AI Stem Guns proposal

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After a constructive discussion with Jinx about making
the Artificial Intelligence Core Vessel (Marsflyer) a unique type of bomber,
we've come to a few conclusions:

-any balance we get must be done with the existing gun/turret hardpoints.
No adding torps, removing or adding guns.

-Right now, its only a very powerful VHF. Armored transport ships
and liners will eat it in 1v1 combat (most of the time)

-It should remain unique. As it currently fires thick refire 10 and refire 8
guns.


Yes, its deadly against VHFs and bombers, but I would like to propose
that we change that slightly. I mentioned on another thread that harvesters
no longer have in-RP solo-piracy ships. Even thou i mention harvesters i mostly
speak for myself so AFTER you read this ill need your vote.
I would want this ship's guns changed in the following way:

-increased range
-decreased projectile speed
-increased energy requirements
-increased damage
-same refire rate

It should make it a lot less effective in VHF combat and give it the extra edge it requires against
transports and capital ships.

Lets move on to the statistics:

Top bomber pilots use SNAC. In 4.85 it has become most certainly their primary weapon.

SNAC:
Hull damage: 132,000
Shield damage: 66,000
refire: 0.17
projectile speed: 280
energy cost: 38,000
~This information might be outdated

Now considering the stats, we find that professional bomber pilots fire their SNAC
every time it reloads. Until then they use their available guns, mines or dodge capital
ship fire, only to compensate for the time lost while waiting for the refire cooldown.
In theory a Bomber pilot does SNAC damage per second in the following amounts:

Hull-damage per second: 132,000max * 0.17refire = 22,440
Shield-damage per second: 66,000max * 0.17refire = 11,220
Energy cost per second: 38,000 * 0.17refire = 6460

I did this only to show you how i calculate this things and to point out the underlined
statistics. The idea I'm proposing for this unique ship is to make ALL the existing guns
simmilar 1 SNAC. But before passing judgment on this please read further.

The current damage output of the AI Sten guns is:

Damage per sec: 14,160 (hull)
Damage per sec: 7076 (shield)
Energy drain per sec: 5100

Yes, its big. But not as nearly as one would want from a bomber. And
what does the bomber need most when fighting capital ships?
Fire range! unfortunately the current range is 696 for all AI Sten Guns.
And what does a VHF need when fighting other fighters/bombers?
Projectile speed! And its currently set to 600 for all AI Sten guns.

So my proposal is the following:

Make the new range bigger by ~172.4% = 1200.
Decrease the projectile speed so that the old one is ~172.4% bigger than the new one = 350

Seeing that the SNAC has 280 projectile speed but is harder to see and has automatic
guidance, it is still somewhat better. So lets balance the damage/energy cost to bring it
closer to becoming alternative bomber weapons.

Proposal:

at least 20,000 hull damage per second as opposed to the SNAC=22,440.
at least 10,000 shield damage per second as opposed to the SNAC=11,220.

The Artificial Intelligence Core Vessel (Marsflyer) has slightly lower energy capacity
but also slightly faster regeneration. So according to most bomber requirements
the energy consumption per second should be increased slightly
from the current 5,100r/s to 6500. (SNAC=6460).

Why do I think this would balance things out? A SNAC has the advantage of longer range
bombardment but the new guns would offer better projectile speed. They would lack guidance,
but its less important when shooting at less than 1200 range.


Now, this is a basic proposal. Basically it becomes a lot less efficient against fighters and VHF
and we get a unique bomber capable of taking down all the things regular bombers do.


Your vote please.

P.S. if you haven't flied it or haven't seen it in combat please choose your words carefully and post something constructive.

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wassup