This isn't just particularly a thread about the Redeemer, the Redeemer nerf was a symptom of a rather strange design philosophy that I fear might be what SC is aiming for. In the past we have always been led to believe SC operates on a rock-paper-scissors balancing style. Think of it in the example using a Redeemer, a Gladius and an Ion. The triangle should be: -Redeemer kills Gladius -Ion kills Redeemer -Gladius kills Ion This creates a balanced triangle where you have multicrew slow ships threatened by bombers/strike craft, which are then threatened by light fighters, to which multicrew shreds. However, what we see is constantly nerfs and changes to the formula to ensure that light fighters alone can skip the bomber step and directly kill the multicrew. From nerfing turrets to ensure light fighters can stay safely in blindspots, to changing large shields because "They want fighters to be able to solo big shields as well" paraphrased. The new triangle is as follows: -Gladius kills Redeemer -Gladius kills Ion -Gladius kills Gladius This creates a power issue where you have one class of ship sitting at the top unchallenged by anything other than itself. No, it is not pay2win if a fully crewed Javelin is untouchable by a single Arrow. In the future, the hope is that physicalized components and armor penetration mean that Arrows don't pack guns to pen capital armor, and disabling and killing capital ships SHOULD require some thought in how you approach them. There must be a healthy ratio of bombers/strike craft and fighters to protect them from interceptors, and the answer is not to throw more light fighters at the problem. The ION post-nerf would work well in a balanced triangle. In packs it can keep up enough DPS to out-damage the regen on large shields pre-nerf, we didn't need to make large shields have absurd long regen delays so light fighters can keep them down permanently. The ION is then killed by interceptors easily, which means the Ion should be escorted. This creates a team dynamic instead of a single fighter being the team carry hero that does everything. Yes, dogfighting skill should be appreciated in the verse. No, dogfighting should NOT be the only thing that matters. There are many other styles of combat, precision aiming and discipline on gunships and strikecraft, logistical planning and coordination on strike fleets, etc. We want a universe where different types of playstyles support and complement each other, not funneling everyone into dogfighters.