[Taera]

#2, #3 - Good questions. About two years ago, playing SEIII, i was wondering what are the uses of mesons, torpedoes, plasma missiles etc. For the fun of it i played with the designs... resulting in destroyers that were about 1/3 cost of a normal attack ships (LC, CR, BC) meaning that i could build 3 of them for every enemy ship. Also, those three could easily beat any other attack ship encountered and sometimes even two of them.

In SEIV mesons are the king weapon of the early game. Cheap, average damage, one-turn-shot. Medium range. Ok, doesnt look that good, right? Now try this - build a LC and fill it with larger DUCs. Count the damage-per-turn. Now do the same for mesons. You'll see the difference.

APBs? why, they are the only small weapons with ROF 1 that have the maximum range of a direct weapon. Up to about VII level they are pretty weak, but if you keep researching you'll have one of the best weapons in the game.

Torpedoes... ever met the Rage race, one of the best single-player AIs? I was wondering could i design a ship that could beat their cruiser filled with PPBs and NSP. Guess what it was? a LC filled with engine damagers, shield depleters and TORPEDOES. Yes, they have (i think) 1 range more than the Rage and good planning could put you on maximum range where torpedoes have much more advantage than the PPB.

Plasma Missiles are superior to CSM in any way. Yes, they have less damage, but THEY MOVE FASTER, usualy not allowing second barrage of PDCs. Its either you kill them all or you get hit. Nasty in combination with repulsers.

Anyway, the point is, every weapon has its use. Sometimes. You jsut havent encountered the need for these.