• Registered: 2012-08-09
  • Posts: 5

Topic: S:NE and fighter-less universes

YMMV but I find fighters highly overrated as a concept. I can't get my mind around the idea that a group of gnats can bring the persistent firepower of a destroyer or cruiser.  To me, the "engineering" simply isn't there.

I'm not looking for agreement or argument.  But I *do* see that the sample ships in the S:NE book live in a "fighters are an accepted weapon" universe.  For example, the quantities of close defense weapons.

I *could* merely ignore the fighters and carriers and use the remaining sample ships.  But how much are these remaining ships distorted for having combat points devoted to weapons that deal with a fighter threat that isn't there any more?

Thanks for replies,
Jerome.

  • Registered: 2010-03-09
  • Posts: 630

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

I suppose fighters exist in some universes mainly because they (the universes) center on personnal characters (like Star Wars) and it's better to have them fight on fighters, like knights on horses, instead from ships.
Personally, I don't know if fighters are truly a potent weapon in space. I don't think so, because they move in the same medium as ships, are vulnerable because even if small and maneuvrable, they aren't enough maneuvrable in order to avoid weapons the same way planes can do on Earth.
But they add an additionnal dimension to the game and just that entices me to use them.
Now, if you feel some ships have wasted SU devoted to anti-fighter weapons, just feel free to create your own ships.

Marc

  • Registered: 2006-07-24
  • Posts: 158

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

Just have the anti fighter weapons there for use against drones and seekers.

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

All of my DNs carry  short range weapons for anti fighter/drone/seeker fire.  If the other side does not bring any of those, I have my DN move to very short range and pulverize the target ship. 
IMHO, I don't think fighters are worth the cost and have retired all of my CVs.  Fighters attempting to attack my ships would be devestated by all of the short-range weapons my ships have.  I have tried them several times with no success.  I have a 20 point three hulled, speed PT Boat design that has more fire-power, greater range and it takes more to destroy than a fighter squadron.  I personally won't use them again, nor drones for the same reason.

  • Registered: 2010-03-09
  • Posts: 630

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

I agree with you, fighters are not worth the cost, especially compared to SAE. That's why I cheated and reduced the cost of carriers to give them an acceptable price. Either my opponent uses the same ships as I do, either I don't use carriers, but it would be a good thing to see the carrier price reduced drastically. The end result should be that carrier shouldn't cost a lot more than the same ship (same hull, speed, defenses) which exchanged part of its weaponry into fighters.

Marc

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

I am courious, what have you changed the cost of fighters to?

  • Registered: 2010-03-09
  • Posts: 630

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

I can tell you that on Shipyard Nove, the Ship B158 value (ORAT) is now x2 instead of x5, and the B174 (DRAT) is now /5 instead of /10.
For example, a battlecruiser cost is 256. I replaced hal its heavy weapons by 8 figthers, and the cost of the BCV is now 299.

Marc

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

Does this make them cost about half as much?  That would make things easier if , for the same cost, all my CVs & CVLs got twice as many Fighters for the same cost... :?:

  • Registered: 2010-03-09
  • Posts: 630

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

i didn't compare with the official cost, but it seems ok for me that way. I don't want to lose a facet of the game just because it's not cost-efficient.

Marc

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: S:NE and fighter-less universes

Let me see if my friends will go along with this idea...