MP Minesweeper Designs? (and ideas)

[Jubala]

I'm wondering what people put on their minesweepers in pbem or other multiplayer games. I tend to put all the required stuff and max engines then as many minesweepers as possible. Any leftover space is used for ECM and armor if possible. Then I send these sitting ducks through a warppoint to clear the mines and the assaultfleet comes in the turn after.

At least that's the plan in one of my current multiplayer games. The first assualt through the warppoint in question met with total destruction of all ships from minefield damage (ouch!) so I am now reluctant to send all ships through at once as I don't want to repeat that disaster. But if my minesweepers clear the field they will most likely meet armed opposition and that, as they say, will be the end of that.

I want message drones my ships can send back through the warppoint to tell the assault fleet to come through and kick butt and I also want retreat options so my minesweepers can duck back through the warppoint to the safety on the other side after they complete their mission.

Actually, I want retreat options in general. I remember someone saying it was taken out (was in se3) because it was so easy to evade the enemy ships in a warppoint assault and after combat ended proceed by the defenses unharmed and generally bust up the neighbourhood. Here's what I'm thinking to adress that. Make it so the attackers ships(fighters are not restricted) in a warppoint assault can't move a certain number of squares away from the warppoint. That way they have to fight no matter what which will take care of that little problem. Or put no such limit in but don't allow them to leave the warppoint sector outside of combat if there are any enemy ships still there that was there at the end of the Last turn. Or both.

Retreating in a nonwarppoint sector or a warppoint sector attacked from an adjacent sector should be possible at all times imo. If you can outrun the enemy that is. If you can't you should be able to appoint a rearguard to play stopper in the bottle and take the heat while their buddies tuck tail and run. That's what escort ships are for. Provide distraction while the big boys run.

And I also think the battleboard needs to be bigger. If missile ships keep retreating from beamers they'll eventually come up against the edge and be pinned down and shot at even though they have the range and speed to stay clear of the enemy.