Probably a solution to AS reign

[Taera]

Yes i know i have far too much ideas today. Still, i've been reading people saying how powerful AS is and perharps it should be changed a little. Think for a minute, what weapon (or actually a pair of weapons) in the game could have been most useful but was limited by MM? right, the tractor/repulsor. They are limited by size modifiers - escort cant push frigate.

Maybe a similar limitation should be included to the AS? Either size or fleet experience. The second one would be an interesting option because psychic have their great training facility.

Any good as an idea?

[PsychoTechFreak]

Proposal: an indestructable (or hard to be destructed by virus) computer family component, called "counsellar" or "mentat" at the end of the computer research line.

[Q]

I love the way it is, because the AS is one of the few weapons used by AI empires that can create a real problem for a human players. Especially if combined with computer virus!

However for human players only games just increase the damage resistence of the master computer, decrease the damage and range of the computer virus, decrease the range and damage (= conVersion probability) of the AS and you can create the balance you like without new components or weapons.

[PsychoTechFreak]

AS is a mighty weapon, indeed. But do not forget the cascade effect, when you get one of the AS ships by enter ship or intel project. Big AS fleets can be wiped out easily and cheap by some chance. This effect is enough for a counter, I think.

[oleg]

IMHO, the weak point of AS ship is vulnerability to swarm mixture of fighters and small ships with missiles, master computer and max. range strategy - big size of now useless AS makes it hard to have enough point defence.

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by PsychoTechFreak:
AS is a mighty weapon, indeed. But do not forget the cascade effect, when you get one of the AS ships by enter ship or intel project. Big AS fleets can be wiped out easily and cheap by some chance. This effect is enough for a counter, I think.

Yeah, I used to do that, it's really easy on tactical, and oh so cheezy. On strategic, the AI puts telekinetic projectors on first, so you always get a damaged first, subverted next ship.

I do like the ship experience provideing defence against the subverter.

OK here's an idea for a counter. A psychic only weapon that can attack and destroy the allegiance Subverter. That will make the cascade less viscous.

Why psychic only? Because I don't believe every weapon should have a counter. IMHO, if everything had a counter, the game becomes dull. Once you know the tech tree, whoever has the most planets with research and resources wins, with no hope for the little guy to launch a snipe attack.

Besides, I'm sick of seeing the Abbidon in CueCappa ships -- it's just irritating.

[ October 09, 2002, 02:43: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[Nodachi]

I think oleg has is right, there is no problem with the AS. The best counter is better strategy, max weapons range, drones and fighters, and swarm tactics work wonders. There is no "perfect" weapon in this game.

[capnq]

Because I don't believe every weapon should have a counter. IMHO, if everything had a counter, the game becomes dull. Once you know the tech tree, whoever has the most planets with research and resources wins, with no hope for the little guy to launch a snipe attack.

It seems to me that a weapon with no counter would be even worse; everyone would try to get that weapon as quickly as possible, and whoever got it first would probably win.

[Gryphin]

Sissors / Paper / Rock / Human Mind
I feel that is the combination that makes the Game.

[TerranC]

Best weapon against the AS... actually anything is the Phased polaron beam.

The PPB has a range of 6.
The AS has a range of 5.

PPB skips shields. PPB also with it's high damage rips through ships it can't close to.

So just go to tactical and use the range strategy against them. Works every time.