Summary of proposed changes

[unclejoe]

I wrote this up to send to my friends who are playing so that everyone is on the same page with regards to the proposed changes for the next version of the game. I figure it's prolly worth posting here for anyone else to keep track of us as well:

Summary/Highlights of revisions:

• Fighter tech tree has been reworked a bit. Level 4 now gets the Torp and Level 5 adds Recon
  
  
• Fighters now fire before Cap ships to improve their role as support for the main line. .
  
  
• Strike Fighters now do 3 damage, not 2.
  
  
• The Quantum Manipulation tree has been revised a bit. Most things have been shifted down a bit, but SD Torps have moved to level 5
  
  
• Armor has been gated on the Orbital Manufacturiing Tech
  
  
• RDF Role is gated based on hull class - you have to have higher Anti-matter tech to get RDF CAs and BCs
  
  
• DDs can now have the Screen Role at Laser Weaponry TL5
  
  
• The Autocannons now have the Rapid Fire ability (re-roll a miss)
  

Am I missing any?

[warchariot]

I think this is everything, good that you wrote it down. We have had some discussion about roles, but nothing as been proposed. Right?

[unclejoe]

I think it was mostly just moving the roles around on the tech chart which is reflected in the above. I also believe there was some discussion about the value of various roles, but I dont believe any changes have been presented (and at this point, I dont think any are warranted)

FWIW, I still think Defender and Flagship are a little on the weak side, but that is likely just my personal preference. Also, if the other proposed changes become 'official', Defender will start to look a bit more attractive against Fighters with the higher PD and double shield regen. But as is, Fighters weren't enough of a threat IMO to encourage me to want to use Defender.

Flagships I waffle back and forth with. I would like to be able to use a Flag CA, but again, that is just personal preference...I like to have cruiser squadrons acting as independent units and it would be nice to allow a flag there.

Perhaps some type of 'Equipment' could be added that provides maybe +1 Init and allows an Escort ship to function as a 'Flag' for purposes of the fleet construction rule. Currently there is no way to 'legally' field a squadron of DDs (perhaps with a CL to lead them) or even a 'patrol force' of a CA and a few CLs. I'm thinking maybe a C&C Equipment that allows 2 additional Escorts in a fleet or something? Dunno...just throwing out ideas and in any case, that is prolly fodder for a different thread.

But as far as the actual proposed changes, I think I have them all above.

[warchariot]

I wonder for Flag, if you couldn't just buy one for the fleet? Maybe it cost you 10 tons (or whatever) for +1 more for a +2, and you just add it to a ship, any ship. This would be more like a great commander joined the fleet type of thing.

So it wouldn't be a role as such any more, more like equipment as you suggest. Either that, or combine it with other roles-Ballteflag, Flagcarrier as we already discussed somewhat on the other thread.

[TheDreadnought]

Bumped up Flagships to +3 init. Thinking about bumping defenders so that their hull size is 1 larger when calculating shield values. Thoughts?

[warchariot]

+3 makes it worth it, we have found the init as very important.

[unclejoe]

Yes, +3 sounds good for the Flag.

I'm not sure on Defender getting bigger shields. That is good, but that might make them eclipse Battleline a bit. One thing that is disappointing about them is that the +1 PD is still capped. So all it really does is save you a few tons on your ship. It would be cool if the +1 allowed it to go over the 'max' limit. That way for low tech ships that have a max of say 2 PD, the Defenders could be sitting at 3.

I have a few other minor concerns with the weapons but I'm not finished doing the calculations for it all and I'm about to head out of the house for the evening. I might be able to post something later on tonight.

But as far as Roles go, the +3 for Flag sounds like a winner.