Should X3 get proper defense stations?

[DocIceT]

I noticed that there are quite a few posts from players who miss stations that properly defend themselves using docked fighters.
There are also those military bases all over the place, supposedly dangerous to any wrongdoer and indeed sporting impressive missile launchers but I have yet so see them take any action.

What about a proper stationary defense with massive shields, weapons slots, missile launchers and docked fighters which protects the sector that it is in?

Lasertowers are just too puny for a determined invasion force and yes you can do this kind of thing with a carrier. What I am talking about here is a rebalancing where effectively the engines are taken out of the carrier and instead we bulk up on weapons and shielding to pose a serious threat even to M1s, M2s and hordes of fighters wherever they are in the sector.

You would be able to buy a basic station at fairly reasonable price and then fit it out with your favorite guns, shields, missiles and special equipment as usual.
This goes for both the player and the AI, and since we are effectively modifying a ship concept it would be possible for the first time to board a station...

[lLongshanks]

I dont think stations should have guns. I do think they should use any docked fighters on board though. The shields of stations are kinda crappy Stations should also call on any local patrols within x amount of sectors to come help too.

[Nyax]

Which game are we talking about here because X3TC HAS defence stations. 3 sizes of them in fact.

ON the other hand if we're talking about regular X3, well if it doesn't have them now it never will have (unless of course you install XTM which ALSO has defence stations).

[DocIceT]

The idea behind guns in the station is to cover them against incoming missiles and ships that manage to get close.
Defending the sector as such will come down to long range weapons like missiles and fighters but to keep the station alive I would think some flak won't go amiss.

Now in X3:TC I have seen stations in space but they appear to be just decoration. It would be really interesting if they actually did something and if you can buy them as player. Is that possible?

[Deathgeese]

I think the idea of defense stations would be pretty cool if it were something like a military base (ie Argon Military Base). They could control patrols over a set amount of sectors and call in extra troops if the patrols in one sector can't handle it. They wouldn't just mindlessly defend one sector. They would control the entire defense of an area (or just one sector if you really need to pack a punch). They could also send you more detailed messages when stuff is under attack. Instead of just saying "OMG! YOUR STATION IS UNDER ATTACK!" they could tell you how many and what types of ships are attacking. Also, this would be a GREAT place to sell weapons to.

On another note, I think the idea of stations having guns makes a lot of sense. I mean, this is a pretty hostile universe with pirates, Khaak, and Xenon attacks happening all over the place. I mean, no sector is TRULY safe. It makes perfect sense for stations to have guns. Or at least the option to put guns on it.

[gamer993]

i say why not? Like in freelancer every station had guns on it even the jump gates. So why not in X?

[NeverSnake]

i say why not? Like in freelancer every station had guns on it even the jump gates. So why not in X?

Because if we wanted to play freelancer, we'd play freelancer. As there are very few space games currently the more different they are the better.

[Elucca]

Guns on stations would hardly make the game Freelancer. It would also be a good feature and make sense.

There is no reason for being different for the sake of being different, if what another game done is better. Egosoft knows this, see how the mouse control system in TC is the same in Freelancer.

[Nyax]

Now in X3:TC I have seen stations in space but they appear to be just decoration. It would be really interesting if they actually did something and if you can buy them as player. Is that possible?

Well the AREN'T just deocoration my any means. I've seen them taking down Pirates, Khaak, and on one occasion Dueling and winning with a xenon M7.

I'm pretty sure you can buy them too. Just not got enough of an empire yet to warrant that kind of defence

[Carlo the Curious]

Orbital defense platforms do indeed fire at enemy ships - try hanging out by one during a patrol mission (and become swiftly irritated by 'target nearest enemy' always locking on to the outgoing missiles ).

You can't buy them in vanilla though, afaik.

[GCU Grey Area]

You can't buy them in vanilla though, afaik.

Can't even steal them with marines (I tried )

[gamer993]

I never said to play freelancer neversnake i simply said that freelancer had guns on stations no one said that you had to play freelancer so?

[cswiger]

Yeah, I've seen the Orbital defense platform in BHS take out a bunch of Xenon M/L/LX'es, and even a P or two, but its shields were down to about 30% and it would have gone boom if I didn't lend a hand.

I suppose one of these could take out a Q or a Pirate capship, also, but my money would be on the Q to win more often than not....

[Demotruk]

Yes, absolutely. Every station should have at least one anti-fighter turret, by the docking bay to protect docking ships. More important stations should have more turrets, and you should still have to purchase the weaponry.

Too big a change though for X3 or TC, a lot of work involved, and they won't be doing an expansion so...

[-Villain-]

orbital defence stations certainly do work. I have hid behind many of them while waves of Xenon come flying in. I sit there, having a quiet smoke, while the station pounds away merrily. I keep an eye of the action and pop out when some ones shields are low. A few seconds later the target is dead and i'm shooting the next lame duck or back out of the wind, smoking.

[DocIceT]

Sounds intriguing.

Is there a variant that docks ships and is able to use them as an extension of the station like some people suggest?
I can also imagine tying satellites into the defense network to detect enemies outside the scanner range of the station.

Not being able to buy one is a definite drawback. I hope that gets changed in a future release.

[cyber-knight]

You can't buy them in vanilla though, afaik.

Can't even steal them with marines (I tried )

That makes two of us arrrrr!

[[ST]Typhoon]

I dont think stations should have guns.

Wow...you are so intelligent, Longshanks

This game is so unaccurate, Mario Brothers would be a more fitting description of reality.

Its just an average Amusement park for naive people who are easily impressed.

Whatever you try to improve the game...(wait, you actually try to make it better by adding guns to space stations? very creative!)...there are so many flaws that it will always be just a parody of a space simulation game.

The 98% of X3 players are cheater kids anyway. However, if there were no cheats at all, none of you would bother playing.

[Carlo the Curious]

Nice first post.

[sibaz]

Well Mr [ST]Typhoon, good to see the art of making broad sweeping statements (aka mindless nonsense) isn't dead in Hamburg.