Hello,
first, thank for reading,
Regarding game mechanics many people (that actually able to use mathematics) think using only deck in the damage formula is limiting the game-mechanics a lot :
- modules have diminishing return : indeed, the more modules you equip the less it reduce/increase damage per unit. Considering hull, defense it is even worse.
- Artifact have increasing return : indded, the more artifacts you equip the more it reduce/increase damage per unit. plus they lower modules efficiency ....
- Small Ship Build: they are annoying at low levels, like invulnerable and bullying people with no merits; sure urban legend pretend they are weak later, but if they are patient and let artifact kick in (and also posses strong artifact production) they can become your worse nightmare.
- Mod are useless : yes! mod are useless! if you reach high enough artifact and are patient enough; in end game you will feel that your deck is a burden more then an help !! equiping modules take deck, which in return increase the damage you take, while artifact are 100% safe and convenient. sure it take time or a lot of AP, but it can be done
- EMP bombing make mod even more useless : one's defense can be totaly annihilated with a few EMP bombs, letting enemy hit your for your damage cap! therefore a small deck build will be in advantage against a max deck build.... basicaly a SSD legion could easily own a normal legion should they purchase/pile EMP bombs (which they should have plenty since SSD are not stupid people and have huge AP!)
- some mod are even more uselesss : if you are smart enough to use damage formula, and check some modules efficiency, you will notice that the more base defense you have, the less they are usefull, to a point that investing in deck to equip them would mean you'd take more damage!
Investing in deck should be profitable in the long term, not a pain in the a**!
just for reference: check this topic where one of the top player with high knowledge of the game want to go the SSD route
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=23742&start=0
My suggestions are :
1) change the formula, for EXAMPLE : ((rank + 16 )*3 + deck)/4
for reference at level 200
a ssd with base (10) deck would have 165 damage cap
a normal ship with 1000 deck would have 412 damage cap
a big ship with 2000 deck would have 662 damage cap
at level 500
a ssd with base (10) deck would have 400 damage cap
a "normal" ship with 2000 deck would have 887 damage cap
a maxed ship with 4400 deck would have 1487 damage cap
at level 1000
min cap : 764 dmg, max cap: 1862
at level 2000
min cap : 1515, max cap: 2612
OR / AND
2) make damage formula this way :
damage cap = rank or deck/2 (instead of (rank+16)/2)
OR / AND
3) give % bonus to late game modules :
for example : Light thetacron would give +1% attack bonus each up to +6% on best weapon
because having STATIC value on attack, defense, hull, shield modules give them diminishing return while artifacts item have increasing return!
note: one more weapon/defense/hull tier could be added respectively +7%,+8%,+10%
OR / AND
4) limit EMP/Disarm bombing to 50%
it shouldn't be possible to reduce one's defense under 50%
before answering, please post your ship build so we all see you are NOT biased
i am myself running a low deck ship, swapping modules around depending on my needs.
