "Albatross" 2,000 cargo train, or a 2200 cargo Mammoth for the same price, or a Percheron for an extra 2 1/2 mil.
The 800 cargo Armored Transport (and the 1k cargo Gull, for that matter) is not a necessary upgrade step anymore. And if it does become a upgrade step once again, the Gull can fulfill that purpose. Therefore, something different should be done with the Armored Transport - it's a vanilla ship that some players really really like despite its current balance issues.
' Wrote:The AT may have more cargo space then freighters that cost a similar amount, but it is also much much easier to kill, as it lacks the 395 cruise speed that freighters currently have. And with the 4.86 economy, it is not too difficult for one to work their way from a 2.1mil dormedary up to a 10mil "Albatross" 2,000 cargo train, or a 2200 cargo Mammoth for the same price, or a Percheron for an extra 2 1/2 mil.
The 800 cargo Armored Transport (and the 1k cargo Gull, for that matter) is not a necessary upgrade step anymore. And if it does become a upgrade step once again, the Gull can fulfill that purpose. Therefore, something different should be done with the Armored Transport - it's a vanilla ship that some players really really like despite its current balance issues.
I've got characters on 8 Discovery servers and I'm active on 6 -- mostly Liberty-based traders. Usual ships based on faction: IC/BHG characters -- CSV>Anki>AT; DSE/LN characters -- CSV>Camara>AT; others -- CSV>usually Dromedary>sometimes AT. Obviously, I'm a big fan of the AT (used it since 4.83) which I learned in 4.85 could survive in places that would get a Dromedary or Hegemon Mining Ship killed -- I've been too busy RL to fully analyze the changes in 4.86. Note that I've never used the Gull, because at 6.75 million it is very overpriced compared with the much better Albatross, Mammoth or Percheron (10.1-12.6 million).
' Wrote:I've got characters on 8 Discovery servers and I'm active on 6 -- mostly Liberty-based traders. Usual ships based on faction: IC/BHG characters -- CSV>Anki>AT; DSE/LN characters -- CSV>Camara>AT; others -- CSV>usually Dromedary>sometimes AT. Obviously, I'm a big fan of the AT (used it since 4.83) which I learned in 4.85 could survive in places that would get a Dromedary or Hegemon Mining Ship killed -- I've been too busy RL to fully analyze the changes in 4.86. Note that I've never used the Gull, because at 6.75 million it is very overpriced compared with the much better Albatross, Mammoth or Percheron (10.1-12.6 million).
The key changes in 4.86 for starter traders is that freighters have a faster cruise speed and NPC's no longer have CD's. This allows freighters to survive in places where they could not last mod version
[font=Comic Sans Ms]The Collector. Huge, slow, 5 slots for slow and weak Barragers, and it's opponents are Xenos in Eagles, Wilde Wraiths and Hogosha in Black Dragons. It's...kinda not ok.
' Wrote:Armored Transport: The 4.84 armored transport was too powerful - transport shields plus agility plus small size made it more deadly then most gunboats. 4.85 nerfed it too much, and it is still too weak to actually be useful.
To improve it, let's start by making it unable to mount transport turrets. Transport guns are too big for such a small model. From there, rebalance it either as a freighter/transport hybrid or an ultralight gunboat with an extended cargobay (without making it the 4.84 AT again). Its shield can be changed too - perhaps a freighter shield, or not giving it enough energy to support Adv. Transport shield...
The AT's size already makes it tougher then standard trains (although not really enough to save it). A few tweaks might make it a really tough nut for pirates to crack, and it's small cargo hold automatically prevents it from being a powertrader ship.
1) You want to improve the Pelican by disabling it to mount strong guns in favor of weak (and obviously smaller) guns. The reason you state is your personal aesthetic measure. Your goal with this is to improve it's usefulness.
- Disabling a feature is not an improvement. Especially not in terms of usefulness.
2) Then you wish to make it a new shipclass which uses attributes of existing classes.
- Why?
3) After all this you obviously want to disable it to mount transport shields. You want to nerf the energy reload so it can't use an Advanced Transport shield.
- Last time I checked the Pelican could mount an ATS, but if the shield takes damage it will take ALL energy to reload. Nothing is left for guns. Isn't the current state exactly what you want then?
4) You compare it to a Train in terms of size and agility. You want to make changes (the above ones?) to make it "a really tough nut for pirates to crack".
- I use mine for combat only. Pirate hunting and scouting. PVP in Conn. What do you use yours for? Do you even have one?
' Wrote:for those who missed it: the moral of it all is ----> traders with teeth are fun for pirates. - within reason.
If you want faster cruiser or ship good for pirating you should be using the freighters as we try to encourage using more specific ships than generic ones.
AT it kind of lacks purpose now yes, but compared to normal Transport 1k it's just fine: smaller cheaper and has a bit more armor for less cargo.
Not really sure if something should be done with it then.
Yacht
It actually has faster cruise speed since start of 4.86.
It's a Yacht, not meant for much else than floating around and showing off, while being quite hard to catch and destroy which it is with faster speed in all regimes, 2 CMs and quite many hitpoints.
Don't see any problem with it.
Moldy Crow
It's big, has 7 guns and turns very fast (faster than many LFs). So it's an interesting ship 1vs1 .... and that's about it. Just has very limited use.
Would be imo very nice to get a new model to replace it completely.
Virage
It got more armor in 4.86 and it's size is fine given the shape and speed. Not sure if the turning should be improved a bit more or not.
When comparing with Guardian remember that Guardian is one of the smallest VHF in game.
Igiss says: Martin, you give them a finger, they bite off your arm.