Difference between revisions of "Heavy Interdiction Cruisers"

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{{see also|Tackling}}
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'''Heavy Interdiction Cruisers''' ('''HICs''' or '''hictors''') are Tech 2 [[cruisers]] designed to provide heavy [[Tackling|tackle]]. To this end, they are able to fit the Warp Disruption Field Generator, a module which can either project an Interdiction Field around the ship or be focused into an "infinity point", a single-target warp disruptor or scrambler that no number of Warp Core Stabilizers can resist. All HICs have a 5% range bonus per HIC level to this module. Further, they all have a 20% resist bonus corresponding to their faction's preferred tank. Besides this they have bonuses to their faction's preferred weapon system.
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'''Heavy Interdiction Cruisers''' ('HICs' or 'hictors') are Tech 2 [[cruisers]] capable of providing the heaviest tackle possible. With the exception of some T3 cruiser setups, they have better tanks than any other cruiser, and can match that of most battleships. Their DPS is extremely low, but this is generally unnecessary to perform their role.
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The HICs of the four empires are:
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* {{sh|Devoter}}
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* {{sh|Onyx}}
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* {{sh|Phobos}}
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* {{sh|Broadsword}}
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Besides those four empire HICs, there are the [[Sansha's Nation]] HIC, the {{sh|Fiend}}, and the [[Mordu's Legion]] HIC, the {{sh|Laelaps}}. As limited edition [[Alliance Tournament|AT ship]]s, they are rare and don't have a big role in everyday gameplay.
  
 
== Capabilities ==
 
== Capabilities ==
  
In null security space, heavy interdiction cruisers can create a 12-20 km radius warp disruption field similar to the bubble created by [[Interdictors|light interdictors]]. While the light interdictor can launch its bubble, leave its bubble there for 2 minutes, and get off grid, the heavy interdiction cruiser's tackle capability comes from a {{co|wheat|Warp Disruption Field Generator}}, a high-slot module with a cycle time of 30 seconds that generates a warp disruption bubble centered on the HIC itself. Furthermore, while the bubble is active, the HIC can still move at its normal speed, but it cannot receive any type of remote support, and has reduced propulsion module effectiveness and an increased signature radius. To compensate, it becomes relatively agile as its mass gets heavily reduced, meaning it can get up to speed and change direction extremely fast.  
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=== Bubbles ===
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In null security space, heavy interdiction cruisers can create a warp disruption field similar to the bubble created by [[Interdictors|light interdictors]]. The field has a radius of 12–20 km, depending on the pilot's level in the Heavy Interdictor ship command skill.
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However, while the light interdictor creates bubbles centered on the probes it launches, and so can launch its bubble, leave it, and even get off grid, the heavy interdiction cruiser's bubble is generated by and centered on the HIC itself.
  
The bubble module can be loaded with a script which increases the range of the point by 50% and focuses its effect so that it acts as a normal warp disruptor with infinite strength instead of creating bubbles. Scripting the module to create this "infinipoint" also removes the speed modifications caused by using it, except for the block on remote support. These are the only ships that can, using this infinite point, tackle super-capital ships in low sec. They are also sometimes used in high- and low-sec gatecamps to negate the effect of Warp Core Stabilizers.
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This ship-centered bubble capability comes from the {{co|wheat|Warp Disruption Field Generator}}, a high-slot module with a cycle time of 30 seconds. While the bubble is active, the HIC can still move at its normal speed, but it cannot receive any type of remote support, and has an increased signature radius.
  
They are best used in pairs with logistics ships as backup, so that they can switch between bubbling and being remotely repaired. If the enemy starts shooting the bubbling HIC, it can drop its bubble and be repped back up again while the second HIC covers and puts up its bubble instead.  
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Activating a HIC bubble thus makes the HIC itself a more easily-damaged target, and commits its pilot to purely local tanking for at least the next 30 seconds. In return, the HIC has a mobile bubble, which opens up more tactical possibilities, such as moving the bubble in concert with an opposing gang to keep them tackled, or keeping the bubble out in front of a mobile friendly gang to screen their mid- and back-lines from hostile warp-ins.
  
 
The bubble can not be used in lowsec or highsec. If you see a HIC in empire that seems to have its bubble up, it is a graphical bug caused by loading the grid after the point was activated. (This bug has reportedly been fixed, but pilots may still see it in some old videos).
 
The bubble can not be used in lowsec or highsec. If you see a HIC in empire that seems to have its bubble up, it is a graphical bug caused by loading the grid after the point was activated. (This bug has reportedly been fixed, but pilots may still see it in some old videos).
  
== List of Heavy Interdiction Cruisers ==
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=== Infinity Pointing ===
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The Warp Disruption Field Generator can be loaded with a Focused Warp Disruption script, or a Focused Warp Scrambling script, which turns the module into a kind of super single-target warp disruptor (or warp scrambler) with long range and infinite strength. When scripted to create this "infinipoint", the module still prevents remote support while active. However, unlike the unscripted warp disruption field mode, the scripted module can be activated in both hisec and lowsec.
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HICs are the only ships that can, using this infinite point, tackle super-capital ships in low sec (in part because the use of this script ''also'' blocks capital ships from jumping through stargates). They are also sometimes used in high- and low-sec gatecamps to negate the effect of Warp Core Stabilizers, catching otherwise-slippery transport ships. Furthermore, these scripts can be used to shut down hostile [[Propulsion_equipment#Micro_Jump_Drives|Micro Jump Drives]] and [[Propulsion_equipment#Micro_Jump_Field_Generator|Micro Jump Field Generators]], and thus prevent enemies from either defensively micro jumping to safety or offensively micro jumping part of a friendly fleet out of position. While scripted, the Warp Disruption Field Generator also prevents ships from docking within citadels.
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=== Rolling Wormholes ===
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Heavy interdictors are also the only ships which can fit the Zero Point Mass Entangler high slot module. When activated, this dramatically reduces the HIC's mass (by 80%, to a fifth of its normal value) but even more dramatically reduces its speed (by 95%). It disables the warp drive and any microwarp drive fitted, and reduces the thrust bonus from afterburners by 90%.
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These effects are unhelpful in most situations, but they make the ship a convenient tool for "rolling" [[wormholes]], that is, moving mass through an unwanted wormhole in order to close it. In particular, the Entangler's mass reduction effects allow a HIC to jump through a critically destabilized wormhole, with minimal chance of that wormhole collapsing until the HIC jumps through it again (with its Entanglers off this time). To this end, most rolling HIC fits feature 3 Entanglers, which are activated together, to maximize the mass reduction effects.
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{{expansion past|Prior to September, 2018, it was the Warp Disruption Field Generator itself which provided the HIC with reduced mass and speed. However, there was an unintended interaction between the Generator and 500MN Microwarpdrives, allowing 500MN HICs to slingshot themselves around stargates at high speeds and thus tackle any ship no matter where it was coming from. When CCP moved to address this by removing the mass and speed effects from the Generator, it caused a severe outcry from the wormhole space community over the loss of "rolling HICs", and so the Zero Point Mass Entangler was hastily created to re-introduce the desired non-combat mass reduction behavior.}}
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== Tactics ==
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HICs represent an opposite trade-off to the cheap cost and vulnerability of the lighter interdictors: HICs are extremely tough, but more expensive and less expendable. In some circumstances, such as a fast, agile gang, light interdictors might be a better choice.
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When used in fleets for their bubbles, HICs shine when deployed in pairs or larger groups with [[logistics]] ships as backup. With good coordination, the HICs can pass the task of bubbling around, so that the logistics ships can repair those HICs which are not currently bubbling. Many of the same [[Interdictors#Tactics|considerations around bubble tactics]] relevant to interdictor pilots remain relevant in HICs; in particular, pilots should remember that an unwanted friendly bubble at the wrong time or in the wrong place can wreak havoc on a fleet commander's plans.
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When used for low-sec or high-sec gatecamps, HICs benefit from local or remote sensor boosting, to pump up their already-good scan resolution for fast target lock times.
  
* {{sh|Devoter}}: Armor tank, and a better one than the Phobos, but 1 less midslot, which is significant in Empire where HICs usually fit sensor boosters to help them catch fast targets.
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== See Also ==
* {{sh|Onyx}}: Shield tank. Lower tank and speed than the Broadsword, but a lot more CPU, letting it fit a probe launcher. Additionally, in empire where HICs usually fit sensor boosters, it has a very hard time properly plugging its EM resist hole.
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* [[Tackling]]
* {{sh|Phobos}}: Armor tank. The Devoter tanks better, but the Phobos has an extra midslot, making it better at catching fast targets in Empire with an extra sensor booster.
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* [[Cruisers]]
* {{sh|Broadsword}}: Shield tank. Better speed and resists than the Onyx, at the price of CPU for utility mods.
 
  
 
[[Category:Ships]]
 
[[Category:Ships]]

Latest revision as of 14:42, 6 September 2024

Heavy Interdiction Cruisers (HICs or hictors) are Tech 2 cruisers designed to provide heavy tackle. To this end, they are able to fit the Warp Disruption Field Generator, a module which can either project an Interdiction Field around the ship or be focused into an "infinity point", a single-target warp disruptor or scrambler that no number of Warp Core Stabilizers can resist. All HICs have a 5% range bonus per HIC level to this module. Further, they all have a 20% resist bonus corresponding to their faction's preferred tank. Besides this they have bonuses to their faction's preferred weapon system.

The HICs of the four empires are:

Besides those four empire HICs, there are the Sansha's Nation HIC, the Sansha's NationFiend, and the Mordu's Legion HIC, the Mordu's LegionLaelaps. As limited edition AT ships, they are rare and don't have a big role in everyday gameplay.

Capabilities

Bubbles

In null security space, heavy interdiction cruisers can create a warp disruption field similar to the bubble created by light interdictors. The field has a radius of 12–20 km, depending on the pilot's level in the Heavy Interdictor ship command skill.

However, while the light interdictor creates bubbles centered on the probes it launches, and so can launch its bubble, leave it, and even get off grid, the heavy interdiction cruiser's bubble is generated by and centered on the HIC itself.

This ship-centered bubble capability comes from the Warp Disruption Field Generator, a high-slot module with a cycle time of 30 seconds. While the bubble is active, the HIC can still move at its normal speed, but it cannot receive any type of remote support, and has an increased signature radius.

Activating a HIC bubble thus makes the HIC itself a more easily-damaged target, and commits its pilot to purely local tanking for at least the next 30 seconds. In return, the HIC has a mobile bubble, which opens up more tactical possibilities, such as moving the bubble in concert with an opposing gang to keep them tackled, or keeping the bubble out in front of a mobile friendly gang to screen their mid- and back-lines from hostile warp-ins.

The bubble can not be used in lowsec or highsec. If you see a HIC in empire that seems to have its bubble up, it is a graphical bug caused by loading the grid after the point was activated. (This bug has reportedly been fixed, but pilots may still see it in some old videos).

Infinity Pointing

The Warp Disruption Field Generator can be loaded with a Focused Warp Disruption script, or a Focused Warp Scrambling script, which turns the module into a kind of super single-target warp disruptor (or warp scrambler) with long range and infinite strength. When scripted to create this "infinipoint", the module still prevents remote support while active. However, unlike the unscripted warp disruption field mode, the scripted module can be activated in both hisec and lowsec.

HICs are the only ships that can, using this infinite point, tackle super-capital ships in low sec (in part because the use of this script also blocks capital ships from jumping through stargates). They are also sometimes used in high- and low-sec gatecamps to negate the effect of Warp Core Stabilizers, catching otherwise-slippery transport ships. Furthermore, these scripts can be used to shut down hostile Micro Jump Drives and Micro Jump Field Generators, and thus prevent enemies from either defensively micro jumping to safety or offensively micro jumping part of a friendly fleet out of position. While scripted, the Warp Disruption Field Generator also prevents ships from docking within citadels.

Rolling Wormholes

Heavy interdictors are also the only ships which can fit the Zero Point Mass Entangler high slot module. When activated, this dramatically reduces the HIC's mass (by 80%, to a fifth of its normal value) but even more dramatically reduces its speed (by 95%). It disables the warp drive and any microwarp drive fitted, and reduces the thrust bonus from afterburners by 90%.

These effects are unhelpful in most situations, but they make the ship a convenient tool for "rolling" wormholes, that is, moving mass through an unwanted wormhole in order to close it. In particular, the Entangler's mass reduction effects allow a HIC to jump through a critically destabilized wormhole, with minimal chance of that wormhole collapsing until the HIC jumps through it again (with its Entanglers off this time). To this end, most rolling HIC fits feature 3 Entanglers, which are activated together, to maximize the mass reduction effects.

Tactics

HICs represent an opposite trade-off to the cheap cost and vulnerability of the lighter interdictors: HICs are extremely tough, but more expensive and less expendable. In some circumstances, such as a fast, agile gang, light interdictors might be a better choice.

When used in fleets for their bubbles, HICs shine when deployed in pairs or larger groups with logistics ships as backup. With good coordination, the HICs can pass the task of bubbling around, so that the logistics ships can repair those HICs which are not currently bubbling. Many of the same considerations around bubble tactics relevant to interdictor pilots remain relevant in HICs; in particular, pilots should remember that an unwanted friendly bubble at the wrong time or in the wrong place can wreak havoc on a fleet commander's plans.

When used for low-sec or high-sec gatecamps, HICs benefit from local or remote sensor boosting, to pump up their already-good scan resolution for fast target lock times.

See Also