It is okay for ships to be bad as long as they still have a point. The Venture's role as envisaged in its description - a cheap base ship - is kinda irrelevant in game the way the game mechanics and economics work. Its role as a miner is also irrelevant. So the Venture is just...bad. I wish it wasnt, i have a soft spot for it.
Anyways now that that fun it over with.
A side note for next patch, Venture and Drone tender will be bad to have if you are specialized in fighters as their drones will count against the skills limit for fighters lowering the bonus on all your real fighters. I am genuinely unhappy that the Drone tender will lose some viability, the Venture is caught in the same issue.
Screws over Talon spam as well. Feh!
Indeed, it is described in a way that is highly appealing to me. Like a workhorse civilian cruisers with poor fighting ability but excellent support ability. I just find that the reality of the game mechanics don't fit the description at all.
It's cost in credits/supplies/fuel are all in line with other cruisers that are faster and fight better. I mean slap surveying equipment on any cruiser and you have have a better ship.
For example
Better replacements
Gryphon only 5 more supplies for a real missile cruiser, same fuel. Initial cost is higher.
Falcon (which is lack luster) cost the same supplies and fuel. About the same initial cost.
Apogee (who people oddly like to compare to it) is only 3 more supplies and 1 LESS FUEL. Initial cost is higher.
Stand outs
Colossus Mk II/III (yep that LP/pirate fodder) are cheaper and fight better supplies 9(II)/8(III), fuel 3(II)/3(III) (Venture is 15 supplies, 3 fuel). Basic costs are vastly cheaper in credits and have better defined roles. These are cruiser you can afford to use as fodder. They are common both in Black Market and the battle field. Mk III's fighter slots mean it's a threat to far better enemy ships. Both of these ships have 300 cargo space almost matching the Venture with 50 more for that utility. Mk III also comes with Ground support package which only comes on the Valkyrie (non combat troop transport).
And before someone says all carriers pose a threat to better ships I point out that Mk III is the most common carrier in the game followed by condor which is slower in combat/costs more supplies/less hull/less armor, 1 more fuel is the only downside. I had no clue it was slower and cost more supplies till now. Seems like the Colossus is a direct upgrade on the condor, but that's a different matter.
Seems like Colossus Mk III is worth another look in my future plays.
As far as talon spam being nerfed.
Yep that sucks and it makes the Hanger ship mod garbage, basic OP for the mod and increase OP cost fighters decrease long term effectiveness of replacement in addition only to weaken specialization bonus. I'll likely be avoiding specializations if they have restrictions that screw with my general fleet strategy, I use Talons on nearly all non carrier/capital ships. Anyone trying to max the fighter bonus would be avoiding this ship mod and all mining drone ships like the plague.