Fix the Federal Corvette

[Ozram]

Agree 100% ... love my Corvette for “style” but 99 times out of 100, the FDL is just more effective. That’s seems plain wrong.

- Lose the under side C3, it’s pointless.
- Up the C1s to C2.
- Up the C2s to C3.
- A little more speed / manoeuvrability wouldn’t hurt, it’s supposed to be a combat specialist!
- Keep the naff jump range, that feels a fair compromise if the above gets fixed

Overall, that’s really only 1 additional medium hard point worth of DPS but with far better usability as befitting a combat craft.

Man, that underside large is soo lonely! I had a Gimballed multi there but the ship itself gets in the way when using it. Soon will try a lone pacifier in that spot.
Mine is intended as a materials collector (recycling NPCs at Haz and CZs). About to try a four turret build. Meds and smalls be turrets, large as pacifier and huge are plasmas. Can unleash four collectors at a time and has a pair of SLFs.

 

[Eudoxia]

I wouldn't say larges, but upping the smalls to Mediums would at least bring it in line with the anaconda.

 

[Arburich]

Please!!! I love the vette but it really lacks in what it needs to do!

 

[Ozram]

Please!!! I love the vette but it really lacks in what it needs to do!

I agree it could use a boost, but I doubt it will get one. Thing is it’s so cool looking and just good enough where it’s actually a widely used ship. I see them out all the time.

 

[Soulsbane]

Vette does need a bit of a boost. Either in firepower or speed and agility or all of the above. For the cost and difficulty to acquire it just doesn't live up to the ship it really should be.

 

[metatheurgist]

I agree it could use a boost, but I doubt it will get one. Thing is it’s so cool looking and just good enough where it’s actually a widely used ship. I see them out all the time.

Yep, it's popularity means it'll never get attention, which is funny because that's what happens to parts of the game that aren't popular (supposedly).

Maybe someone should organise a flying boycott of the 'vette?

 

[FatFreddysCoat]

I would be happy if they small hardpoints were swapped for medium, then the alleged best specialised combat ship in the game will be able to pack more potential dps than the Conda. Let’s face it - the only thing the smalls are any use for is scramble spectrum / corrosive mc’s: they don’t add much to the overall dps, and they look bloody stupid on such a big ship if nothing else. All of those calling out YEAH BUT THE BALANCE! forget that the cutter is way unbalanced in terms of cargo capacity, shield strength and outright speed, so it’s the ultimate trader ship: the Conda is unbalanced in terms of jump range and potential dps and so is really the ultimate combat ship in a lot of ways, so where does that leave the rank locked Corvette? Ok it’s slightly more manoeuvrable than the Conda but the hardpoint placement leaves a lot to be desired as the convergence needs to be so precise to get all 7 on target it’s a balancing act every time.

The vette is supposed to be the ultimate big combat ship but those small hardpoints just cripple its potential.

Hell, even leave the power disto the way it is, so you’ve got 4 medium hardpoints but slightly less firing time, which will address the balance issue, but those small hardpoints are the elephant in the room: they need to be a medium at least. I think large is an overkill, but medium would solve a lot of the problems.

 

[Ozram]

Yep, it's popularity means it'll never get attention, which is funny because that's what happens to parts of the game that aren't popular (supposedly).

Maybe someone should organise a flying boycott of the 'vette?

I’m not sure what should be done. Whoever FD is now is not who they were when the game got just off the ground. It’s like there’s a new crew calling the shots and they know F all about gaming and what makes a game fun. They took a great template and defacated all over it. They’re more interested in becoming the next short term EA. The parasites have taken over and now they are selling dinosaurs and roller coasters instead of paying attention to what got them off the ground to begin with. Sorry. If it sounds like I’ve grown a bit of disdain for FD, it’s because I have.

 

[agh42]

I would be happy if they small hardpoints were swapped for medium.

Yes please. And improve the armour! I love my Vette, but was really surprised when coming from my Conda after the huge grind that my FPS went DOWN.

 

[Cheese Helmet]

I dont think the popularity will necessarily mean itll never get a buff. Fdl was immensely popular and it still got a powerplant upgrade.

 

[krylite]

While the raw firepower of the corvette is imo undisputed, I would agree it's just seemingly odd why the C4 hardpoints are at the back tail section. I would think it would make more general (&sci-fi) sense and even aesthetically to have them dual situated at the front since the corvette is wedged with two angles at the front and not shaped into a single tapered nose like the cutter.

 

[FatFreddysCoat]

So instead of trade-offs, you want one ship that's the best at everything. Best DPS (people WILL put high DPS in every single upgraded slot). Ability to chase down anything?

So I guess you’re going to complain about the Conda, which is a multi role ship but has the best DPS over what’s meant to be the premier big combat ship in the game?

 

[Frenotx]

Part of the problem is that shields have become the overwhelming majority of fights, and the ubiquity of plasma accelerators. The big advantage of huge hardpoints is their high APV, allowing them to do full damage to all opponents. APV isn't relevant vs. shields though, so raw DPS is often considered more important. Furthermore, everyone and their mother packing as much plasma and rails as possible (which have maximized APV regardless of hardpoint size) further undermines the advantage of huge hardpoints.

 

[J-Dog]

Personally I think I disagree with OP I'm afraid. I have flown and fought against both the Corvette and the Anaconda, and I currently own the Anaconda as I prefer it's overall versatility. While DPS etc is all well and good, the Anaconda is also slow, and it's manoeuvrability compared to the Corvette is awful, so it may do better DPS against a stationary target but it has a comparatively hard time targeting much else. I've never quite understood how the lightest of the big 3 is the least manoeuvrable, but it's a quirk of the ship that has to be put up with.

I think everything we've said here really is just the point of the big 3. They are slow and lumbering which disadvantages them against smaller ships, but they outgun pretty much anything else in the galaxy and can absorb more punishment, which gives them an advantage over smaller ships, as and when they can hit them.

From my personal experience with the game I think the balance is right at the moment.

 

[tolm]

The problem is, due to the placement of the C3 hardpoint, if the two Huge Hardpoints aren’t firing (which is often the case) you essentially have the same firepower as a Cobra / Viper / ASP Scout / Keelback - which is just laughable.

 

[Grey Seattleite]

The problem is, due to the placement of the C3 hardpoint, if the two Huge Hardpoints aren’t firing (which is often the case) you essentially have the same firepower as a Cobra / Viper / ASP Scout / Keelback - which is just laughable.

Yeah, this is what I was commenting about build variety. Vettes depend on continuous fire from whatever huge hardpoints they have, which already has a slightly more limited set of choices.

If the ship were to get the S -> L hardpoint boost (remember, still only 10% more DPS than an Anaconda!), 3x L + 2x M is still a pretty respectable amount of firepower -about on par with a FDL. The 2x Huge hardpoints at that point are truly scary (and fun), because whatever you mount on them doesn't have to be focused on sustained DPS or efficient DPE. You can only use them occasionally throughout a fight (to have a big burst impact, as an example) without feeling useless.

 

[Grey Seattleite]

Another quick point:

Going from S -> L on both hardpoints would make the Corvette a hell of a lot more capable as an anti-Thargoid ship (good convergence for a couple of large AX multicannons, as an example). If folks were looking for an in-lore reason for the swap, that could be it!

 

[Andro]

I support any changes that buff the Corvette.

 

[Puchuchoni]

Referencing a Courier taking out one of the big three...No problem. Here's one of many.

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Besides the Corvette pilot being absolute and utter trash (doens't seem to turn flight assist off at all), the way its shields and hull go down is evidence that it's very poorly fitted. If both ships are suited to the best of their respective capabilities, a Courier would not be able to kill a 'vette, even if the corvette pilot makes mistakes.

 

[tolm]

Yeah, this is what I was commenting about build variety. Vettes depend on continuous fire from whatever huge hardpoints they have, which already has a slightly more limited set of choices.

If the ship were to get the S -> L hardpoint boost (remember, still only 10% more DPS than an Anaconda!), 3x L + 2x M is still a pretty respectable amount of firepower -about on par with a FDL. The 2x Huge hardpoints at that point are truly scary (and fun), because whatever you mount on them doesn't have to be focused on sustained DPS or efficient DPE. You can only use them occasionally throughout a fight (to have a big burst impact, as an example) without feeling useless.

Exactly - one of the great things about the FDL is that the 4 C2 hardpoints cab basically cope with most small / medium stuff, leaving the C4 hardpoint for specialist weaponary (fixed PA / Cannon) for larger craft. Increasing the size of the “top front” hardpoints on the Corvette to at least give it the same as the FDL seems entirely reasonable - although, personally, I still favour losing the current C3 and going to 2xC2 + 2xC3 up top as I feel it should get a modest firepower bump.