Revert cruiser slots changes

[Fab]

I've already raised my concerns and dissatisfaction with the cruiser slots changes since their first debut in the test server, but I'll now raise them publicly and open a discussion about this.

The cruiser slot changes are a downgrade to cruiser gameplay because:

They limit loadout options. The impact cannons, storm cannons and shards now only fire side/back, and there's no direct counterpart to them for the heavy offensive turrets. You can no longer mount a forward-firing 1.0 hybrid cannon, a kinetic hull buster, or shotgun, as examples.

Single heavy-slotted cruisers have limited flexibility. Now you must make the very hard choice of mounting only a single forward firing gun: A mortar is better for attacking at longer ranges, tachyons are better for chasing gunboats and consistent hit rate, a missile is very useful in group battles and for surprise head-on attacks. You can no longer have situational forwarding firing guns for such ships: you're forced to use your back guns, reposition yourself, or hit the nearest massive solar object like a planet to escape your painful existence.

Inviabilizes mounting missiles in single heavy-slotted cruisers. I can no longer feasibly mount a missile because I completely lose heavy projectiles to my front, which is an enormous disadvantage. With version 5.0 360 guns, I could cover all sides with heavy projectiles to alleviate the problem, but not anymore.

"The changes were made to discourage cruiser tail chasing" you might argue, but limiting loadout options is the worst way possible of doing this. I'd very much prefer cruiser mines or a frontal weak spot in cruisers akin to battlecruisers. Alternatively, allow mounting ex-360 degree weapons (tachyons, solaris gattling, blaster, repeater, etc) on any slots, be those heavy or defensive.

---

ARES / Faction Information / Feedback