Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

I have seen two games decided by massive warp point assaults (1 favorable, 1 not). By decided, I mean that one side lost so much that there is no way they would be competitive again.

Is this normally how games are decided?

Is there such a thing as having too many ships in an offensive against a warp point?

Is it a bad idea to use carriers?

Is there a way to decide what ships to enter first (such as ones with better shields, etc.)?

Are there any 'secret knocks' to opening a warp point?

Thanks in advance...

(Congrats Pious Ron)

[ April 18, 2003, 00:19: Message edited by: SamuraiProgrammer ]

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

I'll just answer a few of these.

Originally posted by SamuraiProgrammer:
Is this normally how games are decided?

I would say no. I think most games are decided by planet losses.

Is there such a thing as having too many ships in an offensive against a warp point?

Not really, but unlucky ship placement can kill you.

Is there a way to decide what ships to enter first (such as ones with better shields, etc.)?

Sorry no, they all enter at once. Only your fleet leader do you have any kind of control over.

Are there any 'secret knocks' to opening a warp point?

See the current thread "Warp point opening technology -- How?"

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes. Use SBMHAWKs en mass !

Sorry, read too much Weber' books http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Find a formation that you like and then number all of the ships in the fleet (1, 2, 3, etc.). They should fall into formation in that order since they are aranged alphanumerically. I think. I always have my fleets break formation, so I'm a little rusty on the subject, but I did some experimentation back in the day and that seemed to be the pattern.

In any case it should be good for some experimentation.

If you try it out be sure to post the results.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

"Is it a bad idea to use carriers?"

IMHO yes. Even as defender carriers will need time to launch their fighters and because the combat starts at close range they may be destroyed before most of the fighters are lauched. However fighters themselves are great to defend a warp point.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No. Especially if the defender has Crew Converters. I found this out the hard way. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

Posted by QuarianRex
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">How do I number my ships? I haven't figured out a way to do this. Or do you mean just change the name of each ship?

I do believe the game will number the ships and place them according to the formation numbers, but I haven't figured out the game's system for numbering ships and if I did, what could I do about it?

In formations.txt, you can select particular design types to fit in different formation slots. For instance attack ships in front, carriers in the rear, capture ships on the wings. Last time I tried this it didn't work. The game places the ships according to its own plan so you best grin and bear it.

In my experience, at a warp point, it is impossible to tell in advance the positioning of the defenders ships or the orientation of your formation so random positioning may be just as effective as a carefully thought out formation.

[ April 18, 2003, 17:08: Message edited by: Grandpa Kim ]

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree. I use Wall a lot, and lots of times, it shows up on the tactical map like a row marching toward the other fleet instead of a wall. THAT sucks.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

Send a ramming fleet in first. To see what is on the other side

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Or, though I've never done it, can't scanners "peek" on the other side?

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Send in a single stripped down escort; you'll see just as much.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

No, scanners can't peek, but a single ship or a drone can, by moving over. If you are putting a huge number of your ships into one fleet, it's generally best not to order it into the unknown without a good reason.

PvK

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Find a formation that you like and then number all of the ships in the fleet (1, 2, 3, etc.). They should fall into formation in that order since they are aranged alphanumerically. I think. I always have my fleets break formation, so I'm a little rusty on the subject, but I did some experimentation back in the day and that seemed to be the pattern.

In any case it should be good for some experimentation.

If you try it out be sure to post the results.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, they are positioned in the formation in the order that the ships were constructed.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Probably. I remember that numbering the ships (renaming them with an appropriate number at the front) changed their order in the fleet window and then I did some testing for the formations. Couldn't remember what the results were though.

I knew that construction order was the deciding factor in the cargo window and such but I wasn't sure about fleet formations.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

Rex: the idea is you had to pull them out of the fleet to rename them. The numbering of the fleet goes by the order they were added OR counting down from the leader. Im not sure which one.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

Here's something I've had success with;

Design a DN with 20 shield generators, some PDC's, ECM, Stealth and Scattering Armor, and one cheap weapon. Add a few of these to your fleet. They'll get pounded and possibly destroyed but the bulk of your fleet should survive that first volly and be able to return fire. This plays on how the game figures out what the "strongest" ship is and how the strategies are set up. It's not foolproof but it does shift the odds a little.

Re: Some Questions About Warp Assaults
 

Taera, if Fyron is right(and I think he is)it doesn't matter what number you give your ships as they will be ordered according to their order of construction.