Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

Just a general thread on ramming ships, anyone else noticed how useful they are? they're basicly "better" drones sometimes and a handful of organic ramming ships can wipe out a fleet.

Anyone ever used the strategy that the ship first fires a missile and then rams by itself effectively?

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

Try an engine destroying weapon instead... should make catching them easier! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

engine destroying weapon costs a lot and requires sensors which also cost a lot. ramming ships should be cheap, i believe.

[ May 08, 2003, 07:16: Message edited by: Taera ]

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

Good point. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Hey, just had a thought or two.(doesn't happen often enough so bear with me! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif )

Will emissive armor reduce the damage produced by a ram? If so that might be a useful addition.

Defense against a ram - will repellor beams be useful against a ramming ship? Can the AI use it properly in simul-games?

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

taz - ramming ships' damage is calculated in hundreds. an organic ram LC (my latest experience) can deal over 600 damage. 20 or so resisted will not help you.

repulsors - yes, thats a good point, but rammers should be swarming - so ships would be overrun, i guess. dunno though, its a valid point.

FEAR THE ORGANIC RAMMING BATTLESHIP lol i once tried it out in SP...its a killer one.

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

Throw a shield generator on those OA ramming ships, so you can avoid being easily boarded or being disabled by one shot from an ID.

[ May 08, 2003, 09:12: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Won't the shields be gone the first time the ship rams?

Are you treating the ship as having done it's job, 600 point of damage is a hell of a job, after the first ram, and so unconcerned with what happens to it afterwards?

A ramming ship needs speed, does it not? Will not the high-end engines and solar sail make the ship expensive enough that you can no longer afford enough of them to 'swarm'? Is that cost insignificant compared with the cost of the ships they are destroying?

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

Drones are best ramming devices. They are expensive to build but they require no upkeep. Well, only as much as drone carrier requires.

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

Shields only help the defender.
The ramming ship will not use its shields during the attack.

The main point is to let the ship reach its target without being easily disabled. If the ship manages to survive the first attack, the shields will continue to protect the ship as it heads for the next target.

Re: Ramming ships - swarming & organics
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Except that they are one use only. Organic armored battleships can easily ram dozens of ships by themselves, and cost a huge amount less than an equal power of drones would cost (including maintenance of the ramming ship).

Another great part about the OA rammers is that if they enemy's strategies are set improperly, they can easily absorb a huge number of weapons being fired at them, thus protecting your more expsensive war ships.

[ May 08, 2003, 19:04: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]