It wasn’t until recently that I actually noticed that the long range frigates are the only ones with 6 guns. In my opinion, the guard frigates would be very good ships with 6 guns aswell.
But of course that would be OP. Would it be a bad idea if Guard frigates had 6 guns but had a 15% penalty to range?
It’s just really weird to me that such a tanky ship has such low amount of firepower.
It is meant to be area suppression and defence with the biggest healing modules in the game (though recent engi updates are almost up to those modules). They already get a small damage increase from phase shield receiving the damage type it is set to.
You know that the special module give a damage 15% damage buff right ?
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It’s just really weird to me that such a tanky ship has such low amount of firepower.
Pretty much this. Why should a tanky ship also deal much damage?
16 minutes ago, Error18512 said:
Pretty much this. Why should a tanky ship also deal much damage?
Because->Exploits! The intie death spin is out so the new exploit search begins! 
AH I didn’t know that. SC isn’t exactly clear about that 15% thing.
5 minutes ago, ORCA1911 said:
The intie death spin is out
Dunno if that can be called an exploit. -.-
It worked fine for years. Until it started to be annoying in T5. And T5 also had no real alternative to tacklers in T3-T4 for jerri, makes a huge difference in “defensive play”.
I think the real reason for ceptors becoming less of an obstacle, is actually, adaptive nerf and the gun mechanics nerf. Latter however was part of the intie spin of death. Also, the new weapons might have changed it anyway.
@OP
I think the Guard is fine as it is with its damage output - both tank and damage on the guard are a bit situational. Nothing can lose you games faster, than too many guards, which are slow and easy to kill. On the other hand, in the new mode, guards are the tankiest, as Destros lose extra by exploding modules. With their additional modules and the damage effect, clearly better (focus-)tank, they outgun the engi, but outtank the LRF. I think thats all fine.
The only reason LRFs have 6 turrets is due to their reduced durability overall, so it wouldn’t really make sense for guards to receive 6 turrets as well as LRFs if the only down sides they have are already balanced out.
Also:
6 hours ago, g4borg said:
…adaptive nerf and the gun mechanics nerf…
…pretty much what I think killed off interceptors as the meta.
On 10/12/2016 at 11:09 AM, Error18512 said:
Pretty much this. Why should a tanky ship also deal much damage?
are you seriously saying this when destroyers exist?
Every ship type should have at least six guns. Even interceptors. why not.
They can do that, but then Inties would be reduced to only 1/3 of their current weapon damage, fighter+non-LRF-frigates to only 2/3.
A tanky ultra slow ship, that get 50%+ blown away with just shield/weapon functional is not a burner if it comes down to damage or?
Ceptors already look weird with 2 turrets, where would you put the 4 others?
On 19/10/2016 at 11:35 AM, Battlecruiser_NA said:
are you seriously saying this when destroyers exist?
Every ship type should have at least six guns. Even interceptors. why not.
Ceptors already look weird with 2 turrets, where would you put the 4 others?
On 10/11/2016 at 11:33 PM, HBZK100 said:
It wasn’t until recently that I actually noticed that the long range frigates are the only ones with 6 guns. In my opinion, the guard frigates would be very good ships with 6 guns aswell.
But of course that would be OP. Would it be a bad idea if Guard frigates had 6 guns but had a 15% penalty to range?
It’s just really weird to me that such a tanky ship has such low amount of firepower.
But LRF also are weaker than the other frigate classes. They are trading off firepower for defense. The whole point of the guard is its ability to take damage and protect nearby ships (hence the name)
Giving the most durable (regular) ship type in the game, the highest (regular) DPS output capability will just make them into slightly downsized destroyers, but with regular re-spawn rates and the maneuverability they already had, if you think destroyers are bad, imagine if literally everyone had a version of them.