X-Verse Fleet Fest I

[Tenlar Scarflame]

You might be in luck, I don't think anybody has fielded a fleet with an M7M yet.

Anyway, I have occasionally seen AI driven ships use their spinal cannons to shoot down missiles that are tracking them (actively, not just by luck), so I wouldn't say you'd be totally, completely up the creek in this situation.

[imperium3]

In my testing I've not actually managed to get an M7M to fire any missiles without being given the Barrage command. So sadly, in an action like this, M7Ms and M8s are useless

Personally, the best counter to Gavrushka's fleet is probably PSGs. An Oddy or a Deimos would have a field day.

[Tenlar Scarflame]

[Gavrushka]

By changing MDs for PACs in Harrier (again only m5 with a top speed AI can do something with) - I could up it to 900 Harriers with 5 Dragonflys set at 100% fire - That'd be 4,500 Dragonflys out within 1 -2 minutes - BUT I think that'd blow any computer apart before any ship got damaged.

I doubt that any computer could handle a battle with as many ships - I think maybe a limit on ship numbers should be imposed.

I might try a battle between a few Deimos and a 100 or Harriers to see how it works out - I think the PSG would indeed decimate the Harriers - but I wonder it any missiles would get through? (and any ships at all?)

[Spychotic]

The AI won't barrage. They'll launch missiles at random times during the fight. With 300 M5s bearing down, an M7M would fire off a Flail every few seconds. It'd take down a couple of the M5s before they got into range but once they did the M7M would be overwhelmed. And it won't intelligently target enemies; it'll just keep firing at one until it dies, then do the same with the next closest one.

AI controlled ships will target missiles; Gazz is the man to ask about that. IIRC they take 8 seconds to reaquire a target. So they're useless against swarms, but will frequently take down odd warheads which are inbound.

As for dealing with swarms of fighters, even flak won't cut it with that many. The man who said the word 'PSG' was probably on the best track, but due to the limited range a single Aggy/Oddy on anti-fighter duty in a fleet of anti-capital-equipped heavies would be of limited use. It can deal only with fighters in it's own small part of the battlespace... and anyone who's seen a PSG being let off knows that it ain't a weapon for picking fighters off the hull of a friendly!...

Spike

[Triaxx2]

Hmm... perhaps a job for Cluster Flak?

Then again, possibly an equal fleet of Susanowa's with PSG's?

[Tenlar Scarflame]

Cluster Flak might do decently, at that sweet-spot range where it works deliciously well (check my weapons guide.) But I don't think it would be reliable enough to deal with 378 targets... the sweet-spot range is only really feasible when the player's doing it. That way you can only blame your own lack of timing when it screws up.

Spy's right on with regards to the M7M - however. What might work is a couple of M7M vanguarded by a couple of Deimos. Let's say an Ares and Deimos fleet. The Deimos are set to protect their buddies, and are armed with PSG's. Sure, the possibility exists that they'll vaporize their buddy... but this is a fleet battle where we don't care as much about lost profits as we do having the last ship standing. If 200 of the harriers are hugging the Ares, sending a few shockwaves in that direction will do a lot more good than harm. The Ares are there for consistent output of damage, so the harriers continue to take losses (and scramble to defend themselves) even when at range. It's fine if they keep lobbing at the same Harrier - eventually, he'll die, and the missiles will fan out to pursue other targets.

Toss in a few Theseus or Perseus Raiders for light point engagement and you might have something that can stand up to the mighty Gav.

EDIT

Re: PSG's, in Terran Conflict only the Deimos and the Odysseus can mount them. They've become big capital ship doom weapons. No more random pirates with big area effect we... oh wait.

[Spychotic]

[Technojerk36]

It's great to see so much interest!

[Master of the Blade]

With all this talk about fighter spam, please may I propose a rule in order to save Technojerk's CPU?

All fighters must have somewhere to dock. So, you can't have a standalone fleet of M5s, you need some TMs or a carrier. That'll cut down on the numbers of ships somewhat. OK, maybe I came up with that a little late...



Anyway, without looking at the encyclopeadia for prices, I'll throw in my submission.

Fleet Name: TTAF Frigate Patrol, 'Eclipse Division'


2x Yokohama, SSC all round and full shielding. That'd be about 95Mcr altogether?

2x Shrike, IBLs in main, GC in turrets (with 50 ammo), FLAK everywhere else that'll fit. 2x PACs in the rear for missile defence. Full shields, 50 wasps, 10 hornets and 40 typhoons on each. That's another 90Mish?

16x Falcon Hauler, 4x EBCs in main, full shields, 100 ammo crates and 50 wasps on each, 50% launch. Is that about 35Mcr?(Whether my idea is accepted or not.)

EDIT: Anything that doesn't come pre-equipped with Triplex scanner, should be given them. That's just the Falcons, then.(IIRC)
EDIT: (again) Working out price now. Cost of everything but shields: 245,775,702. Uh oh... Now I need to find the cost of all my shields(200mj comes standard on F.H. so I'll assume I don't have to pay for it.).

With all shields attatched: 277, 562,310. Bugger. I'll edit the fleet now.

MEGA EDIT: Removed Centaurs, tweaked missiles. Without the centaurs or their missiles, it's 250,521,316, so... Take the Typhoons from the Shrikes and it's down to 247,152,116. Now add 28 typhs back, and it's 249,038,868. Add another 2 typhs each and 249,173,636. Add five to each, and 249,510,556. So make that 40 typhs per Shrike and the overall cost is:

249,847,476

[Gavrushka]

Fighter spam will not work.... I just tried... I spawned 200 Harriers (with Mass drivers) against a single Odyseus and every single one died within 2 minutes and did less than 10% Hull damage...

I agree with you Master of the Blades, and also suggested an upper limit on ship numbers. IF either side tries to use a large number of ships, all that happens is the CPU cannot process all the ship scripts and some arbritary result pops out of the battle - I suggest a limit of 30 ships as a starting point?

I withdraw my suggested fleet, but I will come up with another one.

[Spychotic]

What was the Odysseus armed with?

And I'd swap some Solanos for another Yokohama happily (that leaves 5 Yokos and 32 Solanos, same spec)

Spike

[Gavrushka]

PSG all round for the Odyseus - I spawned 3, but the other two were not needed! LOL - It was utter, utter carnage - There were so many ships too that half just stopped as CPU was overloaded -

[Cpt.Jericho]

Harriers against the Blue Orb of Destruction? Why do I think of hot oil and corn?

[Tenlar Scarflame]

Hrmm, so I have to homebase my fighters? Rats...

Will come up with something soon.