Weapon Platforms - Overly Powerful or Just Balanced?

Alpha Kodiak · #1 June 9th, 2002, 08:19 AM

I prefer the weapons platforms as they behave now. It should be exceedingly difficult for a fleet to wipe out a well defended planet. Prior to this change, attacking a well defended planet was not all that tough of an exercise.

The other change that I like is that there are improved range mounts for satellites. Even though they still get clumped in one stack, at least with improved range on the larger satellites, they can become a factor in the battle.

PvK · #2 June 9th, 2002, 09:53 AM

The premise of the post was incorrect - TerranC thought his ships were missing the planet because the animations weren't showing hits clearly, when in fact planets are always hit for meaningful damage, which IMO is actually an issue in the other direction.

Anyway, I tend to think it should be possible to make a tough planet by massing high-tech weapon platforms on it, and the mount changes in Gold allow this. It takes a lot of research and investment and time to do, though, and still only results in a static defense, and planets can't get training bonuses to hit, so I really don't think they're too tough.

PvK

Lisif Deoral · #3 June 9th, 2002, 10:58 AM

Excuse me, but what are the weapon mount changes you're talking about? I still have v1.49, and weapon platforms are almost useless IMO...

dumbluck · #4 June 9th, 2002, 11:42 AM

The mount changes he's refering to are in v1.60 or above (gold).

You're missing out!

capnq · #5 June 9th, 2002, 06:04 PM

Quote:

planets are always hit for meaningful damage

This isn't quite correct, either.

It is possible for a direct fire weapon to miss a planet entirely, since the to-hit chance is 99%. I've seen a ship at range 1 miss a planet twice in the same battle.

Alpha Kodiak · #6 June 9th, 2002, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisif Deoral:
Excuse me, but what are the weapon mount changes you're talking about? I still have v1.49, and weapon platforms are almost useless IMO...

In Gold, larger weapon mounts for weapon platforms and satellites give extended range as well as increased damage. It makes them a bit more useful.

Gandalph · #7 June 9th, 2002, 06:28 PM

And even with large platforms and massive mount, greatest range is 14. CSM 5 is 16. You can still sit outside range and pummel them with missiles.