Hoooo boy. First post in...quite awhile, but as somebody who likes Zoners, and who likes to RP as one (at least, when I play on Disco, which hasn't been very often until recently), I figured I'd give my two cents.
Unless I'm remembering the original first post incorrectly, it's changed. The word now is that everything under battleship size will be left alone, with various nerfs applied to the battleships. Not going to relist them, Jinx did that already in the edited first post, just wanted to mention it.
Aside from already-established RP (maybe ships with established RP could be granted special dispensation to remain as they are?), I'm not really understanding what the big deal is. Love ya, Doc, and for sure we need to shoot sometimes, but do we really need battleships to do that? For quite a long time, Hessians didn't have a BS; they barely had a cruiser, but did pretty well for themselves in spite of it. Different situation, I know, but still.
Personally, I've always wished the smaller side of the Zoner shipline would be filled out. A zoner freighter, bomber, VHF, and medium transport in addition to the existing gunboat and cruiser would be plenty, I'd think. Plenty of firepower for defense (I still think the cruisers are excessive, but then, I've never been a big cap guy), but not enough to really threaten our often trigger-happy neighbors. Zoners don't need the firepower to conquer, just to protect what's theirs.
And unless things have changed, when factions get mad at Zoners for trading with everybody and not picking sides, battleships aren't very effective at resolving the situation. Words - and sometimes, a handful of bombers - are. I mean, some people are talking like there's nothing that can kill a battleship except another battleship. Things haven't changed that much in the last few years, have they?
*hides in a bunker and under a flame-retardant blanket*
