Null-Space superior to Phased??

[Zanthis]

I would at least change the Phased-Energy Weapons research cost. It's, what, 5000 right now? Try making it 50000 and it might be more reasonable. My main problem is I can regularly get PPB's around turn 30 at medium research costs.

For that reason, my weapon research is as follows: DUCII, PPB. That's it. The DUCII and CSMI hold me over until I get PPBs.

[Daynarr]

quote:

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Originally posted by Zanthis:
I would at least change the Phased-Energy Weapons research cost. It's, what, 5000 right now? Try making it 50000 and it might be more reasonable. My main problem is I can regularly get PPB's around turn 30 at medium research costs.

For that reason, my weapon research is as follows: DUCII, PPB. That's it. The DUCII and CSMI hold me over until I get PPBs.

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I that case you don't want to run into Sergetti, they will eat you alive.

[Zanthis]

Quite possibly, but I can often keep out of war with the AI until I get PPBs. Further, although it is technically a weapon tech, I should have mentioned I grab PD after DUCII while I'm still doing Physics.

[HreDaak]

I agree.. PPB's are way too easy to research now. PPB V costs only 150k+137.5k=287.5k .
And it's one of the best beam weapons in the game, even without it's shield skipping ability. Forexample: Anti Proton Beam XII costs 50k+1627.5k=1677.5k=1677500 research points. Meson BLaster VI costs 50k+460k=510k and its clearly inferior to PPB V...

[raynor]

I think the best way to play balance the PPB is to make it fire every two turns.

[Zanthis]

Reload of two? Ouch. That drops the PPB quite a bit. It would only be useful then against normal shields. Keep in mind that the Meson BLaster rates a 1.5 compared to the PPB's 1.67 (2.0 at range one). Doubling the PPB's ROF would give it a 0.84 (1.0 at range one). I would probably not even bother researching it then.

However, I can see dropping five damage off across the board and increasing the size by five. That drops it to a rating of 1.28 at max range. Then, increase the research cost a little and I think things would be fine.

And while we're at it , Energy Streaming Weapons needs fixing. APB's suck. APB XII rates a 1.0 at max range and only a 1.17 at the PPB's max range of six. And to get from Energy Streaming Weapons 11 to 12 with high research 720,000 points!!! Going all the way costs 3.25 million points.

[This message has been edited by Zanthis (edited 08 February 2001).]

[Daynarr]

I don't think PPB should be weaker but the other weapons should be stronger. I have modified the APB to give more punch for a buck, increased max range for Meson BLaster by 1 (it still does same damage), increased torpedo weapons range by +1 and added to hit bonus for quantum torpedoes +10 (torpedoes are taken directly from Star Trek universe and in that universe torpedoes are LONG range weapons), added the weapons mounts for point defenses and modified them for weapon platforms, etc. Now when I play AI has much more punch without using PPB and it also gives me a better list of weapons choices. All of this changes give AI a boost too since it uses all of these weapons as well.

I think this whole hassle with weapons been too weak (except PPB) started when MM decided to hype up the DUC. There is a huge difference between the DUC in the 0.51 demo Version and the DUC that is in full Version. It made it a players best weapon choice for a start of the game and since no standard AI uses them, it gave player a decisive advantage. Hell, I remember sticking with DUC V cannons for a long while after I researched it taking out all of the AI's no matter what they put against me. With all these changes I made, I am forced to go after something else (e.g. APB V now has 6 range comparing to DUC V's 5). It gives me much more variety and fun playing this game.