Mixed-Tech rework: ideas (also about the Steamrunner)
posted on May 5th, 2011, 8:52 pm
I have an idea for a new layout for Mixed-tech: the devs have stated they want to improve it.
Each race will be able to build a Mixed-tech yard that can build a single, specialized ship that represents that race. (ie, "Romulan Mixed-Tech Yard for Romulans) This default ship will be rather weak and balance-wise only exists to keep a mixed-tech strategy from getting screwed if the enemy raids early.
If the ally/constructor is available, the yard will have the option to upgrade and specialize toward a specific race (Romulan-Klingon Mixed-Tech Yard). The cost of this upgrade will take the place of the existing "analyze mixed-tech" research but be cheaper. Once the upgrade is completed, the yard will be able to produce a mixed-tech variant of that race's M-T ship. It will then have an "Advanced Mixed-Tech" research that unlocks the two remaining Mixed-tech ships.
The cost of the initial yard, upgrade cost, and advanced research cost can be different for each race, allowing the M-T ships to enter the tech tree at different points. For example, here's my idea:
Dominion
Yard cost: expensive
MT cost: costs only supply and a long time
Advanced cost: cheap
Mixed-Tech ship: V-15 Dreadnought
The Dominion is already set up for this system with their V-15. Their other M-T ships should have some production advantage to make up for the late-game nature of their M-T yard.
Romulan
Yard cost: moderate
MT cost: expensive
Advanced cost: cheap
Mixed-Tech ship: Leahval
Once again, the Leahval already has many M-T variants so this would be relatively easy. The regular leahval would still be available at the Staryard and both would have the same costs but the Mixed-Tech yard would take longer to build them. Similar to building Qaw'Duj at the Kahless station, sort of. Also a combat support ship represents the Romulans pretty well I think
Federation
Yard cost: moderate
MT cost: cheap
Advanced cost: moderate
Mixed-Tech ship: Steamrunner!!!
The steamrunner class could have different range weapon fits for its different variants: the standard one is a long-range beam with hyper-impulse drive, making for a slower addition to saber-spam fleets. Dominion variant is our old artillery-range torpedo, Klingon variant is medium-ranged and perhaps has manual targeting, borg variant has medium range and transwarp (maybe. That's kind of crazy), and Romulan variant has medium range with a 3-second cloak. As you may have noticed, only the base ship has long range for its early supplemental role, and to make the jump to artillery less unusual.
Klingon
Yard cost: cheap
MT cost: cheap
Advanced cost: expensive
The Klingon ship could be the Kvort, and gain different attack passives for different variants: The Federation version keeps its SSEC and gets ADAI, the Dominion version gets EPS control nodes(anti-shields) and bug ram, the Romulan version gets Tactical Weapon Arrays(anti-long) and manual targeting, and the Borg version gets and a bonus to hull HP. The yard would act similar to the BoP extension, but like the Romulan yard, it produces standard Kvorts too slowly to be effective on its own.
Borg Mixed-tech is looking good on its own, although I think it needs some defensive form of adaption. I trust you guys to come up with something awesome .
There are several key balance issues this would solve with Mixed-Tech yards. First, they will be able to bolster production if you find yourself attacked early and unable to reach their full potential. Second, by focusing on a single ship in the beginning, Mixed-tech strategies become predictable and thus counterable. Going straight mixed-Tech yard and not building a standard yard will leave a player vulnerable to the specific counters against his M-T ship.
The partial focus on yard upgrades instead of research, along with making it easier to counter M-T ships will encourage players to build only one and use it to support their main production. Because of this, the Mixed-Tech ships could receive bigger bonuses than they currently do without fear of being overpowered. Perhaps, like carriers or warpins, they could have high supply and time costs in exchange for low resource costs.
What do you guys think?
tl;dr Make each Mixed-Tech yard focus on a single ship like the Leahval, and make its variation easier to tech to than the other 2 Mixed-Tech ships for that race combination.
Each race will be able to build a Mixed-tech yard that can build a single, specialized ship that represents that race. (ie, "Romulan Mixed-Tech Yard for Romulans) This default ship will be rather weak and balance-wise only exists to keep a mixed-tech strategy from getting screwed if the enemy raids early.
If the ally/constructor is available, the yard will have the option to upgrade and specialize toward a specific race (Romulan-Klingon Mixed-Tech Yard). The cost of this upgrade will take the place of the existing "analyze mixed-tech" research but be cheaper. Once the upgrade is completed, the yard will be able to produce a mixed-tech variant of that race's M-T ship. It will then have an "Advanced Mixed-Tech" research that unlocks the two remaining Mixed-tech ships.
The cost of the initial yard, upgrade cost, and advanced research cost can be different for each race, allowing the M-T ships to enter the tech tree at different points. For example, here's my idea:
Dominion
Yard cost: expensive
MT cost: costs only supply and a long time
Advanced cost: cheap
Mixed-Tech ship: V-15 Dreadnought
The Dominion is already set up for this system with their V-15. Their other M-T ships should have some production advantage to make up for the late-game nature of their M-T yard.
Romulan
Yard cost: moderate
MT cost: expensive
Advanced cost: cheap
Mixed-Tech ship: Leahval
Once again, the Leahval already has many M-T variants so this would be relatively easy. The regular leahval would still be available at the Staryard and both would have the same costs but the Mixed-Tech yard would take longer to build them. Similar to building Qaw'Duj at the Kahless station, sort of. Also a combat support ship represents the Romulans pretty well I think
Federation
Yard cost: moderate
MT cost: cheap
Advanced cost: moderate
Mixed-Tech ship: Steamrunner!!!
The steamrunner class could have different range weapon fits for its different variants: the standard one is a long-range beam with hyper-impulse drive, making for a slower addition to saber-spam fleets. Dominion variant is our old artillery-range torpedo, Klingon variant is medium-ranged and perhaps has manual targeting, borg variant has medium range and transwarp (maybe. That's kind of crazy), and Romulan variant has medium range with a 3-second cloak. As you may have noticed, only the base ship has long range for its early supplemental role, and to make the jump to artillery less unusual.
Klingon
Yard cost: cheap
MT cost: cheap
Advanced cost: expensive
The Klingon ship could be the Kvort, and gain different attack passives for different variants: The Federation version keeps its SSEC and gets ADAI, the Dominion version gets EPS control nodes(anti-shields) and bug ram, the Romulan version gets Tactical Weapon Arrays(anti-long) and manual targeting, and the Borg version gets and a bonus to hull HP. The yard would act similar to the BoP extension, but like the Romulan yard, it produces standard Kvorts too slowly to be effective on its own.
Borg Mixed-tech is looking good on its own, although I think it needs some defensive form of adaption. I trust you guys to come up with something awesome .
There are several key balance issues this would solve with Mixed-Tech yards. First, they will be able to bolster production if you find yourself attacked early and unable to reach their full potential. Second, by focusing on a single ship in the beginning, Mixed-tech strategies become predictable and thus counterable. Going straight mixed-Tech yard and not building a standard yard will leave a player vulnerable to the specific counters against his M-T ship.
The partial focus on yard upgrades instead of research, along with making it easier to counter M-T ships will encourage players to build only one and use it to support their main production. Because of this, the Mixed-Tech ships could receive bigger bonuses than they currently do without fear of being overpowered. Perhaps, like carriers or warpins, they could have high supply and time costs in exchange for low resource costs.
What do you guys think?
tl;dr Make each Mixed-Tech yard focus on a single ship like the Leahval, and make its variation easier to tech to than the other 2 Mixed-Tech ships for that race combination.
posted on May 5th, 2011, 9:10 pm
you should have put the tl;dr bit at the start 
but otherwise it has promise as an idea. not saying there arent better ideas, but its certainly better than now, and would be better than current.
but otherwise it has promise as an idea. not saying there arent better ideas, but its certainly better than now, and would be better than current.
posted on May 5th, 2011, 9:23 pm
posted on May 5th, 2011, 10:05 pm
posted on May 6th, 2011, 12:24 am
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