Carriers: A Road to Salvation?

EVE Technology and Research Center Player Features & Ideas
1

Even with the recent additions to carriers in the forms of jump drive, jump field generator, and conduit, carriers lack an overall purpose in pretty much any gameplay. They are worse than marauders in PvE, can’t run crab beacons, and have no significant ability to engage with other capitals (NPC or player-controlled). This post is a recommendation for a possible direction to take with carriers that will lead to more use in PvE and PvP gameplay.

The goal with this suggestion is to embrace the support focus on the carrier and create more interesting dynamics on the battlefield and more interesting fitting decisions for both capitals and fleet doctrines. Changes and additions are in bold below.

Role Bonus

  • Can fit Networked Sensor Array
  • Can fit Capital Micro Jump Drive and Capital Micro Jump Field Generator with a disruption resistance of 1+ per skill level on the installed hull; max 6.
    • You’d need two regular scrams and a point, two faction scrams, one hic point, or one heavy warp scrambler to stop the jump.
  • Can use three Command Burst modules.
    • 200% bonus to Command Burst area of effect range.
    • The rationale here is that carriers are now your capital support backbone. With the racial carrier bonuses below, they will be the next step up from Command Ships.
  • 1+ warp core strength
  • Can launch Light and Support Fighters.
    • Change: Carriers can launch three squadrons of support or light fighters.
  • 5% bonus per skill level to Support Fighter maximum velocity, scan resolution, optimal range, and falloff.
  • Can lock at extended ranges.
  • Conduit Jump capable
  • 5x penalty to Entosis Link Duration

Amarr Carrier bonuses (per skill level):

  • 4% bonus to all armor resistances
  • 5% bonus to Equite and Templar light fighter damage.
  • 10% bonus to Cenobite Support Fighter neutralization optimal range,falloff range, and drain amount.
  • 10% bonus to Cenobite Support Fighter hit points.
  • 5% bonus to all Armor Command and Information Command burst strength and duration.

Caldari Carrier bonuses (per skill level):

  • 4% bonus to all shield resistances
  • 5% bonus to Dragonfly and Locust light fighter damage.
  • 5% bonus to Scarab Support Fighter ECM optimal range, ECM strength, shield resistances, armor resistances, and hull resistances.
  • 10% bonus to Scarab Support Fighter hit points.
  • 5% bonus to all Shield Command and Information Command burst strength and duration.

Gallente Carrier bonuses (per skill level):

  • 5% bonus to fighter damage
    • 7.5% bonus to Firbolg and Satyr light fighter damage.
  • 5% bonus to Siren Support Fighter warp disruption range.
    • 2 disruption strength (per drone; not modified by skill level)
  • 10% bonus to Siren Support Fighter hit points.
  • 5% bonus to all Armored Command and Skirmish Command burst strength and duration.

Minmatar Carrier bonuses (per skill level):

  • 5% bonus to fighter damage
    • 7.5% bonus to Einherji and Gram light fighter damage.
  • 2.5% bonus to Fighter velocity
  • 10% bonus to Dromi Support Fighter stasis webification range
  • 20% improvement to maximum velocity bonus (per fighter)
  • 10% bonus to Dromi Support Fighter hit points.
  • 5% bonus to all Shield Command and Skirmish Command burst strength and duration.
2

I’m not a fan of multiple different buffs where one buff at a time would do.

I think the change to add warp core stabilization per level to carriers on it’s own already should be enough.

Warp core stabilization would make Carriers more viable for their ‘conduit into battle’ or ‘cmjfg into battle’ PvP role without immediately making themselves vulnerable to the smallest tackle, while also buffing the role of Carriers as a more expensive yet safer alternative to Marauders for PvE.

3

Inherent Warp Core Stabs make these money printers way too hard to catch.

4

That’s kind of the point of inherent warp core stabilization.

They can still be caught though, you just have to be a bit more prepared. A dictor or hictor, or even an Arazu with a few faction scrams could be enough.

5

Exactly. There’s no point even utilizing carriers outside a fleet or umbrella. All it takes is one small ship to point and light a cyno while the anticipated fleet of Redeemers jumps in.

All capital ships should have a warp core strength component. As far as that goes, they should extend this to battleships and battlecruisers as well.

6

That’s not proportional to how much ISK they can generate.