I'd like to address a stat that has been present since the closed betas, and the source of much debate, with good reason.
Initially, we saw that 'lock on' gave defense turrets a 100% hit chance against ordinances. This made lock-on the go to stance, not only did it give great offensive bonuses but the turret buff almost literally shoots down every ordnance that flies into range of the turrets.
Throughout the closed beta there appears to have been a majority push to have this bonus removed due to it being OP.
We've seen the move of this stat to the 'Brace' stance. I can understand this change, it still must be wondered why this turret buff hasn't just been removed completely. Lock on may not be an OP stance now, however the issue still stands that the turret bonus is too strong and honestly not necessary at all in the game.
Why should this stat be removed/why is it unnecessary?
- The turret accuracy buff doesn't just mean that a single ship is almost entirely immune to ordnance, it also means a single ship can destroy any ordnance that happens to fly past it. There is no justifiable reason to give any single ship immunity to ordnances purely through a stance.
- Currently there is plenty of effective counter play to ordnance use, firstly you can blob up your fleet for overlapping turret, fire which is very effective in itself. Secondly: FIGHTERS EXIST, use them to protect your ships! I struggle to understand why the turret buff exists when counterplay is already in place.
- Thirdly (correct me here if I'm wrong) but defence turrets appear to be better than in BFG 1 as they appear to get multiple attack chances over time, as opposed to previously only getting a single chance to destroy enemy ordnances.
Just generally, this one stance allows a player to completely shut down any carriers an opponent uses, without requiring any strategy or thought. If your opponent is playing a carrier themed fleet, setting all ships to this stance will undoubtedly win you the match.
If players want to protect themselves from ordnances, they should have to rely on grouped ships with overlapping turret coverage, or their own fighter support. The ability to click a stance to turn off enemy ordnance is detrimental to balance.
If this bonus must remain, perhaps we could see it re-located to an upgrade slot, however it's a stat that for the better of balance should probably be removed.
Ordnances are nearly there in terms of being well balanced. Fighters now being able to attack a ships defence turrets opens up new play options for ordnance users, and the fact that ordnances regain charges if they survive their attack seems to be a positive change, encouraging thoughtful use of these units. This is most likely the final big change required.