Need counter for computer sniper ships

[Ranthas]

Currently I'm playing a diff 5, diff 5 computer. They are spawning sniper ships like crazy. Some systems have 30+ and are really annoying to attack. The "kiting backwards while picking my blob apart" tactic made me look for some counter methods. I have included scout starships but they require lots of micro'ing and sometimes they move coverage to the front or the back of the blob in group move. What else counters these sniper ships? I currently have MLRS, Shield Bearers, Munition Boosters, Tanks, + the 3 core ship types.

[TechSY730]

Hmm, what has sniper shot immunities, let me look those up.

I do know that many (most certainly not all though) starships have sniper shot immunity.

[zebramatt]

Cloaker starships?

[Red Spot]

Dont even need those, just a cap of mk1 scout starships is what you need

I always keep a full cap of mk1 scout-starships with the fleet, more so for scouting/decloaking purpose, but its nice when you encounter snipers as well.

[TechSY730]

Dont even need those, just a cap of mk1 scout starships is what you need

I always keep a full cap of mk1 scout-starships with the fleet, more so for scouting/decloaking purpose, but its nice when you encounter snipers as well.

He said he already uses scout starships, but they are sometimes too fiddly to micro for his tastes. He wants something else less micro intensive that makes a good counter to snipers that he can use also.

[Red Spot]

I read it, but I find the other tools just as micro intensive ... not at all
Just dont let snipers get all around you

[Sunshine!]

Raid starships.  Send your fleet in covered by the scout starships, and send a small group of raid starships to go pick off all the snipers.  Your raid starships should be fine since they'll kill the snipers pretty quickly, won't be able to be targeted by the snipers until they're close because of the radar dampening, and are much faster than the snipers.

[Ranthas]

Maybe my blob is too big. I'll try less ships and see if its a smaller problem. Snipe ships are annoying if my starship bombers get out of the scout protection. They get instant killed.

[Sunshine!]

That's very true, and bomber starships are actually pretty fragile in general.  Unlock mk1 Cloaker starships, which will provide anti-sniper protection and another level of general protection to your bomber starships, and use them independently of your fleet.

Definitely learn how to manipulate multiple control groups of disparate ships at once, you'll become much more efficient.  When it comes to fleet ships, I'll usually split them by speed groups and assign starships that way.  68-100 or so is the fighters, bombers, FF bearers, grenade launchers, the "fast attack heavy hitting" group.  Cloakers will not go in this blob, since their role is different.  Slower ships like Missile Frigates, Beam Frigates, and MLRS will go in a different blob, supported by the Fleet Starships to provide some artillery support with munitions boosting.  That's just an example, mess around and find something that works for you!

[Fleet]

Have you tried using formation move? I think that can be combined with group move. In this way you can maintain scout starship counter-sniper coverage.

[jordot42]

Definitely learn how to manipulate multiple control groups of disparate ships at once, you'll become much more efficient.  When it comes to fleet ships, I'll usually split them by speed groups and assign starships that way.  68-100 or so is the fighters, bombers, FF bearers, grenade launchers, the "fast attack heavy hitting" group.  Cloakers will not go in this blob, since their role is different.  Slower ships like Missile Frigates, Beam Frigates, and MLRS will go in a different blob, supported by the Fleet Starships to provide some artillery support with munitions boosting.  That's just an example, mess around and find something that works for you!

Great advice!  I'll definitely mess around with that.

[vk0]

To help manage your detached group (of raid ships or fighters). v + right-clicking a sniper ship will have the group automatically hunt down all sniper in the system.

[Commiesalami]

I always have a few mk1 riot ships armed with lasers with my blob to handle any ship that tries to run away when you get close

[Sunshine!]

Machine guns are actually more effective, especially if you combine them with one shotgun (leaving room for a forcefield).  Machine guns fire significantly faster, cause more engine damage (25 instead of 17), and cause significantly more raw damage.  While they only drop engines to 50%, the shotguns will drop the ships down to 25% which is all the lasers get them down to as well.

[TechSY730]

Machine guns are actually more effective, especially if you combine them with one shotgun (leaving room for a forcefield).  Machine guns fire significantly faster, cause more engine damage (25 instead of 17), and cause significantly more raw damage.  While they only drop engines to 50%, the shotguns will drop the ships down to 25% which is all the lasers get them down to as well.

But lasers have more range, which is a big factor when countering long ranged stuff like snipers. Machine gun + shotgun may be better for raw engine DPS, but you are going to have to get closer to use it, which thanks to the auto-kiting of most long range ships, may be a difficult task.