X-Verse Fleet Fest I

[Gavrushka]

I think entry closed a few weeks back - HOWEVER there is going to be an XFF II soon afterwards so watch this one closely.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

Entry ended April 16th, but I think we hit the fleet limit number before the deadline.


@thecrazybear, you could begin work on a fleet in preperation for XFF II, though the rules for the next XFF haven't been finalized.

I've got three fleets designed for XFF II (none are finished due to not knowing what the rule changes are).

The only rule so far that I think is permanent for XFF II is the limit on total ship number of a given fleet which IIRC TJ said would be no more than 65 ships (due to slideshows).

Budget may or may not be the same.
What ships/weapons are allowed/not allowed may also change.

[Cpt.Jericho]

The only rule so far that I think is permanent for XFF II is the limit on total ship number of a given fleet which IIRC TJ said would be no more than 65 ships (due to slideshows).

And that number is still not final. 65 ships is a pretty small number; my fleet has 64 ships, fully equipped and yet I would have had even credits for a single M3 due to miscalculations on shields.

Budget may or may not be the same.
What ships/weapons are allowed/not allowed may also change.

And before these aren't clear, I don't consider even think about a new fleet or to alter my current setup for XFFII. And even more important are the ship prices.
So, thecrazybear, if I were in your position I'd relax and enjoy the show for a while. You might even learn some things about AI behavior which could come in handy for the next Fleet Fest. I sure HAVE learned a thing or two during these first few battles and I'm not new to X (ah, this game is so fascinating; no matter how long you play it, you can always find something new).

[Technojerk36]

OK quick post before going to school.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w_4HuEXQIQ

Video is a bit cut up because I had to delete some scenes. (Original video was 16 minutes long)

[Tenlar Scarflame]

Awesome!

Re: Mutiny v. Le Baron, the framerate was rather jumpy, as expected, but not as terrible as I was prepared for. Still enjoyable.

What a furball, too. The squad of Heliae contributed to the battle just as much as the Solanos. It looked like they were playing pretty effectively as fire sponges. I think if the Borons' firepower had been directed solely on the Solanos first, then the Heliae, the swarm might have had a tougher time of it.

Knowing this, I have very high hopes for the Zephyrus brigade.

[X2-Eliah]

Amazing. I didn't really expect that the Solanos would wipe out a proper fleet - and the speed at which the capital ships went down once the fighters were dealt with was simply astonishing.. Actually, it was quite predictable that at the beginning, things went very slowly as both forces were dispersed. Then as one side dwindled, the speed of kill went up and up - so a lot is decided in these fights not only by stats etc., but by pure chance as to which ships choose to attack what - and in how large numbers. Had the dispersion been different and the capitals done a better job at wiping the fighters out, the result could have been entirely different.

And the TMs did indeed work as very good shielding & sustained damage thing - can't wait to see how the all-Zephirus fleet does.

And, frankly, this demonstration has raised my own hopes of my fleet performance. Didn't expect the fighters to do this well.

[Le Baron]

Amazing. I didn't really expect that the Solanos would wipe out a proper fleet - and the speed at which the capital ships went down once the fighters were dealt with was simply astonishing.

Just count the number of guns firing from only 50 Solanos and calculate how long it would theoretically take to shoot down shields and hull of a fully equipped M2

The less ships are contained in the opponents fleets the more effective my Solano Fleet should have been.

I have used one time 10 Nova Raider to shoot down (just for the show) a Paranid TL with PRG mounted on each Nova and I was surprised how fast they have dealt with the TL.

[Tenlar Scarflame]

This brings me to an interesting idea for FFII - Dynamic weapon loadouts for each battle.

Rather than buying and equipping your fleet's weapons outright at the beginning of the fleet fest, then being stuck with those weapons for the whole game, only give players a budget for the starships themselves, plus shields and extensions.

Then, on each match day, both teams are given a sum of credits to arm their ships. This includes guns, missiles, and ammunition.

This way, it's a good idea to build a flexible fleet - as in not one with a bazillion Solanos, and also not one with just two Phoenixes (...). You are stuck with the ships you choose on day 1, but being able to arm them dynamically allows you to more fairly engage enemy fleets of a completely different composition.

[EmperorJon]

But then buying 2 Oddies would = epic win.

Capitals? Arm them both with as much capital weaponry.

Fighters? Slap on the PSGs.

Both? A mix.

[imperium3]

Yes, choosing the weapons is half the strategy anyway.

What I think should be allowed is, if you wish (or have spare credits) buying extra weaponry to put into your "spare parts" pile - these would not take part in a battle, but at any time during the competition you could declare a change to which guns you have equipped.

By that system you could field a really varied loadout if you wish, but still have to pay for every gun you might want to use.

[Tenlar Scarflame]

True that.

So basically, you have separate sums of credits for ships and weapons at the beginning of the game. You deploy your ships with whatever loadout you please from the weapons you bought originally?...

[EmperorJon]

No, he's saying you can spend any of your money on extra guns and then sub them in before each battle.

So you have a choice, buy a large equipped force, or risk less actual worth in the battle but the chance to swap your weapons around.


Eg. I could buy an M2, an M7, and an M6 squad, or I could just get the M2 and M7, and spend the M6 cash entirely on PSGs, and if I went up against a fighter spammer slot my PSGs in to my M7 and M2.

I think it's an interesting and tactical idea.

[Cpt.Jericho]

Interesting, but much more work for the person who runs the battles.

[EmperorJon]

How is it?

[Technojerk36]

Because that means more thinking and that means more food supplies and that means more trips to the store and that mean more money spent and that means the economy goes up and that means people spend more money and that means the economy goes up even more and that means the bubble bursts and that means the recession sets in again and that means food is more expensive and that means I have to spend more money and that's not good

And results are up. (Yes, I actually did include the Salvage Insurance and the E-cell and no, it wasn't a lag fest)

[imperium3]

Spoiler

Show

Jesus, how did that few Solanos survive against a Deimos? Well done, Spitzeuk, and bad luck CJ - I thought you were almost a cert to win that.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

The fight between Mutiny/Le Baron wasn't as laggy as I was expecting though that was indeed a long fight.



Nooooo CJ was taken out.

I had hoped a PSG platform could be the equalizer against fighters.

Can't wait to see the video of this fight.


And my predicted winner of XFF I has been KIA.


.......AV jinx'd me. I shall have revenge.

[Technojerk36]

Spoiler

Show

I think it was because the Deimos was late to the fight. The M4s had already done a bunch of damage to CJ's fleet by the time it got to the fight. Also, it never really got into the thick of it. I only ever saw it firing it's PSGs one bank at a time. Seems like the M4s avoided that ship. Looks to me like FAAs are far more effective.

[Tenlar Scarflame]

WOW.

Just... man, my bracket is totally wrong.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

Brightside for two reasons, nearly all my ships are slow and my fight isn't against a fighter based fleet.

At least not for this round.