Steam runner replacement?

posted on May 25th, 2010, 5:10 am

Pretty self explanatory.

There has been alot of debate over it, i would just like to do this poll to see who supports it.

Basically the question is do they need an artillery ship, whether it be making the steam runner buildable or some other ship.

If yes, specify your thoughts.  What ship should it be? What type of weapons on the ship? etc. etc.

If no, then state why its fine as it is.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 5:13 am

Okay i will start.

Yes I think feds need some sort of artillery ship, i think it is very feddie, as it doesnt put there ship at to much risk, and seeing as they made the steamrunner, they want a long rang high power ship, probably in part for borg killing.

I honestly dont care what type of ship it is, i would just like one in the game.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 5:52 am

I think they have plenty right now .  They have good long range bombardment from the Excel 1 and der uber Arty from the Steamrunner.

  Buildable bombardment is in the Intrepid's special (5+ on turrets hurts real bad ).  First Eraudi yard vessel with no research needed is the other uber bombardment cruiser the Excel 2.

  I think they're just fine.  "artillery" as you're putting it is only the difference of 200 range units.  Excel 2's/1's and such do the same job just as well .  They're more sturdy than the Steamie too!  It doesn't have to be artillery range just to be artillery.  Considering them to be the artillery cannons of your fleet.  Keep them at max range and engage with them first, that makes your enemies have to come close to your short and mediums to attack your arty .

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:36 am

Excel-II fills that job.  It's powerful enough that it is easy to level to 4 or 5, at which point it actually becomes artillery range anyway.  It's tough enough to need focus fire to bring it down, and versatile enough that there are very, very few ships that aren't at a real risk facing one.

Beautiful, wonderful, lovely ship.  And a nightmare for the Borg with it's torpedo supply.

[Canny]

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:41 am

Last edited by Canny on May 25th, 2010, 7:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

i have noticed the difference between excel 2 and steamrunner just yesterday, i still have the save game, i was using 3 ships, an excel 2 and two steamrunners with registry names of crescent and crescent-A which was strange because the A registry implies the original was decommissioned or destroyed before another one took its place.

the excel is not as powerful as two steamrunners, but its roughly equal to one steam runner in firepower alone after two phaser bursts and a quantum burst at arty range on the shields, but as for structural damage, the excel2 is 2x weaker then the tri-cobolt explosive. this was against various buildings, ive been playing a long drawn out fight against the AI borg, amazingly both myself and that AI cant get near one another and has practically stalemated, im gonna play a bit more because its the first time this has happened and i am very curious how it ends .

i may also point out that two rank 6 steamrunners can cause more chaos then you expect if your ignore them, the explosive round can pass through the shield and deal high structural damage easy.

[Tyler]

posted on May 25th, 2010, 10:47 am

Last edited by Tyler on May 25th, 2010, 12:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Buildable artillery would make the Feds more like the Romulans and corrupt Klingons, who fit artillery best because of their cowardly preferred tactics.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 11:59 am

i may also point out that two rank 6 steamrunners can cause more chaos then you expect if your ignore them, the explosive round can pass through the shield and deal high structural damage easy.

Veteran Steamies are one the best bonuses in the game.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 4:40 pm

@ Canny:

  No one is saying that Excels do as much damage as steamrunners.  Quite the opposite.  However the Steamrunner has many drawbacks that the Excel does not, which equals the playing field and is the reason I suggested that artillery does not actually have to be artillery RANGE to be considered artillery.  The steammie has powerful torps, yes, but the Excel 1 and 2 can fire 360 and are not only armed with torps. 

  Really man, point that Excel 2 at what you want to have die.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:33 pm

I must say im surprised at the people against it, i would see a arty ship as somthing that maybe if not both avatars, risner would use, as she is more offensive.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:39 pm

Why would artillery be likely to only be used by the offensive one? The Defensive still uses armed ships, just not as powerful.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:45 pm

i dont think the feds need more arty, the intrepid and excels are good enough. even after they nerfed e2 it is still worth it.

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:51 pm

i just dont see how the intrepid and excels can be called artilery, the intrpid only has the one special,  and excel.... i just wouldnt call those ships arty

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:53 pm

It has artillery range when ranked up, artillery range makes it artillery. It's about range there.

The Intrepid weapon in the same; artillery range (plus enhanced damage to stations).

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:54 pm

Ray, the feds have a ship that can make itself all but invincible to station fire, and they have another ship that can burn down the shields of stations quickly.  The federation chalk full of vessels capable of waging an effective siege.  You just have to open your eyes, son!

posted on May 25th, 2010, 7:55 pm

It has artillery range when ranked up, artillery range makes it artillery. It's about range there.

The Intrepid weapon in the same; artillery range (plus enhanced damage to stations).

Indeed, must not confuse damage with attack range.