Matrix Games Forums

Damage Output: Is there some sort of handicap granted to the AI when it comes ot damage output? I'm in my deveastator class cruiser, and I run across a vendetta class cruiser. Becuase it's so easy to exploit the enemy AI, I go ahead and engage it (I simply hit the reverse thrusters all the way in, by the time we get close he's turning away but I've reduced my speed enough that I do a little swerve out hte way and then track back as he runs for more room, gives me tons of free pot shots, including a blind spot where his PD guns can't hurt my Athena torps). Anyways, I get him down to 8 hull, in the time it takes me drop that to 0 using my main gun (which is the exact some gun they've got) he gets me from 85% to 42% hull, max shields. I've noticed similar problems with the x-lasers, but not to this extreme.

Also, I'm wondering because I've sent friendly destroyers against the Hege frigates (with 2 x-lasers), and more often than not my destroyers lose the battle. Not only is that a severe class different, but it's 2 x-lasers vs 4 x-lasers & torps. I though it was just the crappy AI until I had a one on one (me in an Asher DD with no torps left, 27% hull, enemy in 2 x-laser frigate with 17% hull) and despite my best efforts, I lost! Even the most inept person in the world shouldn't have a problem taking out a 17% hull frigate in that situation.

PD Targets: Having my PD guns constantly firing at other targets than incoming torpedos is annoying. Granted it usually only happens when a second enemy unit enters their range and they track away from your primary target, but letting in a torp (especially an Athena) is a serious problem. Anyone know how to set the PD guns to only track torps?

It sounds like you arn't raising your shields up all the way? I'm not sure.

Hegemony ships use the same weapons w/ the same stats that Force ships use.

There's no way to automate PD guns tracking only torps; if you want to, you can manually manage them, using Shift-U to target closest threat (torps). IMHO its better to let the AI do it.

It prioritized on torpedoes, and will always change targets to incoming torps. Furthermore, unless the PDB is severly damaged, even one or two shots are all that's necessary to destroy an incoming torpedo. And they do not-insignificant damage.

I've learned to make sure I'm fully prepared for a battle (shields up and all). And it doesn't happen all the time, just every now and then (except for the damn frigates vs destroyers problem, that's pretty consistent).

As for the PD targetting, it tracks to torpedos just fine in every situation except when they are targetting something other than the ship that launched them (like if I have a frigate cross my path they target it while in the firing arc, and if the cruiser in front of my launches any torps they don't target the torps.