combat analysis please

[Krom]

Greetings. I am in need of some expert/ experienced advise. I recently engaged in combat with an enemy empire. I expected to win, but instead lost badly. I would like to lay out the forces and perhaps someone could help me understand why I lost. Thanks in advance.

Enemy - 1 lt cruiser

6 contra terr engines I
1 shield IV
3 ppb I large I think
combat sensor II
ecm II
multiplex III
2 pd IV

My force - 2 cruisers

6 contra terr engines II
scatter armor II
2 pd II
combat sensor I
multiplex II
ecm I
5 apb V

1 carrier

60 fighters

6 small ion engines
rocket pod small combat sensor 1

Ships were to break formation and close with enemy. They did that. They fired many times on the enemy, but hit only 3 times. I lost 1 cruiser, the other badly damaged, and lost all of the fighters. My fighters never made it close enough to the enemy to even fire.

The only thing I can come up with is that his electronics are 1 better then mine, and that maybe I need to research better engines for the fighters. But this 1 lvl difference in electronics doesnt seem like it would be enough for me to basically never hit him. Anyway, some insight on to what happened here would be great. Thanks again.

Krom

[Baron Grazic]

Assuming you are using the Default files, it sounds like you were unluck in the combat and he got some good hits in on your Cruisers before you took out his shield.

Don't forget that the Light Cruiser "small size makes ship 10% harder to hit in combat", added togehter with the ECM & Combat Sensors more advanced than yours.

In what proporation were the fighters launched. If they were in small Groups they could have all been taken out by the PDC as they attempted to get in range.

[rextorres]

Well your -25% to hit out of the shoot

-15% for sensor difference, -10% for lc.

he's +15% to hit +25% to hit for sensor difference - 10% for armor

So that's a 40% difference in combat.

Also check to see what racial bonuses he has and you have and add those.

If it is a computer opponent exp is not a factor, but against a human that could also come into play.

Finally see what culture he is if he is warrior or bezerker that would add 5% or 10% respectively.

I don't think luck was a factor he could hit you way more often than you could hit him

[ December 30, 2002, 21:57: Message edited by: rextorres ]

[Krom]

Yes, I guess what you are saying makes sense. I forgot about 105 bonus for lt cruiser. The fighters launched in Groups of 10 and yes, just as they were closing they would be eliminated. I will adjust it to larger launch Groups.

Thanks for the input.
Krom

[capnq]

The first thing that comes to mind, which isn't displayed during combat, is ship experience, which gives a bonus to both attack and defense. That sounds very much like your opponent had a very experienced ship facing your fleet.

The second thing I see is that his ship is faster than your fighters. His ship's combat move is 4, your fighters can only do 3; they're never going to catch him if he's using a Maximum Firing Range strategy, unless you manage to "pin" him against the edge of the Tactical Combat screen.

I'd recommmend a new fighter design with a smaller weapon, more engines and/or Afterburners.

[Fyron]

If you launch them in Groups of one, a lot of damage from the PDCs will be wasted.

[Baron Grazic]

But don't you find that the fighters just get in the way and still get picked off easily before they get in range?

[Krom]

Oh man, that is a huge difference. I really had not added up the attack and defensive bonuses. No wonder I did so poorly. Yes it is a computer opponent. Also I went and checked. He is a berzerker, with good attack and defense bonus.

Lol...ok. so maybe I was lucky to get out with any ships at all. *grin*

Thanks,
Krom

[spoon]

For your ships, it sounds like the main problem was you could not hit. The one level difference in ECM vs. Combat Sensors is one factor, but your opponent (was this AI or human?) probably had either/or:

-Training - fleet and ship training facilities can give you an extra +40% to ship combat.

-Defensiveness (the racial characteristic) - this can give your opponent and additional +35% (+25% from the characteristic, +10 by taking Bezerker culture).

For your current game, research Training Facilties, combat sensors, and set your ships to Point Blank. You might want to switch over to PPBs yourself, to negate his shields. For future games, buy some more Aggressiveness (I usually go to 120%), or try playing with the Religious Talisman...

Your fighters weren't fast enough to close - try giving them max engines (and some shields to increase their hitpoints).

Happy hunting,
-Spoon

[PvK]

Yep, what they said, and also he has a Mk IV shield generator, so even if you hit, the first 225 damage will be deflected.

PvK