Dominion: Mode Switch

posted on February 28th, 2012, 9:47 pm

So I was just thinking about how hard it is for the Dominion to switch counters, and how low their survivability is in hard counter situations..... Then I had this insane idea: What if dominion combat ships could repourpose themselves?

Right now, mode switch is used on the dominion constructor to alter its usefulness, what if mainline combat ships had a similar ability. Game Example:

Dominion Go Hard S2 as their staring strat against the borg, but get beatin to shreads faced with scubes, the dom player is to straped for cash to invest in another prototype, so instead he researches a Mode switch ability at the tech center. The S when under this effect loses 5 offensive value, but gains meduim range. allowing him to somwhat kite the scubes as he recovers to switch counters.

Get my Idea? as for implemetation i would only apply it to main line combat ships (S2, Breen cruiser,T-15) and also make sure their is always a negitive effect, that way its not an instant win but rather a glimmer of hope.

Ability Projection:

Effected Ships:

S2: Losses 5 offensive value but gains medium range, allowing a but more distance between them and the enemey
Breen Cruiser: Losses Long range and cloak, But gains better speed and more stable subsystems.
T-15: (havent thought about this one, but its a mainline ship... so..)

As for the Ability to switch, I would 20 second switch time and 30 second cool down would prevent abuse mid combat. What do ya guys think?

posted on February 28th, 2012, 10:31 pm

I actually think this idea could potentially work. You pretty much nailed my current problem with the Dominion: it costs way too many resources investing in prototypes to change your build order when an enemy adapts theirs to counter yours. They need some way to be able to react to the enemy changing their ship choices and I think this is a good start.

posted on February 29th, 2012, 6:53 pm

I absolutely support this!

posted on February 29th, 2012, 7:05 pm

Japp! I support toggleable non-click-orgiastic microingoptions

[cyrax88]

posted on February 29th, 2012, 8:36 pm

Last edited by cyrax88 on February 29th, 2012, 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

hmmmmm i think this is a good idea and should be at least explored with more post's.....perhaps there is some unfair drawbacks or perhaps something similar is just what the dominion need. as i have often encountered this problem as the first prototype you build is kinda set in stone ...sure you can kinda build another prototype ....but an example would be you start with the s-2  prototype and after its done find that you have to change to another  prototype. its not the  prototype thats the problem its the time and cost of changing over to another  prototype ..... especially for a race that number of ships is a big part of there play..........and to add to that the risk of fighting with your  prototype as at the start you need all the ships you can get.........

posted on March 2nd, 2012, 12:24 am

hmmmmm i think this is a good idea and should be at least explored with more post's.....perhaps there is some unfair drawbacks or perhaps something similar is just what the dominion need. as i have often encountered this problem as the first prototype you build is kinda set in stone ...sure you can kinda build another prototype ....but an example would be you start with the s-2  prototype and after its done find that you have to change to another  prototype. its not the  prototype thats the problem its the time and cost of changing over to another  prototype ..... especially for a race that number of ships is a big part of there play..........and to add to that the risk of fighting with your  prototype as at the start you need all the ships you can get.........

Yes i would like some more thoughts on this. As the dominion online PvP group is very small, perhaps those who play or have played dominion online extensively can give some general inputabout the effects of such an ability..... And also some other reasons why implementing this would be a good idea.... I think multiplayer comunity input is the next best step here.

posted on March 2nd, 2012, 3:03 am

I'm not really a dominion player because I find them inflexible.

Being inexperienced I can't say I'd know all the angles, but wouldn't this aides shorten the dominions tech tree a bit? Seems like the ships mode changing would limit the need to change to another ship entirely. Though I'm sure I'm taking the idea to extreme.

posted on March 2nd, 2012, 11:48 am

There was a post back a while that talked about having ships that could change their weapon range. The issue at the time was that most passives are tied to range. The would cause more problems for the balance side of things. However - with the new profile system coming there may not be much if any passives tied to the range of ships, eliminating the above problem. Therefore I support this idea for the Dominion or other races.

posted on March 3rd, 2012, 1:00 am

I'm not really a dominion player because I find them inflexible.

This is exactly what this is designed to fix.

but wouldn't this aides shorten the dominions tech tree a bit? Though I'm sure I'm taking the idea to extreme.

It wouldn't if applied lightly. The dominion Tech tree is by nature open and flat, but it also features a deadly lock up risk in switching prototypes. and yes, you are taking the idea to the extreme, but thats good. More viewpoints are better.

The issue at the time was that most passives are tied to range. This would cause problems for the balence side of things.

Your right it would be hard to balence, but thats why i sugjest minimal effects and allways negative effects, this would give the abilty little more use than a switch in ann absolute need situation.

However - with the new profile system coming there may not be much if any passives tied to the range of ships, eliminating the above problem.

Actualy Range Based will still exist, they will just be less severe

Therefore I support this idea for the Dominion or other races.

Awesome.

posted on March 3rd, 2012, 1:24 pm

Actualy Range Based will still exist, they will just be less severe

Oh. I missed that. Where did you see/hear about range passives still being around? Still, being less severe works to make a range changing ability more viable, especially if as you said the change brings a decrease in stats.

posted on March 3rd, 2012, 5:29 pm

Breen Cruiser: Losses Long range and cloak, But gains better speed and more stable subsystems.

Instead of the dom being underpowered these changes will make them overpowered in future, change the breen cruiser to go faster to get there then change it back to attack, you wouldn't be able to counter them properly anymore.

Your opponent builds a counter and when its done you have just switched it so now it doesn't counter it anymore how is that fair....

posted on March 3rd, 2012, 11:32 pm

hmmmmm i think in terms of ships like the klingons the dominion are one of the more balanced races the problem lies in there prototype change over =loss of time.