To make long story short - light fighters are too imbalanced atm. Its not really noticible because new patch wasn't really explored (by most of pilots) and because of new pilots who just learning the game from scratch. But new meta kills every other type of ships. And heres why: 1. S1 shields are buffed. And buffed insanelly. Reason? Bubble + full regen in 3s. (how it works? fly with SCM+ in opposite direction to your opponnent and while he'll be turning - you'll get full regen) 2. Maneuverability changes. All medium+ ships have turns (except roll) ~30 degree/s. what it means? to make a 180 turn you need ~6s. (and now look again to the point #1... S1 regen - 3s ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) 3. S2 shields are nerfed. Most of medium ships are using S2 shields, what it means? Bubble with a HUGE hull that is easy to aim, regen is much worse than S1, increased shield HP makes no sense because of ballsitics buff (will discuss later). 4. SCM+ for light fighters. Light fighter (once shields are down or close to be disabled - can leave a battle in ~3-4s (out of range for S3-4 guns)). And why its possible? Because capacitor for weapons/thrusters are separate. And shields are living on its own. 4.1. Light fighter can disengage from fight anytime he want to and medium ship - don't. And more than that: during boosting his SCM with PLUS ULTRA noises he continues to regen shields/weapon capacitor (remember those 3s?) 5. Ballistics... Best choice for PK - ballistics, and best ofr PVE - laser repeaters. Why? Because with ballistics you don't have capacitors, and you can PK anyone in a few seconds. If not? #2, 4, 4.1 will save you. Whats next? rearm and start fight again. 5.1. Also ballistics because of DPS + penetrations are able to melt any S2 shield from all the directions (since its a bubble now). You don't need to aim in one of sides, just spray without pray and everything will land on hull of MSR even with closed eyes! And what he'll be able to do? Nothing... 5.2. Most of PVP/PK ppl are using ballistics. PVE ppl - only lasers. Should we discuss chances to survive if you're a PVE guy? 6. Assisted gimbals/manual aim: those 2 are completely broken. Assisted gimbal can't hit even beacons... should I explain about flying targets? With Manual Aim... for some weird reason spray goes with a huge spread. As result fixed gimbals currenly are the most accurate mode. And what is even more rediculous... it still capable to be accurate even in SCM+. 7. Desync + PIP. Desync agains big targets isn't a huge problem because they're huge - you can caught those back with no issues using maneverability of light fighter. (if it happens for medium ship -> +3-5s for turn to get target in cross). PIP... Because of desyncs - not its juming as crazy. And from #6 we know that the only way to be efficient - fixed gimbals. For light fighter react on those "pip jumps" - not a huge proble. But what about medium ships? you're right. Its worthless.) 8. Reclaim. Died on light fighter? Wait for 3 min and continue. Died on medium ship? - 15min to read spectrum. 9. Fastest way to make a money - bounty. Whos best on bounties? Eh? As a summary: light fighter can start/finish/leave battle any time he want to. There is 0 bet from his end on this table of a deadly game, 0 risc. Which makes it out of balance, because all the other ships putting everything as a bet. Some possible solutions to handle those "problems". 1. Faced vs bubble shield should be based on hull size! not shield module size! 2. As a countermesure for those who abusing SCM+ and trying to run from fight -> shields and thruster MUST have same capacitor pool. Running from fight on boost because shields are down? - no regen untill capacitor is full. Moving all the energy from thrusters to shields? - boost is disabled and can't be used. Shields are not full? Regen enables only when capacitor is >50/60/70% full. Or something like that. 3. Ballistics (probably) should deal less damage to shields than lasers. What I mean. As an example. alpha damage - 100, damage to shields 20, cahnce to pass shield 10% with damage reduction 70-85%. How this will help? it will be impossible to melt shields with ballsitics and PK players will start making loadouts with evenrgy + ballistics which will increase chances to survive for their targets 4. Maneuverability for medium ships MUST be increased. We already have tons of complains on spectrum because of this... 5. (a suggestion that will buen some chairs) - ban some S4 and S3 weapons from light fighters. They're light! fighters!