While searching for a useful elite variant of a medium fighter ship with a large port, I just noticed that the one of the statistics for the Warthog Territorial Defender as an elite faction variant of the Warthog doesn't seem to make much sense: specifically, the turbo energy drain. Just look at the comparison with the non-elite Warthog MkII:

Warthog MkII:
Variant: Upgraded
Level: 2/2/-/-/-
Armor: 9000
Cargo: 14
Mass: 5700 kg
Thrust: 210 N
Max Speed: 65 m/s
Spin Torque: 7.0 Nm
Turbo Speed: 220 m/s
Turbo Energy: 50/s

Warthog Territorial Defender:
Faction: UIT
Variant: Assault
Armor: 9700
Cargo: 8
Mass: 5300 kg
Thrust: 220 N
Max Speed: 65 m/s
Spin Torque: 7.0 Nm
Turbo Speed: 220 m/s
Turbo Energy: 60/s

Upon asking a fellow guild member about the TD vs. the MkII, he said that he actually preferred the MkII for everything because of the difference in the turbo energy drain. It seems strange that a non-elite variant would be reasonably considered universally more useful than an elite variant of the same ship.

The reason that I stress the term "elite" is that I have worked very hard for my experience and faction standing, and want that to count for something in a slightly better ship. If I can just create a new character from scratch and get the same ship, then it doesn't seem worthwhile to spend much effort.

I then asked that fellow player what he would do if the TD's drain were reduced by 5. He then replied, "Then it would be useful."

I strongly recommend that the Warthog Territorial Defender's turbo energy drain be reduce from 60/s to 55/s. Then it would still not have infiniboost, but nevertheless be a truly elite variant of the Warthog, worthy of its name.

-- DekuDekuplex Ornitier

I agree with DekuDekuplex Ornitier, I think the Warthog TD would be a great choice for fighting if it had its energy drain reduced by only 5.

-White Fox-

seeing as the only advantage the warthog has over a 220 thrust light fighter is a large port and a little bit of armor.

Well... it needs something

Correct me if I am wrong but reducing the drain to 55m/s would not really change its fighting capabilities. It would however create a solid alternative to the Rune for CtC-ers (and pirates?).

The turbo drain is fine, I think, although Sun Tzu is right. Shape, that 220 makes a huge difference from the 210, and the weight is significantly lower. The ship handles MUCH better than the mk II similarly equipped. I don't use the mk II because its weight is prohibitive at 210 and a decent loadout. It's good for botting but not much else. Alright for CTC because you can transport more in it (although the mk III has better turbo thrust for that and more cu of hold). But the TD is a dogfighter - it's light enough and has enough thrust to compensate for a decent weapons loadout. I wouldn't mind if warthogs across the board got a slight (5N) increase in thrust and perhaps a slight boost to armor (as the TD handles about the same as a sky command, there is absolutely NO advantage to using one over it, aside from wanting more people to be willing to fight with you), but the drain is the last thing I'm worried about with the hog.

The Warthog TD with adv. gatling should handle like the 640N skycommand with adv. gatling. Then it would be formidable but not invincible (low armor) and its natural counter would be the valk (out-armored, and either out-maneuvred or out-gunned.)

Then you got your prom for the heavy armor to take out the light ships with the rocket death, and the TD should be able to dance around the skycommand and riddle it with holes, maybe even take one down if the hog pilot is good enough.