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Dev Post: Februrary Balance Update – Assault Frigates and Assault Damage Controls

January 30, 2018

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)

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