Mines, Satellites and Fighters oh my!

[Echo Mirage]

I wanted to hear some of your opinions on the differences between these three units for wormhole defence?

I suppose you have a few things to consider:

- Cost (to research and to build)
- Cost (to maintain and re-supply)
- Flexibility (fighters are reactive and mobile, mines are cheap? satellites can be re-deployed.)

Any analysis would be greatly appreciated, I am yet a young Praetor in the Human Imperium, I could use some battle strategies and unti analysis!

Thanks!

[LostCommander]

I hope you find this helpful. First off, I have only played against AIs, no humans, so check out someone else's suggestions for multiplayer without team mode. Also, I play defensively.

Satellites: You get to start the game them! This is good since you can start production and deployment as soon as you are ready. Deploying them on your side of warp points makes them a nasty, close range surprise for all enemy ships and helps ensure that you can fire at them once or more, even if the enemy outrange you. They are also cheap (compared to fighters) and redeployable (as opposed to mines). Another thing to consider is that in tactical combat you can order them to not fire on a scouting vessel/fleet (other humans in a team-play game), unlike mines. Another bonus is that you can drop a couple sensor satellites into the group if you expect forces to enter through a different warp point or to detect cloaked vessels.

Mines: Very cheap for the amount of damage they do. Impossible for the enemy to detect. Along part of the same tech route towards troops which are invaluable. However, you have to replace them as they get used up and, when they are swept, you get no intel. as to what the enemy is packing. It can be a nasty surprise to suddenly find your field swept and much more advanced vessels attatcking than you were prepared to deal with. Also, to be useful, these generally need to be placed on warp points.

Fighters: EXPENSIVE... Most RP required of the three to access originally, and most minerals per unit. However, they can be a reactionary force, can be deployed from a carrier offensively, and they can MOVE. The ability to chase the enemy, or to run, can be very useful. Watch out for point defence weapons, but otherwise they rarely get hit and planetary bombers can help get past AI defences with all the satellites on one side (wich you can use tactical combat to make the "other" side so your fighters will not get shot) and missile platforms planetside. If heavy weapons are all that is targeting the fighters, split them up into tiny Groups (1-3) so that IF they get hit, you will not lose all of them. "Reach out and burn someone."

[Fyron]

All of those become useless given enough time in MP games. They can be useful against those that are not prepared for them (eg: someone only puts one PDC on each warship). Ample (2-3 per ship) PDCs will slaughter fighters and satellites easily, and Mine Sweepers are not very expensive. It is really easy to get enough to sweep 100 mines in a fleet (5 light cruisers with Sweeper IIs will do it). In the early game, these units are indeed useful, but they decline in strength steadily as the game progresses.

[Ragnarok]

Too bad MM doesn't make it so these items Last longer in the game. It would be enjoyable if they were useful in the late game. I know it is possible to do with a mod but I like to see it added to stock SEIV.

[Echo Mirage]

So then it seems to me that a mixed bag of satellites/fighters and mines would be the most effective.

As the game progresses spend less time/resources deploying these units and more time/resources building big *** ships!

[Slick]

Regarding:

- Cost (to maintain and re-supply)

No units have maintenance cost.

Supply is unlimited for all units except fighters (and drones, but we are not talking about drones). Fighter re-supply is free also, but it requires either going to a planet with a Resupply Depot (facility) or landing and relaunching the fighters on a carrier or planet without a Resupply Depot.

Slick