First of all let me say that I typed this post yesterday (May 29), but then couldn't get to the board all day. So it will not include answers to the latest Posts:
Whew, lots of answers to type. Good thing the board is currently down (Zulu 11:00). That gives me some more time to type, before even more Posts show up
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Andres - Phased weapons doing only half damage against phased shields is a good suggestion. That would certainly put more emphasis on PPB being a mid-game weapon.
Phoenix - Sorry I left out the damage. I figured those numbers would be pretty well known. Didn't want to state the obvious and wanted to give a new perspective (cost). No ill intent here. My point is: Just looking at damage without considering the cost, the PPB seems a lot stronger than it really is.
Also don't forget that not all people play with medium research cost. At low cost APB XII does not cost millions more, just about twice as much. Also at low cost you can have APB VI or Shields IV just for the 100k that opens up PPB.
Quikngruvn - Yeah, I also noted that weird progression of PPB. Rather than increasing the levels to eight, I would just tone down the lower levels. I still think PPB V is balanced, but PPB II is not. So here is a suggestion for the lower levels:
I 30 25 25 20 -- --
II 35 30 30 25 25 --
III 45 40 40 35 35 --
IV 50 45 45 40 40 40
V 60 55 55 50 50 50
Along with the raise of base research cost from 5k to 10k that could do the job (just one note: PPB III would now compare to DUC V damage-wise against unshielded opponents). A further increase in cost could also be a turn-off, but I wouldn't go as far as one third or one half extra. 20% extra cost (PPB V for 600 min) would be more than enough, IMHO (and with the changes just mentioned, I'd rather go without no additional cost).
Tenryu - Your suggestion makes PPB waaayyy too weak IMHO. For a 100k "admission fee" you get a PPB I with damage 15 10 00 00 ...? No offense, but that is just worthless. Using your system you'd have to have at least PPB V before even considering using them.
My dearest M.B.
- How can I compare PPB V to APB V or VI? Simply because that is what you get for the same research prize. I thought that would be appropriate. I do know that the APB does less damage than PPB at those levels, but APB V (plus 100k of research to use for other things) is a good comparison. But I made one mistake: I only compared PPB V to the APB. I agree that PPB II is overpowered (see my reply and suggestion above). I agree that the cost of radioactives is not important, although I admit that I had some serious rad problems in some of my games...,but that was just because I didn't pay attention
.
I guess that challenge is directed at me. Your idea of duking it out is totally childish, immature, will not prove anything, nor will anybody change their opinion because of it. That is exactly why I love it
! Anytime, anyplace... I love playing mano-a-mano and have never met you in a game, this should be fun.
Hope, I didn't forget anybody...
Rollo