Varied questions: mines, sats, experience

[Taera]

Well yeah, i've realised the pluses of sats after i've posted, thanks.

[Nodachi]

I've found sats to be extremely effective, provided you use them in combination with something else.
ex: Missle sats are useless in late game right? Wrong! 100 sats with csm's over a planet that has large weapon platforms using massive mount tachyon projection cannons is something to fear. PDC's are great, but only if they can fire!
That's just one example I'm sure some of the more experienced players can come up with more.

Nodachi

[Gandalph]

I am designing a Psychic race now that uses sat's with allegiance subverters at warp points. Imagine coming through a warp point and staring 30 allegiance subverters in the face at point blank range!

[Alpha Kodiak]

Originally posted by Taera:
So the question finaly formed in my brain:
What is the practical use of mines in large-scale games against human players?
Very well. in the earlier game it gives the advantage to the defender.
A little later, even with LCs loaded with Mine Sweepers II can take out minefields relatively easy, given the 100 mines-per-sector limitatioin.
Are the mines any effective?

For the most part, this is true. You can, however, be sneaky about where you put mines. Your opponent isn't always going to have a mine sweeper everywhere he is sending ships.

[Alpha Kodiak]

Originally posted by Gandalph:
I am designing a Psychic race now that uses sat's with allegiance subverters at warp points. Imagine coming through a warp point and staring 30 allegiance subverters in the face at point blank range!

The Azorani AI uses that technique as well. It can be rather... disturbing.

[Grandpa Kim]

One of the strengths of SEIV is its balance. To me it is so artfully balanced that no part of the tech tree can be ignored. With that in mind, I can't agree that mines are near to useless late in the game-- else why am dragging two or three minesweepers along with my fleet of dreadnaughts? If nothing else, it forces caution. That mines can defeated only serves to indicate the balance in the game.
One could argue that ecm and combat sensors are useless late in the game because everyone has them. Maybe we should agree to redesign our ships on turn 100 to not include these components and add another gun instead.
The balance is there to be used as you wish. It is those differences of opinion on what is best that makes the game interesting-- and eminently replayable.

[Mephisto]

Originally posted by Taera:
So the question finaly formed in my brain:
What is the practical use of mines in large-scale games against human players?

Don't just count the combat losses you inflict with a weapon. By having mines over some planets and warp points you force your enemy to have sufficient minesweepers in every of his fleets costing him resources while your mines are free. The same holds true for carriers/fighters and missiles. It forces your enemy to have PDC on his ships (or build some Aegis ships). This reduces the combat value of his ships against other ships and is expensive. Remember, large empires win or lose a war by their economy.

[ June 04, 2002, 12:03: Message edited by: [K126]Mephisto ]