Having adjusted pad sizes and missions geared toward smaller ships might be interesting, but I feel like this really doesn't solve the issue. I feel like things would need to be addressed individually for each ship.
Merged modules (e.g. Drone Bay systems, see sig) and changes to how articulated weapons track targets (based on target size, sensor quality, and relative angular motion, see sig) would be central to making smaller ships more viable options.
Smaller weapons might get a slight damage buff against large ships, and larger weapons might get a small damage penalty against smaller ships. It shouldn't be something terribly drastic, especially not to the point where small weapons would be more viable to mass on large ships against other large ships, but something to help even the playing field:
- Small weapons: +25% vs Large ships, +12.5% vs Medium
- Medium Weapons +12.5% vs Large
- Large weapons: -12.5% vs Small ships
- Huge weapons: -25% vs Small ships, -12.5% vs Medium ships
Along with the above changes, a few small slot adjustments to small ships might be worthwhile to examine:
Sidewinder might receive a single additional small weapon bay or two. As a starter, it doesn't need much.
Hauler would need a good amount of additional internal bays at larger sizes in order to make it a competitive and effective Small-size cargo vessel. (Ideally hauling 32-64 tonnes of goods); its thrusters might need a bump to C3 as well. Upgrading its Small weapon bay to a Medium (or giving it a second Small) might help it pose a little more of a threat also.
Adder would need an additional pair of smalls or medium and an internal bay or two at its largest size.
Eagle/ImpEagle is pretty okay as is. Its small size coupled with the proposed changes to articulated weapons might make hitting it with unmanned turrets or gimbals a right pain, and missile lock-ons would take ages.
Cobra III is a good girl as is. Maybe one additional small bay wouldn't hurt, but it doesn't really need it.
Cobra IV is not that great. Upgrading weapon bays along with the use of multi-crew might make it a viable small gunship.
Viper III is pretty much in the same situation as the Cobra III, but it does suffer from a notable lack of internal bays.
Viper IV is pretty much in the same situation as the Cobra IV. Weapon Bay upgrades along with a null-mass hull weight reduction could make it a suitable fast-attack interceptor.
DBS could use another few internal bays and maybe its small weapon bays upgraded to Mediums.
DBX has a good bit of firepower for an "explorer" type and doesn't need a whole heck of a lot. Maaaaybe an internal bay or two, but it's pretty solid as-is.
Vulture is a beast of a combat workhorse in the Small ship category. Maybe a few more internal bays in middling sizes, but it doesn't need very much. If we wanted something to really capitalize on the capacity for multi-crew gunners, maybe one extra Medium or two extra Smalls might be fun without overpowering much.
The DBX, the Eagle Mk III, Hauler, iEagle, iCourier ... all have a place.
