I'm not against these heavier weapon concepts. In fact, I specifically asked for non-game-breaking suggestions a few weeks ago, to gather more ideas on how I might add them.

Whether the hound vs trident thing is "ridiculous" is another discussion entirely. Ship size rarely has anything to do with effectiveness at damaging or destroying other ships. I mean, look at the USS Cole.

But, that's not really your point.. you just want this family of capship weapons, and are disheartened by the lack of them. I get that, I don't object to that.. I want to give that to you. But, it's taking time.

The fact that it's taking time does not mean that we should give up hope and say it'll never happen. Nor does it mean it will take six months, or six years. Nor should we assume that because we haven't had them before, that therefore we'll never have them.

If I say we're working towards them, try and take me at my word? I can't offer much else..

capital cannons already exist in the form of turrets and of course on the teradon.

How is it game breaking to make it available as L port weapon for tridents with the same grid requirement as the turret and maybe a slightly faster reefire rate?

I'm not really opposed to changing the name, either? Roll a Suggestions post about that. But then don't complain when a Trident variant shows up that violates all your closely held arbitrary assumptions.

Ok, if you imply that we will soon see a Trident Assault Light Frigate with the armament of a real frigate - forward railgun (or something similar) capable of delivering massive damage at high range, front capital class missiles/torpedos launchers, an array of point defense turrets and anti-missile defense turrets, I will retract my suggestion about the name change.

If not, I suggest the name be changed to "Trident armored transport ship".

Regarding a giant rail gun - why didnt you comment in the Monolith Capitol rail cannon i posted a bit ago? link
Regarding the other stuff, what would you wish it to be like? They sound pretty cool for capships, but i havent seen any suggestions by you regarding those (since i began using the forums).

Incarnate - how IS that trident livery coming along? Its pretty sweet looking!

@Luxen

I did not comment on your railgun suggestion because the concept you proposed was completely useless.

4000 dmg, 4 ammo, no targeting... it's a tickler for capships not a real weapon.
16k damage is not enough to deshield a goliath if all 4 rails hit.

Since tridents are slow and sluggish to maneuver, a capital class railgun should be a devastating weapon comparable to a modern day railgun, 2500 dmg, 100 energy per shot, ultra fast refire rate 0,5 sec., 10000 ammo and excellent auto targeting and at least 3000 m range.
It's a fixed weapon on a painfully slow sluggish to maneuver ship.
Now that would be a capital class weapon to be feared in cap to cap combat.

Alternatively, a weapon exists that was used for a brief period of time on HAC turrets - beam cannon.
I still remember that beam and its zzzzing fire sound. It would be a perfect fixed front assault weapon for capships.
Can't remember the stats anymore but it was something like 7500 dmg , insta-hit speed, 1-2 sec refire rate and 2500m range.

Bojan, while Suggestions is probably the more appropriate place for this discussion, why would a weapon like that be so quick on the refire? You'd think the better approach, from a perspective of rewarding twitch skill, would be much higher damage and much slower recharge rates.

A scoped-in periscope HUD for long range rails would be pretty sweet though.

cap ship battles fighting over actual player held territory, on my phone, in gear vr...oh my. Id be, like, super happy.

@Lecter

Basic adv rail is a tested known weapon. It actually has no refire rate and is only limited by energy your power cell can provide.

I was guided by the same premise but... Trident cell has a 4000 capacity so if you start firing rails at your target with a full cell - theoretically you can fire 40 rails in short succession causing 100k dmg if all of the shots hit.
Thats is adequate to 2 swarm rag hits on a cap ship - it will deshield it and cause some damage.
After initial burst you have to wait for the cell to replenish or continue firing rails with a significant delay.

If we make the refire delay bigger then, in theory, since the trident power cell replenish rate is very good, you could shoot infinite rails forever.

However, the other solution would be to make capital class rail with 5000 dmg at a cost of 250 energy per shot. That would allow trident to fire approx 16 shots in rapid succession causing 80k dmg on a full cell. After initial burst firepower would be limited to random long delay shots unless you allow cell to fully replenish to fire another burst of 16.

Also, we have to take into account that your target ship will not be immovable and not all rail hits will actually land. With a slow sluggish moving trident - landing precise shots on a moving target 2000m away is yet another game.
400m/s rail speed is not an instant hit at that distance.

True effectiveness of this kind of assault weapon will mostly depend on good group combat tactics and strategy.

Has anyone suggested/considered a weak(ish) capship weapon that bypasses shields?

"I'm not really opposed to changing the name, either? Roll a Suggestions post about that"

How about Big Slow Shielded Cargo Hauler (provided you use the XC exploit)?

The Centurion is a fighter, the Ragnarok is a bomber and the atlas is a light transport. All of these ships can fit varied roles and yet have a key purpose behind them.

Inc, Would you describe the Capella as a freighter or is it destined for a military role?

I'm not asking so I can declare you lazy or stupid after giving your answer, I just want to know which direction the game is progressing in first.