Computer combat Q

[jim]

Does having more than one Master Computer on a ship make it any less at risk to a computer virus armed foe? That is, would a target ship with 2 MCs have to be hit twice? If there were 3 MCs aboard, would it have to be hit 3 times? Does having more than one MC mean that the ship has to be hit in separate attacks from a computer virus component? Or, do more powerful or closer range virus hit spill over damage onto more than one MC with a single hit?

In non-Gold, a MC ship can still fall victim to the Allegiance Subverter even if it has a bridge, if the MC is hit first and THEN it is hit with the Allegiance Subverter. (IIRC, in GOLD, the MC protects against the Allegiance Subverter even after it is destroyed even if by computer virus)

I am in a high-high *non-GOLD* TDM game and the Cue Cappa AI designer correctly sequenced the design to put the computer virus ahead of the Allgiance Subverter in the firing order of the designs. Interestingly enough, the CC were on the other side of the map and I have been thrashing about with the others while the CC was been allowed to expand w/o check.

As a result, as I approach the end game, having almost fought through several other AIs, the CC finally appeared and are threatening to beat me for a rare loss in solitaire non-GOLD. They have taken away the systems in which we first met, on both fronts we share. The CC are way ahead on points and tech, and I will have to struggle simply not to lose on point differential. Huge fleets roam about, fully trained by psychic facilities, with at least a couple Mine Sweep Vs in each large ship, with virus compnents and multiple subverters along with the top psychic weapons. I am in a pickle!

I have had to resort to some unusual dodges, including leaving two AIs in the game! The first is useful as a source of ships I can steal (they have no intel), since I am no where near Quantum Reactor, I am letting them build me my fleet supply ships! In the second, I have allowed a Trade treaty just to help delay his collapse and letting the CC get at me on another front or two!

I am far from star destroyers, which might end up my only solution. For the moment, I will try Plague V kamikazes for his big worlds. Still, I have to deal with these fleets just to get to his systems.

Since each battle can not only be a loss, but a source of new ships from my own fleets (!), I have tried to devise more subverter resistant designs.

Any ideas?

[Fyron]

The extra damage from the shot will damage the next MC on the ship, if there is a second. There isn't too much point in having 2. If you want a backup, add one Bridge, 1 LS and 1 CQ. Immune to comp virus, and the ship is still immune to the allegience subverter after the MC is destroyed, as of the 1.84 patch.

[jim]

As I noted, this is a non-GOLD game. Thus, the 1.84 change does not help me.

Still, you did answer that extra damage spills over. Does the resistance of each MC equate to a number that has some relationship to the virus hit value?

Or, is the virus value just a probability of destroying the MC it is credited with first hitting?

[Fyron]

MCs are treated like any other component as far as HPs go. The damage from the virus is just a flat amount of damage applied to MCs on the ship. If the virus hits the ship, there is a 100% chance that 100% of the damage affects the MCs.

[Suicide Junkie]

Yes, but a 40 damage shot can take out two level III computers which have only 20 hitpoitns each.

[Loser]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
Yes, but a 40 damage shot can take out two level III computers which have only 20 hitpoitns each.

Which is why level I computers are the way to go.

[Fyron]

They can still individually be destroyed by a level 3 virus in one shot. So unless you want to have a bunch of MCs, it is better to use level 3 as they are cheaper. A much better backup is a Bridge, 1 LS and 1 CQ. Not subject to the virus, and in Gold, the ship is still immune to the allegience subverter if the MC is destroyed. All you need is 1 of each of those components to not lose any movement points, or 1 MC.

[Loser]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
A much better backup is a Bridge, 1 LS and 1 CQ.

This is all you need?

Even on a Baseship?

Time to redesign...

[Alneyan]

You need more than one LS/CQ for a Baseship, unless you put a Master Computer (to replace Bridge/LS/CQ). Then the Bridge/LS/CQ is only needed to pilot the ship without losing any movement point, as only one of each is required for this purpose, even for a Baseship.

[Fyron]

Which is what I said.