We are all hoping that the current Conflict Zone mechanics are a placeholder for something more narrative-driven, interesting, or at least something more strategic. We've got CQC assets, asteroid bases, megaships, and now potential battles around those megaships, but that's not what I want this thread to be about. Many have written about that before.
There are two capital ships deployed by the strongest superpowers: the Core Dynamics Farragut BattleCruiser and the Gutamaya Majestic Interdictor. Now, it's clear that the two manufacturers and their governments have different tactics for warfare, and I love that the distinct capital ships hint at this potential. This potential cannot be capitalized upon in the current Conflict Zone mechanics, and that's fine for a placeholder.
Instead, lets just look at current Conflict Zone gameplay.
A Farragut will destroy any NPCs within 3km in seconds. Even if a CMDR unloads their full firepower against a target, inflicting 40% of the damage, the Farragut will get credit for the kill.
A Majestic will destroy any NPCs within 3km of it (and above the flat plain for the Heavy Rail Driver deck) in about half a minute. This allows CMDRs to tag the ship and inflict a large amount of damage, and most importantly, claiming credit for the kill.
It can be difficult for an unengineered CMDR to endure the unrelenting Farragut fire while taking out the Heat Relays. The Majestic has been made to flee by an unengineered Courier. (Granted, that was before the fighters were re-balanced, so that would be slightly more difficult now, but you can take out the fighters before you aim for the Heat Relays.)
I'm not sure if it is intentional for one capital ship to be fear-inducing and the other to drive us to laughter, but it is far more difficult to be a successful ally of a Farragut in a Conflict Zone than it is to be an enemy of a Majestic.
That imbalance, I believe, should be addressed, and hopefully soon.
There are two capital ships deployed by the strongest superpowers: the Core Dynamics Farragut BattleCruiser and the Gutamaya Majestic Interdictor. Now, it's clear that the two manufacturers and their governments have different tactics for warfare, and I love that the distinct capital ships hint at this potential. This potential cannot be capitalized upon in the current Conflict Zone mechanics, and that's fine for a placeholder.
Instead, lets just look at current Conflict Zone gameplay.
A Farragut will destroy any NPCs within 3km in seconds. Even if a CMDR unloads their full firepower against a target, inflicting 40% of the damage, the Farragut will get credit for the kill.
A Majestic will destroy any NPCs within 3km of it (and above the flat plain for the Heavy Rail Driver deck) in about half a minute. This allows CMDRs to tag the ship and inflict a large amount of damage, and most importantly, claiming credit for the kill.
It can be difficult for an unengineered CMDR to endure the unrelenting Farragut fire while taking out the Heat Relays. The Majestic has been made to flee by an unengineered Courier. (Granted, that was before the fighters were re-balanced, so that would be slightly more difficult now, but you can take out the fighters before you aim for the Heat Relays.)
I'm not sure if it is intentional for one capital ship to be fear-inducing and the other to drive us to laughter, but it is far more difficult to be a successful ally of a Farragut in a Conflict Zone than it is to be an enemy of a Majestic.
That imbalance, I believe, should be addressed, and hopefully soon.