by Vmcsnekke » 14 Mar 2013, 16:22
I've been following this thread for a while and I finally have some time to react.
I don't think T3 air swarm is a serious problem, but if anything is to be changed
I'd like to present my thinking.
Indeed a problem is that (as ICKEN said) early/aggressive T3 air is not a real option.
I believe this is because of:
-1- the map (setons)
-2- early t3 air costs more than the damage it does
The map, setons that is, should obviously not be changed (although more mass points in
the middle (sea) to fight for and leaving out the ponds to hide ACU would be good).
If anything is to be done about -2-, I'd say decrease the hp of the t2/t3 mex extractor
which would be a good thing for other reasons too.
Reducing the air wreckage mass would be good also.
A 2nd problem which causes major T3 ASF swarm is that T3 air is way more superior to
T1/T2 air than T3 ground/naval is to T1/T2 ground/naval. This is mostly because
of the speed difference, but also hp/dps/turnspeed are related.
I'd suggest speed increase of interceptors and switfwind and less hp for ASFs.
Maybe ASFs should be even more expensive.
A 3rd "problem" which causes major T3 ASF swarms is that T3 air (if the air
battle is won) can do serious damage to naval units (think restorers against
cybran navy and t3 torp bombers to sera t2 destroyers) and even more to ground units.
This should not be changed in principle, although cybran navy needs more aa and
t2 flaks may need much faster/effective aa missiles.
A 4th problem is that SAMs are too ineffective. SAMs simply suck at taking
down ASFs and T3 bombers.
one single, more effective, missile every 1.05 seconds (as suggested before)
sounds good.
Another reason for setons back players to spam T3 air continuously is that they
can be scouted too easily. If a players tries to surprise the enemy by building
a nuke, making lots of (cybran) t3 bombers or preparing massive arty drops it will
be seen by the other because of the cheap and unstoppable T3 spy plane. This means
they think twice before doing something else than spamming air.
Of course scouting should still be possible and everything an enemy does should
in principle be detectable (imagine the funny games we'd get if not), but it is
too easy and inexpensive and it cannot be stopped.
I'd suggest T3 spy plane has less hp, way less fuel and costs more mass.