SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

Hi folks,

I have a problem. I have an AI race that's squatting on a system I want and want to take it from him, with minimal losses. Since this is a no tactical combat game, using the Maximum Weapons Range, will Capital Ship Missle 3 (CSM-3) be sufficient to take out planetary defenses, probably small Satellites and sm. weapons platforms?

I'm thinking of sending 5 ships, two Frigates armed with level 5 Depleted Uranium Cannon (DUC-5) 3 each and 3 Destroyers armed with 4 CSM-3 each. I was going to send in the FF's as sacrificial lambs and let the DDs stand off and pound the satellites and planet with missles.

Opinion: will this work? If not, what do I need to bring to the table. I doubt this race has as much to build with as I do, I only see his homeworld and 2 tiny colonies.

thanks in advance!

Regards,

Rob aka dethgod74

Re: SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

Ok, first big problem: CSMs can't shoot satellites. Stand back at maximum missile range, fire at the planet, and dodge out of range until you're reloaded. Repeat until the planet dies, then send in the FFs.

Re: SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

Good for you, with the no tactical!

Pheonix's plan should work if you allow for two waves of combat.

Just make sure the missile ships will retreat when there are only the satellites left... And try to give the ships enough PD to fend off the missiles that will be coming back at you.

Re: SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

Ah memories. Wish I could start over with a simple little AI game!! Those were fun times.

TT

Re: SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

If the AI is using missile sats and platforms, and it usually does, you will want a couple of level 3 point defense cannons on your ships.

If the AI has had nothing to do but colonize 3 planets in this system, then its spent all this time building weapon platform after weapon platform probably with CSM 1.

Meantime, get a transport full of troops ready to join your attack fleet so you can take that planet instead of glassing it. It's not going to up and leave.

Wasn't it nice of them to build up its facilities just for your convenience? Bwa-ha-ha-ha.

Re: SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

Want to thank everyohne that replied to my post. Unfortunately, I haven't researched troops yet, so I'll have to glass the planet. But I did LIKE that idea!

I am going send a lightly armed escort into attack the planet to see EXACTLY what I'm up against. While I'm doing that, my SY's will created 2 more FFs and 2 more DDs, so instead of 5 or 6 ships, I'll go in with 10 ships, 4 FFs and 6 DDs.

Thanks for the intel folks!

Regards all,

Rob aka dethgod74

Re: SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

I'm almost embarrassed to post this link here: {oh the shame} (but I'm doing it anyway.) It points to an old, old, old post of mine to a wiki built long ago for SE4. Clink around a bit, it's fun. Just ignore the PHP errors and hit refresh if IE fails to load messages. Heh.

Re: SE 4: Early game standoff tactic...
 

Yeah, I remember that. Someone should fix that.