SE4 Stock Balance Mod

[PvK]

Re PPB:

Originally posted by Krsqk:
I think 50k may be a bit high, but it should be raised, maybe even to 20-25k. High Energy Discharge Weapons is 20k, is much less useful than PPB, and has more levels to research. Maybe HED at 15000 or 17500, and PPB at 20000 or 22500.

The thing about the PPB though is that even with Geo's proposed adjustment of its ability curve, it is still a good weapon even at level 1-2, and the only prerequisite is Physics II IIRC, and Physics I is pretty much necessary anyway. (Compare to SE3, where PPB had VERY limited range, not a lot of damage, and required high-tech shield tech to develop).

High-Energy Discharge Weapons are much more expensive because they require Propulsion 7 (which isn't really needed until late-game) AND have 10-12 levels to research.

So, if for this mod we don't want to curtail the abilities of PPB, or to increase the number of tech levels to get the good Versions (in Proportions, I increased the cost and made the tech area 12 levels with the best Versions only at the end of the tech tree), it seems to me that having an expensive research cost even to get the low levels of the weapon. You have to research Energy Pulse Weapons to level what... 5? ... before they have range 6. PPB starts out at range 6 immediately, and with comparable damage that ignores unphased shields. If level 2 is already a good weapon, and it only takes 6 levels to complete, it seems to me the base cost should be quite high.

PvK