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Post by sss383 on May 23, 2011 6:37:14 GMT -5
Hello All, I just wanted to get some opinions on the "just shoot out the engines to win" tactic. So far in my games, this strategy seems overpowered. I mean, in sailing days, shooting out someones sails almost never meant (you win, enemy crew surrendered, able to capture ship). I feel that there should be pros and more cons for using this fairly quick and painless strategy. Maybe you would shoot out engines, but then be required to board the enemy ship to finish them off. You would get a major boarding bonus if the engines were out bc you can pick and choose your entrance strategy at will and the enemy crew is already somewhat demoralized bc they are effectively stranded. I just don't think stranded should always equal, ok we give up. What do you all think about shooting out engines, is it currently overpowered? Thanks for listening
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Post by vwllss on May 23, 2011 8:16:21 GMT -5
Nah I think it's fine the way it is. Besides, take away the engines and you're removing the only non-boarding way to steal a ship's cargo.
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Post by oldalchemist on May 23, 2011 11:35:32 GMT -5
The 'engines' are the reactors, too. No power means no oxygen recycling.
"If you don't surrender, well, based on your hull size and living crew remaining, you've got 30 space minutes. We'll hang out for 45 getting out boarding party ready. Unless, of course, you'd like to line everyone up in the hold with their hands on their heads."
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Post by slayernz on May 23, 2011 17:39:45 GMT -5
"Life support systems are down. Weapons are down. Navigation is down. Automatic coffee machine is down. What do we do captain?"
"I've heard that if all of you crew stay in the airlock, there is enough air there to keep you alive for a while. Meanwhile, I'll stay here to work on getting the engines back online"
With that, all of the crew piled into the airlock, feeling thankful about having such a wise and selfless captain who placed crew before himself. They all chatted about what they would do next planetfall after the ship was repaired until Ensign Anderson noticed the outer airlock door panel begin to cycle up ...
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rudeboy
Curator
[ Star Traders 2 & Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Posts: 37
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Post by rudeboy on May 23, 2011 18:34:45 GMT -5
I found shooting out the engines to be a great tactic on the lower difficulty levels - but on Insane or Impossible grades not so much, at least not as an exclusive method. Those high-level enemy Captains get pretty agile...
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Post by sss383 on May 24, 2011 7:52:18 GMT -5
Ok, I can see how shooting out engines is justified if they are also reactors that run life support. No power in space would pretty much equal eventual death. Thanks for the lore explanation ppl.
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Post by absimiliard on May 24, 2011 9:15:10 GMT -5
Actually . .. . shooting out sails was one of the best ways to get a captain to strike his colors historically.
The reason being that without sails it was trivial for an enemy vessel to maneuver into position to rake you. And when you can be raked by the enemy while having no capacity to return fire (since broadsides fire sideways and not to the front or back) you pretty much had to strike your colors or be blown out of the water.
Being immobile in space while an enemy can race around you shooting you at will seems pretty analogous to me.
But hey, it's just a game.
-abs
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Post by oldalchemist on May 24, 2011 11:12:37 GMT -5
In space, pivoting should be trivial if you have working thrusters. Getting up to and down from speed is what takes time. It's basically 'instant' to change heading, but changing heading doesn't change your direction of travel or speed of travel.
In water, friction is always slowing you down and your direction of travel is going to be within a few degrees of your heading.
Also, I know squat about boats, ships, and spaceships.
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kuzkula
Curator
[ Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Posts: 64
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Post by kuzkula on Jun 15, 2011 1:20:05 GMT -5
I kind of like the op's idea though. Gives a second chance to the unlucky player who gets his engines aced as well. You counter their boarding maneuver with your manpower, take down their ship from the inside, and repair your engines by 1 or 2 from their ship. Perhaps an upgrade component for a backup UPS to keep life support running for a while?
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Tenebrous Pirate
Exemplar
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Why? Well, why not?
Posts: 482
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Post by Tenebrous Pirate on Jun 15, 2011 8:17:16 GMT -5
I have dreams of shooting the engines out of steel song patsies.
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kuzkula
Curator
[ Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Posts: 64
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Post by kuzkula on Jun 15, 2011 8:18:38 GMT -5
Good thing I'm part of the glorious Cadar.
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Post by Cory Trese on Jun 15, 2011 11:27:04 GMT -5
I actually really like the OP concept. I just worry everyone who's Captains are built around engine blasting will be annoyed at me
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Post by fallen on Jun 15, 2011 13:31:21 GMT -5
In the name of glorious Cadar, the best way is to let them welcome your torps at long range with open arms, or invite them to dinner with your burners and cutters in a duel.
As enemy ships grow in strength and attribute levels (engines, hull, etc go up) I find it best to keep at distance or close completely.
Captain Lanzo Cadar
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Post by aielman on Jun 15, 2011 14:24:54 GMT -5
perhaps you could make it a setting? I would be fine with it as long as I get the same ability of not being destroyed when my engines go out, that will increase the value of those +crew quarter upgrades quite a bit though.
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kuzkula
Curator
[ Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Posts: 64
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Post by kuzkula on Jun 15, 2011 23:09:54 GMT -5
I like my idea about it being a ship upgrade for an uninterruptable power supply. Keeps you from getting screwed out when your engines go, and provides extra challenge for players. Maybe like a 10% +enemy captain level for the chance of fighting someone with the upgrade? Plus it makes choosing upgrades for your ship require more tact and planning.
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