capturing planets in PBW games

[rextorres]

It doesn't matter what the designation is - I guess it might mean something, but I've always set my ship strategy manually. As long as you set your fleet strategy to capture planet and your ship strategy to capture planet you should be fine.

There are some quirks, however.

1. If your fleet has missile weapons they may wipe out your target planet before the transport gets there so you have to be aware of that.

2. Also, I put a direct fire weapon on the transport so that the ship doesn't run for the hills if there is a wp on the planet.

3. If your daring, especially in the early game, you can put armor and shields on your transport and set the capture planet strategy to not fire on planets. That will make sure that your ships don't wipe it out before they get there.

[tbontob]

Rextorres

Good points, but there seems to be a major difference of opinion on #2.

Originally posted by rextorres:
[QB]
2. Also, I put a direct fire weapon on the transport so that the ship doesn't run for the hills if there is a wp on the planet.
QB]

Geoschmo doesn't think it matters if you put a direct fire weapon on it or not as it will run for the hills in both scenarios providing there are attack ships attacking WP's on the planet. Worse the direct fire weapon will never be used as the troopship will only use PDC's.

He further says that even if there are no attack ships, the troop ship will try to capture the planet with or without a direct fire gun.

I have never used troopships and so have no idea who is right except that Geoschmo gives the impression of being very certain of his position.

I have read that some players think that the troopship will not run as far with a direct fire weapon than without. I am wondering if this is the case.

For example, entering a sector of an undefended planet with a attack ship set to not fire on planets will cause the ship to dither more or less around the location it entered the sector. It does not run for the corner.

I wonder if this is the phenomenom players experience whose troopships have a direct fire weapon.

If a troopship with a direct fire weapon does dither around the area in which it entered the sector, then this would explain the conflicting views on what a troopship with a direct fire weapon does.

If so, it could mean that a combat round or two could be saved by putting a direct fire weapon on a troopship as the troopship will be closer to the planet to capture it when the attack ships have disposed of the WP's.

Is there anyone out there who has experience in both ways (with and without a direct fire weapon) and is willing to give us Newbies a definitive answer?

[geoschmo]

I have been certain about things before and still turned out to be wrong.

[tbontob]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
I have been certain about things before and still turned out to be wrong.

Me too.

More often than I really care to admit.

But we don't know yet. The jury is still out.

[Grandpa Kim]

My troop ships always get a weapon, and they always head to the corners till the WP's are gone.

A bit OT, but I have noticed when you change strategies for ships/fleets (ie from max range to point blank) the change doesn't take effect immediately. Takes at least 2 turns before the new strategy takes hold. The one exception is changing fleet strategy from whatever to "capture planet". This does work. I haven't experienced changing the ship strategy the same way so it may or may not be the same.

[tbontob]

Originally posted by Grandpa Kim:
My troop ships always get a weapon, and they always head to the corners till the WP's are gone.

A bit OT, but I have noticed when you change strategies for ships/fleets (ie from max range to point blank) the change doesn't take effect immediately. Takes at least 2 turns before the new strategy takes hold. The one exception is changing fleet strategy from whatever to "capture planet". This does work. I haven't experienced changing the ship strategy the same way so it may or may not be the same.

GK, are you saying that in your experience, it may take 2 game turns before a change in strategy takes effect rather than immediately?

[rextorres]

Is the ship strategy set to capture? Also if your using a transport the default strategy might be "don't get hurt". I rarely use a transport for transporting just because they allow one less engine.

I'll have to check it out.