Akkan is a useful ship in larger maps and for strikecraft or defensive fleets. Armistice is an extremely useful ability to regroup; it can help clear a path for retreat if on the offense, or allow an extra minute of healing when on the defense. Strikecraft aren't affected by Armisitce, so that's why Akkan is useful in the strikecraft-oriented fleet. As a standing capital, it is weak, but works very well with a Sova (For quickly colonizing/fortifying new planets with Colonize and Rapid Manufacturing) or Marza (Armistice allows antimatter restoration time to activate Missile Barrage).

Of course, compared to the Death Egg or Progen, the Akkan is a rather weak colonizer capital. Still, consider the map size if you want Akkan as the first cap.

Agree -- it also has a the extra strikecraft that the colony caps get for extra DPS.  Base DPS is good.

Disagree -- Marza Nuclear Missile attack and Raze Planet are very good abilities.  Even the passive DPS boost with Incendiary rounds is kind of nice to augment the good ship DPS.  Each to his own, but I loved Marza back when Missile Barrage didn't even work right.

I think Akkans are underrated and are good for rapid expansion -- Ion Bolt is also very nice for countering abilities or trying to catch cap ships that are making a run for it.  The problem is that unlike the Progen or Evacuator, it doesn't outshine the other caps so much that it is a clear choice and comes down to player preference.  As Vasari, you are kind of dumb not to get an Evac, and as Advent  you MIGHT get a Radiance, but probably should have gotten a Progen.  It just isn't as clear an advantage for first ship when you look at the Akkan, which makes it seem maligned by comparison.

Anyhow, that is my 2 cents.  Ironically, I tend to only build them when I need Ion Bolt, but that is just me.

Wow that's good to know. That makes sense as a choice now. I hadn't even considered armistice. I totally forgot about it seeing as I never played TEC enough to get the akkan that high level.

I love a good embargo rush too much for that.

Targetting uplink is great if the map happens to have an asteroid field as one of its natural chokes, otherwise it's very situational.  I'd take the first rank of targetting uplink over the second rank of colonize, personally, but aside from that it's your call as to whether you want it or not.  Ion bolt is definitely the ability you want to sink points into.

Embargo is definitely one of my favourite abilities, and awesome if used well.  That said, the Sova is a very low damage cap (IIRC it's the lowest DPS cap in the game, not counting strike craft) and its abilities are quite anti-matter intensive.  There just isn't enough AM to use both its missiles and embargo.  I typically find rushing in with a Marza and using raze planet near the start of the match is a way better use of your time.  Faster, messier, and leaves you with a high DPS cap after you book it out of there.

We are just splitting hairs then...I think we both know the Marza is one of the better caps.  I do consider it one of the best caps in the game currently because all of its abilities are useful, and skillful use of a single high level Marza can change the course of a game.  That said, it is certainly counterable, but the burden is on the opponent to counter it.  You are also forgoing the ease of early expansion you get with an Akkan when you use it.

I am not even talking about the Kol, which is a situational cap.

Akkan Battlecruisers are support vessels.

I don't really know what else to say... I mean... it's solo performance is pretty much irrelevent.

The Akkan, like any other capship, is capable of clearing out nearby neutral asteroids and poorly defended planets. If you have progressed beyond this point, you should have a number of frigates, a second capship, and hopefully a couple of cruisers... Thus rendering the solo performance of the Akkan entirely irrelevent.

TEC strength is in numbers (production much?). Advent strength is in unifying the diversity of it's fleet (you just 'can't deny the Unity!'). Vasari strength is in over-compensation for something and punching people weaker than them in the kidneys while they aren't looking ('this little one is mine!' - wow, what a loaded bit of brilliant voice acting, that!).

So leave the uber solo ships to the Vasari, lol.

Also, before you knock a ship - try it in squadrons, you'll find many ships become considerably more powerful when "stacked" with themselves.

A pack of Marauders, for instance, is pretty bitchin', but each of them alone is pretty lame.

-Itharus

I agree with this entirely. my favorite groupings for 16 cap ships as TEC is 4 of everything except Dunov (just don't like it much, don't know why). When my fleet is divided, its balanced, when its unified, nothing stops it. Pretty amazing

If I had to rate the Caps, based on DPS(w/ strikecraft), Abilities,  solo power, and the ability to support their fleet, I would rate them like this:

1. Dunov (1. fleet support, 3 DPS, 2. Abilities, 3 Solo power)

2. Kol (5. fleet support, 1 DPS, 3. abilities. 1 solo power{up to lvl. 6, after that it's Marza})

3. Marza ( 4. fleet support, 2 DPS, 1 Abilities, 2 solo power)

4. Akkan ( 2. fleet support, 5 DPS, 5 abilities, 5 solo power)

5. Sova ( 3. fleet support, 4 DPS, 4 abilities, 4 solo power)

The list is for low-level caps, 1-5. 

Also, the list doesn't go in order by best to worst.

Koda0 (^)

The akkan battlecruiser is actually very useful. Probably the most evident reason for these 'decently skilled players' to be using them at first, is because it highly improves expansion. If you have the necessary research and skill, you can use the Akkan in a very good way. Getting the most planets early on can help you improve your economy fast so you can support your planets with larger fleets. They probably choose the Akkan first because they use it sparingly. It is also what you might call, a 'souped up colony ship'. Supporting an akkan with a minor beginner fleet can help you drive off pirates from planets, allowing you to colonize them.

First, you necroed a post from 2009.

Second, I guess you haven't seen the level 6 missile barrage from a Marza and watch dozens of enemy frigates become stars in the background. Beautiful sight it is....

Do like what everyone else does, use the pirates to level up...

The Akkan is equiped with all the necessary tools tec need to survive;
 

1. supports colonization and its resource economy.
2. disables frigates and capitals.
3. enhances the range and accuracy of all its fleet.
4. forces a cease fire with the enemy  around it to help the fleet repair and escape (works against everything including titans) 

This cap makes efficient use of everything it does--i love it,