Spider Nests... So Much Hate

[MaxAstro]

Well, if nothing else, after the third time I've jumped my fleet into a system and lost ~150 ships before I realized what was going on, I'm now dedicated to being more careful about checking for these things before I attack a planet. 

But what is the strategy for dealing with these things?  They appear in such huge clumps that each wave neutralizes a major portion of your fleet, and often you have "lost" half your forces before you can ever get to the turrets if you are running into them early game.  Worse yet, in the game I am currently running they are under a force field, which seems to affect their engine damage not at all but makes it even less likely I will be able to actually take them down.

Soo... anyone have any clever strategies for these things?

[Diazo]

It's pretty much keep the scout starships with your fleet.

They provide counter-sniper cover at an okay range. I'm probably going to unlock Mk II scout starships to get more couter-sniper cover as my fleet gets bigger as the 5 Mk I's aren't quite enough already.

Beyond that, there are a few ships immune to snipers, Enclave Starships, Raid Starships, Zenith Mirrors, and a couple other special ships. The system layout will determine if a small raid with those ship types can survive though.

D.

[superking]

send the attack force through with 10-20 engineers on FRD, or a mobile repair station. engines repair almost instantly, so you can usually keep most your force moving.

[carlosjuero]

Lightning Warhead MK III x 4 + EMP Warhead MK III x 1 should pretty much decimate the blob [EMP takes down the FF guarding the turrets, the 4 warheads should have enough damage between them to wipe out large clusters - though you might want to go lower MK for higher area of effect [lower damage, but Spider turrets don't have much health really]]

[MaxAstro]

The MRS turned out to be the real trick - sent my whole fleet towards the nest and swept the MRS back and forth along the line to repair ships ASAP as they got disabled and get them moving again.  A few cleanup drones to ensure the nest doesn't come back and the problem is dealt with. 

[Mánagarmr]

Yep. The blobs are rare, but an MRS really helps it.

[Spikey00]

Transports, forces in, MRS in (yes), make nice to AI clump.

Scout starship can also be included for anti-sniper, but those sniper turrets have a 60s reload, so MRS should get to them during that lengthy cooldown.

[triggerman602]

Lightning Warhead MK III x 4 + EMP Warhead MK III x 1 should pretty much decimate the blob [EMP takes down the FF guarding the turrets, the 4 warheads should have enough damage between them to wipe out large clusters - though you might want to go lower MK for higher area of effect [lower damage, but Spider turrets don't have much health really]]

A single mark I lightning warhead will kill spider turrets. No need to waste AIP. Just make sure you mop up the system afterwards before they rebuild the turrets.

[Ozymandiaz]

Repair station and engeineers works wonders

[Dragon]

Transports and scout starships, throw in an MRS or two, and you should be fine....

[Giegue]

hell, I just play without fog of war, now.

[Mánagarmr]

Don't. Use proper scouting and also take note of the things in this thread. They're not so hard to defeat as you think

[Diazo]

One question, do the MRS work against spiders and not just sniper turrets?

Snipers have the 60 second reload, Spiders only have a 5 second reload or so, which I think is faster then the "can not repair after taking damage" time is. Or do snipers not keep firing on the same ship?

I just use Scout Starships to neutralise them so I haven't tried the MRS trick myself yet.

D.

[Lancefighter]

3 seconds is the timer for no-repair..

But.

A sniper turret wont shoot a ship that has 0 engines left.

[Diazo]

Ah, okay.

I'm assuming you mean a spider turret won't shoot at a ship with no engines left, which would allow the MRS to repair it.

I'm going to have to stick to scout starships, going to be doing my first Homeworld attack without MRS. I found the homeworlds so early I'm really lacking in knowledge.

D.