Early weaonry?

[javaslinger]

Just wonder what everyone thought was the best weapon to go for early in the game. You seem to have a pleathora (sp?) of choices..

DUC's - Fast and cheap
Missiles - more expensive
Energy Stream
Energy Pulse - These seem to similar... I think one is better than the other so why the heck would you get the other?
Torpedos?

Thanks,

Ken

[Phoenix-D]

Energy Stream (anti proton beams or APBs) and Energy Pulse (meson bLasters or MBs) are NOT the same. Meson BLasters are smaller, don't drop in damage at range, have shorter range. They also have fewer tech levels, so even though they start off more expensive to research in the long run they are cheaper.

[Pax]

Eventually APBs will outstrip Meson BLastrs.

However, for a low-aggression race (say a Religious race which plans on relying on the Talisman to produce hits), the Meson BLaster makes much, much more sense.

Why?

Volume of fire. MEsons and APBs, at maximum range, get about the same damage per kT at early tech levels (possibly favoring the APB by a narrow margin). However, in 60kT of space, you canmount EITEHR two APB's ... or three Meson BLasters.

This is a key issue; if you have a low chance to hit, every extra time you can at least TRY, increases your overall odds of scoring SOME damage. SOME damage in small packets is better than NO damage in large packets, right?

And that 60kT comparison isn't made idly, either. That's about the weaponry space for a Frigate or perhaps armored Destroyer -- or a small sattelite. Those are the sorts of ships EARLY game fighting will center around, n'est-ce pas?

[Growltigga]

I agree, APB's will eventually outstrip MB's (maybe a moot point as most people research physics to get phased energy weaponry pretty quickly).

My tactic is to research combat support and sensors pretty early on. This way, I can use DUC V's or MB's to dangerous effect due to the bonus to hit. DUC's are cheap to research so a couple of these on a frigate (supported by a couple of PDC's if you are fighting a missile heavy race or armour is fighting another close assault-type race) is going to be a hard combination to beat

The big driver for early weapon choice is configuring your ships to take on whatever is facing you. I generally start with missiles and against a human player or some of the TDM races (the Pyrochette or the Colonials come to mind), this will not work for long as they come at you with missiles and DUC's/APB's respectively and stacks of PDC's. You cant really hurt each other that much.

So, for example, against the pyrochette I will retrofit my ships to DUC armed close assault ships with stacks of PDC's. Against the Colonials, I will reconfigure with combat sensors, APB's and heavy armour. Against a human, it really depends

[ August 20, 2002, 09:06: Message edited by: Growltigga ]

[Fyron]

GT, that's why you get 35% racial combat bonuses. Most good players don't get PPBs immediately. They do what you just described (minus the MBs).

[Growltigga]

I dont play with any racial combat bonuses. I prefer being the 'common denominator' against which everybody else is benchmarked

And Fyron, I am not a good player so tend to charge ahead for PPB's

PS Fyron, go to bed

[ August 20, 2002, 09:12: Message edited by: Growltigga ]