Quite elegant solutions to the "Low Tech Problem" but I'm afraid you've set a precedent that makes thematic sense across all Low-Tech: Rugged Construction and Damper Field instead of shields. I know that probably goes too far (and you'd have to give the Mora Burn Drive!) but what a different style of play Low Tech would be given those base parameters. That's all I'll say about that but my mind is going in a lot of directions about how that could work.
You know, I was thinking about Rugged Construction on the burn drive ships at one point. The thought being, "burn drive gets ships destroyed, so make that hurt less". But with the changes to burn drive, that didn't make sense the same way - but it *did* for shieldless ships. Also, it would've pigeon-holed them into whatever skill ends up boositing junkfleets. If you have a whole lineup of ships like that, then a junkfleet skill kind of has to be based around them.
Damper Field on an Onslaught... I don't even want to imagine how long that would take to destroy! It'd be a real beast, though. And yeah, that's a fun combination of things to imagine. Still... "flux doesn't matter for defense" is, I think, a bit much to do to a broad swath of ships.
Anyway, I love the Vanguard already not only because it's novel but because it looks like it already has a solid role in my fleet. How would you compare it to the similar Centurion? That, too, is an underrated ship that tends to stay in my fleet even mid-to-late game.
I think it's a more offensively-capable version of the Centurion that will get disabled more. For reference, with no officers, Vanguards can take, say, an Aurora + a Fury + a Medusa when at even DP, while sustaining some losses. I haven't tried it, but I suspect Centurions couldn't do that.
The Eradicator is a strange-looking ship. At first I though it was a kitbashed Fury but seeing them next to one another, maybe not so much. AAF is nice and I look forward to seeing this in action, especially with all the pew-pew it's going to do. I do agree that we need a Large Ballistic cruiser somewhere but this wasn't it.
(Half-thinking of a low-tech destroyer build around a large slot - sort of a Sunder in that sense, but with some things that make it a different concept...)
The Tempest change is very outside-the-box and I like it. I don't think the drones regenerate all that fast so they're not going to be a reliable source of extra damage. It also makes one consider boosting the Replacement Rate, which was never an issue on the Tempest before. I'm just very glad the drones didn't go away. They're a unique addition to the line-up and gives the ship some character.
*thumbs up* I wasn't thinking about that aspect of it, but yeah, using it, I'm just naturally watching the replacement rate like a hawk. Which, maybe not great if it was across the board, but it seems like a nice bit of variety for one ship to bring.
Buff to the Hound?! Praise Ludd!!
Indeed! I'd love to see it and the Cerberus see more combat use. And, heck, I suspect it might see more early game use in general, since the easy-to-acquire recoveries from pirate fleets will now be worth something.
