Phased Polaron too easy to research?

[raynor]

In every game I have played so far, I go straight for Phased Polaron before I put *any* beam weapons on the ship. In addition to punching through shields, they have a very good range. Plus, they seem quite cheap to research.

Do you think they should be more difficult to research? For example, do you think it would be better if you had to research every level of Anti Proton first?

I also think that since they punch through the shields, they should have some sort of drawback such as reduced range. I think it is just too easy to build ships equipped only with these fairly long range shield piercing weapons which took quite a good bit of damage.

Another question: What good are weapons like the ripper beam and other such weapons?

Can someone start up a game with all the tech turned on and design a ship with weapons better than the Phased Polarons? They just seem to be too good of a weapon.
I'm sure this sounds pretty naive to you SEIV gurus out there. But I haven't started playing with the AI bonus turned on yet and so haven't yet encountered any AI races with better tech ships than me.

[Emperor Zodd]

I think alot of the weapons need to be balanced better. PPB's need to be a little weaker,and Anti-matter and Quantum torpedoes need to be more accurate in my opinion.

We have alot of weapon systems but we all use the same ones like PPB's because they are the best. So we don't really have alot a weapons to use because we have figured out the few that are the best.

I don't use special racial weapons,so I am pretty much limited to what I actually use on my ships and fighters.

I think we need more new conventional weapons,especially for fighters.

Plus if we make beam weapons less effective on planets and fighters,we will use planetary and specialty weapons like anti-fighter/sats torpedoes and missles if they are created in the future.

I'm bored with PPB's doing it all.
Each weapon should have a reason for using it,and a need to use it.



[This message has been edited by Emperor Zodd (edited 26 January 2001).]

[Talenn]

Yes, weapon balance needs quite a bit of work IMO. Its not a big deal as it can all be modded to taste, though.

It was one of the first things on my 'hit list' after my first few games. My data set has completely rebalanced all of the 'basic' weapons in the game. IMO, they all have their uses now.

If anyone is interesting in seeing the latest and greatest revision, lemme know. I guarantee that at least the weapons will be far better balanced than in the orginal.

Talenn

[Tomgs]

Actually Organic races have better weapons than the PPB. The enveloping Acid weapon is great. I also usually use the PPB if I don't use a racial trait with weapons. At least untill I need a better range then I start researching other weapons. A PPB up against a full tech Organic ship is cannon fodder at least human against human. Even against the AI it can be very tough if they outrange you and do more damage per hit.

[Nitram Draw]

I think each weapon should counter at least one defensive item and each weapon should be able to be countered by one defensive item, sort of like rock, paper, scissors.
This would force you to constantly modify your designs base on your opponents strategy. You don't really have to do this now.
I would guess that everyone's dream ship would contain many similiar components, which is a shame given the vast number of choices available.

[rdouglass]

I agree with Tomgs. Organic tech has awesome weapons. The Enveloping Acid Globule (I think that's what its called) on massive mounts has a damage of 500, a fire rate of 2, and a range of 8 and are actually quite accurate. To me, thats even more powerful than a WMG even if it seems the WMG's never miss. However, the PPB's skip shields and have decent range and fire rates. They also IMO are only good for early game weapons. Once the AI get's Phased Shields, they (PPB's) drop drastically in thier effectiveness.

I do agree that PPB's are very easy to research, but IMO are useless in huge galaxy, low tech games except to rush the first AI you encounter. However, that could definitely put you into position to be MEE in a hurry. Personally, I like to avoid PPB's 'cause they are such an advantage early on (its easy enough to 'rush' an AI as it is).