Mount Mod for v1.78

[Krsqk]

As it stands now, the level 3 Computer Virus is pointless in vanilla SEIV. It does 60 damage, and the largest MC is 40kt--20 wasted damage units. The level 1 Virus is worthless unless the enemy ships are using the highest-level MCs, which are also the smallest. Because of the way special damage types work, CV1 will not destroy anything larger. Of course, this does not take into account mounted weapons or modded MCs.

I look forward to trying your mod!

[AJC]

Hmm. My own experience with large amounts of Computer Virus/Allegiance Subverters weapons on ships have been quite different. Its been one of the most dominating designs I have fielded in hotseat games. I havent tried it in PBW yet...

It seems so unbalancing that I think the computer virus should be affected by shields.

Try making ships exclusively using Allegiance Subverters and Computer Virus weapons with decent multiplex. Add a few normal ships for fire power and then unleash a fleet of them.

Add religous tech and the religous talisman which enables you to always hit your target, it makes your fleet unstoppable. There is just no defense against the computer virus /Allegiance subverter combination.

thats why I created the computer mount.

[jimbob]

Now this'll seem off the wall, but could you make computer viruses a ram only weapon? Or at least a missile? It seems to me that physical contact of some sort with the enemy computer core should be required... otherwise the enemy would just employ radio silence, and *poof* no programming can hack in (thus the love of intra-nets throughout corporate america). This short range/physical contact requirement will at least buy the poor victim some time to bLast you as you close the distance.

Now I know that some would argue that the weapon could be doing physical damage to the computer core, but if this were true (i.e. Electromagnetic Pulse Bombs, etc) then surely shields and even armor would help protect the core.

Lastly, if these weapons are really imbalancing, you could incorporate an anti-computer virus type of armor (I think SJ has some in P&N, though I've never been hacked in a game, so I've never gone researching for it)

Edit: missed your Last post. You could also reduce the probability to hit for the weapon, say -35%. This would repressent the difficulty of over-riding the computer core defenses. Doesn't help with the religious talisman effect, but hey, G_d Hackrs RooL

Hope that's of some help,

[ August 28, 2002, 04:46: Message edited by: jimbob ]

[Phoenix-D]

"Add religous tech and the religous talisman which enables you to always hit your target, it makes your fleet unstoppable."

3000 racial points.. I could do a lot with 3000 racial points.

(sure, steal a ship. I have 5 others right behind him)

Phoenix-D

[PvK]

One criticism is I think many of the mounts are quite powerful and have the effect of suddenly multiplying the strength of a whole range of units. Also, they tend to be achieved suddenly and with the accomplishment of other levels that also give things. I know it was a lot of work to create all of these levels, and one strength is that by using only existing tech levels, the AI will automatically use these. So, assuming it is a design decision to not add new tech areas or tech levels to provide the mounts, I would suggest that the power of the more strictly positive mounts be reduced, and more disadvantages tied in with them (for example, greatly increased cost, or tradeoffs between performance and damage resistance, or other values). That is, make the mounts be more about choices with consequences and tradeoffs, instead of just making them plain better. I know there are already quite a few tradeoffs, but I think the net gain is often very strong, so I think it would be more balanced and interesting if the net improvement was less, or at least if the very strong mounts involved very steep prices.

PvK

[Q]

Originally posted by AJC:
There is just no defense against the computer virus /Allegiance subverter combination.

I would disagree on this. Use fighters, drones and fast ships with missiles and a maximum weapons range strategy. Your enemy with computer virus/allegiance subverter ships will have a hard time.

[dumbluck]

See THIS THREAD for the "How to beat the Talisman" discussion...

[ August 28, 2002, 10:25: Message edited by: dumbluck ]