Borg Probe Ideas

posted on February 20th, 2011, 3:55 pm

Currently the probe isn't really used for anything interesting. It's a bit more muscle early on when CCs are limiting you and you don't want to use a rush strategy.

Also if you see your enemy spam torpedo ships like bombers or sangs, you can spam probes to waste 40% of the enemy dps.

The probe doesn't hold up in fleet actions later in the game, and it isn't your best raiding ship, that's the inter scube.

So I have a couple suggestions for the humble probe, to make it live up to its name, probe, which indicates something sensor related.

[align=center]Idea 1: Similar to, but legally distinct from, progressive scan[/align]

This special would be researched at the Transmission Matrix, it might come under the Data mining special as data mining is rare to see, maybe it is on its own.

It lets you immobilise the probe for 10 seconds, and give it increased circular sensor range, and even longer range in a cone forward of the probe. It does NOT give cloak detect, as that would infringe on the intellectual property rights of progressive scan.

Now the probe is useful later to scout.

[align=center]Idea 2: Accuracy[/align]

A special researchable at Transmission, maybe not in data mining as its a bit more useful.

The probe can use its special to drop its o-value a lot, but increase the accuracy of nearby borg graviton boxes. the probe is still weak enough to be destroyed of course.

It could increase accuracy a lot for a short time or a little for a longer time.

[align=center]Idea 3: The weird idea[/align]

Add the probe to the uplink options. doesnt cost any CCs, has 1 module, build time after selecting the module is the same as normal, so it takes slightly longer. helpful if you need a couple ships fast, but have no CC, you can make an uplink probe and a starbase probe.

the 1 module can be either

Regen: adds a little bit of stats (like other regen modules for other ships) for a small cost, nothing game changing, makes the probe slightly more useful later, but its most likely you made a probe from an uplink in desperation anyway lol.

or

Sensor: described in idea 4

This idea is mainly to allow the next one...

[align=center]Idea 4: Sensor station[/align]

Another weird one, allows the probe to do what a relay dodeca does, turn into a station. This new station has no guns, but has a ping like the vinc relayed dodeca.

If idea 3 is used, then the probe would have 1 module, of which there is 2 choices. the combat module as described above. and the new module:

Sensor: which gives the probe the ability to turn into a sensor station with a ping.

only probes built from uplinks can do this if idea 3 is used.

if idea 3 is not used, then the sensor station thing could be researched at transmission, a special that lets the probe turn into a station.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 4:30 pm

Hm... 3 and 4 make no sense. For a sensor station, you have Dodecahedron-relay-stations (dunno which module it was, but it adds sensor and anti-cloak). Also within idea 3: Why do you want the probe to become from being available without CC or uplink to a less effective scout-cube-alternative?

I know the probe is "boring", but it has it's advantages. Only base and conduction matrix needed; That's what makes it special. Think of the Probe as a deep-space scout. Its primary funtion is tactical reconaissance. Also it's not a bad raider; beam-based okay, but the beam isn't weak.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 4:54 pm

I wouldn't mind the probes being repairable at a yard....

posted on February 20th, 2011, 5:18 pm

I think the single regen module idea is already taken by the Scube, and that's where I like it.

I wouldn't mind the probes being repairable at a yard....

Repair would be nice, since Probes tend to just accumulate damage with every engagement even when well-microed.
I don't think a yard would be a good idea, maybe the Dodeca (with at least one regen module) could get a repair special that only works on Probes and Scubes.

I like the sensor idea, but maybe it wouldn't be stationary, just loses weapons entirely. Borg do tend to have scouting issues.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 5:20 pm

I don't think a yard would be a good idea

I think he didn't mean giving the Borg a yard.
You could repair Probes at allied yards and on your adaption matrix for whatever race you have alliances or constructors from...

posted on February 20th, 2011, 5:43 pm

Hm... 3 and 4 make no sense. For a sensor station, you have Dodecahedron-relay-stations (dunno which module it was, but it adds sensor and anti-cloak).

vinculum module, and that is a turret as well, not just a sensor station. my idea has no weapons so it only functions as a cheaper sensor station. i think it is legally distinct from the dodeca ping turret, as the dodeca is more investment.

Also within idea 3: Why do you want the probe to become from being available without CC or uplink to a less effective scout-cube-alternative?

that was mainly for idea 4, but also if u desperately need a ship but dont have a lot of CC but do have res, you could do probe from uplink and sb at same time. currently probes can only come from sb, and you usually only have 1 of them.

I know the probe is "boring", but it has it's advantages. Only base and conduction matrix needed; That's what makes it special. Think of the Probe as a deep-space scout. Its primary funtion is tactical reconaissance. Also it's not a bad raider; beam-based okay, but the beam isn't weak.

it doesnt work well as a scout though, a detector is better in nearly all ways. a detector has more speed, better sensors. a probe may have higher hull strength, but its slower, and will survive less than a detector, and costs more. if i wanted to scout i would use a detector not a probe. tactical recon? i dont like the way that sounds lol. in fleetops you either wanna scout, ie have a look, dont get into a fight, or fight. if a scout gets attacked you run.

as a raider, i use only the probes i built at the start for that, when they get destroyed i build the far superior inter scube. i would never build a probe when i could build an inter scube.

also with its name being "probe" i think it should do some probing, not rectal probing though, thats just weird.

I wouldn't mind the probes being repairable at a yard....

You could repair Probes at allied yards and on your adaption matrix

i think that docking at adaption matrix would be ok. i dont think allied repair yards would work as they probably wouldnt be able to repair borg tech. and it may be too strong as other races get yards a lot, while adaption matrices arent as common.

I think the single regen module idea is already taken by the Scube, and that's where I like it.

i was just proposing a general module that isnt the sensor module. something that is generalist but not game changing. it would definitely be weaker than a scube regen module. maybe only gives 5% regen increase.

maybe the Dodeca (with at least one regen module) could get a repair special that only works on Probes and Scubes.

thats interesting, might get too strong, maybe if it only worked on probes and detectors. increases their repair rate in a similar way to increasing special energy, maybe it could be for regen vinculum dodecas. it would make that module combination interesting. giving the dodeca even more uses might be dangerous though.

I like the sensor idea, but maybe it wouldn't be stationary, just loses weapons entirely. Borg do tend to have scouting issues.

you mean idea 1? having it keep moving would make it super awesome at scouting. maybe a bit too awesome. as a scout i would never care if it was doing much damage anyway. you would be able to fly around the enemy base seeing everything easily. also there is the chance that the non refit nebula class (your namesake) would sue for copying their special. maybe it could move slower instead of stop.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 6:21 pm

I wouldn't mind the probes being repairable at a yard....

I'm for this.


But otherwise, I would like the normal probe we have now being able to be built from the starbase, and one from a uplink that can have modules.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 8:45 pm

I wouldn't mind seeing the Probe have a higher system value like it used to.  That's about it though.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 9:31 pm

Thats a dam expensive sensor station....

posted on February 20th, 2011, 9:35 pm

Thats a dam expensive sensor station....

cheaper than a dodeca, and has a ping. also its mobile, can be deployed anywhere, other races need a constructor to place stations.

i'd use it, worth the cost.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 10:08 pm

cheaper than a dodeca, and has a ping. also its mobile, can be deployed anywhere, other races need a constructor to place stations.

i'd use it, worth the cost.

The advantage of moving it anywhere is useless without it having a weapon since anything could destroy it.

You dont need sensor stations anywhere you need them at your base and expansions and constructors do that fine, a dodec may cost more but its got a powerful graviton torp.

I agree the probe needs a better use but a defenseless sensor station is useless.

posted on February 20th, 2011, 10:20 pm

I agree the probe needs a better use but a defenseless sensor station is useless.

boggz is the perfect example i will use to disagree with that. he puts his sensor stations away from normal places. they force the enemy to do what you want, makes them think twice. place it in the corridor enemies would use to retreat from your exp and they will think twice about cloaking. thats the sorta thing a probe station would do. but would have less risk of a constructor being lost

posted on February 21st, 2011, 5:13 am

boggz is the perfect example i will use to disagree with that. he puts his sensor stations away from normal places. they force the enemy to do what you want, makes them think twice. place it in the corridor enemies would use to retreat from your exp and they will think twice about cloaking. thats the sorta thing a probe station would do. but would have less risk of a constructor being lost

Klingon sensor station is just a bit less expensive than a Borg probe...

posted on February 21st, 2011, 7:22 am

Klingon sensor station is just a bit less expensive than a Borg probe...

True.
 
  However I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that the Probe doing this could easily function under the same principle that the Relay Dode does:  Fight until it's near death - run away - set up as a platform somewhere with full health as opposed to waiting ages for it to regen.

  Not a bad idea at all.

posted on February 21st, 2011, 9:50 am

   However I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that the Probe doing this could easily function under the same principle that the Relay Dode does:  Fight until it's near death - run away - set up as a platform somewhere with full health as opposed to waiting ages for it to regen.

  Not a bad idea at all.

yup, it wouldnt be op since probes arent famous for having loads of hull hps lol. as long as you can get the probe out of combat immediately it would be good.