General Hacking Discussion

[Wanderer]

Is there any interest for fitting the ARS into the new hacking mechanics?  Not the bonus-ship hacking, but giving extra free K on raids without increasing the AI raid response.  http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=6192

Not against the idea, Spikey, but I think everyone's holding their collective breaths to see if the current heavy thumping K-Raiding is going to get is too much or not before looking for ways to ease the pain.

You're basically looking at 5 free K-Raids with that idea.  Even that's beyond the designer's visions.  My bias notwithstanding.

[Spikey00]

Just throwing out an idea; ARSes need a more integral purpose beyond capture and throwaway IMO.  I feel 15k knowledge isn't a lot for the cost of taking/holding those planets, especially when you need all five labs simultaneously alive to get the maximum benefit. 

[Wanderer]

Just throwing out an idea; ARSes need a more integral purpose beyond capture and throwaway IMO.  I feel 15k knowledge isn't a lot for the cost of taking/holding those planets, especially when you need all five labs simultaneously alive to get the maximum benefit.

Free ship types aren't enough?

[Spikey00]

Meh, too gimmicky for me that their only purpose is to grant players a new bonus ship type and then remain inconsequential for the rest of its lifespan.

[Eternaly_Lost]

Meh, too gimmicky for me that their only purpose is to grant players a new bonus ship type and then remain inconsequential for the rest of its lifespan.

I disagree. It would be nice if they had something special, otherwise, there is not that much reason to try and hold the system. Making them do something special in addition to the bonus ship (such as reduce AI progress over time, but can't move and acts as wave gate for the AI?) would be nice. Right now, I just send them forward when I take the system as they don't help that much next to the squad of 20 Mk2 I have flying around to gather Knowledge quickly.

[Wanderer]

Meh, too gimmicky for me that their only purpose is to grant players a new bonus ship type and then remain inconsequential for the rest of its lifespan.

I don't mind the one shot nature.  I don't necessarily want to hold onto the universe.

[chemical_art]

Meh, too gimmicky for me that their only purpose is to grant players a new bonus ship type and then remain inconsequential for the rest of its lifespan.

Aren't MK III stations of the same ilk? They are even more one-shot.

[keith.lamothe]

MkIII are becoming mobile and cloaked in 5.028.  They look pretty happy about it.

[TechSY730]

Don't forget that the Mk. V (the ARS) has the highest knowledge collection rate, at a wopping 6/s

That's something I would like to keep around.

[PokerChen]

I keep an ARS for sentimental value, but the AI seems to list it as a potential target... hmm...

It should be noted that Lab mark IIIs can gather 6/s as well, and they will get to move around in the next beta version.

[LintMan]

I really like the ARS hacking idea.  I second the "get more choices the longer you wait" idea, also.  I'd be willing to wait longer to get more choices, even not knowing what any of the choices will be until after.  (After a few games in a row getting very similar bonus unlocks that seemed to have been drawn from the "worst ship" list highlights, I'm happy to have as many options as possible.  )

I'd also like to request that either the "dynamiting fish in a bucket" cheat be modified to spawn a hacked ARS, or that a new cheat be added to spawn one.

[Orelius]

I keep an ARS for sentimental value, but the AI seems to list it as a potential target... hmm...

It should be noted that Lab mark IIIs can gather 6/s as well, and they will get to move around in the next beta version.

Perhaps ARS's should be buffed.  Make it gather 20/s and allow it to be used for knowledge raiding (but only if there's a Mark III somewhere on that planet).

[Wanderer]

I keep an ARS for sentimental value, but the AI seems to list it as a potential target... hmm...

It should be noted that Lab mark IIIs can gather 6/s as well, and they will get to move around in the next beta version.

Perhaps ARS's should be buffed.  Make it gather 20/s and allow it to be used for knowledge raiding (but only if there's a Mark III somewhere on that planet).

I'm really not all that strong on buffing the ARS further.  It's getting a hack which will allow for ship selection, it's getting cloak allowing it to act like a new Research II.  It was already a powerful enough unlock to nearly be a 'must have'.  What more does it need?

[Nice Save]

I keep an ARS for sentimental value, but the AI seems to list it as a potential target... hmm...

It should be noted that Lab mark IIIs can gather 6/s as well, and they will get to move around in the next beta version.

Perhaps ARS's should be buffed.  Make it gather 20/s and allow it to be used for knowledge raiding (but only if there's a Mark III somewhere on that planet).

I'm really not all that strong on buffing the ARS further.  It's getting a hack which will allow for ship selection, it's getting cloak allowing it to act like a new Research II.  It was already a powerful enough unlock to nearly be a 'must have'.  What more does it need?

I agree. I've never thought to myself "Do I want to claim that ARS?", the answer is always yes. Buffing them doesn't add anything to the tactical choices when it's 'must have' already, and what other reason for changing it is there?

[keith.lamothe]

I'm really not all that strong on buffing the ARS further.  It's getting a hack which will allow for ship selection, it's getting cloak allowing it to act like a new Research II.

FYI, I haven't made the ARS cloaking, just the III and the new ship-design-hacker.