Missile Destroyer does better.
-Attack Bomber:
Cost: 85 RUs
Build Time: 20 seconds
Special Function: None
Required Technology: Fighter Drive, Heavy Fighter Chassis, Plasma Bomb Launcher
Excerpt: A technological advance created plasma bomb technology small enough to
fir in a Fighter-sized craft. The Attack Bomber was born. While it's
slow-moving plasma bombs can be outrun by Fighters, they make short work of
Frigates and other Capital ships.
My Analysis: For some reason, these things have a tendency to die. Is it that
they just get hit more, I don't know. Anyway, that combined with a high cost
for a fighter and slow build time for a fighter make it bad. Avoid these if
you can, but don't be that afraid to use these if you have to, they're not that
bad.
-Defender:
Cost: 65 RUs
Build Time: 9 seconds
Special Function: None
Required Technology: Fighter Drive, Heavy Fighter Chassis, Defender Sub-Systems
Excerpt: Although it's slow speed keeps the Defender from being a primary
attack force, it's gimbaled guns and high power rotational thrusters allow it
the greatest coverage of all Fighters.
My Analysis: There are 3 rules to using these things:
1-Don't attack with them.
2-Only defend with them(preferably defend Mothership).
3-Always use in large numbers if you use them.
If you follow those 3 rules, they end up being pretty decent. Break the
rules(especially 3), and they end up being worthless.
-Cloaked Fighter:
Cost: 85 RUs
Build Time: 45 seconds
Special Function: Cloaking
Required Technology: Fighter Drive, Heavy Fighter Chassis, Cloaked Fighter
Excerpt: With cloaking sails active, the Cloaked Fighter is the stealthiest
ship around. Highly useful for simple surveillance, the Cloaked Fighter is
also a good attack craft. It must, however, de-cloak to fire, making it
vulnerable for a short period of time.
My Analysis: It beats the Scouts beautifully at their own game. While, unlike
the Cloak Generator, it doesn't need to recharge, it does use fuel, so it's
balanced. The major downfalls are that it takes a while to build and costs a
lot.
-Defense Fighter:
Cost: 85 RUs
Build Time: 20 seconds
Special Function: None
Required Technology: Fighter Drive, Heavy Fighter Chassis, Defense Fighter
Excerpt: The Defense Fighter has no attack weaponry to speak of; instead it
fires beams from it's emitter dome to shoot down oncoming enemy fire. This
makes the Defense Fighter an excellent mobile protective force, especially when
used with other Fighter craft.
My Analysis: If only they shot down all enemy weaponry... Oh well. Since they
build rather fast for an 85 RU fighter, it can actually be put to use.
However, use the Defender's 3 rules.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Area 3-3: Corvettes**
-Light Corvette:
Cost: 135 RUs
Build Time: 22 seconds
Special Function: None
Required Technology: Corvette Drive, Corvette Chassis
Excerpt: It's heavy-duty engine, chassis, and armor make the Light Corvette
significantly slower than any of the Fighter-class ships(besides the Defender).
It's salvation comes in a powerful turreted gun which is fast enough to hit
Fighters flying at full speed.
My Analysis: Bad. By the time you can use this, one more research topic and
you get the much better Heavy Corvette, and you can do the research for the
Heavy Corvette on the same stage. Never use these.
-Heavy Corvette:
Cost: 250 RUs
Build Time: 25 seconds
Special Function: Charged Burst Attack
Required Technology: Corvette Drive, Corvette Chassis, Heavy Corvette Upgrade
Excerpt: More armored than it's light cousin, the Heavy Corvette adds a second
high powered turret to an already powerful craft. It's turrets allow the Heavy
Corvette to track two fighters at once and also make it a moderate threat to
Capital Ships.
My Analysis: First, the Charged Burst Attack is worthless. Second, it's a
decided improvement over the Light Corvette. Better firepower, better armor,
and better coverage make it one of the best corvettes.
-Repair Corvette:
Cost: 150 RUs
Build Time: 20 seconds
Special Function: Can Repair and refuel Strike Craft
Required Technology: Corvette Drive
Excerpt: The Repair Corvette is capable of repairing and refueling Fighters "in
the field." While equipped with only a small gun, the Repair Corvette has
heavy armor to protect itself and the craft it's repairing. Timely support
from a Repair Corvette can be quite useful in a long battle.
My Analysis: Never use. NEVER. By the time you'll need to repair stuff, the
Support Frigate will be in your arsenal. And it's 10 times better.
-Salvage Corvette:
Cost: 220 RUs
Build Time: 30 seconds
Special Function: Capture of enemy ships
Required Technology: None in Single Player, Corvette Drive and Corvette Chassis
in Multiplayer
Excerpt: This beefy Corvette was once used exclusively for towing junk and
salvaging derelicts. After being adapted for combat, the Salvage Corvette
gained the ability to capture enemy ships that are heavily damaged. Once
captured, these ships are towed back to a Carrier or the Mothership for
refitting.
My Analysis: Don't be thinking you need to damage a ship for the Salvage
Corvette to capture it, you don't. Also, you need a certain amount of ships to
capture certain things. Right from the Readme file, here's the list:
Frigate = 2 Salvage Corvettes
Destroyer = 3 Salvage Corvettes
Heavy Cruiser = 5 Salvage Corvettes
Carrier = 5 Salvage Corvettes
And, since they can capture any Capital/Super Capital Ship, they are insanely
useful. Build 12 before stage 7 and never let their number run below that.
-Multi-Gun Corvette:
Cost: 225 RUs
Build Time: 28 seconds
Special Function: None
Required Technology: Corvette Drive, Corvette Chassis, Fast-Tracking Turrets
Excerpt: Following advances in turrets and auto-targeting, the Multi-Gun
Corvette was conceived. It sports a full six articulating turrets. This
allows it to track numerous fast-moving targets at once, making it especially
deadly against large groups of Fighters.
My Analysis: The second-best Corvette, next to the Salvage Corvette. Sure, it
does less damage to Capital Ships, but since you'll be avoiding most of their
fire, it doesn't really matter(unless up against a Multi-Beam Frigate or
Missile Destroyer). And, since it's much deadlier against Fighters than the
Heavy Corvette, it's better than the Heavy Corvette.
-Minelayer Corvette:
Cost: 295 RUs
Build Time: 40 seconds
Special Function: Creation of Minefields
Required Technology: Corvette Drive, Corvette Chassis, Minelaying Tech
Excerpt: While the Minelayer has normal attack capability(dropping mines that
float slowly towards the target), it can also perform a force mine drop, where
a wall of mines are laid at the current location. Running into a minefield
with a fleet of Capital Ships is sure to ruin anyone's day.
My Analysis: There is no place where these things can really be put to use.
Except maybe the Hiigara level, these things, if built, are probably going to
stay docked the entire game. Sure, they're not that bad, but save your money
and don't build any. Great idea, but it's just not worth it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Area 3-4: Frigates**
-Assault Frigate:
Cost: 575 RUs
Build Time: 1 minute
Special Function: None
Required Technology: Capital Ship Drive, Capital Ship Chassis
Excerpt: The Assault Frigate is the most general purpose combat ship of the
capital ships. It has four large turrets, which afford it excellent coverage,
as well as two fixed plasma bomb launchers. While it's turrets are too slow to
track fast-moving fighters, they can take out the slower Corvettes with ease.
My Analysis: No, they can't 'take out Corvettes with ease'. They keep missing
when the Corvettes are on Evasive tactics. These things are bad against all
Strike Craft, as almost all Capital and Super Capital Ships are. Overall,
pretty decent, and the only thing you have to do with these is have some sort
of Strike Craft neutralizers.
-Ion Cannon Frigate:
Cost: 650 RUs
Build Time: 1 minute
Special Function: None
Required Technology: Capital Ship Drive, Capital Ship Chassis, Ion Cannons
Excerpt: When ion power was harnessed, the scale necessary to produce a
severely damaging beam meant that an entire Frigate could only hold one cannon.
The acceleration ladder alone runs the entire length of the ship. What
results is a devastatingly powerful, focused ion beam.
My Analysis: Certain death FROM Strike Craft, not to. The Assault Frigate has
better chances against them, and it can barely kill one or two when a squadron
attacks. I'm sorry, but it's impossible NOT to die to fighters if your whole
fleet is filled up with these things. However, it's also the best against
other capitals, so it should merit some positions in you fleet. But, don't
give it more than half of those positions.
-Support Frigate:
Cost: 425 RUs
Build Time: 1 minute 5 seconds
Special Function: Can repair and refuel Strike Craft, repair Capital Ships
Required Technology:
Excerpt: Giving support to Strike Craft in combat is the Support Frigate's main
role. It has ten Fighter docking pads and four Corvette docking arms for
repairing and refueling. Although it is well armored, the Support Frigate has
only one large turret for defense and is best left alone.
My Analysis: No, it's main role is repairing Capital Ships. The Strike Craft
repairing and refueling is just a bonus. Best left alone, this thing is the
only thing that saves you in the Hiigara level. Set them to heal the
mothership in the Hiigara level, not your attack craft. No exceptions. And,
on a finishing note, it's the best Frigate in the game.
-Drone Frigate:
Cost: 800 RUs
Build Time: 1 minute 15 seconds
Special Function: Drone Launching/Retraction
Required Technology: Capital Ship Drive, Capital Ship Chassis, Drone Technology
Excerpt: The Drone Frigate is essentially a holding and control system for the
24 drones it houses. These highly maneuverable drones each contain a powerful
gun and, when launched, form a protective sphere around the Drone Frigate,
giving it superb protection against Fighters.
My Analysis: Never used these, so I can't say anything, but I hear that the
drones can be used to destroy mines, as they project far enough ahead to
attract them. Once the mines are destroyed, scrap the Frigate itself.
-Defense Field Frigate:
Cost: 800 RUs
Build Time: 1 minute 15 seconds
Special Function: Defense Field(always active)
Required Technology: Capital Ship Drive, Capital Ship Chassis, Defense Field
Excerpt: Like the Defense Fighter, the Defense Field Frigate has no attack
capability. It can, however, deflect almost 100% of all oncoming enemy fire,
with the exception of ion beams, mines, and missiles.
My Analysis: First, it costs too much for something with that small of an
effect area. Second, it can't deflect ion beams, the most devastating weapon
in the game. Yes, I know, I said the Defense Fighter was OK, but that was
because it'll take more time to kill a whole flotilla centered around the
Mothership than a slow, obnoxious, easy bait Capital Ship that can easily be
taken down with ion cannons. You can't exactly hit something that moves with
an ion beam that easily.
-Ion Array Frigate:
No data available
Build Time: N/A
My Analysis: You capture these from the Turanic Raiders with two Salvage
Corvettes in the Great Wastelands Part 1 stage. They are just Ion Cannon
Frigates with a new appearance, and I think they're a bit slower, too. But,
since you get them for free, what did you expect?
-Multi-Beam Corvette:
No data available
Build Time: N/A
My Analysis: This awesome Frigate is a small, cramped ship with four ion
cannons. You capture it in the Cathedral of Kadesh stage from the Kadesh.
And, the best thing about it is that it's inaccurate. What? You heard me
right. Since it's inaccurate, it can sort of 'sweep' the battlefield and
destroy Fighters and Corvettes. And, since Frigates and Super Capital Ships
are big, the inaccuracy doesn't really matter that much. So, I say in
conclusion: Capture as many as you can!
-Fuel Pod:
No data available
Build Time: N/A
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