Forums » Suggestions
Ships in general
This relates to several things suggested before, but I want to tie them all together. The main problem I have with this game is that, as far as I've seen (maybe I'm poorly informed) the Itani ships boil down to one main design with several different variants. I'd like to see the military ships for each faction have several different ships with different designs based along a progression from fighter all the way up to carrier or a mobile station.
This would also change the nature of combat, because right now it's mostly dogfighting. Dogfighting is all well and good for fighter and light ships, but there should be medium ships armed to the teeth with missles for long-range fighting, and capital ships with fighter bays and anti-fighter turrets. This would create a heirarchy of combat and a more interesting system. Warships > Medium Ships > Fighters.
The addition of other addons would make this more dynamic as well though. If missles were made to have more damage, and had better turning and acceleration towards a target, larger ships that are able to carry them would rightly be more powerful. However, addons that jam missle radar would give fighters an advantage, since if they could get into blaster range, a meduim ship with missles in it's large addon ports instead of turrets would be in big trouble because of it's lower turning radius. A multitude of medium of fighter ships could overwhelm a carrier as well, and carriers would be forced to choose between missles and anti-fighter weaponry in it's large addon ports.
On the subject of fighter bays, they definitely shouldn't be purchaseable. An addon that large should have to come with a certain ship variant to be used. Fighters would have to be AI controlled as well, and the player could give them rudimentary commands like "attack (any enemy or a specific target)," "defend (player's ship)," "return to bay," etc.
The overall theme I'm saying here, is that combat in particular seems on much too small of a scale. Capital ships are a BIG neccessity, and I think more variation in addons and ship design (and variants) would make the game overall a whole lot more exciting.
This would also change the nature of combat, because right now it's mostly dogfighting. Dogfighting is all well and good for fighter and light ships, but there should be medium ships armed to the teeth with missles for long-range fighting, and capital ships with fighter bays and anti-fighter turrets. This would create a heirarchy of combat and a more interesting system. Warships > Medium Ships > Fighters.
The addition of other addons would make this more dynamic as well though. If missles were made to have more damage, and had better turning and acceleration towards a target, larger ships that are able to carry them would rightly be more powerful. However, addons that jam missle radar would give fighters an advantage, since if they could get into blaster range, a meduim ship with missles in it's large addon ports instead of turrets would be in big trouble because of it's lower turning radius. A multitude of medium of fighter ships could overwhelm a carrier as well, and carriers would be forced to choose between missles and anti-fighter weaponry in it's large addon ports.
On the subject of fighter bays, they definitely shouldn't be purchaseable. An addon that large should have to come with a certain ship variant to be used. Fighters would have to be AI controlled as well, and the player could give them rudimentary commands like "attack (any enemy or a specific target)," "defend (player's ship)," "return to bay," etc.
The overall theme I'm saying here, is that combat in particular seems on much too small of a scale. Capital ships are a BIG neccessity, and I think more variation in addons and ship design (and variants) would make the game overall a whole lot more exciting.
Also, this has been said 200000 times before, but I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. Landing on planets NEEDS to be possible. It's another thing that would add a lot to the scope and the general feel of size to the game.
Thank you for your helpful suggestions, Ken. Homeworld2-style battles would definitely be cool.
...The main problem I have with this game is that, as far as I've seen (maybe I'm poorly informed) the Itani ships boil down to one main design with several different variants.
You are somewhat ill-informed. The Valkyrie, which is the only Itani-specific ship so far, has several variants, but it is not the only ship available to you.
I'd like to see the military ships for each faction have several different ships with different designs based along a progression from fighter all the way up to carrier or a mobile station.
If we're speaking of faction-specific ships only, I agree totally. I think that's the plan. Guild has a new artist who has been making ship models recently. We've seen some of his work on common ships and on new bot ships.
This would also change the nature of combat, because right now it's mostly dogfighting. Dogfighting is all well and good for fighter and light ships, but there should be medium ships armed to the teeth with missles for long-range fighting, and capital ships with fighter bays and anti-fighter turrets. This would create a heirarchy of combat and a more interesting system. Warships > Medium Ships > Fighters.
The Ragnarok is an excellent missile carrier and can behave as you described. We also have the Heavy Assualt Cruiser (AKA HAC or "frigate") which has turrets and a dock. One can dock in a HAC and man turrets, but it is not yet user pilotable (it's very difficult to fly and needs a really fine-tuned user interface).
The addition of other addons would make this more dynamic as well though. If missles were made to have more damage, and had better turning and acceleration towards a target, larger ships that are able to carry them would rightly be more powerful.
I agree that some of the missiles are pretty sad (listen up, Sidewinders! I'm talking about YOU!). That said, Geminis and Swarms in the hands of an experienced pilot are quite lethal.
However, addons that jam missle radar would give fighters an advantage, since if they could get into blaster range, a meduim ship with missles in it's large addon ports instead of turrets would be in big trouble because of it's lower turning radius. A multitude of medium of fighter ships could overwhelm a carrier as well, and carriers would be forced to choose between missles and anti-fighter weaponry in it's large addon ports.
Jammers have been suggested many times and I believe are on the list of things to be added (see the READ THIS BEFORE POSTING A SUGGESTION thread regarding countermeasures). We do have one turret weapon available, but other types or an option to make existing weapons into turrets would be nice. Things play out as you describe already - except that we don't have anything we call a carrier.
On the subject of fighter bays, they definitely shouldn't be purchaseable. An addon that large should have to come with a certain ship variant to be used. Fighters would have to be AI controlled as well, and the player could give them rudimentary commands like "attack (any enemy or a specific target)," "defend (player's ship)," "return to bay," etc.
It would be cool to have AI fighters. The current AI does allow the devs to give bots commands for specific behaviors, though work would have to be done to avoid player exploitation.
The overall theme I'm saying here, is that combat in particular seems on much too small of a scale. Capital ships are a BIG neccessity, and I think more variation in addons and ship design (and variants) would make the game overall a whole lot more exciting.
I don't think you'll get any argument there. While many people enjoy the 1:1 battles, it will be great when the large-scale battles can take place. The closest thing we have is the Serco - Itani Border Patrol mission, which is worth checking out if you haven't yet.
You are somewhat ill-informed. The Valkyrie, which is the only Itani-specific ship so far, has several variants, but it is not the only ship available to you.
I'd like to see the military ships for each faction have several different ships with different designs based along a progression from fighter all the way up to carrier or a mobile station.
If we're speaking of faction-specific ships only, I agree totally. I think that's the plan. Guild has a new artist who has been making ship models recently. We've seen some of his work on common ships and on new bot ships.
This would also change the nature of combat, because right now it's mostly dogfighting. Dogfighting is all well and good for fighter and light ships, but there should be medium ships armed to the teeth with missles for long-range fighting, and capital ships with fighter bays and anti-fighter turrets. This would create a heirarchy of combat and a more interesting system. Warships > Medium Ships > Fighters.
The Ragnarok is an excellent missile carrier and can behave as you described. We also have the Heavy Assualt Cruiser (AKA HAC or "frigate") which has turrets and a dock. One can dock in a HAC and man turrets, but it is not yet user pilotable (it's very difficult to fly and needs a really fine-tuned user interface).
The addition of other addons would make this more dynamic as well though. If missles were made to have more damage, and had better turning and acceleration towards a target, larger ships that are able to carry them would rightly be more powerful.
I agree that some of the missiles are pretty sad (listen up, Sidewinders! I'm talking about YOU!). That said, Geminis and Swarms in the hands of an experienced pilot are quite lethal.
However, addons that jam missle radar would give fighters an advantage, since if they could get into blaster range, a meduim ship with missles in it's large addon ports instead of turrets would be in big trouble because of it's lower turning radius. A multitude of medium of fighter ships could overwhelm a carrier as well, and carriers would be forced to choose between missles and anti-fighter weaponry in it's large addon ports.
Jammers have been suggested many times and I believe are on the list of things to be added (see the READ THIS BEFORE POSTING A SUGGESTION thread regarding countermeasures). We do have one turret weapon available, but other types or an option to make existing weapons into turrets would be nice. Things play out as you describe already - except that we don't have anything we call a carrier.
On the subject of fighter bays, they definitely shouldn't be purchaseable. An addon that large should have to come with a certain ship variant to be used. Fighters would have to be AI controlled as well, and the player could give them rudimentary commands like "attack (any enemy or a specific target)," "defend (player's ship)," "return to bay," etc.
It would be cool to have AI fighters. The current AI does allow the devs to give bots commands for specific behaviors, though work would have to be done to avoid player exploitation.
The overall theme I'm saying here, is that combat in particular seems on much too small of a scale. Capital ships are a BIG neccessity, and I think more variation in addons and ship design (and variants) would make the game overall a whole lot more exciting.
I don't think you'll get any argument there. While many people enjoy the 1:1 battles, it will be great when the large-scale battles can take place. The closest thing we have is the Serco - Itani Border Patrol mission, which is worth checking out if you haven't yet.
Thanks for the reply. And yeah, ironically I tried the border patrol mission minutes after posting this, saw the frigate and the capital ships and thought "Oh...well then." But yeah, I'd definitely like to be able to actually pilot those ships as well.
And yes, I was speaking faction-specific only. I think the generic ships are pretty good as they are. They're balanced and behave about as well as civillian ships should, I think. Some are specialized for combat, cargo, etc. But nothing is really state-of-the-art quality, which is rightly reserved for faction ships.
I know I made several suggestions that have already been made in other threads. I just wanted to mention how (to my thinking) it would impact a greater variety of faction ships.
And yes, I was speaking faction-specific only. I think the generic ships are pretty good as they are. They're balanced and behave about as well as civillian ships should, I think. Some are specialized for combat, cargo, etc. But nothing is really state-of-the-art quality, which is rightly reserved for faction ships.
I know I made several suggestions that have already been made in other threads. I just wanted to mention how (to my thinking) it would impact a greater variety of faction ships.