How to beat Crystallurgy with Organic?

[rdouglass]

I've had pretty good luck with the standard weapons against all racial techs using the (well mentioned in these Posts) Phased Polaron Beams and the (not so well metioned) Null Space weapons. They seem to do especially well against both Organic and Crystalline 'cause NS weapons skip both armor and shields. The downfall is you have a slow reload time (3) and a relatively short range (5 IIRC) so you'd better have decent engine tech to get you in and outa' there. But, once you get a shot in, the damage to vital components (weapons, engines, etc.) racks up quite quickly and can shift the tide in your direction.

Another downfall is ships I've equipped with NS weapons don't seem to do well at all in strategic combat. But in tactical (with my favorite component - the Talisman), I have taken out 4 dreadnaughts with 1 LC using just NS weapons and standard mounts!!!

Of course, the PPB's do well 'cause of their quick reload, decent range, and of course, shield skipping for non-phased shields (for early game advantages).

(EDIT)
...and to Baron:

quote:

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If you could send in two seperate fleets, one full of beam ships and the other full of torpedo ships, the coordinated attack of these two forces could be very difficult to deal with...

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I too would like to do this. I have made a suggestion before (and other posters have as well) about a 'Battle Group' feature - being able to combine more than 1 fleet into a group. Give each fleet different combat orders, yet move them as fleets work now. That way you could have for instance, a group of missle ships working as a fleet doung their 'dance' and direct fire ships flanking to close off their escape and at the same time, fighter Groups from a mini-fleet of carriers closing in close to overwhelm any PDC's and mop up the straglers...

[This message has been edited by rdouglass (edited 31 May 2001).]

[Baron Munchausen]

The Null Space weapon is great as either an 'ambush' weapon -- put it on satellites guarding a warp point for example -- or as a siege weapon where you have to go in and attack some incredibly huge and well defended base/planet. You can start doing damage immediately instead of having to break through all the shields/armor. But in standard combat where you have to close with another moving ship to fire and then get away the slow fire rate can be a problem. Note: The PPB penetrates planetary shields. They are 'normal' shields. So, this can be a very useful planet attack weapon, too.

[Jubala]

All good ideas, thanks guys. There's only one little problem. My enemy uses a mixed fleet with one type of ship armed with PPB's and another type armed with Shard Cannons. I can design a counter for each of those designs that whip them good, but then that design is a complete sitting duck for the other enemy design. If I try to design a ship that can stand up to both of them it gets clobbered by both of them. And since there is no way to control which ships engage which enemy ships in strategic combat (pbem game) building two designs that can beat one of his but is mauled by the other doesn't seem very appealing.

[Suicide Junkie]

quote:

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one type of ship armed with PPB's and another type armed with Shard Cannons

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Then just go for missile ships, and hammer him from range 20 with your seeker spores. Stay out of range of his weapons, and load up on missiles rather than defenses.

Blow them away before he gets in range.

As a long-term goal, get those phased shields, and you'll be able to get in close to use your beam weapons again.

[Jubala]

His ships are packed so full of PDC's missiles would be no good. Like throwing snowballs into hell, they'll just melt away.

[Marty Ward]

Make some big ships with shields, shield regenerators and armor only. If you can get phased shields you will have it made. You can put a lot of shields and armor on a BB. Make smaller ships with your weapons.
The computer usually targets the largest ships first. Let the enemy fleet pound at your "target" ships while you fire back in relative freedom.

[Master Belisarius]

Then Jubala, you should surrender to him!!!!

Hey, but you can use PPB too! Also, never forget to use fighters.