Declare stealth off-limits.

Thats what I have done. If you want advanced ECM systems, you have to go for cloak or stick with ECM. Im not comfortable with cloak either, but its a good system and allows certain ambush scenarios to adequately work...

Stealth, IMNSHO, should be either off-limits or keep it for a 'super-ship' scenario, where one massive high-tech ship is on the rampage, and several lower-tech, smaller vessels have to stop it.

Yes, the LRS/Stealth combo is very effective. But it is significantly weaker than in previous versions of Starmada, and I think the points value is close to balanced at this point. Stealth's 2.5 multiplier to the defensive rating is the largest in the game, IIRC.

However, if you want to up it to x3 or x4 as a way of limiting its use, then there's nothing stopping you.

Dan

In that sense, though, the Minbari are said to be pretty much invincible, only the FOs can defeat it. In a setting like B5, just say that FOs ignore the effects of non-FO Stealth.

I don't like tinkering around with the equipment SUs and costs that much. Anyway, stealth is high enough that, in theory, you could put two non-Stealth ships up against one Stealth ship.

But I recommend that for pick-up-and-play matches where you design your ships to either outlaw or restrict usage of the Stealth generator. That, or tinker with the SU/cost or re-write the Stealth rules.

Hmm, just thought of an idea: Advanced (Gravitic) Sensors.

Basically, works like a normal set of LRS (negates long-range penalty). But against Stealth ships, it picks up the mass of the ship and computes where the ship is. Its sometimes wrong, but it gives a way to beat it.

Every ship that has Advanced (Gravitic) Sensors makes a roll to lock on just as a normal ship (whether one-ship or multi-ship I don't know yet, but work with me). If the ship makes the lock-on, the Stealth ship loses its stealth (so an opponent can hit it at long-range).

Tentative SU/cost: 5%, x1.5 DR (more expensive than a LRS set to show its advantage when coming up against stealth ships)

Having state my piece about the cheesiness of stealth/LS combo ad nauseum, I would advise...

PDS
shield 2

at least one huge carrier with little on it but heavy bombers
lots of quick ships with PDS shield 2

Sunbursts are of limited effect because they are randomly placed, mines get you too close, and can really hurt your own fighters.

if your opponent starts to field fighters, then bring lots of little fast ships each with a flight of interceptors.

Here's a couple of ships:

Picker class    (169) (66pts without the fighters)
Hull: 4 3 2 1
Engines: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Shields: 2 1
[a] Chain Laser [4/8/12, 4+, 3/1/1, Repeating]
ab
Hyperdrive [O], Point-Defense System [O], Fighter Bay, Intc, Hvy [O]
1[HE], 2[ES], 3[HQ], 4[EQ], 5[Ha], 6[E]

Grinner class    (169)
Hull: 4 3 2 1
Engines: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Shields: 2 1
[a] Chain Laser [4/8/12, 4+, 3/1/1, Repeating]
ab
Hyperdrive [O], Point-Defense System [O], Fighter Bay, Hvy, Bmbr [O]
1[HE], 2[ES], 3[HQ], 4[EQ], 5[Ha], 6[E]

Bring 5 of each of these and one of these

Fat Boy class    (2245)
Hull: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Engines: 1
Shields: 2 1
[a] Anti-Fighter Defense Laser [1/2/3, 3+, 3/1/1, Repeating]
abcdef, abcdef
Hyperdrive [O], Point-Defense System [O], Fighter Bay, Hvy, Bmbr, Fast [OOOOOOOOOO], Fighter Bay, Intc, Hvy, Fast [OOOOOOOOOO], Launch Bay [OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]
1[H2Q], 2[E2Q], 3[HQa], 4[SQ], 5[HQ], 6[2Q]

His ships will poof. At least until he gets sunbursts and uses them as anti-fighter guns.

Hello everyone from Jacksonville,

I like having my opponent use a Stealth Generator.  That means he has paid a LOT more than I have.  Here are some remedies to use if this happens often in your games:

1.  Limit his ability to shoot at you b4 you get into range of him by having ECM &/or using some fighters to jam his shooting by screening.  Have them close to your ship so that if hostile fighters try to stop this, your ship' weapons can go into AA Mode and shoot down the hostiles.

2.  Have point defense and screens which you can raise to level 4 for the 3 hexes in front.  You only get damaged on a "6".  You will probably be facing towards him as you chase him down.  You can go forward faster than he can back up.  But don't have a silly-slow speed such as 2,3, or 4!!!

3.  Have your ship have an anime Spinal Mount.  Stealth generator or not, it will damage him bases on true range, not in electronically-altered range...

4.  Remember that you will have more ships, so reinforce the front shields, and close on him.  0nce you get into range, his expensive gadget becomes wasted points. 

This has worked for me again and again...

Steven Gilchrist
Jacksonville, Fla, USA