tech tree/combat

[Grumbling Grognard]

Mines are laid on the strategic map and frankly I am not 100% sure how they work because I won't enter a mine square and the AI seems to avoid them also...but if you mine 'your side' of a warp point they won't know they are there until it is too late!

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The Grumbling Grognard

[jars_u]

Yes, that is what I was trying to figure out as well. On the strategic map the computer AI will shoot at and destroy the mines but will not run into them. When I try to run into them myself just to see what happens the option to move into the space where the mine is does not exist as the cursor automatically turn into the target pointer and then fires on the mine. Now as far as placing them on the galaxy map at planets, worm holes, etc. when ever I try to drop the cargo it just says that the space is full? So I am not certain how there are suppose to work, at least work well anyway.

[Grumbling Grognard]

Jars:

Are your ships equipped with the "Mine Layer"? You must have one of these to lay mines. I generally just equip a ship with one mine layer component and a lot of cargo space and it does the trick on the strategic map.



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The Grumbling Grognard

[Mark Pavlou]

One thing that does rather jar about the tech tree is that while you can build Frigates from the very start, to build Fighters, Mines, Satellites or Weapons Platforms requires 150-200,000 research points! (100,000 for Construction level 1 to open up all the relevant Tech Areas and then 50-100,000 to pick up 1 level in each area).

Surely given the complexities of ship design versus satellites, weapons platforms and the like it would make more sense to start with the small stuff (eg fighters capable of in-system movement only) and requiring research for anything bigger?

What would seem a better use for Construction in this case would be for increased levels to provide minaturisation, allowing you to build components that take up less space (as in MOO2 where increasing a tech level causes all older items to shrink in size). As well as increasing ship capability, this could also be extended indefinitely (looking forward to a game with an infinite research model).

[jars_u]

Yes, the ships have mine layers. Getting them to deploy the mines is not a problem - however I wish there was some way (is there?) to deploy them into the "Square" you want them to go. But, my real question is can mines be used outsdie of combat? Meaning can you mine a warp point, planet etc. BEFORE you enter into the same "space" as another race and before combat begins so that any ships that attempt to pass though that mined area risk being damaged. Say like - when your ships enter into the same sector that has a black hole. Your ships always get damaged when moving through a system with a black hole - I want to be able to mine a square and any enemy ships that pass though it face some % of hitting them and taking damge and I guess that % can be less if a ship or ship in that fleet has a mine sweeper.

[jars_u]

Yes I know I mentioned this before. But, I just want to state again that I would REALLY like to see a tech/tree map that is easier to understand and find specific items of technology on then the one included in the original demo. Anyway... thanks for listening to my .02

[Grumbling Grognard]

I am not sure exactly what you are asking...

But the ONLY way I have been using mines is strategically. Basically mining the hell out of warp points into my systems.

It appears like mines will explode/work until either all the mines are gone or all the offending ships are gone. I don't think you are assured a hit with each mine though (I supposed it is like in tactical combat where the enemy ships are assumed to fire on the mines and get some of them).

I have found mines next to useless in tactical combat. IMHO, they are a strategic weapons.

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The Grumbling Grognard