i think there is also an "empire policy" (?) tab just for boarding... i.e. what tech/size ships they should board automatically and what then gets used and what scrapped etc.
maybe setting stuff there to "board everything no matter what" makes them board automatically everything and maybe stop fighting it then once boarded?
Yeah, there is.
See, I want to try to have my ships automatically board every single time. However, I am having problems with getting my ships not to blow up the enemy, so I have been trying to figure out a weapon that will damage shields but not damage the ship itself. Missles do less damage to armor, but they are long range and boarding is short ranged, so it doesn't work out.
Why not try ion?
Ion doesn't damage shields, only weapons and engines, sadly. I tested it with a few ships equipped with only Ion, and they just stood there shooting at a ship for a few minutes with nothing happening. If someone has gotten Ion to take out shields, let me know how!
Right now I am thinking long range missile frigates + close range Ion boarders might work. Missiles do less damage to armor, so hopefully it will leave the ships alive long enough for the boarders to board them. Still, one of the problems with that is, while they stop shooting at a ship after it's been boarded, the missiles they already fired will continue, potentially destroying the ship.
It's a conundrum.
Possible solution: Don't put too much attack power on the ship. Sure, you can probably melt those shields... but by the time the shields melt, your next volley is already on the way, at the same time your boarding crew is on the way too. Don't use fighters either. (Make a mixed ship, rather then boarding+ion only ships.)
I don't really know how you are playing or building your ships(or your tech levels), so I can't really comment more then that.
Rail is not really a good idea for capture, since it partially bypasses shields... rather then hit em full on, but then, it might blow up a shield generator. On the other hand, it may destroy the engine and you have a stranded ship or one that has to chug along across half the galaxy... or you have to tie up a construction ship from across half the galaxy. (Oh right, it runs out of fuel midway and turns around to refuel.)
Another solution: Don't expect high capture rates, war is a chaotic thing, you capture some, you destroy some and some escape.
I wonder if a fast escort ship with ion and rail is going to be as annoying as it sounds to capitals and stuff
How ion damage vs ship size stack?
If I remember correctly, only the graviton beam gets effected by big ships. Though... big ships with more components is less likely to get something critical disabled... and more likely to carry emp defense.
Yes, railguns are ALWAYS annoying for
capital ships and other strong/big stuffeverything, unless they have auto-repair components. Know how much of a pain it is to keep having to repair damaged ships? Or the ships stationed in the outer rim of your empire having to go all the way back to a space port in the inner rim after getting into a fight with railguns?
Author
Topic: Distant Worlds (4x RTS) (Read 130261 times)