New Patch - Lack of Testing

Phoenix-D · #1 January 30th, 2004, 09:10 PM

What level are you? Playing at 12, (expert difficulty) two ionic missile hits killed 50% of my speed, not all of it. And I still haven't seen an abnormal number of missile shoot-downs in testing, though the PD difference you say is there is certainly possible.

Otter · #2 January 31st, 2004, 06:17 AM

I run an equal mix of Scattering and Stealth armor. It's maxed out at 95% effectiveness. The engine sapping missles have very little effect. Also, the missles are too slow when you're chasing someone. Their relative speed allows them to be shot down easily or they time out and self-destruct. I only use a bLast of two at point blank range. One might get shot down but the other piles into the target. Oh, and I practice the stay close on his rear strategy and just bLast his behind off. Even Battleships (or Dreadnoughts) go down fast. Keep you ship well stocked with electronic countermeasures. I double up on Scanner Jammers (multiples are still allowed), and the one each allowed MasterComputer and Neural Combat Net. Even in large clusters of enemy ships very little actually hits me and they're all kind enough to stay far enough out of the action to let me pound the backside of the first victim before switching to the next.

[ January 31, 2004, 04:19: Message edited by: Otter ]

Phoenix-D · #3 January 31st, 2004, 07:24 AM

Missiles are pretty silly in stock SF; I've actually killed myself with them before. They aren't any faster than destroyers, so if you fire them and continue on the same heading they are, when they self-destruct at max range you'll be hurt.

Baron Munchausen · #4 February 1st, 2004, 08:07 PM

Not only are they slow, their range is ridiculously short. I've recommended at least doubling the range of all missiles (and extending the range of torpedos at least somewhat) but MM seems to think the current setup is good enough.

Because so many races use seekers of one sort of another I've not found ECM or other defensive components like stealth armor to be much use. I make sure to stock up on lots of PDC and shield rechargers, and go for organic and emissive armor whenever available.

Phoenix-D · #5 February 1st, 2004, 08:39 PM

I found exactly the opposite; as you mentioned seekers are fairly ineffective. I just dodge them or run long enough for them to explode from shoot-downs or out of fuel.

Its the beams that kill. And to a lesser extent the bolts.

Baron Munchausen · #6 February 1st, 2004, 10:45 PM

Bolts are fairly easily dodged at more than point-blank ranges. I sort of wonder why they are given such short ranges since range would appear to be their only possible advantage over beams.

Seekers can only be out-run in the stock game, which I rarely play. I have modded many things to suit myself, including bolt and beam speeds.

[ February 01, 2004, 20:52: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]