Combined Arms: Thought

oleg · #1 December 17th, 2003, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starhawk:
Well normally I don't play multiplayer games of ANY of the games I have.

But with SEIV I may so in Strategic combat I'll probobly do what you sugjest.

But I'll more likely play the games types that allow tactical combat.

Tactical is too unfair on AIs. You can always win with far poor ships. Besides, strategic gives an extra level of roleplaying. Optimal ship design, fleet composition and fine tuning of strategies is a more dignified occupation for the supreme ruler of Universe than jumping from ship to ship anf fire every gun manually

Fyron · #2 December 17th, 2003, 07:38 PM

You can only play tactical combat in hotseat mode. All other forms of multiplayer play are strategic combat only. How do you resolve tactical combat in a PBEM game anyways?

TCP/IP is just automated PBEM play.

Starhawk · #3 December 17th, 2003, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oleg:

quote:
Originally posted by Starhawk:
Well normally I don't play multiplayer games of ANY of the games I have.

But with SEIV I may so in Strategic combat I'll probobly do what you sugjest.

But I'll more likely play the games types that allow tactical combat.

Tactical is too unfair on AIs. You can always win with far poor ships. Besides, strategic gives an extra level of roleplaying. Optimal ship design, fleet composition and fine tuning of strategies is a more dignified occupation for the supreme ruler of Universe than jumping from ship to ship anf fire every gun manually

I find it more fun to roleplay while watching my fleet and the enemy fleet clashing with all their guns blazing.

I have lost quite a few tactical combats even while outnumbering the enemy so I don't consider it unfair at all. Especially if I get one of the mods that makes the AI smarter because then they'd be on an even footing.

In fact I have more fun losing a tactical combat then winning a strategic combat because I can watch WHY and because it's just so much more fun to me.

Of course I know that in multiplayer games I'd have to use strategic but when I am playing by myself or in hotseat mode I love to watch the battles play out and like to fire the guns manually.

Suicide Junkie · #4 December 17th, 2003, 10:19 PM

Ah, yes. Life in the trenches. That's where its all at. Putting your own ship at risk in order to shield another from harm. Making the valiant charge towards the enemy in order to give the crippled flagship time to retreat.
Using every drop of tactical skill to hold off the overwhelming enemy force for just one more turn while your planets prepare defenses.
Firing blindly while watching in slow motion as your friends take hits from those accursed alien invaders, just like in a war movie.

Now that's fun!

oleg · #5 December 19th, 2003, 02:58 AM

Ok, if we are talking tactical and human vs. human, then Taera' fleet will annihilate Starhawk

You see, in contrast to dumb AI, human will select targets intelligently. He will charge PDC ships first and destroy them at any cost. Combined arms fleet has direct fire ships and PDC ships will not escape punishment. And you can't keep ships back - you need to defend against the missile hoards. All he need is to kill or simply cripple few ships. Does not matter if he lose many more of his own. The rest of the battle will be slaughter of helpless

[ December 18, 2003, 15:28: Message edited by: oleg ]

Taera · #6 December 19th, 2003, 12:17 AM

oleg got the point
the ripper battleships are there for a reason

EDIT: yes, its a pain to research. but think about it - get your DUC, get fighters 1, drones 1, missiles 3. your enemy would have some good weaponry now, but let him try and face it ALL - swarms are nasty.

p.s realize PDC ships are 'weakest'. strategy targeting, hint hint

[ December 18, 2003, 22:18: Message edited by: Taera ]

PvK · #7 December 20th, 2003, 03:54 AM

You're right Taera, it can work, and I've seen it work, even in the unmodded game, though it tends to be more work and harder to pull off than a direct-fire strategy. If you are one even ground with an enemy on direct-fire terms, though, combined arms seeker/drone/fighter combos can provide a surprise to tip the scales. Especially since drones and fighters can be hidden inside ships, giving an unexpected concentration of force.

PvK