Februrary Balance Update - Assault Frigates and Assault Damage Controls

Hello!

As many of you have already noticed, we have some changes coming in February to Assault Frigates as well as a new Assault Damage Control module type, which can only be used by Assault Frigates and Heavy Assault Cruisers.

Assault Damage Controls

Assault Damage Controls are a new module type which can be fit to HACs or AFs rather than a standard damage control. They give slightly less passive resists than a normal damage control but can be activated for a short burst of extremely high resists to all damage types in all hp layers. Here are the specific stats as they stand now:

What we’re trying to do here is create a powerful distinction for AFs and HACs in specific roles while avoiding too much direct overlap with classes like Tactical Destroyers, Battlecruisers, Strategic Cruisers, etc. If ADCs (Assault Damage Controls) are too strong in too many environments we will revisit them and either add further drawbacks or lower the the duration/strength of the active effect. Your feedback will be important on that. These are currently live on singularity so go have a look!

Assault Frigates

We are giving Assault Frigates a substantial balance pass. Every AF is getting a speed boost in the form of increased max velocity and lowered mass. Every AF is also getting base capacitor numbers increased by approximately 30%. Also, we have more significant changes for the Ishkur, Retribution, and Jaguar.

All Assault Frigates:
+18% max velocity
-10% mass
+30% capacitor Capacity

Ishkur:
New Assault Frigate bonus per skill level:
7.5% drone tracking speed (was 5m3 additional drone bay per level)
Drone Bay increased to 50m3 (was 25m3)

Retribution:
New Assault Frigate bonus per skill level:
5% bonus to Small Energy Turret rate of fire (was 7.5% bonus to Small Energy Turret tracking speed)
Power grid increased to 62 (was 56)

Jaguar:
New Minmatar Frigate Bonus per skill level:
5% bonus to Rocket and Light Missile rate of fire (was 5% bonus to Small Projectile Turret damage)
7.5% bonus to shield boost amount (was 7.5% bonus to Small Projectile Turret tracking speed)
New Assault Frigate Bonus per skill level:
5% bonus to Rocket and Light Missile damage (was 10% bonus to small Projectile Turret optimal range)
5% bonus to Rocket and Light Missile explosion radius (5% bonus to Small Projectile Turret damage)
CPU increased to 185 (was 170)
Mid slot increased to 5 (was 4)
Low slot reduced to 3 (was 4)
Launcher slot increased to 3 (was 1)
Turret slot reduced to 1 (was 3)
Drone Bandwidth increased to 10 (was 0)
Drone Bay increased to 20 (was 0)

note: We want to express condolences to projectile Jaguar lovers. There weren’t many of you but we do care about you. We feel that having both weapon systems represented here brings more value than the heavy overlap between two projectile options, especially considering the popularity of the Breacher. We hope you grow to love the new Jag or it’s speedy brother the Wolf.

That’s it for now. Make sure to drop by Singularity and give these a try.
Thanks

28 Likes

Still no Black Ops rebalance :sob:

10 Likes

Quick check. The +6 PG on the retribution on the latest sisi, is that sticking? (please say yes kthx)

5 Likes

Yes it is, thanks for catching that.

3 Likes

Super excited for these changes!

8 Likes

Oh man, I’ve been wanting that for a long time. Thanks! :smiley:

2 Likes

nice looking forward to playing with these! The extra speed and cap sound nice, and I’m excited for that retribution damage bonus. Missile jag has some potential too.

the ADC sound super strong for frigs fights, and will be interesting in hac gangs.

1 Like

It’s pretty cool to see CCP being so communicative and iterating so quickly on player feedback. Keep it up!

6 Likes

I would love to hear the rationale behind changing the Retri’s tracking bonus to a RoF bonus.

1 Like

Makes the Retribution distinct as the highest effective turrets of all AFs, which fits because of it’s low mid slot count and general low utility. Also, now Retribution bonuses match Zealot bonuses exactly.

6 Likes

Still no Black Ops rebalance :sob:

Eh, cov ops have been the same for years and still have their damage bonuses on a 3 highslot ship that basically must have a cloak and probe launcher.

It will be interesting to see what the ADC brings to these ships. Especially the harpy which can be passive tanked to all hell.

Not holding out for the Wolf though.

1 Like

What specific roles are you trying to fit AF in? CCP’s vision of what niche AF are supposed to occupy has not been communicated very clearly. At least not that I have ever seen (maybe I missed?). It seems like all the niches have been filled. Especially after the release of so many new frigs/destroyer frames.

Also, is it possible to get the Jag another 5-10 base CPU? All AF are tight, but holy hell! Only getting 3 launchers means its already out damaged by the both the Vengence (not known for DPS) and the Hawk. Its faster than both, but not so much so that your better off flying the Jag over either option. More CPU means the possibility of fitting a single BCU +ADC +Tackle +shield booster. I failed the math. While it would be nice, its not as bad as I thought.

EDIT: Oh yeah…speed changes are nice. That mass change though :heart:

2 Likes

The Jaguar was one of the decent assault frigates . . . why change it to whatever this is?

3 Likes

Thanks Rise, really looking forwards to seeing how these play out on TQ

Gank AF :fire::fire::fire:

1 Like

Not sure about the tracking bonus for light drones - it’s already so high that they basically cannot miss, they only really miss if they’re out of range during the orbit -> mwd to target -> orbit cycle. I think an optimal+falloff bonus would serve the same purpose of being an application bonus, and make the Ishkur drones have a decent edge.

As for the Jaguar - I made a video using the gun Jag back in the day and it was good times, rip in peace old pal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smslJEWiKkU

4 Likes

No HAC hulls pass in this cycle?

Wasn’t time unfortunately, want to hit some of them next. Also sounds good to visit them after we see what impact the ADC has.

5 Likes

Can be Assault Damage Control fited with Damage Control

The speed and cap pool increases are huge, it hopefully fixes two of the biggest issues that AFs had. A little disappointed at the decrease in the ADCU resist amounts compared to what was originally on SISI, but I can understand how it would have been mega OP on certain hulls.

I’d also like to know what the exact “niche” for Assault Frigates is though, and what direction they’re trying to be balanced towards.

1 Like