newbie questions
 

A couple of quick SE4 questions. Please forgive my relative newbieness. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Will shields and/or armor on a weapons platform make a difference? Furthermore, will placing ECM or combat sensors on a weapons platform make a difference? What are the relative benefits of satellites vs. weapons platform for planetary defense in the first stages of the game?

Thanks!

Re: newbie questions
 

Yes and Yes for both of your questions.

Weapon platforms generally have more oomph to them in terms of firepower...I generally only use satellites for point-defense comps while weapon platforms have regular weapons.

Re: newbie questions
 

Shields and/or armor on a WP add to the total hit points (kt) to destroy it.

ECM and combat sensors do work on WP's.

Depends on the weapons you put on them. Some people opt for sat's with missiles early on, some WP's with missiles early on. In the long run, IMHO, med and large WP's with appropriately mounted direct fire weapons are better then sats because they get greater range, damage, and hit points(total kt's).

Re: newbie questions
 

Keep in mind that Sats are recoverable and can be deployed at warp points; WP's cannot.

For planetary defense I count Sat's as nearly useless - right up there with Massive Planetary Shield. They're always on the wrong side of the planet when the enemy comes calling. WP's armed with Combat Sensors and PBB or even DUC's or with CSM's will wreak havoc on an invading fleet.

[ September 23, 2002, 06:40: Message edited by: Elowan ]

Re: newbie questions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">And just how, might I ask, does ECM work on a target that can not be missed more than 1% of the time? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: newbie questions
 

It works, but it is overkill, right?

So, why waste resources on it?

Re: newbie questions
 

IF: That can be modded now, ya know. (Or was that in the upcoming patch? I can't remember...)

Re: newbie questions
 

Weapon Platforms can't be recovered?
I belive you can load them on to transports and move them to more vunerable planets.

Re: newbie questions
 

yeah, that's what i do. i make a light cruiser colonizer with extra cargo space, load up some WP's and off it goes into enemy space. keeps the ai busy while my other frontier systems get a chance to build a decent defense

Re: newbie questions
 

You guys rock. Thanks for the info. I appreciate your help!!

Re: newbie questions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Actually, that is a good question. I wonder if it because it is all fantasy and we can do what is normally considered terrible things without suffering any guilt.

Re: newbie questions
 

I think of them as military bases, with few actual civilians present.

I had a few of those types of colonies, although they were not cannon fodder... rather they were outPosts attempting to stem the tide of aliens before it hit my core systems. They would have a significant ship/base presence in order to protect the wounded, and to hurt enemies that were capable of wiping out the colony.

They would get wiped out fairly often, so the value was stuck at 0%, but they were mainly needed for the resupply depot and space yards.

[ September 23, 2002, 21:45: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

Re: newbie questions
 

minipol,
Just a philosophical quesiton,
How do you sell this, "load up some WP's and off it goes into enemy space. " to the colonist in question, or do you name the planet, "New Austrialia" and only send criminals there?
/just trying to be humorous.

Re: newbie questions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif . I tell them it's a "very" nice place they are going and of course, i give them "stock options". works like a charm http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif