It's fat and gets torn up by the new centurians. Not complaining or flaming or calling for nerfing of other ships and whatnot, just a discussion topic. What do u guys think? Does anyone use a valk anymore? Has the new valk become the prom of old? Should anything be done about it or should it be left as it is? Discuss.

I use a Valk, because I FINALLY sat down and did enough botting to get the licenses. Got my first one the night of the Prom mass/thrust increase patch. I don't think I've actually killed anyone while I was flying the Valk yet, but mostly I think that's because I haven't been on very much since then.

Hmm, lets see if I can bring this point across without rambling too much.

I think the recent rebalance of light fighters have done a few things:

a) given players a viable alternative to the Valk for light ship dogfighting
b) Given serco "fighter-pilots" that are hated by Itani a good ship to use.
c) Changed balance and made people re-evaluate and try new things out.

People are still playing around with the "new" ships and will do so for some time before balancing themselves out. Also, players who are further away from Itani space has gotten other alternative ships for their inventory, including Serco and UIT who previously did not have the standing to get the valk. This in turn means that there are less valks on your opposing side in the game.

So, players who previously fought with vultures, marauders or some other ship, now have a light and fast alternative to put up against the valk, a ship that can cover up more of the advantages of the valks armor and multitude of guns, which means that valks are more likely to get torn up by better pilots than before.

Basically, I see it as if your opponents had their blunt sticks replaced with sharp swords. *grins*

I would not use a valk if you payed me, they are death traps with the new system.

The Valk must be good because everyone uses it.

This is a very sarcastic comment. In truth I've seen two Valks in the last week. Possibly people just aren't flying it enough to become good in it but I think most are choosing the IBG or Rev C Centurions instead.

Just curious but has anyone actually managed to kill a new Prom or a Rev C Cent. with the current Valk? I'm sure someone has but I haven't heard of it.

I wonder a bit which pilots fly the valk. I know the ones I really respect as light pilots on the other end haven't been flying the valk for ages, (Hi Niki *waves*), not even when they were uber. And others, (Hi Shape) can't get it anymore, Which also kills the idea.

So, who -do- fly the valk?

I saw Niki in a Valk Rune the other day and Kepler in a Valk of some sort, I didn't note the type as I was busy trying to get him in range of my GT :D

A SAF member does -for CtC. I recently saw a distinguished BL representative in a Valk too- he quickly died to three blue newbies; he may well have slaughtered the three of them in a vult. A guild mate flies a Rune quite often, for CtC also. All alpha or beta.

Possible deduction: current Valkyries can be effectively used only by a few veterans or very skilled players, and merely for CtC.

Next question: has it become the less useful nation-specific ship?

I fly a valk vengeance...

Valks are fat and unwieldy. It has less thrust than the new Cents, and it is fat.

Also, since it is fatter than the cents, it does not turn as well as the new cent despite having the same mass. It is also fat.

I use to fly the valk in the good old days, despite the fact that it is fat, because it can carry 3 Neut3, which compensate for its fatness. But now, with the n3s being 400kg, a 4200kg big Fat valk is nothing I will fly.

The Valk is suppose to be the Itani's "special uber ship" vs the Prom. But now, it is just a big fat death trap. Maybe a valk with flares or gausses might win against an AGT-Flare Prom, but any uber-player (Serco, UIT or ITani) player who claim that the Valk can beat a Prom, I suggest that he/she flies one against a Prom and then tell me how. [EDIT : ANd I am only half-jesting : I really would like to know how.)

By the way, did I mention the valk is FAT?

=P

I have a few valks left :) (its not that I can't use em, I just like something that has a chance of evading multiplayer fire).

But, on the whole, they're just a lesser Rev C/IBG. They DO have more armor, but, being larger, the armor drops about twice as fast.

They are useable, but like the prom of auld, very situational. The prom was an excellent support ship, (Amarus was terrifying when paired with ANY light ship pilot), and currently the valk is an okay assault ship.

It's 8 cu are good, but the 200 infiniturbo is, imho, much worse than the 60 drain, 240 m/s SVG/Rev C (Though either the SVG needs a cargo upgrade, or the Rev C/IBG need a cargo downgrade).

The nice part about the valk is its ability to run flares in addition to N3's, which can be quite deadly against a small fighter used properly.

But at the same time, the weight of the third wep/flare takes away the valks maneuvering advantage, and lets an already small ship run circles around its bigger cousin.

But how to solve the problem? I don't think its possible to make it much better without it being a form of nerf for the prom. Since if you made the Valk lighter, or have more thrust, the damn thing would be entirely unhittable by a prom(with the exception of excellent rocketpilots).

I think the solution may come in the form of electronics slots. If the valk is given other ways to be balanced, other than just being incredibly fast, or do tons of damage, I think it might be an interesting ship.

(Cloaking valks anyone?)

eh, Shape. The Valk has less thrust than the IBG (210 vs 230). Even adding thrust is not necessary going to help the poor fat valk.

*sigh*

The valk is lighter, therefore shouldn't .need. more thrust.

The current problem is that the Cent needs a paper-thin hull, and currently is quite tough. The IBG is what the Valk should be.

Most valks weigh in at 3000kg with 210N thrust. The IBG also weighs 3000kg but with 230N thrust. The Orion Rev C comes in at 3200kg, also with 230N thrust. The valks, except valk rune (220m/s infini), has 65 or 70 drain at 240m/s max speed. IBG is 70 at 240, and rev c is 60 at 240. The valks will end up with more mass because of 3 ports. If you leave a port open, then you just end up with a fatter, still less agile, with more hull, centurion (or vulture).
To add on, SVG has 235N thrust at 3800kg and 60 drain with 9000 hull. regular valk has 9500 hull at 210N, 3000kg, 65 drain.

Ctishman :

The IBG/Rev C takes about 12 hits from an n3 to boom it. If you want to reduce it, how many hits do you think it should take?

If the IBG is what the Valk should be, and you propose lowering the armour of the IBG, then you are proposing a double nerfing of the 2 mainstay Itani fighters. Is that right or am I reading you wrong?

Spider: the valk is lighter? it weighs the same as the IBG with less thrust... no?

Edit: currently, IBG v Prom is kinda interestin... why nerf either?

Softy: I'd like to halve that.

Ctishman :

That sounds interesting actually. I will fly a 3600 armour IBG cent, though one might want to give back its insane roll so that it might have a chance against the AGTs.

Ctishman: I would be fine with that, but then you guys will have to make concessions regarding either the AGT or the maneuver of the Rev C/IBG. It's already bloody hard enough to fight a prom.

And remember, rockets still work fine against light fighters, especially in a ship that takes so little dmg from a rocketram. dropping it to 3600 will allow exactly 1 hit from a tri-rocket Prom. Not that I have a problem with this... but it will require some balancing.