Rock Paper Scissor

Weapons and Defenses

from GalCiv2 Forums
One of the things that has always bugged me about this series is how weapons and defenses are balanced.  I hate how cookie cutter it is.  To me it feels a bit unrealstic.

I would really like to see weapons that do multiple types of damage.  Shields that block all 3 types, 1 primary (higher protection) and 2 or 1 secondary that it still provides a small amount of prodection.

Anyway maybe it's just me... but that's something I'd like to see more of.

Like reaching 5th level Missiles tech gives you the option to install some missiles that do 2 types of damage.  Of course these missiles should be balanced in there own right (more space, higher costs etc). 

I think it could really open the game up more.

Just my 2 cents,

-Jara


15,974 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, you can basically do that now. Just add a lower level weapon of a 2nd type.

5th level Missile + 2nd level Beam
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Shields already block all three types of weapons, as do armour and PD. You might want to search the forums for 'off-type defence'.

Basically, every type of defence counts as its square root of defence against other attack types.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Shields already block all three types of weapons, as do armour and PD. You might want to search the forums for 'off-type defence'.Basically, every type of defence counts as its square root of defence against other attack types.
End of quote


Hum, if this is true, than it might be less of a change and more of a UI factor of making sure users know/see that.


Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hum, if this is true...
End of quote
It is true.

Keep in mind that the square root of the usual value is hardly something to write home about, but it's better than nothing.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I've run the battle simulator Brad posted about and I've played with AI's on max CPU and came to the same conclusion. Go 100% weapons because unless your defenses have a massive tech advantage over their weapons, the game heavily favors weapons. The AI's on maximum difficulty go 100% weapons also.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh yeah this is exact match defenses for their weapons, if mismatched your totally screwed.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi!
this is exact match defenses for their weapons, if mismatched your totally screwed.
End of quote

Umm, in DA and TotA not totally. The way combat works in those two versions of the game makes off-type defenses quite usefull, esp. in early and mid game. Check wiki for more: Ship combat.

BR, Iztok
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Indeed, go good ethically (not a requirement), and build ships with all defense with few weapons and you'll see you do quite well actually.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Also looking at the combat simulator it looks like being the attacker gives a substantial bonus to success. I play neutral alignment so I suppose it is more optimum for me to play 50% attack, 50% defense then? The AI's that I was fighting with were evil alignment so would explain their 100% offense preference. Still evil should have some defense, I mean good still needs some weapons.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The AI of opponents dissapoints me here.

My current game has come to a finale of me going at it against the Thelans and Torians. They only seem interested in Lasers with Shields and Anti-Missile defence. I get some semi-decent Mass Drivers and some Shields and single fighters can wipe out fleets of 8+ ships of theirs.

Why on earth do they never change the configuration of their ships to counteract this?

Admittedly though, I am playing on Normal difficulty...
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Go up a couple of levels, and you'll find AIs with different weapon types, not all the same one, giving you a more difficult choice of weapon/defence mix.

On Crippling I am finding three types out there, 2 or 3 AIs with (say) missiles, 5 or 6 with (say) Drivers, and (usually) the Drengin or Yor using a third (say) Beam weapons.

That mix can produce a problem at times re weapon/defence balance of a completely different kind than if they all had the same weapon/shield type.

Its much rarer, but does happen on a significant number of games, that the AI does start to switch weapon/shield types reacting to mine. It does tend be when I've been a bit slow getting round to clobbering them - not as a routine event - and they have had time to build up, but it does happen.

Regards
Zy
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
On normal the AI doesn't use all algorithms available. Only at AI setting 'bright' do they really analyse everything and act accordingly.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I haven't run a "simulator" but over many games I've come to the conclusion that a defense focus is a cheaper and more efficient use of resources. As part of defense, I include shields, armor, point, passive hull upgrades, and ship components that add hit points. Playing on masochistic, I can usually ward off MUCH superior offensive fleets with minimal weapons and huge, cheap defenses. For this strategy, the Iconians are particularly well-suited with their cheap hull upgrades and "self-healing" ability.

I should add that I always play with tech trading/stealing OFF.

This strategy works particularly well for the good ethical alignment, which gets those powerful added defensive measures, like "telepathic defense" and "subspace rebounder".

A case in point: The mega event, when (Woe to all) the Dread Lords arrive in the universe. Those guys have end-game beam weaponry, and massive damage per ship. They never mount defenses, though, and have very low HP. I've never had much trouble dealing with them with max shield defenses and even mid-level weapons. The AI usually gets creamed by their roving destroyers.

PS
Fleet battles last a very long time with this strat; just hit "done"