Cluster penalty question

[Puntchy]

I apologize if this is redundant, but I couldn't find a clear answer for post-4.0.  Is the cluster penalty for sentinel frigates and the like calculated separately for each mark level, or for the class in total?  What's the 'sweet spot' for # of frigates per system?  Thanks in advance.

I bought the game last month and I finally feel like I'm really starting to know how to play it.  This is the first RTS game I've enjoyed in years.

[TechSY730]

Hey, welcome to the forums.  

Cluster penalties are applied per ship mark level. Thus, for example, Mk. I sentinel frigates will not degrade Mk. II sentinel frigates, and vice versa.

However, in the current betas, the cluster penalty mechanic has been removed all together. In a few weeks that should be released as a release/stable version, so then you won't have to worry about that anymore.  

[Wingflier]

This is the first RTS game I've enjoyed in years.

Good to hear, we all love it too and welcome to the forums!

[Puntchy]

Thanks for the good info and the warm welcome. 

It seems like removing the cluster penalty should make them a potent offensive weapon: just clear out the area around the wormhole and park a cap's worth of sentinel frigates on it to pick off targets while the rest of your fleet goes to work.

[TechSY730]

I think they have already rebalanced them considering that. So they are still more useful than they were before, but not overpowered. In fact, at first, they went too far and sentinel frigates were too weak for many versions 

[Sunshine!]

Sentinel Frigates as they are now have a cap of around 19/17/15 for mk1/2/3 and they do 40,000/80,000/120,000 every 3 seconds on normal combat style IIRC, so they CAN toss out a significant amount of damage.  The problem I've found with them is that because of their low numbers, they still have a really difficult time of dealing with massive hordes of higher tech AI ships.  They tend to be better on defense, or if you use them as a surgical-strike instrument on offense where you pop them in system to blow up a guard post or an AI Eye or something, and then pop them out.

[Red Spot]

Exactly why I think they are pretty good as they are. Make them take any penalty when grouped and they just become fairly useless.
Too slow to properly group with the fleet. Too weak to hold of some foes with their low numbers. (Perhaps a 'not on friendly-planet' penalty?)

Personally I just love these ships as support for the fleet in mostly defensive positions. Let them pick of the fast ship that get away, and so prevent my fleet chasing a few ship with a ¼ their own force. Class vs class they dont make all that many kills, but than again I hardly lose any in this position.

[Puntchy]

I use them to support my bomber/siege starships on raids.  They can usually clear out most of the fleet ships around a target before the heavy artillery gets into range.  That leaves more fighters and bombers free to engage other targets.