Topic: Changing Missile Costs in Mult-player Skirmish

[Kid Carrson]

Is it possible to modify / adjust the costs of missiles in multi-player skirmish missions?  If so, how?

Thanks for any info.

KC

[Roychipoqua_Mace]

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure it isn't possible. It would be nice though . . . the Mirak/Kzinti are pretty feeble as in the middle and late eras. That is one reason I like the "Tournament" scenario so much, because it gives the Mirak fast drones, but a more limited supply (maybe one or two reloads).

If the future of SFC goes with an edited SFC2 source, it would be great to have missile speed costs change with the era of the match. Maybe by late era, medium speed drones would be free, etc.

[marstone]

I would agree.  Missile costs should be based on the era.

[Dizzy]

My group and I play D2 (Dynaverse2) loadouts.

That means we use FYA (First Year Available) loadouts based on era missile availability server side which happens to be 2263-2269 for slow drones and 2270-2279 for medium speed and 2280+ for fast. So if you agree to play a mission during 2279, then only ships, fighters and medium drones that were available during and preceding that year are available for that mission. Anything with a FYA after that, hasnt been invented yet.

You have to set the room up to use Late era so everything is available in the yards and dock. Then you can loadout with appropriate era fighters. Open the ftrlist in the spec folder to know when ftrs are FYA so you dont pick out a loadout of ftrs during 2279 that first came out in 2283.

My group also does completely away with bpv because you cannot accurately compare ships with this method. Case in point are the mirak because they were designed to be competitive using only era specific drone loadouts and when you use BPV cost of drones, they arnt competitive anymore. So what we do is we pick out a year the match will be played in and then a hull class and ship type, like command cruisers, or heavy command cruisers and then tell everyone to completely load them up except for spares. Spare limits are set by server shiplist and have been agreed to be limited to 10 for any ship up to CCH class. Beyond that we go with 15 for BCH and 20 for most DN and BB.

Your games of skirmishes will get even better and more enjoyable if you further limit ship choices by hull type. Ask for one player from each side to limit their ship to a DD class, another to a CL and another to a CCH. Your games wont ever be the same and you will get much more from it seeing ship combinations never before fielded.

For even greater play balance limit one side to historical and traditional allies. For example, a mission where only Fed+Gorn vs Klink+Rom would be allowed. These type games with full D2 loadouts will rock your world. Give em a try... and its best to only do this if all 6 players are on voice, cuz there is always some dumbass who doesnt get it the 1st time around. Be patient tho and you'll be relearning tactics and fleet skills like youve never known them before. If your games are limited to bpv, you're still rocking on in the dark ages, bro. GL

[marstone]

Well, in SFB there is a BPV cost for drones, but you only pay for one load of them.  All reloads are free.  But for some reason SFC does a pay for all drones.  This does show that a Kzinti CA with Fast drones is a higher BPV then one with slow.  But paying for all drones skews it way to dang much.

House rules can help, like your group Dizzy.  But would be nice to actually just fix that little thing to make it work better.

[Dizzy]

I disagree slightly. The cost of one reload of fast drones makes a ship's bpv go way too high. It can turn a CA's bpv into the DN or BB range. Thats not balanced.

[knightstorm]

The problem with trying to organize rules beforehand, is that you always have some moron who doesn't listen and takes a BBZ to a warcruiser fight.

[marstone]

I disagree slightly. The cost of one reload of fast drones makes a ship's bpv go way too high. It can turn a CA's bpv into the DN or BB range. Thats not balanced.

I can understand, it is a matter of debate.  But if you were playing to Kzinti's against each other.  One took a BC with slow drones and the other took with fast.  They are not equal BPV value for a fight.

Now I also look at BPV as a fudge somewhat anyway.  They had to come up with some way of trying to balance the ships in the fights, and it works for the most part. (they have been tweaking the values for years, but going to the SFC realtime playstyle messes them up some)

Sadly nothing can really take the pilots ability into account.  I know I use to train and play against people with a way smaller ship then they had (in SFB, I mostly suck in SFC).  Normally for training I flew a frigate to their cruiser.  Against people who have played I was usually only one step under a DD to a CA.

[Kid Carrson]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.  Bummer on the answer, but at least it's good to know.

KC

[marstone]

Keep your head up, I have faith that the SFC projects will get going and will get us going again in the game.