Yet another RS thread

[tmm]

Situation:
One HW start, one Champion (currently level 9).
1st Nebula: EEr vs SF
2nd Nebula: Mourner
3rd Nebula: IMT vs RS

Unlocks:
Destroyer Hull Class
Neinzul Hull Type
Rail Cannon Module
Flak Module
Shield Mk III
Missile Launcher Mk III
1 unlock point remaining

Is it possible to beat the RS from this position?  I've tried several times and the best has brought the RS down to around 35% before the IMT are wiped out.  The RS appears to ignore the Neinzul hull's radar dampening, and the Human hull hasn't got enough large slots to both do good enough DPS and mount enough shields to have a reasonable time on target.  The best thing I've thought of for my next attempt is to take every system between my HW and the nebula and put logistics stations and Zenith Manipulators in every one to try and improve time on target, since retreating to the starbase for repair/reshielding is far too slow.

If it's not possible to win from this scenario, does the RS need another visit?  Limit how early it can appear, move the missile module to a small slot so that it doesn't compete with shields and rebalance RS HP appropriately, or something else?

[Faulty Logic]

I'd try the human destroyer with 2 missile modules, 1 shield module, and 12 MLRS modules (mkII, spending your point), though this is a nasty scenario to get early, and you're expected to be a higher level than 9 for the third nebula (though immediately getting a large-base v large-base scenario early is also nasty).

As a last resort, reload a save, and enter a different nebula, which will give you a different scenario.

[tmm]

I did pretty well on the EEr scenario, one of the small starbases down to around 60%, paint scratches on the rest when the SF was wiped out (though it did take a while), it's the Mourner I don't tend to do well on, especially early, a single frigate can only take so much pounding, and it can't defend and pop stasis pods at the same time the way that multiple champions can.

I believe the attempt where I dropped the RS to 35% was 2 missiles, 1 shield, and 12 mkI rail cannons, so I'm not sure that mkII MLRS will help all that much.  I guess I'll try foraging farther afield for different scenario rolls, though I've already tried doing so on the next closest nebula and it was IMT vs RS again.  It's probably going to be a couple hours before I can even make an attempt at reaching the one after that though, between the guard post and guardian buffs, champions don't actually deep strike all that well any more.

[Faulty Logic]

I believe the attempt where I dropped the RS to 35% was 2 missiles, 1 shield, and 12 mkI rail cannons, so I'm not sure that mkII MLRS will help all that much.

No, I suggested it because of its high alpha strike; trying with mkII rail cannon could help.

It's probably going to be a couple hours before I can even make an attempt at reaching the one after that though, between the guard post and guardian buffs, champions don't actually deep strike all that well any more.

Yeah, it is much harder in that respect, now. I recommend killing tachyon posts and escorting your champion with a cloaker starship (with the champ in stand-down).

[Qatu]

 I don't think you have enough firepower to kill it with what you have. A little trick for that nebulae is just before it goes after bases to go to the big one, dump the shields and replace them with big guns. You can cover yourself with projected shield while it switches bases. It's doable with the spire champion at that level but I doubt it is with the other hulls unless you lucked out and got polarizers, the only small module worth something vs 100,000 armor.

 My recommendation would be to skip that nebulae for now. For reaching the other nebulae have your fleet escort your champion. Even if you get 500 threat ships for the deepstrike... that should not be a big problem?

[Jonz0rz]

You CAN do it, but it'll take forever and requires cheese.

At the start, go out with missiles and do as much damage to it as possible. When you're down to the final base, switch to all shields, and as they take damage, pause, go to ship design, empty one of your shield slots, wait for the module to explode, rebuild the shield in that slot, then do the same thing with the next one once the first rebuilds (make sure to keep track of which shield you're replacing, or you'll lose your full one). If you do it right, you'll be able to keep at least 1 shield up at all times. If your shield gets really low, hug the base by repeatedly move ordering on it while you're waiting for your next shield to build. If you get alot of shadow charge, you can temporarily switch to missiles to get more damage on it.

That's how I beat it for the first time, I was in a similar situation to yours.

[Aklyon]

Doom accelerators can work, but you need a lot of them. Basic level I DAs aren't going to work too well.

[Qatu]

 Just to prove the point that polarizers are made for this job, my current game I had just got my cruiser shadow vessel and had polarizers. The ravenous didn't kill a single base, in fact it died before the last enclave spawned.