Why flagships should get your vote!

from Stardock Forums
Terror stars are a late game entity and not every style of play will benefit from them. Do not fret. They will eventually make it into the game.

But....

Flagships would be a benefit to everyone. Not only that, they would be helpful early on in the game. Sending a colony ship, freighter or transport unescorted is sheer folly if you are at war with anyone. The AI doesn't take that much advantage of it *yet*, but it is very easy to produce a cheap fighter with excellent speed that can intercept defenseless ships. Fighters can easily outmanuever other warships and destroy your unprotected ships!

Flagships are also a must if you play on huge or gigantic maps. It is a pain in the but trying coordinate any movement across the map without them. (read- Micromanagement Hell!)

Thanks for your support.
Please go out and vote today!
This message is sponsored by the
"Friends of Flagships" Society
245 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree! terrer stars are window dressing while Flag ships are an much needed gameplay improvement. ;)
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
It is folly to send out unprotected ships. I like to send out my battleships take out any enemy alien ship it runs into then my transports can reach the enemy planets in safety.

Having a battlegroup does have disadvantages the group is as slow a the slowest ship and becomes a large enemy target.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Personally I choose Terror Stars, but that's just because I very seldom play on the biggest map, where one benefit the Flash Ship the most. My favourite size is medium, and there they are pretty much useless.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Technician,

But if the AI would play a little smarter(and I am sure it will), it could slip the small fast fighters past your slow battleships and take out your unprotected transports.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Ugh! I see flagships are taking a beating in the polls.

Stop the insanity people. The darkside is taking control of you! Fight it! ;p
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Personally, I have no problem micromanaging my ships... and one of the reasons I wanted this game was Terror Stars, so I voted Terror Stars because I want my Terror Stars! Flag Ships are a nice thing to have, but I almost like it better when you can have a small fast fighter manuever through enemy fleets to pick off the important ships... Flag Ships will take this away, and although it is a pain to the human player, I'd rather deal with it and have the ability to still do it to the computer! And with Terror Stars I can destroy their planets to boot! :D
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I dont think a lot of people must play on large galaxy's reading some comments because the Micromanagement is hell, most recent 4x games have tried to stop the lowerlevel micro stuff.So i think there's only one option FLAGSHIP or at least an option for those who like playing on massive galaxy's.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I ALWAYS play on huge/gigantic galaxies. Micromanagement does get a bit crazy, but I'd still rather have my Terror Stars. I don't mind the micro that much...
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Don't forget what Brad said. This is about what should be done FIRST. One of these features, will make it into the first release, the other will probably have to wait for 1.x.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I think something that needs to be focused on is that Terror Stars only come late in the game and only apply to those using a strategy of military conquest.

It seems to me as if people see the words "Terror Star" and think "COOL!!! We gotta have those!!!" But many people won't even be using them that much.

Oh well, seems as if I might be on the losing end of the battle. I will be looking forward to flagships and all that they might bring to the game.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I won't code the AI to go after transports specifically unless there's no other choice. I know that's not realistic but believe me, if I did it, it would be cause for much pain and aggravation.

Even if Terror Stars win, there will still be some sort of bulk unit moving feature, just not flag ships. I.e. put all shipos in the same spot, click on a button to group them all at once and send them to a particular destination and they'll all move at the same speed on the same square.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
this thread is very good - i entered it as a 'partisan' for fleets, I still am but I accept all the points from the terror star fans,

I have a couple of comments-

1 I really fancy hero captains

2 For me if u play from large down to the smaller maps micro-management does not really need fleets

3 fleets need to add value - i play on the biggest map size all the time and to be honest don't have the slightest problem with ship micro management - its part of the challenge - fleets are for adding depth and strategy not reducing MM. I think the 'lazy' voters for fleets r missing the point of the fleet debate here(sorry), Brad IS going to implement ship grouping anyway, I think we are debating a choice between work on FLEETS here (tactical) or big boom terror stars (productivity/economic manageement).

4 terror stars - wow factor yes - game balance ..we will see


Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
The Terror Star cost 5000 shields in os/2 - about 10 battleships. They had 0 movement bonus and only 20 defense. I assume Brad will keep the cost silimar.
Flagships/convoys, were added to os/2 ver 2.0. they were great on large thru gigantic maps. 2 transport and 3 battleships could trek across 1/2 the galaxy and arrive at their destination. to destroy the transports, the 3 battleships had to be destroyed first.

I never liked Terror stars. By the time you built 1, the excaliburs were available and they easily destroyed any terror stars they found.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I think the main issue is balance and polish now the guys are this close to 1.0. new features are nice, but at the moment i think it needs re-balancing. I used to get destroyed early in beta 2 then it seemed to get about right - late beta 2 through early in the 3's a lull early to expand and develop then hell breaking lose.

In beta three there seems less action early and mid game on the default settings (i have always left them there for consistency) and now the minor races are so strong i am getting bogged down a little

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