Questions. Flak & SC

from Sins Forums

I just started playing this recently (last week) and I'm a bit confused about the beta changes.  I just went to 1.09 and I wonder what all this flak/sc talk is about.  Did they reduce the flaks effectiveness or are there just more fighters in play now?  I only ask because since upgrading to 1.09, i've noticed that the advent have been hitting me with very odd fleets than what I was used to before. An advent fleet invaded me with a halcyon (sorry bad spelling) carrier and about 10 light carriers with no additional frigate protection and I got dominated because of the sheer amount of fighters.  After seeing some glancing talk about how 1.09 changes how important strike craft and carriers are I've come here for answers but I can't understand what the changelog means. 

-Carrier frigates rebalanced to have 2-3 squadrons and be relatively less expensive per squadron.


My memory of the game is hazy but didn't the light carriers only have 1 flight group before and now they have far more with this beta patch.

-All anti-strike craft frigates' base DPS reduced by 43%.

Does this mean that the defensive flak type craft have reduced damage again strike craft now?  Are these two changes what everyone is talking about here as being unbalanced?  I apologize for being so new but from the sound of it they made strike craft much more numerous and the counter for them being flak ships have been reduced in effectiveness.  I'm only curious because i've been getting swarmed in single player by fighters for the 10 hours i played after I updated and I just can't counter it.  I've read as much as I can about it here in these forums but I'm at a loss as to how to counter it except for running with heavy carrier usage as well.  Does anyone know if this is going to be rebalanced when the beta goes toward actual release?  Will my 25 flak frigates consistently fail to destroy the fighter groups of 10 light carriers?  I'm just looking for any info that anyone has to help.  Strategies, hints, helpful words of encouragement? 

All i've played is single player battles and although i just started playing, has the computer always used heavy strike group oriented fleets?  It seems like all i've fought off in 1.09 is carrier fleets. 

1,638 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

-Carrier frigates rebalanced to have 2-3 squadrons and be relatively less expensive per squadron.
End of quote

Carriers did only have one squadron before, however, they are much more costly now. Advent carriers actually have three squadrons and are really tough.

-All anti-strike craft frigates' base DPS reduced by 43%.
End of quote

This means that the damage output of the flak against everything was reduced by 43% I believe. As it is now, flaks are really underwhelming.

 

:fox:

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

so in other words if the aforementioned carrier fleet invades my planet I'm screwed unless I have equal carriers or chancing light frigates to chase down the carriers?  Flak are useless.    I was really enjoying the fact that each ship fulfilled a role but if the flak is useless on a price to performance ratio, is counter carrier groups the only option?

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Flak is not completly worthless, but its only good against fighters now. So a few flak are still good at protecting your LRF's.

 

Regardless I now consider the best strategy in 1.09 against the cpu is to go for your own carriers early. Maybe not enmasse, but at least 10-12 tec, vasari carriers, or 8 advent carriers. From there you can decide where to go next. Of course this is all while also having a decent number of LRF's.

If you ask me 1.09 is all about the carriers.

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

The AI does like to spam carriers.

Keep in mind that 10 Advent carriers with 30 squadrons are worth 200 supply points. That's 50 disciples and 50 light frigates would eat those 10 carriers alive. Flak aren't useful anymore but at least light frigates are.

Personally, I think the heavy focus in strikecraft is annoying because destroying them serves little purpose as they regenerate for free. You have to go after the carriers.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Starhound, reply 4
The AI does like to spam carriers.
Keep in mind that 10 Advent carriers with 30 squadrons are worth 200 supply points. That's 50 disciples and 50 light frigates would eat those 10 carriers alive. Flak aren't useful anymore but at least light frigates are.
Personally, I think the heavy focus in strikecraft is annoying because destroying them serves little purpose as they regenerate for free. You have to go after the carriers.
End of Starhound's quote

 

what you say is only true ina  perfect world where the enemy only brings carriers and nothing else. In that world your logic prevails. Alas its not a perfect world and those 10 carriers WILL have support. Which obviously changes things drastically.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

You destroy the flight craft themselves.... they reproduce more for free.

You destroy the carriers.. the flight craft still can attack for a good while.

 

I'll just do what I've always done... spam fighters. No bombers, no flak. Lots and lots of fighters so that I don't even have to worry about their strike craft and can ignore their carriers cause my strike craft are making sure HIS strike craft is useless.

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Ya, my friend and I just finished another MP game on my lan today; sadly, spamming fighters (not even Bombers) was always the best strategy.  I know it's a beta, and suppose to be "imperfect", but it's been way over a month, and I have not seen anything from the Devs about this. So many people have tested for so many hours, and spent lots of time giving/writting their opinions, yet I've not seen one message addressing this issue.  Anyone else see a message (maybe I just missed them)?

 

 

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

Where does it say that the developers have to give feedback? Technically they are just giving you the new version of the game to play and see what you find. Sure you are doing them a favor. But that doesn't mean they have to come here and post about it. First off that starts a kinda "last kid picked" mentallity for the people who's threads don't get a developer responce. Just look at the wow forums if you want to see an idea of what I mean and thats just spamming for the Blue post moderators of blizzard.  I had a second thought here really I did...oh well I got distracted by the phone and came back 20 minutes later to finish typing. Well regardless I will post this and move on with my day LOL.