Balance Changes notes

[pillow]

Discovery Freelancer 4.95.2 Balance Changes

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It's me, ya' boy Probation back with another balance post. This time, we primarily focused on Super Heavy Fighters, but we do have a few other things we looked at.
The main idea with this class of ships was to have a bunch of ships that have a lower entry skill requirement, but are "skill-capped", so to speak, due to their size and low turn rates. Think of them as military-grade tricycles. We fumbled around in the dark for a while until finally deciding on what to do with the ship class, but we're pretty confident in their stats now. Lastly, we've decided to remove their ability to use bomber equipment, as that stepped on the actual bombers and the role that they play.

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Super Heavy Fighters

Werewolf

- Changed: Armor increased from 24000 to 24660.
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots raised from 98/98 to 119/119.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1360/14400 to 1750/17500.
- Changed: Turn rate decreased from 61.49 to 57.59.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4004 to 0.3574.
- Changed: Mass increased from 150 to 225.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 22000.

Our SHF posterboy put on some weight since the last time you've seen him. No worries, though, it's still a right bastard to take down. We've talked about the Werewolf a million times, so I'll spare you the details; go and experience them for yourself! My personal favorite of the bunch, but that's no secret. I just have a thing for pirate boats. Yar har.

Dragoon

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 2/5
- Changed: Armor increased from 25000 to 28000
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 265/265 to 126/126.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1950/36000 to 1750/17500.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 53.93 to 56.72.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4605 to 0.3454
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 225.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 22000.
- Changed: Scaled down by 25%.

It's hard for me to not fawn over this thing. It's so compact! A Templar with tower shields. Definitely has Templar DNA in it, what with it's respectable twenty eight thousand base armor that could headbutt Zeus into a coma. Seven guns, seven ways to visciously decapitate any evildoers that dare tresspass into the industrial hellhole that is Bretonia. 9.2/10, a good deal.

Recycler

- Changed: Armor increased from 24600 to 26800
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 260/260 to 131/131.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1950/36000 to 1750/17500.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 53.93 to 55.60.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4605 to 0.3155
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 225.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 22000
- Changed: Scaled down by 20%.

Ever wanted to fly a Titan, CSV, Liberator and around 12 other ships all at once? The Recycler's your ship. A complete hitbox nightmare, but our man @Haste got it done only after two nervous breakdowns! Fat as hell, heavy as hell, mean as hell. A stalwart guardian of all scrap fields.

Spatial


- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/3
- Changed: Armor decreased from 29600 to 22350
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 270/270 to 100/100.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 2350/39130 to 1500/15000.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 57.30 to 60.52.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.5449 to 0.3906
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 30 to 35.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 200.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 21500
- Changed: Scaled down by 25%.

Hey, look, it's the ship every gunboat player has had nightmares about. It's not exactly a gunboat muncher anymore, but use the PTSD of your enemies to get a tactical advantage! Did I mention the Spatial is also pretty speedy? After all, it has some Eagle DNA somewhere in its guts. Go wild.

Osprey Mk II

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 5/2
- Changed: Armor decreased from 29400 to 25250
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 270/270 to 110/110.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1950/36000 to 1625/16250.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 57.30 to 58.00.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4989 to 0.3618
- Changed: Bank angle decreased from 40 to 35.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 200.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 21500.
- Changed: Scaled down by 15%.

The quintessential long-range escort. Big, yes, but damn stylish- and pretty nimble, too. Now if only the Zoners weren't beacons of peace, as the Osprey can definitely both take and dish out solid beatings with its seven guns of neutrality.

OSC Shuttle

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 4/4
- Changed: Armor decreased from 24000 to 20500
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 145/145 to 94/94.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1650/30000 to 1500/15000.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 57.30 to 61.65.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4934 to 0.4283
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 175.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 21000.
- Changed: Scaled down by 15%.

Cause havoc in style. Bursting with speed for an SHF, the Taurus can take you from Curacao to Hawaii, and from there to the tail end of the universe, safely. Take pictures!

Mjolnir

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 4/4
- Changed: Armor decreased from 28300 to 21700
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 250/250 to 97/97.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1950/36000 to 1625/16250.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 57.30 to 60.04.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4989 to 0.4068
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 30 to 35.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 200.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 20500.
- Changed: Scaled down by 15%.

This ship looks like a dump truck. It also flew about as gingerly as a dump truck before this patch. It was a nuisance with a metric assload's worth of nanobots, with eight guns and ill intent. I dig it! We tried to keep it in-line with Rheinland's code of conduct when it came to ships: light and nimble. It's not exactly what I'd call nimble, but it can bite the ass end of a Templar if it really wants to, so hey, don't bully it too hard. It didn't choose to be this ugly.

Anzu

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 9/0
- Changed: Armor decreased from 30000 to 22200
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 270/270 to 90/90.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 2350/39130 to 1500/15000.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 56.34 to 56.61.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4682 to 0.3860
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 25 to 35.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 175.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 21000

Nine guns. Who's idea was this? I'm halfway tempted to bring out a thesaurus of insults and type as many vulgarities as I can to describe this thing, but hey- I can't do that, 'cus I let it keep its nine guns so I'm equally insane to whoever put this ship in the game in the first place. But, boy, did that come at a cost. The glassiest of cannons, the Anzu can do a 180 only with crutches and 12 assistants, it's made of paper, and it has a weak powercore. But if, if it clamps you in it's sights, you better know how to dodge, cus it's gonna sting for a few days.

Arrastra

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 2/5
- Changed: Armor decreased from 21200 to 20900
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 145/145 to 135/135.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1650/30000 to 1625/16250.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 51.57 to 58.73.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4989 to 0.3742
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 15 to 25.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 200.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 21250.

The Arrastra was always odd, what with its inability to have a single symmetrical pixel on its entire model. I like it though! Beyond its absurd increase in turn rate and some mass taken off it, not much changed with it. Of course, it's significantly less stiff than before, so, if nothing else, it's a lot more fun to fly.

Plier

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/3
- Changed: Armor increased from 20000 to 23600
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 135/135 to 122/122.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1650/30000 to 1625/16250.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 50.61 to 57.76.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4759 to 0.3289
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 15 to 30.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 200.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 21500.

I'll be honest, we left this thing for last. An absolute nightmare to balance, but in the end we think we did it justice. Hard to tell without copious amounts of testing, but, hey, it can turn now. That's something.

AI Drone

- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 90/90 to 70/70.
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 25 to 180.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 150.

This cute little thing was always too small to be considered a "Super Heavy Fighter" so we decided to bump it down to VHF stature. Less mass will allow it to strafe a lot harder and as a consequence, dodge better, so we stripped twenty nanobots and batteries off it to compensate. On top of that, we also gave it some kickass rolling and bank angle to go with it so it just keeps rotating no matter what you do. Have fun!

Claymore

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/0
- Changed: Armor decreased from 29600 to 16600
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 270/270 to 74/74.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 2350/39130 to 1500/15000.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 57.30 to 60.79.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.5449 to 0.4260
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 30 to 35.
- Changed: Mass decreased from 250 to 175.
- Changed: Strafe force increased from 20000 to 20250.

This ones new! Courtesy of @aerelm, the Claymore replaces this thing, formerly called the Warhammer. Out of the box ready with 6 guns and a forward gun slot! As you can see from the stats, it's a bit of an SHF/VHF hybrid, due to its size, it being a Falchion with a huge gun mounted on its belly. And how could I forget, the Claymore's coming with five different forward guns. 'Course you can only mount one at a time, but the variety's there!

Plover

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 8/0
- Base Armor: 27700
- Cargo Space: 180
- Power Output: 1750/17500
- Batteries/NanoBots: 130/130
- Turn Rate: 56.74
- Response Time: 0.3229
- Equipment Mounts: CM Torp CD
- Bank angle: 35
- Mass: 225
- Strafe force: 22000

God, how I love this thing. It looks like a very fat bird; its cockpit even forms into a beak. Its so beautiful! It's also very beefy. Guns to scare the mightiest of Very Heavy Fighters, a powercore to give gunboats nightmares, and the armor to chew through the toughest of mines. Unfortunately, it's not all sunshine and rainbows, all this goodness comes at a pretty heavy cost. All that armor? Yeah, this thing's fat, and you'll feel it. It turns about as fast as a truck without wheels. But, man, this truck sure is fun to fly.

Magpie

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 8/0
- Base Armor: 20000
- Cargo Space: 175
- Power Output: 1625/16250
- Batteries/NanoBots: 86/86
- Turn Rate: 57.51
- Response Time: 0.3650
- Equipment Mounts: CM Torp CD
- Bank angle: 35
- Mass: 200
- Strafe force: 21000

The Big Daddy of the Barrier Gate shipline, the Magpie still remains a relatively small and sleek ship- especially for an SHF, hence the gimped turn rate and effective health. That definitely won't stop it from being a meanie on the battlefield, though. Eight guns hurt.

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Very Heavy Fighters

Hawfinch

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/0
- Base Armor: 11250
- Cargo Space: 65
- Power Output: 1240/12400
- Batteries/NanoBots: 64/64
- Turn Rate: 69.11
- Response Time: 0.4375
- Equipment Mounts: CM Torp CD
- Bank angle: 37
- Mass: 150
- Strafe force: 20000

Our first new Very Heavy Fighter of the day. Again, courtesy of @aerelm - as are most of the new models! I'd like to be able to come up with something quirky and interesting to say about this ship, but I'm afraid it's your typical, simple, good ol' painfully Freelancer ship. Speed, agility, and entertainment. Oozes style.

Lich

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/1
- Changed: Armor increased from 11200 to 12000
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 67/67 to 71/71.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1180/11400 to 1240/12400.
- Changed: Turn rate lowered from 67.99 to 63.30.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4605 to 0.4531
- Changed: Bank angle lowered from 30 to 28.
- Mass: 150.
- Strafe force: 20000.

About time this shipline got some new stats. I absolutely loathe duplicated stats, so I figured I'd drop the Lich and her two friends in this patch along everything else to spice things up a bit more, turning them into heavy versions of the iconic Border Worlds shipline.

Courbe

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/2
- Changed: Armor decreased from 14500 to 11800
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 74/74 to 68/68.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1360/14400 to 1240/12400.
- Changed: Turn rate lowered from 70.57 to 67.07.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4605 to 0.4531
- Bank angle: 35.
- Mass: 150.
- Strafe force: 20000.
- Changed: Scaled down by 15%.

The Courbe finally got some real stats after all this time, along with a rescale. The big boy in this family is the Plier, and it just wouldn't have been fair to subject the Courbe to the same level of fatness. Its shape makes more sense now when put next to other ships that are part of the same class, so the scary, substantial-looking nerf won't sting as bad once you get used to it. One more ship to add to the "finally useful" pile. Lastly, only one if its turrets fires forward.

Falchion

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/0
- Base Armor: 11000
- Cargo Space: 70
- Power Output: 1180/11400
- Batteries/NanoBots: 66/66
- Turn Rate: 67.08
- Response Time: 0.454 (Changed from 0.4717)
- Equipment Mounts: CM Torp CD
- Bank angle: 37
- Mass: 150
- Strafe force: 20000

For the most part, its stats remained unchanged, with the exception of some much-needed rolling (not a lot, just more than zero) and a slight buff to it's response. Honestly, the main reason I put the ship in these patch notes is to shine a spotlight on the new model. Compliments to the chef.

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Heavy Fighters

Kingfisher

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/0
- Changed: Armor decreased from 10400 to 10000
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 54/54 to 52/52.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1140/9800 to 1200/10800.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 75.02 to 79.11.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.5477 to 0.5158
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 30 to 42.
- Mass: 150.
- Strafe force: 20000

This ship's cool. Every time I look at it I feel like racing in Dublin. So sleek, so elegant. The Kingfisher's old model was cute, but not quite there. @aerelms remodel gives the concept about as much justice as it can get. Very speedy, very fragile, but its big core demands blood and I'm eager to go get styled on by some angry Kingfishers.

Wight

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/1
- Changed: Armor increased from 10600 to 11200
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots lowered from 54/54 to 58/58.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1140/9800 to 1200/10800.
- Changed: Turn rate lowered from 74.78 to 71.17.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.5419 to 0.4531
- Changed: Bank angle lowered from 30 to 28.
- Mass: 150.
- Strafe force: 20000.

Not much else to say besides "this is a heavy Switchblade". It's not exactly the most inspired balance update and I'm not gonna' try and sell it like I'm some con-man. It's no snake-oil.

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Light Fighters

Hawk

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 4/0
- Changed: Armor increased from 4150 to 9120.
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots raised from 35/35 to 46/46.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1000/8500 to 1165/5750.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 87.85 to 90.00.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.5219 to 0.5654
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 30 to 45.
- Mass: 125.
- Strafe force: 20000

Bet you didn't expect to see Light Fighters anywhere near any "Super Heavy Fighter" patch. Yes, well, I didn't either, but sometimes these things just happen. These stats got emailed to us and we felt obligated to put them in the game, so here we are. Ludicrous speed, ludicrous efficiency, the first of many Light Fighters to get the attention they deserve. Oh, and it's also called the "Hawk" now. You know, like the vanilla one. Return to tradition!

Scimitar

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 5/0
- Changed: Armor increased from 6300 to 8600.
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots adjusted from 42/52 to 44/44.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1000/8500 to 1165/5750.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 76.39 to 84.03.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4298 to 0.5373.
- Mass: 125.
- Strafe force: 20000

The turn rate numbers going up for Light Fighters of all things is probably making some of you shiver with delight. Light Fighters are light for a reason! Not much to say, it's just your good old Border Worlds Light Fighter that's ready to take on some Corsairs down in Omega-5. Worth noting: the Scimitar doesn't have a class 10 shield anymore! Now it sits cozy with a Class 9, which is more than enough, seeing as how it can do some mean circles now.

Skeleton

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 5/0
- Changed: Armor increased from 6300 to 9000.
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots adjusted from 42/52 to 48/48.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1000/8500 to 1190/6450.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 76.39 to 80.11.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4298 to 0.5389.
- Mass: 125.
- Strafe force: 20000

Had to add the Skeleton to the pile, considering the Scimitar's all new and polished. Again, same as the other two ships: Skeletal's heavier than the Scimitar. Bigger core, bigger nanos, bigger armor, smaller turn. Still plenty fast, just not as fast.

Piranha

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 4/0
- Changed: Armor increased from 6300 to 8900.
- Changed: Batteries/Nanobots adjusted from 42/62 to 47/47.
- Changed: Powercore changed from 1000/8500 to 1165/5750.
- Changed: Turn rate increased from 80.21 to 86.33.
- Changed: Response time improved from 0.4452 to 0.5987.
- Changed: Bank angle increased from 30 to 55.
- Mass: 125.
- Strafe force: 19500

And there it is! The Piranha's back, and in force. The Piranha and its teeth have been restored, and them pesky bountied pirates are in it for some pain. Again, no class 10 shield; doubt it needs it with these stats.

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Ceres Innovations ships

Locust

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 6/0
- Base Armor: 11500
- Cargo Space: 65
- Power Output: 1240/12400
- Batteries/NanoBots: 66/66
- Turn Rate: 66.98
- Response Time: 0.4505
- Equipment Mounts: CM Torp CD
- Bank angle: 30
- Mass: 150
- Strafe force: 20000

A familiar-yet-different take on the "Starflier" shipline if I were to guess, this ship and its sister fit about as well as any ship can within Freelancers sandbox and distinct visual artstyle. Very nice. Made by @Swallow

Beetle

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 5/0
- Base Armor: 10600
- Cargo Space: 55
- Power Output: 1170/10300
- Batteries/NanoBots: 55/55
- Turn Rate: 76.14
- Response Time: 0.5453
- Equipment Mounts: CM Torp CD
- Bank angle: 30.
- Mass: 150.
- Strafe force: 20000

Breaking up the pace with a @Swallow model this time, here we have the Beetle. Middle of the road, balanced (ding!) Heavy Fighter with a bone to pick. A four gunner - five if you mount a gun on its torp slot - with a decent bit of survivability due to its sleek shape and fast turn rate. Fits right in with Freelancer's aesthetic.

Scarab Armored Transport

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 0/7
- Base Armor: 110000
- Cargo Space: 2700
- Power Output: 22500/240000
- Batteries/NanoBots: 410/410
- Turn Rate: 36.23
- Response Time: 1.0158
- Equipment Mounts: CM CD

As I am a pure-bred fighter pilot, I can't come up with any silly words to say about the Scarab, with one exception: its stats make me happy. They look good. Ship does too.

Mantis Gunboat

- Gun/Turret Mounts: 0/7
- Base Armor: 145000
- Cargo Space: 475
- Power Output: 60000/600000
- Batteries/NanoBots: 420/420
- Turn Rate: 33.86
- Response Time: 0.4187
- Equipment Mounts: CM CD

Now the Mantis is a Freelancer's wet dream. A heavy open-use gunboat, it can tackle just about any adversary silly enough to show their teeth against this thing. Scary numbers.

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Conclusion

You probably noticed that the game has more than three Light fighters. Indeed, we noticed that too, and we'll get around to them soon enough. Them three big ones are a bit of a test run to see how those stats go. Have fun! Don't forget to take cool screenshots of these new ships now that @Val improved their turret view cameras so you can actually look at them.
Worth mentioning that our main man @Haste re-did every hitbox and every shield bubble of every ship you see above. well done Hasteric.

Once again, big thanks to @Swallow and @aerelm for the new models.