[dmm]

I don't know if this is a bug or just a balance issue. Played the SEV demo for about 30 turns. Have missile5 and PDC5. In the simulator, a Frigate5 with 3 missiles easily defeats a LightCruiser2 with 11 PDC and 2 large-mount DUC5s, in either Tactical or Strategic mode. I figured the LC would chase the F into a corner and pummel it, but the missiles get through the PDC too often. [edit: Forgot to mention that LC has CombatSensor4.]

Note that the strategies are set to Med Range for the LC and Max Range for the F. (BTW, I also noticed that changing to Max Range _really_ helps missile ships, and editing the Max Range strategy to break formation and to target the closest ship is also critical for the success of missile ships in multi-ship strategic combats.)

Note also that I didn't know about directional damage until just now, so my PDC and armor are distributed around the perimeter of the LC in an aesthetic fashion. Don't know if that matters. Are there firing arcs as well?

Anyway, is this a bug, or a balance issue, or am I doing something wrong? As it stands, there seems to be no point in using any weapon but missiles for the first 50 turns, and there seems to be no point in bothering with PDC. (I haven't encountered any AI yet. [Wierd, but I did start in the corner.] I guess if they are using fighters I'm in big trouble.)

On the positive side, I love the look of the tactical combat, and how it can be varied from adrenalin-pumping real-time to almost cerebral turn-based. Also love how the ships can't change heading instantly -- they have momentum! Does engine placement affect this? (I'm guessing "no.")