AI War Beta 7.021-7.022 "Champion Alter-Ego" Released!

[ZaneWolfe]

If you're going to add in the other rewards, the Mod Forts and allied starships, to the Alt, then Alt should have to deal with the Nemesis Fleet. They are already receiving almost every single reward that the Nebula gives (minus Dyson Gattlings and K) and thus should be facing nearly the same level of response. Given that the missing rewards are the weakest, I don't see a real reason to tone down the response at all. That being said, I'm going to keep the Nebula on. I rather enjoy them. Only thing I wanted is more variety.

[Toranth]

If you're going to add in the other rewards, the Mod Forts and allied starships, to the Alt, then Alt should have to deal with the Nemesis Fleet. They are already receiving almost every single reward that the Nebula gives (minus Dyson Gattlings and K) and thus should be facing nearly the same level of response. Given that the missing rewards are the weakest, I don't see a real reason to tone down the response at all. That being said, I'm going to keep the Nebula on. I rather enjoy them. Only thing I wanted is more variety.

Well, they are also missing the hundreds of ultra-powerful starship-like Nebula ships, which is a huge loss itself.  A 9-nebula set of those is usually enough to mostly destroy an AI HW.

While I'm also a little sad to see them gone, low range was too weak, while infinite range would be almost too powerful.

Yea, the mechanic just didn't work for them, so I didn't took an easier route that didn't involve making it work.

Hey, now that they're fairly straightforward combat units, they're going to be included in Exowaves, right?

[keith.lamothe]

Hey, now that they're fairly straightforward combat units, they're going to be included in Exowaves, right?

An excellent point.

[Fleet Unity]

If the players want the other rewards from the nebula missions like the modular forts could they just be unlocked with knowledge like the human one is it is 3,000K, I mean if you are not using the normal champion game play? I will just stick to the nebula missions myself as I enjoy them and I do not mind taking the time to pass them myself, I also enjoy the stories or lore that are in them as well.

[chemical_art]

If the players want the other rewards from the nebula missions like the modular forts could they just be unlocked with knowledge like the human one is it is 3,000K

My  problem is that if I have to pay K in the alternative to unlock something when the me main mode, which only requires an annoying amount of micro, gives it to me for free on top of giving me the K...then I feel nerfed.

[Fleet Unity]

If the players want the other rewards from the nebula missions like the modular forts could they just be unlocked with knowledge like the human one is it is 3,000K

My  problem is that if I have to pay K in the alternative to unlock something when the me main mode, which only requires an annoying amount of micro, gives it to me for free on top of giving me the K...then I feel nerfed.

I see what you mean and I guess at 3,000K for all four would be 12,000K too much knowledge for items that would have been free otherwise I see your point

[keith.lamothe]

If the players want the other rewards from the nebula missions like the modular forts could they just be unlocked with knowledge like the human one is it is 3,000K

My  problem is that if I have to pay K in the alternative to unlock something when the me main mode, which only requires an annoying amount of micro, gives it to me for free on top of giving me the K...then I feel nerfed.

I agree, the point isn't to give you the option to spend K on these things, it's to give you the things.  With an appropriate tradeoff, of course.  But alt needs to not feel substantially worse than normal in that regard.

Which probably means beefing up the pain on the normal side (currently thinking it will be those HW-to-HW champ chunks I mentioned earlier).  We'll see.

[Fleet Unity]

One question does this mean that the AI shadow frigates would always warp directly to your Home World from their home world?

[keith.lamothe]

One question does this mean that the AI shadow frigates would always warp directly to your Home World from their home world?

Not warp, they'd fly through normal space basically like a normal exo.  An exo being distinct from normal threat in that it does not stop for anything unless its lead ship is destroyed, and it travels at the lead ship's speed.

So basically it's something of an ideal defensive situation: it won't intentionally go after any outposts or weakspots you may have, it just rushes straight towards where you (presumably) have the strongest defenses.  Naturally, it will have be appropriately heavy

Not that I'd mind making it go after weakspots, but the offensive nemesis frigates already do that, and the HW-to-HW thing allows the lower end of the response scale to not make distributed-defense fundamentally harder.

[chemical_art]

One question does this mean that the AI shadow frigates would always warp directly to your Home World from their home world?

That would put a whole new meaning to the "shadow" frigate...but other shadows (ninja's) elaborated before me

[keith.lamothe]

Yea, shadow indeed.

Good news folks! All Champion Response will come via infinite-range counter-waves!

(why are they looking at me like that)

[Fleet Unity]

One question does this mean that the AI shadow frigates would always warp directly to your Home World from their home world?

Not warp, they'd fly through normal space basically like a normal exo.  An exo being distinct from normal threat in that it does not stop for anything unless its lead ship is destroyed, and it travels at the lead ship's speed.

So basically it's something of an ideal defensive situation: it won't intentionally go after any outposts or weakspots you may have, it just rushes straight towards where you (presumably) have the strongest defenses.  Naturally, it will have be appropriately heavy

Not that I'd mind making it go after weakspots, but the offensive nemesis frigates already do that, and the HW-to-HW thing allows the lower end of the response scale to not make distributed-defense fundamentally harder.

Sounds good but i assume the ai will of course still get the ones that always seem to roam or stack up on a planet until you decide to move your champion ship and they them all attack at once all 20+ of them before your champion can seem to get back to defend the planet they attack.

[keith.lamothe]

Sounds good but i assume the ai will of course still get the ones that always seem to roam or stack up on a planet until you decide to move your champion ship and they them all attack at once all 20+ of them before your champion can seem to get back to defend the planet they attack.

On normal and the higher (5+, probably) alt-intensities, yes.  On the lower alt-intensities they'll be getting much less of the champ stuff (in terms of splinter faction starships, etc) and won't have to deal with those roaming offensive nemesis units.

[Fleet Unity]

Sounds good but i assume the ai will of course still get the ones that always seem to roam or stack up on a planet until you decide to move your champion ship and they them all attack at once all 20+ of them before your champion can seem to get back to defend the planet they attack.

On normal and the higher (5+, probably) alt-intensities, yes.  On the lower alt-intensities they'll be getting much less of the champ stuff (in terms of splinter faction starships, etc) and won't have to deal with those roaming offensive nemesis units.

Great I think when that change is put in I better have a Golem or two ready to defend our Home Worlds just in case all of those shadow frigates decide to go right for my teams Home Worlds maybe even some fortresses may be a good idea as well.

[chemical_art]

Reading over the golem changes,not excited. Not even sure if they are buffs...

In addition to no attrition...getting around a...

50% dps increase from the armored is not worth 100% increased repair costs (it tanks damage, increased repair directly nerfs this)
100% increased health for 100% increased cost (with infinite range, they shouldn't be hit at all. This would be fine if they were not niche-ish)

...

but then senses prevailed, and the rest seem fine. So what do I suggest?

If you double the cost of armored, increase health by a small amount (20%)? It is it's job, but sometime even its health is not enough.
For the artillry golem, decrease its reload speed by a very small amount in return for double the cost.