Please Re-Balance the Federation Corvette

[DragoonKnight]

The FEDERAL CORVETTE
The smallest Warship
The most expensive Combat ship in Elite
Requires the Rank of Rear Admiral to Purchase and Fly

The Corvette is currently suffering from a Major problem, the fact that it does not excel at any combat role and does not have a well defined combat role to begin with.
Let us go over the various forms of Combat

PvP - Currently dominated by small and medium class ships.

Undermining - Corvette lacks jump range and top speed / boost to carry out this mission well. Interdicted ships can escape from you and if the small jump range is not an issue for you, then the FAS / FDL / Clipper would all do this better than a Corvette since they are much faster.

Trader Escort - The Corvette could fulfill this role if it is escorting a T9, most other traders have a better jump range than the Corvette and it will not be able to keep up

Kidnapping rescue Missions - The Corvette could potenially be great in this line of work as it can bring the other ship's shields down quickly and has enough internals to carry a cargo rack, hatch breakers, and collector limpets all at the same time. The problem is that anyone who has 300+ Million to spend on a Corvette will not bother with missions that only pay 200-500K

That leaves HAZ Res as the only thing for the Corvette to do well in. It is in this role that the Corvette can perform exceptionally well with its massive power plant and shields it can shield tank anything while dishing out the damage. However, even a 15 Million credit Vulture can do well in a Haz Res. The Corvette needs to be more than just a HAZ Res juggernaut.

Why am I bothering you about this today? Because I feel that a Combat Ship which can easily exceed 500 Million credits should be able to fulfill multiple combat roles and it should be able to do multiple combat roles very well. This is why I feel the Corvette needs to be re-balanced so that it can excel in more than one combat role.
Whatever it takes to get it to that point as I do not wish to dictate how this balancing should be done. At the end of the day, a well equipped Corvette should be able to replace at least 2 less expensive combat ships in a CMDR fleet.

 

[Jypson]

Whole-heartedly agree!

Federal Corvette
Agility: Spot on!
Speed: OK, but should be faster than the Anaconda
Armour: Perrrrrfect ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)
Shields: Pretty good, but should be better than the Anaconda
Mass: Seems right, or drop it for a better jump range, pretty bad right now
Internals: Standard - 7A FSD please!! Optional Compartments - Plenty! Almost too plenty
Hardpoints: What I would like 2xC4 2xC3 2xC2. We really need more C4 options though
Utility Mounts: Great!

Summary: The Corvette is a 'good' ship, but it's not something I'm going to use except for maybe special occasions. The Anaconda is far more useful for any role, including combat! If the Corvette is supposed to be the top of the Fed food chain, it's a pretty poor showing. They really should have contracted Faulcon Delacy instead. (and I love the Core Dynamics ships!)

 

[Trinity Star]

Love the Corvette but....

From our home station to go Maia (barnacle hunting) 13 jumps in the Asp...... Corvette 43 jumps.

 

[CMDR Byr Goefin]

Love the Corvette but....

From our home station to go Maia (barnacle hunting) 13 jumps in the Asp...... Corvette 43 jumps.

We have that thread.
Post there.

 

[DragoonKnight]

We have dozens of threads complaining about the corvette, and almost as many complaining about the jump range. I did not see a single one asking for a complete re-balance, which involves more than just slapping a class 7 FSD on it, to make it an excellent performer in multiple combat roles.
If I missed such a thread then please link it here.
Thanks.

 

[raok]

In PvP... I suppose there are 3 questions to ask.

4xFdL VS 4xFC
They fight to the death. Which side will win?

4xFdL VS FC
Will FC be able to escape?

FdL vs 4xFC
Will FdL be able to escape?

 

[Korlan]

A few things to consider.
The corvette is the smallest warship ( but also supposedly the most common ). I think the role of the corvette is in comparison to the -larger- ships of the federation and empire.

The possibilities of the ship may not be fully realized. Think co-operative piloting due sometime this year. I'm thinking weapons may be controllable independent of the direction of the ship. However this is wishful thinking...
If the ship is indeed to combat smaller ships and somewhat larger ships, some sort of range of effectiveness should be determined for its combat role. I would consider medium ships on up through the current playable ships as its role in combat. This includes clippers, assault ships, pythons FDL's etc.

Main points:
Essentially it should excel at something. My first idea about a combat ship would be its offensive abilities ( par ) and its defensive abilities ( sub par for size/role ). Maneuverability ( par for its size ) adds relative defensive capabilities but only against slower turning ships.

offensive ability: ...Come on, its got two huge hard points. Sure those are under populated with options and seems lack luster for a full combat ship. A total of 3 hard points for large ship destruction ( i don't see this as being better overall then the 1 huge 3 large of the anaconda ), mediums and smalls start to take dmg reduction penalties for the larger ships. Though overall this set up is ok if the defenses are the specialization....

Defensive ability: around 4200-5000 armor ( not better then the anaconda)? Shields not better then a Anaconda? an assault ship can get 2800 armor ( as comparison of one of the smallest sizes of ships that this could be deployed against, well against a group ). Now, if class 6 and class 7 hull reinforcement packages are released... we might not have an issue with comparing the size / role of this ship versus much smaller ships with combat or multi-purpose roles.

Maneuverability: Better turning? Not sure about that verse the anaconda, slower then a python by a bit. Overall though, this shouldn't be a selling point of a ship this size.


However seeing as though its almost a duplicate of the anaconda with a few small changes and large drawbacks ( for no reason that i can see ), i don't know why this has been classes as a combat ship.

The essential question remains, what can a player leverage in combat with this ship that they cannot leverage with a multi-role ship such as the anaconda?
I thinking whats the difference between a combat humvee and a multi-purpose humvee for instance. I don't have a military background but i assume that a humvee you can buy at a dealership has less capabilities then a humvee type vehicle built for a military in terms of combat abilities. Sure you could mount guns and bullet proof it or slap some armor panels on the multi-role version, but isnt the military version much better at its intended role?

 

[DragoonKnight]

To answer the Humvee question:
A military humvee, basically a Hummer H1, has a completely different engine and suspension than the Hummer H2 you can buy at a dealership. In fact the only thing they really share is the brand name. The Hummer H2 and H3 are just Light GM trucks (suburban / colorado platforms) with different bodies.

Hummer H1 advantages over the H2 and H3
Better ground clearance
More powerful engine with a lot more torque
it is available in Diesel (important since Tanks and trucks also run on diesel and it saves you from carrying two different types of fuel)
it can climb steeper hills
take more abuse (this can be represented by armor I guess but the Conda has more armor than the Corvette)
has a better cooling system (to operate in desert climates without overheating)

It really is a shame what GM did to the Hummer. Hopefully FD fixes their mistakes with the Corvette.

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

The big ships bother me in general. I hate that they can even think of turn-fighting. The Corvette is a bloody warship, a miniature Farragut - I think it should fly in straight lines and have turrets - but that would require a slight turret buff. It will be able to launch fighters, and will generally be an excellent defense ship. It just needs a role fit for it's size.

I probably can't offer any good advice to this thread, because if a miniature bloody battlecruiser flies like a fighter, it's not worth it to me. I'd nerf the agility to T9-levels and give it lots more class 2 hardpoints on the sides (much like the Farragut's broadsides), and buff the armor by a lot.

Sorry for slight de-rail

 

[Korlan]

This is part of the point im making, so no de-rail there at all, unless by rail you mean railguns...then maybe.

On the humvee point, it was the only vehicle i could think of that could be cited as having multi-role ( civilian type application, hauling some cargo and transporting people etc.) as well as a military one. Though as i think of it, maybe a small jetliner vs f-16 comparison would be more relevant. I digress though.

The ship seems to take far too many notes from an anaconda, it seems almost as though the degree to which it outclasses multi-role ships was a consideration. If it has a dog fighting role as the smallest ship in the federal navy's fleet ( which could be argued for as there might eventually be three( arbitrary number) larger versions of combat ships playable in the future) it is ok where it is at. Though as a combat ship, specifically a military ship i would think that it would be designed with overall a much better offensive and defensive capability then the anaconda ( otherwise why not just contract to buy anacondas and utilize those instead of R&D on a different hard-point layout... ).

To actually outclass an anaconda without making many changes i would suggest the following changes.....
A) presuming it is intended to do some fast-ish manouvres: Upgrade Power plant class, slap on an extra large hard point and upgrade the two smalls to mediums.
BOOM. you actually get a combat oriented ship, where its drawbacks are armor and shielding being roughly similar to the conda's
B) Presuming it is more of straight line, mobile turret.. Upgrade the power plant class, up the two smalls to mediums and take off the large and put 4 more mediums on it. 2 huge for anti-large ship fights, 8 mediums to fend off smaller ships. ( and bank on the idea that at some point you might have 2 gunners and a pilot sitting in the ship, two gunners for each bank of 4 mediums, pilot takes the front mount huge hard points. )

This way players can leverage the offensive capabilities in the corvette to beat an anaconda in a fight, as it should be, with only a vague sense of concern about whether the ship is fully capable of defeating a civilian ship.

On the flip side it could be done as well with a defensive role, increasing the Power plant / shield class or buffing the base armor and... well anaconda has an extra module slot, so maybe take a compartment away.

 

[Fendalton]

Capital Class ships have astronomical jump range, Corvettes is absolute rubbish.

Only good thing about the Corvette is that it looks awesome. When it can deploy fighters it might be more viable, but it's just a status icon at the moment.

 

[Korlan]

The only possible upside to being able to deploy fighters would be if it were restricted to certain ships. If it is a purchasable compartment module that any ship with the right size compartment can equip, well, the anaconda would most likely enjoy the same benifits. Now im not trying to bash the anaconda at all, however it is a good reference on these large ships for what the difference between multi-role and combat role ships.

 

[Hairy Polo]

As we all know, the Fc is a combat ship. It is very good at that, better than any other ship. HAZRES and CZ's are it's natural habitat. Everything else is sub par. If you love combat, get one. If not, don't bother. I like the vette even with the 'negatives' that are stated over the forum. For everything else, I use the brilliant 'conda'. With all that said, I don't think the big ship make for solid Pvp ships, that mantel goes to the smaller ships, fas, fdl, DBS etc. As they are quicker and more nimble an more importantly, cheaper to replace as you will loose ships sometimes in Pvp no matter how good you are. You basically learn the limitations of the ship and work within them. If you expect more, you'll be disappointed. Fly safe Cmdrs o7

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Like all dedicated combat ships, they're not actually worth it anymore, IMHO.

My 130m crPython regularly out performs my similarly priced FDL, and FGS in combat, while being more comfortable to fly(longer jump range, can also do other things).

PvP is another story entirely.

But for PvE, combat ships are no longer needed. Lol

The cost, plus rank for a Corvette, for me, simply isn't worth it.
IMHO.

 

[Tryst]

The cost, plus rank for a Corvette, for me, simply isn't worth it.
IMHO.

I actually agree there. I did start to try ranking up to get a Cutter but after seeing a friends Cutter that couldn't even perform as well as my Python, I decided to forget it. got as far as Viscount and stopped. Until FD decide to make these bigger ships more useful to PVE players in terms of jump range etc, I'm not going to bother.

 

[Thebadmf]

There is a quote from Jackie Brown by Samuel L Jackson involving killing 'people' in a room that I can't post, but sums up why you fly a corvette. It. Is. Tremendous. Fun.

Jump range sucks? Don't care, will use ship transfer and go do something else while I wait. The cost is paid for by one or 2 missions. I've spent the past 2 weeks almost exclusively in my 'Vette and I love it. I wouldn't complain if it got more jump range or more class 2 weapons but other than that I'm happy. It's a CZ/Haz Res beast.

I really disagree with making it the king of ships. Why does it need to be the best at everything because it's expensive? Do you want a big tank that will hit something so hard, it can't be ignored? Bring a Vette. Do you want to hear 2 big autocannons going Dakka Dakka? Bring a Corvette. Do you want to be lazy and tank 3 Elite Anaconda's? Bring a corvette. Accept no substitutes...

 

[ebbrell]

I want a corvett but am out off with its range, I see many comment about it on here, it does seem a little unfair, as the conda has a much larger range. I would love the Corbett to have a larger ship module allowing up to 2 vultures to act as fighters.

Now a Corvett plus vultures would be good

 

[Armia]

The last thing the Corvette needs would be a buff.

Even with the current specs the Corvette is almost a direct upgrade from an Anaconda, save for its horrible jump range(which can be mitigated a little by G5 FSD). Corvette, as compared to Anaconda, has larger internals, better shields, better hull hardness/module protection, more capacity for cargo, more agile flight model, has better hardpoint placement, and like all that is not enough, those 2x huge mounts for a nice cherry on the top...

As a person who owns all big three ships, fully A-kitted and RNGneered to the teeth, I actually think FDev has done a remarkable job in balancing them with each other. While all three being multirole ships, Corvette is more combat oriented where Cutter is slightly leaning towards the trader role, and the Conda kinda falls in between those two.

The rule of thumb is that no ship should be downright better than another, and if you gain something by switching/upgrading to another ship, you have to give up something as a trade off. Buffing the Corvette's weaker aspects such as jump range or weaker hull integrity would be tipping the delicate balance of the ships.

 

[Lily from anim.o.v.e]

I wonder how the hull change will affect this. With 2 Huge hardpoints the courvette will be able to field the best Hull breaking weapons aganst other big ships which aren't by nature utilising a Huge percing value.

I agree with the idea that big ships should be like mini war ships and utilise turrets, maybe they could get buffed turrets (and somewhat nerfed fixed wepons). Or maybe they cna get special turreted missils. But currently turrets are so abyssimal in the amount of damage they do that they aren't working well (not even cconsidering what chaff does. Together with the new changes coming, all small and medium weapons will really suck vs other lagre ships hull. has anyone even tried calculating what a pulse laser turrets damage of a Conda would do to another large ships hull? Those hardpoints will only be torpedo worthy anymore.

 

[ebbrell]

i love the look of it, and when I am rich enough I will have one. I just hope pray that fdev increase its jump range. by engineer magic, or a larger FSD. that's all, nothing else... just give it another 8-10 jump range