New item type idea, to differentiate ships further

[Gar]

New item type: Computer.

 

General idea: Each computer is a specialized possibly-powerful item only available to one or two ships. This is a response to almost every item being available to almost all the ships, making every ship not-so-unique. Also, each minigroup has at least two computers, so there must be a choice. None of these are signature. These items are intended to balance the extreme power disparities between ships. They are NOT intended to promote superships or item spammage. For example, these 3/4 computers might seem very strong, but that's because Spider and Leviathan are currently extremely underpowered:

 

Point Defense System: mobilizes part of the internal hull under a computer's control to better protect against pinpoint attacks, but sacrifices general strength

Ships 34

bulletdamage -24

bulletdamageup -6

burstdamage -121

bombdamage +106

 

or

 

Thunder System: retrofits hull with feedback relays that would normally destroy the ship, if not for an ever-watchful balancing computer.

Ships 34

speed +2

maxspeed +7

thrust +5

maxthrust +9

rotation +4

recharge -3

 

Pinpoint system because spiders and leviathans have almost no hope of survival if an enemy gets close.

Thunder system because spiders and leviathans need massive help centering.

 

These are examples. Either of these items would be overpowered on any other ship, but that's the point of Computers: put powerful items only on ships that need them, and not 123 567 like every other item out there now. Will post more ideas later if there's any response at all or I feel like it.

Edited May 27, 2008 by Gar

[vetta64]

adding ship specific items is not such a bad idea, but those are ridiculous items that will never get past this discussion thread.

[Unix]

Already suggested to Arnk, Arnk doesnt like this concept, he wants more variation in ship design I think he put it? Or something along those lines.

[Gar]

lol, i know they're ridiculous, but that's the kind of thing these massively useless ships need to even be compe!@#$%^&*ive... Levis and Spiders in center are basically free kills, while in bases Levis can only bombline well, something other ships can do now thanks to TacNuke being widely available, and Spiders in bases are... well, slower Terriers.

 

As for Arnk, I'm fairly sure his idea of variation in ship design means each ship only has one possible role for it to fill. I'm not even being sarcastic. He's said this directly. I just don't understand how he gets from point A (each ship pigeonholed) to point B (more variation in ship design).

[Dr Brain]

Spider and Leviathan aren't useless, or anywhere near it.

[Unix]

Spider has become a lot more useful as of late because of the increased bullet speed.

 

Levi still is rather two dimensional, but it still has potential for other things, Tel is working on a rush levi, as am I, and I know I'm close, I'm just waiting for the next items to come around and see what I can do instead.

 

heavy ships arent meant to move great... so in center of course they're a bit weaker...

[Matrim Cauthon]

my rush levi is finished btw

Thunder System: retrofits hull with feedback relays that would normally destroy the ship, if not for an ever-watchful balancing computer.

Ships 34

speed +2

maxspeed +7

thrust +5

maxthrust +9

rotation +4

recharge -3

and that maxspeed and maxthrust is rediculous, it could outrun most wbs and it nearing the semiwarp stats

[Sharpflame]

Spider ... increased bullet speed.

 

I didn't notice this. Must not have been significant, in fact I remember thinking earlier that the bullet speed should be faster.

[Unix]

Yeah, it's not significant, but overall it does make a difference.

 

WB still has fastest bullet speed though, which is good, makes them useful in base if they didnt have that.

 

(3850 and 3840)

 

(weasel and terr got changed a little too, not many noticed, but ppl are beginning to now)