Frostbite - Raid Format and What to Get

With the official Frostbite information being published, I'll make a few more comments on raid format, and then look over the prize list and make some recommendations:

The raid post (with video) is at:  https://www.kixeye.com/forum/discussion/495162

The raid targets consist of:

• Seek and Destroy:  Similar to last time, there will be fleets to hit on the world map, but they go up to higher point values.  The Snowblind targets went from 2,000 to 20,000 points, but the targets in this raid will be worth up to 225,000 points.
• Frostbite Recon: players level 1 - 49 have this campaign available, with a series of Arctic Bases to hit.  The Bonus for this campaign is 60,000 points
• Frostbite Siege: players level 50 and up have this campaign available, with a series of Arctic Bases to hit.  The Bonus for this campaign is 2 Million points
• Frostbite Assault: one large Arctic Stronghold to hit, worth up to 6 million points.  Expect Nighthawks.

Two player-friendly changes have been made:  

• The time limit for the campaigns will be the duration of the event, which will help mid-levels and non-coiners who might want to do the campaign slowly and repair between fights.
• Co-op is possible, so players can help each other.  However, the full bonus goes to the player who started the campaign.  Also, there will still be a divide between players 50+ and lower level players.  It seems like players at or above level 50 will not be able to help a player level 49 or below with the Frostbite Recon campaign.  Update - a mod has said that once a player starts a campaign, any player (even above level 50) can help.  However, Level 50 players who have a "Sugar Daddy" could start the Siege campaign, sit in with a gunboat, and have the Sugar Daddy complete the campaign to give 2 million points to their special friend.

Prizes

I did an analysis of the prizes in my earlier post:  http://bpprof.blogspot.com/2014/09/frostbite-leaked-prize-analysis.html

I'll make some recommendations on each tier:

Tier 5: 

Limited (1) Deadeye Executioner (20 Million): This is a fairly unique turret, with retargeting and extremely long range.  One of these won't make your base impenetrable, but it will be nice to have.

Executioner (12.5 Million): Another base turret option, in the same damage class as the Javelin. Having a mix of Javelins and Executioners will force base fleets to not be loaded up on any particular damage resistance.

Tier 4:

Interceptor Hull (5.5 Million): The only hull available this raid, This hull is a must-get, especially if you don't have the Viper. 

Impulse Launcher D92-U (4.5 Million): This launcher doesn't have quite as good DPS as the F launcher, but is well tuned for PvE targets.  S launcher (available from Forsaken Mission Tier 4) may also be better when very highly ranked.  The U launcher is also available in the Fractured Empires Campaign pack 2 - Look for a guide on the forums for how to do that campaign with subs or lower level ships.

Achilles Missile D55-B (5.5 Million) / Siege Missile D55-F:  These missile aren't world beaters compared to launchers or UAVs.  If looking to arm a missile-optimized hull, the Assault Missile D53-Z available from Forsaken Mission Tier 4 might be the best long-range option, or the Torrent 3 would be better if long range isn't needed.

Siege Torpedoes D65-Z (6 Million): Although their extra damage, extra speed, and shorter minimum range is nice compared to Assault Torpedos, most players prefer the Assault Torpedo B for the extra range.

Armor D4-T, M, P (5 Million): These (Turn Speed, Missile Resist, Sonar Range) are not really the best use of your points, especially if any other D4 armors are in your lab (E for Evade, and V for Speed would be my first two choices).

Tier 3:

Siege Torpedo C, S, D, Assault Torpedo V:  Unless you really need a Draconian torpedo for a Spectre or other high-end sub, skip these, since you'll want to refit with the Siege Z or Assault B once you get it.  I like the Siege C better than the other two Siege Torpedos if you are determined to take one.

Strike System 3: Great for Missile hulls (Interceptor!) or even Nuclear Cruisers, this one sometimes comes up in the Forsaken Mission.  If you get the Interceptor, you want this special as well, so pick it up if you don't have it.

Torrent 3:  Also a good fit for the new missile hulls, this one is also available in the Forsaken Mission.  Like Strike 3, it is worth getting if you have a build in mind. 

Stealth Attack System 3:  Previously used only rarely on subs, this special (Submerge time + Concussive damage) may come in handy in combination with Magnus Drive. 

Armor D3-M, P: Like the D4 armors, these (Missile Resist, Sonar Range) are not really the best use of your points, especially if any other D3 armors are in your lab (E for Evade, and V for Speed are still my first two choices).

Tier 2: This whole tier is like Tier 3, but a step down. 

Assault Torpedo X, R: Don't take these to refit over Havoks, but you might want the Assault X for new sub builds if you don't have access to anything better.

Strike System 2: Also available in campaign Hunt the Nemesis Pack 2 - see if you might be able to go that route instead.

Stealth Attack System 2:  Not your first choice, but might be cool on a Stalker.

Armor D2-M, P: Like the D4 & D3 armors, these (Missile Resist, Sonar Range) are not really the best use of your points, especially if any other D2 armors are in your lab (E for Evade, and V for Speed are still my first two choices).

Tier 1: This whole tier is like Tier 2, but another step down. 

Vortex Torpedo T, M: I like the Vortex T for decoy Spectres.  Otherwise skip these. predators with Vortex torpedos won't up your game.

Strike System 1: Also available in campaign Hunt the Nemesis Pack 1 - but if you can do that campaign, you probably aren't messing around with Tier 1 specials.

Stealth Attack System 1:  Not your first choice, but might be OK on a Stalker.

Armor D1-M, C: D1 armor choices are limited to M, C, and X.  But these are all available from Tier 1 salvage blueprint drops.  Don't spend points on these.

Overall, I like the new prizes but am not too excited about what they made available from the back catalog (sort of the opposite of last raid).  

Although this raid looks to be more player friendly, I think players who are limited to the first three tiers of prizes don't have very good prize options, which is too bad, especially since the influx of players through Armor Games will be going through their first raid.

For High levels, my recommended priority is: 

1. Interceptor
2. Executioner
3. Deadeye Executioner

For Mid levels, my recommended priority is:

1. Interceptor Hull (if you can)
2. Strike System 3
3. Impulse Launcher D92-U
4. Torrent 3

For Low levels, my recommended priority is:

1. Do campaigns.  Death Grip Prize Pack 1 gives 3 great prizes: Mauler Hull, Hailstorm A, and Shockwave D71-L (and Alloy MX-1).  Win the Prize Pack, then put all those things together in a fleet. 

(I've updated this - see my next article:  http://bpprof.blogspot.com/2014/09/frostbite-tips-after-day.html)

One more note... I am noticing lots of torpedos and sub specials in the prize list this time... what is Kixeye up to?