newby's guide to ship and fleet strategy

Wardad · #1 February 12th, 2002, 09:42 PM

STALL the enemy! It is a tactic that is not talked about often enough. Every newbie should learn it.
In business Time is money, but in war and comedy timing is everthing.

It was still early in the game, I had just over-expanded into the #1 spot. The AIs were all out to get me. Could I hold the choke point to three juicy systems from from my center? Can I tie up that huge battle fleet until help could be built and arrive?
It was a hard fight. Some planets were glassed. But the enemy could never recover from the losses and delays.Help was just next door now.

STALL the enemy.
1. Mines, with five mines I made them take five turns to reach my planet. I layed one per sector.
Why let them go back for fuel and repairs unharrassed? I got a cloaked mine layer in there and shotgunned more mines around.
2. I had transports in nearby systems and refinforced my populations to take a pounding and repell troops.
3.Build WPs as quickly as possible. Also send or build troops to pacify your population. Just try to hold out and make it cost!
3. Use Engine damage weapons, even in WPs. Maybe you can't kill it, but it will take a long time to limp home.
4. Kill or damage the straglers. Pick them off one by one if you can. Stealth helps.

PvK · #2 February 12th, 2002, 11:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Gryphin:
Frigate vs Decoy Cargo
...
Results:
Stratigic Combat - 70% Win for Frigate
Tatctical (on auto) - 50/50 (seemed to depend on who scored first hit)
...

Why would there be any difference between strategic and tactical on auto? Should be the same thing, no?

PvK

Gryphin · #3 February 13th, 2002, 07:45 PM

PvK,
I thought it should be the same as well. I do intend to try other combinations as well.
I'll post it here.

oleg · #4 February 14th, 2002, 05:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Gryphin:
Decoy Transports Revisted
I played close to 100 turns with the Decoy Transports decribed below. They proved to be useless except as troop and population transports.

The best "decoy transport" IMO, is a light carrier. I usually research fighter before destroyers. The size 800 gives the Heavy Mount modification, which is deadly against early game ships like destroyers or even cruisers. Light carrier with minium required number of fighter bays (14) still has 380 K to fit in weapons and other battle equipment. After launching fighters, carriers are instructed to follow them and fight like regular ships. Fighter bays provide a good "decoy armor" and give a vital extra protection while heavy mounted weapons and fighters pulverize enemy. I seldom build destroyers and light cruisers. Multi-purpose carriers make up the bulk of my fleets. Besides, it reminds me the cool battle scenes from Babylon 5.

Gryphin · #5 February 14th, 2002, 05:08 PM

oleg, I owe ya one. If you are ever in Boston, the drinks are on me.
Thanks

Growltigga · #6 February 14th, 2002, 05:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Gryphin:
oleg, I owe ya one. If you are ever in Boston, the drinks are on me.
Thanks

Oleg, at the rate Gryphin is dishing out the hospitality, let's go to Boston together, we could bankrupt him

Suicide Junkie · #7 February 16th, 2002, 07:45 AM

Do any of you guys know how I can get a capture ship to ATTACK a target until the shields are down, then capture?

I just had a fleet of capture ships run to a corner (shot at the enemy as they went by), then, when the warships fought, the capture ships jumped back and forth:
"Hey, theres one without shields to capture"
"Oh, wait, they regenerated 5 points, nevermind"

Obviously the secondary strat of "Optimal weapons range" isn't being used when there are no shieldless ships for the primary strat "board ships".