Destroying Enemy Shields
 

I want to try to capture more enemy ships, but want more of the internal components left intact( since they may have new tech). Any suggestions on weapon choices/tactics ?

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

Use sheild depleting weapons, and tractor beams. Use a lot of Security forces on your ship.

I deplete their sheilds, and then capture their ships. You can also go to ministers, and establish the stratigy that you want your fleet to capture enemy ships.

Good luck.

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"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Patric Stewart as Captain Picard
UCP/TCO Ship Yards

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Claymore:
I want to try to capture more enemy ships, but want more of the internal components left intact( since they may have new tech). Any suggestions on weapon choices/tactics ?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Go for the Temporal Tech tree...weapons do 4X damage to shields...very nice! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif


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Regards,
KiloOhm

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

More specifically on Temporal Weapons - in the early levels, the smaller weapon (don't recall the name) does 4X shield damage (and can also damage internals, which is sometimes useful http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif). In later levels, you get the "Shield Accelerator" which works like a Shield Depleter only more powerful. Of course, in my current game, I also have the "Massive Shield Depleting" unique tech, which ROCKS!!! (well, as long as the weapon doesn't miss - at one shot per combat, it's really upsetting when it misses).

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

Along with shield depleting weapons, place a repair bay on your ship. It will help you recover the space marines and fix any damage on your "new" ship.

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

There are some good tips here. I support my capture teams with a repair ship. Also, you may want to include a lot of smaller weapons rather then one heavy mount to "snipe" one component at a time off an enemy until you get that self destruct device shut down.

If you can "hole up" at the end of a warp points and keep your ships in a loose formation (I don't use fleets when ambushing) you stand a good change of starting combat right on top of your prey.

Some advanced capture techniques:

Don't use shields (if combat Last THAT long you have failed).

Research Capture Teams and Shield Dep. Weps exclusively; steal all other ship tech (I save hundreds of thousands of RP every game by stealing Ice and Gas colony, all Ship construction and everything else that's not nailed down).

Add a Space Yard Ship to ambush area as soon as you can. Then, you can scrap, analyze or retrofit on the spot. One or two turn’s delay in deploying new tech can kill a space pirate. Keep the old repair unit around to speed up retrofits.

RETROFIT those captured hulks! NEVER build from scratch. Peasants build. Pirates take. It's fast but expensive.

Good capture like this is an exploit of the current AI - You can win every game under most any circumstances as the AI will TROW metal down a warp point and into your pocket. However, a human opponent will adapt and overcome with self-destruct charges on loaded, cheap, ramming ships.

Yojinbo

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

I've said this in other threads but it fits here as well - Intel and Crew Insurrection!!! You don't need the psycic or any special techs. You don't even need ships for this and you NEVER damage components. The only hitch is getting them (the ships) to a Space Yard for analysis.

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

Maybe simply get the spaceyard to the ship!

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

Fun things to do if you know you can't get a captured ship back to friendly territory, and can't risk a ship space yard (or get it there in time):

* Launch/jettison the cargo, immediately!

* Minefield detection/clearing. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

* Attacking/blockading nearby ships/planets.
Even a Colony Ship can blockade...

* Colonize a planet and emergency build fighters. They can be fast enough that your enemy, unless very numerous or with his own fighters, can't catch 'em in combat -- and I suspect that a single fighter might be able to blockade a planet...

* Give it to a third party who's also very far away. Especially if the ship is out of fuel, or otherwise crippled. Spread the anger. =) I also do this with PPP'd planets that I can't defend, as well.


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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

Re: Destroying Enemy Shields
 

Boarding parties are faster to research, cheaper to build, and faster to reuse than intelligence projects. If all you want is to capture ships, intelligence is a vastly inferior method. Its sole advantage is that you don't need to know where the ship you're stealing is. The downside is that you often get a lone ship deep in enemy territory surrounded by more powerful, hostile forces. If you can't get to your enemy, or your enemy has a big lead on you, then Intelligence is the way to go. Also, both methods complement each other very well.


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