Not sure if this belongs here or general discussion. Please move if GD is a better fit.
We have seen several additions or balance passes that have included gimmicks or new modules to create new gameplay mechanics (command dessies and booshing) or questionable, potentially lazy changes to fix a ship class (ADCU for assault ships/HACs). Alone, in a vacuum i wouldn’t say these things are necessarily bad (new mods and mechanics are great), but looking at the bigger picture it seems there is too much focus on making small ships overly fast, tanky (heavy tackle) and projecting damage. While also having inherent damage reduction against larger weapons by just being small. Or, in the case of command dessies, moving entire fleets with a destroyer.
When we look at the MJD on battleships, the 1000m+ long ship full of sensors, armor, cap etc, it can only jump itself. Yet a dessie, a fraction of the size, jumps an entire fleet? Why was the jump field generator not incorporated into a larger ship, like a battlecruiser (command ships already existed) or battleship? Spreading the abilities of ships across sizes is good, otherwise a stack-up issue arises against the other ship classes, especially battleships.
TO BE CLEAR I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH BOOSHING AS A MECHANIC. I think its great and gives options in fleets and to catch kiters. My issue is the fact they put it on a destroyer class ship.
On its own, the MJDF isnt a huge deal, the fact theyre on a dessie that is absurdly fast and tanky is problematic, especially against battleships. A battleship/battlecruiser chasing a battleship with mwd/mjd is somewhat easily counterable as their speeds are comparable. A CD chasing a battleship is not easily countered, not to mention, itll bring friends along with it. Combined with booshing marauders/brawling BS off gates/stations, most times they cant even lock it in time to prevent the boosh.
If the MJDF were on a battleship or battlecruiser, these things wouldnt be a problem. A battleship could lock a another BS or BC before a boosh happens. They would be tanky, but its to be expected of a battleship/battlecruiser and their speed would of been comparable (still faster, but not 3k/s fast).
We still could of had command dessies in their current form for link duty, just without the MJDF.
Do i expect or want CCP to remove the MJDF from Command dessies? Absolutely not as theyre already well used and solidified in their various positions. Just pointing out some reasons that by adding these gimmicks, CCP is forcing battleships and some battlecruisers/command ships into even smaller niche uses and gaining disadvantages by simply being large.
Now, with yesterday’s update, we have the ADCU. A new gimmick module that increases resistances to near invulnerable levels on assault frigs and HACs. Also all AF have a speed/mass/cap buff as well as some getting fitting tweaks and new traits. Arguably, if they didnt give this gimmick module and just changed what they did, AF would be in a much better place (maybe with more fitting/trait/slot tweaks on other AF) than before.
Now we have a couple new potential problems. AF dominating in 1v1s in FW due to 18s of near invulnerability and battleships being rendered incapable of doing anything when tackled (except maybe neuting your tackle off). 18s is a LONG time in a solo fight, and is more than enough time to heavy tackle a battleship, press the invuln button and let your blob handle the rest. In my experience, most of my solo “wins” exist because of that window that exists between your tackle and fleet. Or killing your scram and using an MJD before additional scrams land.
I dont think its necessarily breaking of how i play, but yet another disadvantage to add to battleships. A disadvantage that was NOT needed nor intended to an already lacking ship class. Yet when CCP keeps balancing with gimmick modules instead of stat/slot rebalances, this is the effect it seems.
Now, to flip this topic. Lets look at how battleships are often engaged and how something like an ADCU would make a lot more sense on them as opposed to a frigate/cruiser, at least as far as gimmick modules go. Currently carriers and dreads will decimate battleships, and its often a fun past-time to drop caps on that solo battleship for lulz. Alternatively, they may bring a large gang to overwhelm you. In either case, something akin to an ADCU would actually be very useful to a battleship. A single carrier drops you? Use the ADCU to have time to tank the initial volley and lock the fighters to MAYBE allow you to defang or limit damage before time runs out. A HAW dread may be harder, but maybe gives you a chance to reposition or attempt an escape. Against a larger gang trying to overwhelm, youd gain some breathing room to reload a cap booster, AAR or catch the rep cycle when youre at 20% structure. Even in fleets, it could be useful in bombing runs or alpha strikes (as you have more buffer to survive the initial primary). Maybe give it some additional bonuses, like a 100% scan res and SS bonus to help in targeting or preventing jams during that time. Basically a make or break module to really allow a battleship to be just that, something that will create battles.
Im not implying that battleships should get a gimmick module. More stating that CCP needs to stop trying to balance small (all) ships with gimmick modules and introducing new ships/mechanics in the smaller ship line when there is room and a NEED for those same things in larger ships that actually make sense both in lore and reason.
TL;DR: by always focusing on introducing new modules, tactics and gimmicks on smaller ship classes (frigs, dessies, cruisers), battleships inherit more disadvantages for no reason.