TLDR? just look for bold
Stealth in its current state feels like it's pushing all 2v2 multi-player matches (at gold league and up) in to elusive frigate hunt matches. This current state and lack of other game modes or objectives is getting stale very fast.
If only one side picks a brawling fleet with some picket ships:
-They get picked apart. Deserved if you took no counter scouts. However, probes are a largely ineffective counter to stealth in the volumes you're dealing with, as are fighters for scouting. Only escorts can answer the hunt for escorts (and light cruisers) with their scan. So be a sitting duck and wait to lose. Not fun
-Maybe you kill the enemies line ships, spend a large amount of time hunting the last frigates and point swapping (sitting around). Even if you win or lose this way, the time spent chasing and sitting is not engaging. Not fun
If both sides pick stealth fleets:
-The match can take a very long time with no particular incentives or pay outs scaling to the increased length of match time. You spend time trying to scan each other, then either disengaging to get stealth back or trading pot shots with light weapons and small ships. You may win, you may lose, but it will definitely take a long ass time. Not Fun
If only your side picks a stealth fleet:
-Fire on sitting ducks while your ships don't even open them selves to return fire! Fun
-Spend a lot of time running. Not fun
What I'm getting at is due to the lack of game modes there is only one full proof meta, and its perma stealth. This could be very easily addressed in many many ways!
Keep in mind these are all just possibilities, I'm by no means suggesting all of these be done
Possible Fixes
-Stealth ships become visible for a few seconds after firing any weapon. Not just a silhouette you can't do anything to
-Limit Stealth duration
-Add new match types Like in the first game, you didn't know what game mode you would get so you needed a well rounded fleet. Stealth was not the best for all objective types (even though it was different back then, still applies).
-Make other counters to allow people to hunt this strategy, like allow bombers or boarding craft to be able to patrol an area like a cap point. This could keep lone escorts off for a limited time. Or simply rework the probe admiral skill to something more effective.
-Change the point value of ship kills. You get half its value, and the enemy loses points = to half its value. This means main fleet losses are as much a set back to your foes victory as it is a acceleration to your victory.
-Reduce the point gain rate of a team that has lost its admiral (make them more worth hunting?)
-Reduce the number of cap points from 5 to 3 (could make for less chasing after a main fight is resolved)
-Make escorts unable to cap
-Add an option to do death match (kill line ships)
-Line ships earn extra points for sitting on central cap point (king of the hill to force a fleet fight?)
Thoughts? Am I simply slipping into the madness of the warp or are other people noticing this too?