Hey guys

So for Hotfix Charlie, Iwe're looking at changing Swarm Launchers. Primary focus on this is to reduce the difference in power between tiers. We're also slightly pulling back their damage at prototype levels to compensate for the increase in damage they had from their original incarnation when combined with Minmatar Commandos. Damage with a Minmatar Commando is still higher than old swarms without the damage bonus from the dropsuit.

So, onto the numbers!

Firstly, all swarm launchers at all tiers will now fire 4 missiles.

Missile damage will now increase with tier. Damage is now 260/286/312 per missile. This has the double effect of eliminating any lingering issues with swarms being unable to break shield recharge and lessens the effects of physical impacts against dropships at higher levels.

Additionally, Dropships are getting some buffs. This is not the full extent of changes we would want to make to dropships, so we may come back in the future and either reverse these or add more. This change also helps narrow the EHP gap between armor and shield dropships.

All Caldari Dropships are getting 600 more base shield HP.
All Gallente Dropships are getting 100 more base armor HP.

At this stage there are no changes to the flight performance, lock on time or reload time to swarms. We are however increasing the base amount of ammo they carry from 6 to 10. (11 to 15 with max skills). Note that does does not affect the nanite cost for rearming from a nanohive.

There is a spreadsheet we've been working with, but be warned, it's messy and confusing and prone to breaking. If you're brave, you can find it here.

Please remember that like everything else, this isn't set in stone, and we're looking to hear your feedback on these proposed changes

I'm not speaking from my own experience but rather an Assault dropship pilot I know, and according to him Pythons are already better than Incubi.

The extra HP they gain isn't worth the mobility loss at all, couple that with how the only AV that can reliably hit a dropship is anti armor and that Pythons get the best turret, and Incubi are already quite bad.
The only good part is that they don't get knocked around as much from swarms but that's being reduced.

This would seal the deal.




Would also like to ask, is it really smart to reduce swarm damage AND increase dropship HP?
In addition to reducing the amount of knockback they have?

To me it just seems like an unnecessary buff, Assault dropships already kick major arse, and only need a slight ISK cost reduction.
A good dropship pilot cannot be taken down 1v1.


Edit:
The Assault Dropship pilot is DUST Fiend.

I don't know about this. Maybe you should choose one first and see how it works out. Either nerf Swarms and keep the Hp the same, or leave swarms untouched and buff Dropship HP. As we learned in 1.7, buffing something and nerfing it's counter simultaneously isn't a good idea.

Every incubus has afterburnurs, doesn't get all wierd when hovering, looks better, and has constant regen...

Have you seen pythons get wrecked? Swarms wreck them, forges 3 shot them, and swarms are mainly used on tanks I think.

Every incubus has afterburnurs, doesn't get all wierd when hovering, looks better, and has constant regen...

Have you seen pythons get wrecked? Swarms wreck them, forges 3 shot them, and swarms are mainly used on tanks I think.

Have you seen pythons get wrecked? Swarms wreck them, forges 3 shot them, and swarms are mainly used on tanks I think.

Have you seen pythons get wrecked? Swarms wreck them, forges 3 shot them, and swarms are mainly used on tanks I think.

I'm not speaking from my own experience but rather an Assault dropship pilot I know, and according to him Pythons are already better than Incubi.

The extra HP they gain isn't worth the mobility loss at all, couple that with how the only AV that can reliably hit a dropship is anti armor and that Pythons get the best turret, and Incubi are already quite bad.
The only good part is that they don't get knocked around as much from swarms but that's being reduced.

This would seal the deal.




Would also like to ask, is it really smart to reduce swarm damage AND increase dropship HP?
In addition to reducing the amount of knockback they have?

To me it just seems like an unnecessary buff, Assault dropships already kick major arse, and only need a slight ISK cost reduction.
A good dropship pilot cannot be taken down 1v1.


Edit:
The Assault Dropship pilot is DUST Fiend.

I agree Nerf Pythons, *flies away in Incubus* DUST fiend can keep doing whatever, Incubuses tank is better than pythons' gank

I told that to Fiend, apparently Pythons are still faster than an Incubus with an afterbrurner.

It's rather difficult though to actually land three shots with a FG considering with a nitro you can zoom away enough that you only have to tank the second shot, but alright.

When it comes to dropships, speed tank is best tank.
No amount of tank you can get will allow you to survive for more than a few volleys.

So the Python's higher speed and agility makes it ideal.

Can their be a slight color difference between tiers so that a pilot recognizes when PRO swarms are coming and not militia, we could previously tell by missile count but now you will not be able to.

lowering ADS cost, + AV nerf (slight swarms) + DS HP buff.

It seems like you have too many moving parts at once. Any one of these change, may be fine, but combining them all at once seems like it COULD lead to an overpowered FOTM.

Just my $.02