Really love the thought you put into this, as always.

I somewhat preferred missile travel speed over splash damage as a bonus for the python. I'd rather see splash adjusted strictly by missile variant. My reasoning being a python could shoot from further away, more accurately, because it would need less of a lead on the target. Especially if rendiner improves, using missiles at longer ranges could be really interesting. Thoughts?

More people need to read this OP

1. 10% ROF - Useless in most cases, try dualing AV and with the FG there is the chance of them missing but with swarms or any kind of AV hit on the Python it will rock and roll causing your ability to aim to be nonexistant which makes you lose precious seconds on trying to hit the target - The Python isnt used that much in general now because its softer than the Incubus which has no bonus for the missile but performs better due to the different in ships
1a. Splash is fine since direct hits aint always easy and missiles should have splash

2. -10% heat build up - That means instead of 10shots i get 11, that expensive for one shot
2a. -30% cooldown - Faster cooldown when overheating or just heating in general does allow more shots off if timing it right

3. The 1st python & incubus skills do not offer much for that hefty 2.4mil SP, the 2nd part of the skills are much more useful

Concerning Python:

I can't agree with adding splash radius. It becomes a point where it gets far too forgiving with the shot. Shot's from an ADS should take skill to use, just my opinion.

And I'll also have to disagree with that ROF because I don't like the thought of the extra splash. It's not that it wasn't a bad idea, it's just that I don't agree with it.

Concerning Incubus:

I personally would like to see ROF bumped by 5%. Your idea is also good too.

First of all, +1 for your diplomatic approach. I am not so diplomatic, but I am sound harsh, its just critque, nothing personal. Smarter people than i have proposed much more than me.

Though i strongly disagree with your AV assertion as well as the overwhelming majority of ADS community, (including you, buff pythons shields eh? surely you mean nerf ) ratatti aint gonna budge an inch, and literally troll us. And by AV i mean just swarms because i dont have a problem with a wyrokami breach 2 shotting me, but i have a massive problem with swarms having zero counters besides take your hits)

AV Missiles
On the missiles, if we are going to give them the Python the Anti Vehicle role of the incubus then this is the way to go.

It would have a higher rate of fire than the incubus, does roughly more damage as my proto rail turrets currently, plus splash to kil any body who landed and jumped out, as well as the ability to kill any uplinks placed in precarious positions. The python becomes the replacement for the incubs at all levels.

AI missiles

Redundant: 2 shot kill any suit with the your AV variant, really the fragemented is a PC specialist weapon. Lots of damage over a wide area, like logis and heavy chains perhaps. It would absolutley mureder in pubs with that splash.

Incubus rail: This proposal does nothing to improve the incubs because currently i already do have more shots per level, and with your buff its still weaker than a python with your AV missiles on it.

bonus: 10% buildup is useless, look at the amarr assault bonus, its at least 5% per level to make any difference to the laser rifle. I'd tak ROF and more damage application than heat build up anyway.

-Snip-

Python definitely does not need even more survivability over the Incubus. I can absorb so much damage in a Python compared to an Incubus.

Small rails in practice dont seem to do any better damage than small missile simply because skilled targets break your LoS and force you to turn and re aim. In that time, missiles are reloaded. Also, missiles never overheat. Theyre ok as side guns but a 15% RoF is negligible so fitting one to the side of a python isnt really any worse than on an Incubus.

The problem with balancing strictly around data is that you lose sight of how it actually plays out in game with skilled players. No good ADS pilot is going to let you maintain LoS for very long

There are details about the assault dropship that have been bothering me more lately than before.

I am going with the assumption that the Incubus was intended to have more staying power in an engagement and that the Python was intended to have more of an ambush, hit and run role.

Right now the strategy for either ship is very similar, depending on pilot of course. It can be summed up in a flow chart, rather easily.

-Move to an area, acquire targets
-If AV is present -> use defensive modules
-If defensive modules can tank AV
>- Neutralize the AV, IF NOT
>- use them to buy time and get out of range of AV

Due to the high alpha power of every form of AV that a drop ship needs to worry about, the only option that can tank and attempt to neutralize av is ACTIVE TANKING. In other words, shields.

No amount of armor rep or armor HP can offer STAYING POWER to a dropship anymore. Right now the meta is reversed, with the python having "staying power" and the incubus needing to use every resource possible to get away whenever AV is present.


I am a Python, Incubus and Myron Pilot.