Probably a solution to AS reign

PsychoTechFreak · #1 October 8th, 2002, 09:17 AM

Proposal: an indestructable (or hard to be destructed by virus) computer family component, called "counsellar" or "mentat" at the end of the computer research line.

Q · #2 October 8th, 2002, 11:07 AM

I love the way it is, because the AS is one of the few weapons used by AI empires that can create a real problem for a human players. Especially if combined with computer virus!

However for human players only games just increase the damage resistence of the master computer, decrease the damage and range of the computer virus, decrease the range and damage (= conVersion probability) of the AS and you can create the balance you like without new components or weapons.

Gryphin · #3 October 9th, 2002, 01:46 AM

The AS is a big shock the first time you get "subverted". I remember mine in an early game against the AI. I was kicking Capa butt across 3 systems. One of my ships was sitting over Cua's world waiting for troop transports. My transports arive and got schreaded. It may have been dumbluck that explained it for me,
"Ah, the dreaded Cua Capa Alligance Subverter" (only his spelling was better).

Arkcon · #4 October 9th, 2002, 01:57 AM

I wasn't surprised when I meet the AS, because I had tried it first in the demo. It really was incredible just taking the AI's ships. Then I saw how cheezy it was and let the AI have it.

I was worried once I found out about deconstruct and analyze. I thought, "Okay, these psychics have got to be killed, or soon they'll have organic armor, shard cannon, time bursting, talisman carrying dreadnoughts"

Fortunately, it doesn't work that way.

Anyone else notice the psycic AI's tend to lose ground in late mid game? They subvert more ships than they can support, and might not get them to a shipyard to scrap them.

[ October 08, 2002, 12:58: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

PsychoTechFreak · #5 October 8th, 2002, 02:52 PM

AS is a mighty weapon, indeed. But do not forget the cascade effect, when you get one of the AS ships by enter ship or intel project. Big AS fleets can be wiped out easily and cheap by some chance. This effect is enough for a counter, I think.

oleg · #6 October 8th, 2002, 04:31 PM

IMHO, the weak point of AS ship is vulnerability to swarm mixture of fighters and small ships with missiles, master computer and max. range strategy - big size of now useless AS makes it hard to have enough point defence.

Arkcon · #7 October 8th, 2002, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PsychoTechFreak:
AS is a mighty weapon, indeed. But do not forget the cascade effect, when you get one of the AS ships by enter ship or intel project. Big AS fleets can be wiped out easily and cheap by some chance. This effect is enough for a counter, I think.

Yeah, I used to do that, it's really easy on tactical, and oh so cheezy.

On strategic, the AI puts telekinetic projectors on first, so you always get a damaged first, subverted next ship.

I do like the ship experience provideing defence against the subverter.

OK here's an idea for a counter. A psychic only weapon that can attack and destroy the allegiance Subverter. That will make the cascade less viscous.

Why psychic only? Because I don't believe every weapon should have a counter. IMHO, if everything had a counter, the game becomes dull. Once you know the tech tree, whoever has the most planets with research and resources wins, with no hope for the little guy to launch a snipe attack.

Besides, I'm sick of seeing the Abbidon in CueCappa ships -- it's just irritating.

[ October 09, 2002, 02:43: Message edited by: Arkcon ]