"Gamey" tactics like "Rock, none" races

[Suicide Junkie]

Call me crazy, but I think there SHOULD be a single "this is the best choice" weapon at any given stage of the game.

Crazy!

Well, IMO, players should be torn between various weapons at all stages.
Do I use a P&N Polaron beam to nail anybody with a heavy shield generator, or non-polaron beams to do more damage to phased shields?
Do I use a P&N Torpedo so I can hit the slippery aliens (+15% to +25% accuracy), or do I use particle weapons for higher damage?
Do I use bombardment missiles to penetrate PD and shields, or regular CSMs to do more hull damage?
DO I use shields to protect against boarding and ion weapons and have faster repair, or armor to get more hitpoints for cheaper?

IMO, All the weapons should have thier own niche, and be worth using in a balanced range of circumstances. Preferably enough to get players to put more than one type of weapon on their ships!

[SamuraiProgrammer]

Originally posted by Pax:
Call me crazy, but I think there SHOULD be a single "this is the best choice" weapon at any given stage of the game.

!!! Remember - This is like Rock/Paper/Scissors !!!

1) Who am I Fighting?

2) What composes their fleet now?

3) What will beat them now?

The answer will change from enemy to enemy and also from turn to turn (if your opponent is sly).

For every ship, there is an anti-ship.
For every tactic, there is an anti-tactic.

The key to success is being able to manage that reality.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
But I don't suggest my priorities are the best ones. If you have a suggestion, especially a data fiel change that can be easily done, my suggestion is to make the change and send it to Malfador in an email. He does respond to those from time to time. Just ask Fyron.

Hehehe Yeah, the next patch should include a little something that will help solve one major problem with the combat system.

[Dralasite]

I agree with SJ, I like having to make the choice between weapon types, and potentially choosing more than one. It adds a nice element of strategy to the game vs. "who can generate the most ppb light cruisers"

Having multiple viable weapons choices encourages using recon/intelligence to find the composition of other players fleets. Again, more depth to that sort of game.

Then again, I'm also all for leaky shields/leaky armor

[Wardad]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Hehehe Yeah, the next patch should include a little something that will help solve one major problem with the combat system.

What? That laughter sounds most unfair. I hope you do not immediately upgrade our current game.

[dumbluck]

Fyron: So, um, what's this change that you instigated?

[spoon]

Originally posted by capnq:

You're making the totally unwarranted assumption that Aaron's idea of perfection exactly matches your own.

Am I? Seems like a peculiar belief! I think what I am really assuming is that I he cares about the game (since he keeps patching it...) And given that assumption, I find it odd that he hasn't addressed some of the balance issues, since they are fairly easy to fix.