Hacking Design Backup Servers

[orielis]

I've just started a new game -- and I must admit I'm excited at all the new ship types I've already seen. However, right next door to my home system is a Design Backup Server for Bulletproof fighters.

Obviously I'm going to want to hack it, but the question is whether to corrupt or download it. Is there a general consensus as to which approach is better, or does it just depend on the circumstances and the specific unit involved?

My Hacking Progress is 31 now, so I'll want to take at least one more system before attempting this. If I take my Hacking Progress down to 1, will that provoke any particularly nasty response or is that just if it goes negative?

My first thought was to corrupt the design, but then I got to looking at the immunities of the bulletproof and I'm more inclined to download the design. Am I correct in assuming that this would give me access to all Marks of the fighter or is it just Mark IVs? I also assume that if I get access to all the Marks I'd need to do research to unlock them, just as for the other ships I already have.

[keith.lamothe]

Going from 31 to 1 on your first hack isn't a big response.  I mean, what could go wrong?

But the main question to ask yourself is whether it really matters to you whether you or the AI have bulletproof fighters.  They're a decent fleet-filler ship and you need some of that, but there are other ship types that are much more useful to download, and other things you could do with the hacking points. 

And they're probably one of the types you want the AI to have, as any points it puts into building those is points it doesn't put into building spire blade spawners or whatever other pain-sandwich types it has.

[Aeson]

Do you want to have Bulletproof Fighters more than you want the computer to not have them? If yes, you want to download rather than corrupt the backup server.

Also, if you can, check out the Advanced Research Stations before you make your decision. The things you can get through those might influence whether or not you want bulletproof fighters more than you want the computer to not have bulletproof fighters.

Am I correct in assuming that this would give me access to all Marks of the fighter or is it just Mark IVs? I also assume that if I get access to all the Marks I'd need to do research to unlock them, just as for the other ships I already have.

I'm fairly certain that you'll receive Mark I Bulletproof Fighters and will need to unlock anything further in the normal way.

[Draco18s]

Bulletproof fighters are fighters that are good against fighters. Which means basically nothing. Sure, you can't leech them (leech starship uses bullet ammo) but otherwise they're more fighters.

[chemical_art]

Bulletproof fighters are fighters that are good against fighters. Which means basically nothing. Sure, you can't leech them (leech starship uses bullet ammo) but otherwise they're more fighters.

If I recall correctly Bulletproofs have like 75% more range, 25% more health, 20% more damgage, but cost 110% as much!

On the other hand, if polycrystal is hammering you then you need all the fighters you can get.

[Kahuna]

http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,15691.msg173695.html#msg173695

Bulletproof Fighters
-Is countered by and has shorter range than Missile Frigates
+Very tanky
+Very high damage
+Good damage multipliers
+Mark I Fighters + Mark I bulletproof fighters = a lot of firepower vs their damage multipliers --> no need to unlock any more polycyrstal or medium killing things --> unlock more Missile Frigates and Bombers.
+Immune to insta kill

[Draco18s]

Well yes. They ARE fighters :p

[Nodor]

In my latest game we took advantage of immune to instakill to capture a whipping boy planet with a gravity drill and mark 1, 4, and 5 Ion cannons.  Bulletproof fighters were an essential part of this effort.

[Malkiel]

honestly.. I would never corrupt bulletproof fighter, it's not dangerous enough to warrant that.

around a 60% chance I'd download it myself tho, while Kahuna mentions some of the reasons, he missed a huge one:
MOST guardians are weak to fighters and BP fighters due to medium hull type.

That point having been made, the reason I'd be so likely to download it myself is:

Shell using guardposts are cake for a BPF fleet to bring down, when combined with mobile missile immunity (a standard part of my strategy from scout ss mk4) it means any guardpost other than laser is probably not long for the world and virtually unable to respond to it attackers. free kills are a good thing.

Good luck saving humanity!
~Mal